If you had the option to purchase a 456 .... 456 or 456M? Also did the pre '97 have the option on the piping on the leather or was that from '98 onwards? Also were the shields/badges on the front quarter panels a factory option?
Eric- The 456M picked up a number of options including Daytona seats, piping and stitching, colored brake calipers, shields etc. Here is a list of options available late in production. Taz Terry Phillips Image Unavailable, Please Login
Eric, the longer I have owned it, the more I love my 456M. So, as I see it, the only reasons to buy a 456 over a 456M: 1. you prefer the look of the front hood with its reverse scoops, 2. you want a stick shift, and manual transmission 456Ms are fairly rare in the US, 3. You feel a 456M is out of your price range. (I think this third point is not much of an issue because the spread is fairly small and by the time you figure in the costs of fixing various problems that you're bound to find cropping up, even after a PPI, it will probably render the price differential insignificant). The interior layout of the 456M is much more modern--dash, seats, stereo, center stack, steering wheel. The electronics have been upgraded; the spark plug firing order has been changed to give smoother power delivery; the problematic movable wing spoiler has been replaced with a fixed spoiler; the side window gap problem is generally less severe. As with any car, the longer it is in production, the more design and manufacturing flaws are corrected during the run. By definition, Ms are newer cars and, assuming proper maintenance,, younger is better, provided you put a sufficient number of miles on the car annually. You can always add shields (the forum has lots of discussion of the pros and cons of shields on 456s, I even started a thread by asking that question myself). Look around, be patient and ready to pounce on a good one, and don't forget to get that pre-purchase inspection.
Very nice writeup, Allan. Original poster: I think Allan nailed it. I would emphasize the fact that the original 456 will have various quirks and maintenance issues. There is a reason why the market does not take kindly to the 456. If you *must* go with a 456, I would go with the 1995 car as it has the Motronic version 2.7, which is superior to the 5.2 version in terms of -- well, everything. The government likes the 5.2 version better because *supposedly* it takes car of emissions better. Otherwise, the 5.2 version is simply more complicated.
Reading replies to the OP here and on the 456 vs mondial thread I am a little surprised that one could get the impression that the 456 is a troublesome piece of cr*p unloved in the marketplace that was 'sorted' upon release of the 456M. I do not believe this is the case, certainly not in the UK where the key choice is GT vs GTA, with the GT in my own limited experience in greater demand. I personally have never really understood why anyone would want a sportscar with an automatic gearbox.
The 456 is certainly not an unloved piece of cr*p. It's just that it does have its issues and the US marketplace does not take kindly to it. Ferrari dealers will never (ever) retail an original 456, and when exotic car dealers (not just Ferrari) take them in on trade, they pay somewhere in the $30K range. I have real experience with this. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is.
New car dealer franchises rarely retail anything over 5 years old in the UK, Ferrari or Ford, so you will always be placing your 456/M either on consignment with a specialist independent, selling privately or taking a major hit on value for a 'convenient' sale - nothing specific to the 456 or 456M in this - I also know one or two things about car sales. My point is that the general tone of the threads would have the OP's thinking the 456 has some stigma attached to it - I don't think this is the case despite the fact we all know about the handful of common faults they (as well as every other car type on the planet) have.
thanks for all the feedback ...I should have qualified my post ... im currently searching for a 412 and have located a brilliant example on the west coast, however registering in CA may prove to be very difficult and cost prohibitive to the cars value. Was looking for a 400/412 body style - not for everyone but i love the understated elegance of the car - in the right color combo that is! As such ive been considering to opt to the 456 route - another brilliant understated utilitarian automobile . There's many more available and registering one from out of state may be much easier. Again thanks for the info -
I say the following with my apologies to fellow f-chatters who may love their 400/412 series cars. They are a whole other kettle of fish from the 456, truly a different era and not fairly comparable. The BBC and Top Gear(Season 15, Episode 6, according to wikipedia) in particular were merciless in their comments on the 400/412 although I realize that the late 80's 412 was a big improvement over the 400i. By the way, if your choice is being largely dictated by finances, I would think carefully before buying an older Ferrari. It's not the initial expense that gains your attention; it's the post-purchase events that take a guided tour of your wallet.
[ By the way, if your choice is being largely dictated by finances, I would think carefully before buying an older Ferrari. It's not the initial expense that gains your attention; it's the post-purchase events that take a guided tour of your wallet.[/QUOTE] Amen
I have had the opportunity to drive both within a few days of each other and IMO the 456M is a better drive.
Yup the market is not kind to the 456. I think that's unjustified and as a result I bought one. The M does have a more modern feel to the interior, and the radio is in a nicer spot. The GT has a cool spoiler feature and the design with hood scoops... The "problematic rear spoiler" is actually a cool feature that was left out on the M models, I presume as a cost saving method on the side of Ferrari. This part is not known for troubles. And how many cars have moveable body panels? I fell in love with the 456 shape and that was the original one, so I wanted that model. In my opinion the price difference with the M wasn't worth it, the market opinion makes the non M a bargain, so double whammy. Allan, while I understand your motives to buy an M, I am interested to see where the cost difference you mention of the GT over the M is, there is very little difference in maintenance cost. And the older the cars get, the smaller the relative age.
The prices in that thread are to change and renew the 456 window system to the 456M's mechanism and seals, obviously a much more expensive solution. Windows on a 456GT can, contrary to popular belief, be made to work properly and for clearly less money than noted in that thread. Look here for a $180 fix per regulator: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128350 And here for what an adjustment can do: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128350 When buying a 456GT it is important to look and listen closely at the windows, see how they operate and seal, and ask for fixes been done. Not every 456GT has troubles there.
Price has gone up a bit, but really reasonable. Taz Terry Phillips F1 Imports & Exotics 568 Industrial Blvd. Naples, Florida 34104 Tel. (239)430-2206 [email protected] http://www.f1imports.com 456 Window Regulators We have had a fantastic response to our repair for the 456 window regulators. We have a repair and return service. If you or the shop you are bringing your car to removes and sends the regulator to us, we will repair it and send it back. The repair will cost $197.49 plus shop supplies and tax. (Tax only applicable in Florida) Call or e-mail. [email protected] or 239-430-2206 We are now able to do this repair on most all Late Model Ferrari's and Maserati's!!!!!!!!!!!!
One big advantage to the 456M over the 1995 456s is the remote unlocking, and particularly the remote trunk release. One thing I always hated about my 456GT was coming up to the car with a couple of bags of groceries, having to unlock the door, and reach across the dash to open the trunk. The 1997 456GTs did have remotes. My opinion, contrary to others on here, is that the 1997 456GT (manual) is actually the car to have, if you can find one.
Don- Does that apply to all the Motronic 5.2 456 GTs? I thought they started out in 1996, but not sure if that included 96 models or just the 97s and 98s. The WSM splits them up at 1996, but that may be year of manufacture, and not model year, with the 5.2s starting in late Summer 1996 as MY97 cars here in the States. Taz Terry Phillips
Terry- there were no US 1996 456GTs. I think when they put the Motronic 5.2 in, they also added the remotes. All of this was done in conjunction with the automatic transmission, although they did make a few manual transmission cars as well.
Remote trunk release??? Where? How is it done?? My 2002 456M GTA does not open the trunk by remote. I have to climb in the car to open it. Do I miss something here?? Thanks for a hint. Eric
Don- You still had to open the door with the single button remote, but at least the pushbutton on the 456M was closer than the switch on the 456. Taz Terry Phillips
This year I am adding a new alarm system in my 456, which will include a trunk release. Since the button is on the center console and you have to reach in far to get to it, that's a very needed upgrade. I now find that I use the emergency cable nearly as often as the central button! I am also looking into the interesting developments in car stereos, look at the depth of this new Parrot Asteroid system, it looks like there is a good chance it will fit the shallow center console of the 456GT, and with all the possibilities it has it will be a very nice upgrade to bring a 456 into the mobile and navigation era: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQkIs8Sp11k&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsl1ds7KO3c&feature=related[/ame]
