Had many 'supers' and just bought an FF

I understand the logic is that if you are in 5th gear or higher you don't need 4WD. Which makes some sense when you stop to think about it.
And yes do do the alignment.

 

Congratulations! Beautiful car.

Also would love to understand adjustments to the geometry better to do them on my car. The winter is coming and a bit more handling will be helpful.

 

It looks great. Beautiful. Modern. Timeless.

Americans are not fond of any hatchback or wagon. We tend to like two seats, red and muscle cars.

Europe is more mature in that respect.

Would be a shame/great for us owners, if they lose the rear seat headroom and hatch space.

 

Lukey, congrats! I notice your name from mclarenlife (im iLLGT2)

I just picked up an FF... After driving it for 3 days I loved it, before buying it.

Now after buying it and the thought of my Mclaren MP4 may be going (getting a 675 in a bit) i'm having a tough time.

For a daily and even crossover supercar it truly is amazing.

My sense of "fast" is severely diminished however, i think the car is quick even though numbers say its fast. The mclaren has bent my mind in ever category and i've owned some awesome machines (my favorite being my RUF R-GT2)

I'm having a tough time with really one area, its the suspension/chassis/steering tuning?

I cant expect it to be like mclaren, porsche etc even though people say it can rival them.

I feel as if the car is way too jittery, never feels settled in sport. I had the same gripe with my short lived 458 which I hated.

I'm getting more use to it and will grow to love it im sure, but the handling just feels so odd. I noticed however if I switch to sport while moving over bumpy surface it almost calibrates the shocks better than turning the car on in sport and driving where it feels looser and not as tight.

The car had alignment and everything was good from dealer before buying it so not a issue with alignment/tires. I guess just a totally different feel of car from what im use to and something I hope to grow to love.

Enjoy your Lukey and all of the fellow FF owners, its an amazing machine overall!

 

Sorry a bit late to this party....

Congrats on the car and "welcome to the enlightened" on the FF.

Eric's comments are right on. The 4RM and the software (4RM, ABS, TCS and ESC) work astonishingly well together is low grip situations. The Ice vs. Wet vs. Comfort mode have noticeably different effects on throttle map, TCS sensitivity, ECS intervention threshold, etc.

"Generally speaking" - the FF isn't an AWD car. It's a part-time and conditional AWD car. And, "generally speaking", when you are at speeds that in this car are 5th gear territory, your trajectory and grip are less influenceable by power application at a given wheel (i.e if you're hauling beans in a 5th gear corner and suddenly need grip, it's not power that's going to save you...). (note, there are exceptions of course, see the FF winter rally video)

Some people have complained that the 4RM intervention is "too noticeable". In my experience (lots of experimentation), if you're in comfort or sport mode, the throttle is very sensitive, the engine has lots of torque, and the car is pitch sensitive....and if you're on/off, on/off, on/off the throttle, you can induce a bit of "lash" in the system (it's mild but you can notice it).

re tram lining - as Eric said, get the alignment checked and look over the tires. One thing I've noticed a few times is what I've concluded is it's the road surface itself, and the quick steering exacerbates the feedback loop.

Last, Sottzeroes make a huge difference - they are good in rain, OK in light snow, but are much better simply in the colder temps, where the Pzero's are simply bricks due to compound.

Enjoy the car

 

Like anything else, I'm sure you'll get use to the sensations of the car. It will never feel quick compared to a 675LT, but what does outside of the big three or a Bugatti. Once I think you settle into the fact that you're driving such a capable 4 seat GT, that looks unique, goes like hell, sounds amazing and has true everyday capabilities you'll realize how special it is.

 

I think that's just a philosophical difference in the way Ferrari and McLaren use their electronics to give the cars some character. The FF does move around a lot more even when you're driving relatively sedately, but it feels like it's within prescribed limits in the code.

 

The Comfort mode is a bit floaty.

Sport with Bumpy Road is a great place to be.

 

+1

 

Gentlemen, I'm just getting interested in the FF. I drive about 16K per year do you think the FF could stand up to that kind of mileage for seven years?

 

The service managers all tell me the more they're driven the better. It's a car like other cars you drive a lot, just a very high quality car. Ferrari is not a precious brand, the FF like the F12 etc. are made very well these days.

There is a 50,000 miles in 3 years car that was a Fchat member and sold for around 160,000.

Would you get a new one or go for 2014 used under 5000 miles?

 

The problem with the FF is trying to find a companion in the garage - it does everything so well it really has no rivals. Nothing comes close IMO, I was joking to my SA today and said my next car will probably just be another V12FF. I drive it every day and I have put on 12k-kms in the last 1.5 years. What car!

Been contemplating adding a 458 spider or coupe to the mix but when I sat in them I felt squashed, I am 6'3 and it just felt tight - might just have to live with that or customize to the racing seats to add space. I really want to put something else in my garage next to the FF by next fall. I thought maybe GT4, GT3 - can't get myself to love them. Maybe R8, Huracan (RWD) - bah I have been there done that. I was going to get on the list for the 488/California T but I feel like i should experience the last of the Ferrari NAs before moving onto Turbos. F12? or is too similar to the FF?

Very confused.. very!

 

I would like a Speciale Aperta but the cost is out of reach. R8 and Hurucan are boring and too small. Really enjoying a new 911 GTS cab. It's fun and tight and small but has a back seat-ish ... and the seats are comfy if you're not too wide. Not as fast as the FF, but around town or for a twisty track it's very satisfying.

 

If you keep it that long - don't see why not, they are very well-built

 

My Porsche rep called me again today, we are picking up a Cayenne Turbo (replace the 2012 s) for the family on Saturday. Anyhow he said "IF I can get you a GT4, grab it - you will love" as a fun ride that won't burn a hole in your pocket and is very engaging etc. and different then what I/we have. I am tempted, just not as excited as a 458 would make me; even if I can't really fit comfortably in it without the racing seats.

I like the 991 GTS, that actually might be a better fit then a GT4 - a 7spd. might be fun to own and keep till right financial time to pull the trigger on a 458 etc.

I have no idea how long I will keep mine, but I can honestly say that there is nothing out there I would replace it outside of a lower km version of itself.

 

+1

 

I'd probably go for a used car from a dealer.

 

Exactly what I did. Found one with 17'000km knowing I would be going for the face-lift FF in 2016

 

Lukey thanks for the reply.

I'm liking the car A LOT, now. It feels smaller, tighter and im getting use to the feel and size. Its definitely pretty damn fast, nowhere near mclaren fast however im sorry. I've decided to keep both as they compliment each other well. Like you, I wanted a NA monster engine thats usable/practical, thought about going back to an older m5 or m6 and just couldnt deal with reliability. I did run a 600 cc bike and it was eating it up nicely, same as my bentley supersports did on the highway. these are highway MONSTERS

I also want you and anyone else to try something out, I guarantee you chassis/shock tuning will feel completely different. First off, I have the steering wheel down to its lowest position, and its not all the way in but very close (I adjust seat to get closer however im 6'3 so its not much, i have long arms) I feel way more connected with steering wheel all the way down and in, just like on mclaren or gt2 where it was fixed with the RUF wheel.

Now as for suspension, ive always noticed with adaptive dampers that if you turn the car on, or its standing still and you put it in sport, track it never full adapts in my feeling. What I do is I pull out onto the road and switch it from comfort to sport going over some uneven surface. I notice the shocks get WAY stiffer, steering tighter and the car feels so much more connected and sharp. Its strange, but im telling you im in tune with things like this, try it out and let me know. The car loses alot of the float and feels so much more direct, steering not as jittery or unsettled.

Anyway enjoying the car a lot, I may pursue RWD conversion however, ive done it on tons of cars however the system on this car seems complex, not sure if I can. I'm in florida so i dont need the AWD capability, and well, I've been able to whip back end out nicely as is, just have to get use to the weight and throttle and if youre a DRIVER its easy... Most would probably be way too scared to try, for me its second nature from racing

All the best
Martin

 

RWD conversion is not possible.

 

In Race/Off mode we can have a little fun, but IMO it's hard to get the back end moving. Well weighted and the fronts.