FF to F12

In the UK the E63 is not available with 4matic AWD due to location of steering box on rhd car - plain of RWD for us, which is fun and we don't have especially severe winters here, just lots of rain and coping with that is more about tyres than how many wheels are driven.

 

Can only speak for F12. But you are right, that you would need to push the car on purpose to get the rear end out.

But it is not only the rear brakes. You can actually feel the ECU reducing the engine power when grip is an issue.

PS: for the track the stability braking eats rear brake pads, when driving in wet, sport or race.

 

Yea, I kept it to a minimum for that reason Just wanted to see what she would do on wet roads, for the day to day. Answer: you can drive like a maniac if you wish, and it's not going anywhere.

I've driven a 458 full out on many laps, and in any of the 'safer' modes it will cut the engine out badly if you screw up. Pretty frustrating, when you want to power slide. But safe, and a good way to learn.

 

Understood Entropy. Well, you can always get another one if you really miss it or wait for the updated F12 which we shall see in a few months time. I appreciate your high praise for the car because it gets a lot of praise but you seem to really know your stuff. And I just got my F12 so hearing positive things is nice.

 

Awesome. Did you post pictures yet or was this a while ago?

 

+1

 

Thanks. I had a bad experience a while ago with internet and pictures.... Its Pozzi/Cuoio.

 

Nuovo Blu Pozzi like Marcel ordered; is that any different from plain old Blu Pozzi from before?

 

+1

 

The F12 is simply off the charts. It just is. It's just so right in every way. The only thing I can say is that the steering is a bit on the jittery side, and it may surprise you during otherwise placid drives from time to time by being a little too quick. But nothing else gets you this combination of grand touring poise with hellish beastly power -- delivered in a way that is utterly confidence inspiring. I've not owned an FF, so perhaps the FF is close? I couldn't tell you. All I can say is that I've bought a few more toys since my F12, and I leave my F12 for a while to play with them, and when I come back to the F12, all I can think of is, "wow. this beats everything. I forget who the king is. I'm sorry."

 

A couple thoughts to add....

This is just my opinion; but having gotten some rally training and a bit of a better understanding of the tech behind "AWD" systems, there are really 3 big categories; "real" 4x4 trucks (which are rare these days), the "AWD" world, including 4Matic, BMW X and quattro, and the FF.

The FF (and GTC's) 4RM is really a hybrid; it's a RWD car with selective additional front wheel drive. "Selective" being very situational depending on a number of factors (speed, slip angles, wheel speeds, what the hell the driver is attempting to do with hands and feet).

The quattro is GREAT, the FF is different and better, and feels (to me) NOTICEABLY different both when you're pushing the car and when it might step in on its own to save your ass. FF/4RM is definitely heavily slanted towards performance, the quattro more towards epic stability. A big 4RM advantage is the weight (no transfer case).

The F12 is astonishing. We have something else planned and should have in the next few months hopefully which will likely scare us. As for the Speciale, again it's an awesome car. I am likely spoiled in that I get my adrenaline from driving GT cars and racing them, and in contrast when I'm on the street I love performance but I sort of laugh at "raw street cars" when I have the chance to drive some very raw cars on the track. Sort of changes your value points about what you want in a car for the street. Not right or wrong, just different. (said otherwise, if you don't need earplugs to drive your street car for more than 15mins, it's not "raw" ha ha. Having said that, a Spec Miata can make you deaf quickly....)

 

My F12 is the only car i own which obviously makes it my daily driver.

Enough said. Don't think twice. If you can afford it...buy it...drive it.

 

Well said and my feelings as well. Raw and visceral are terms often misused IMHO. Of course, a race driver more than likely feels the same way about track days. There's always another level.

 

Very good point, my only challenge with the F12 and the 458 is my young boys. They are both young and still need booster seats for the next few years. I just don't think I will get as much use out of the F12 and 458 as maybe a California T HS that can hold my kids for a short trip and store my clubs on the way to a golf course. I am not a huge fan of the engine note but atleast I get to keep the FF and have that V12 fury to come back to when I need it. Sounds crazy but with Ferrari's massive wait times and $$ you kind of need to plan a bit, never had to do that in my "german" car days.

 

Seems like for you it would be hard to leave the FF, as it has so many options. FF and F12, FF and 458 or spider, both good sets

 

Which one are you buying Bob?

I'm particularly keen to hear your feedback when you have had your F12 for a while as i'm thinking of doing the same.

Bet you can't wait!

 

I wish, I need a car with a rear bench to take my kids in. Going to the dealership to place a deposit on a Calif T HS next week. I really mulled this over quite a bit and it just makes the most sense right now.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

Just also made the move to the F12 2 weeks ago, I bought this rosso 14 F12 from Dick Lovett, Swindon on July 23rd! Wow they had some machinery in their workshop, did you get the tour?

I test drove a similar priced 15 plate FF a few weeks earlier and agonised for some time over what to do. Never actually owned an FF but I have a M6 Gran Coupe that serves as my daily drive and is a nice place to sit on the daily commute so in the end I decided keep the M6 and get the F12 for weekends/special occasions. Not sure it would really go down well at my work car park (NHS hospital) if I started leaving a ferrari there as my daily drive.
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Congratulations! Great choice!

 

Thanks guys

My first impressions after 2 weeks ownership are how easy it is to drive at normal speeds and around town compared to my old 599, it feels like a much smaller car, the 599 front bonnet seemed to stretch in front of you for ever but the F12 doesn't feel like that IMHO. Of course the steering is well described to be very light and fast and that's certainly true, I'm sure it could catch you out if you suddenly don't give the car the respect it deserves. Haven't even scratched the surface of its performance yet but the noise that builds up as you exceed 4/5000rpm is just crazy, if this is the standard car and exhaust god knows what the F12tdf or an aftermarket exhaust upgrade must sound like. The interior is just sublime and such a special place to be, how on earth I'm going to keep to my agreed 5000 miles per year insurance limit is going to be a real problem.

 

Sounds about right, Mark! Congratulations!