Are the V12s more reliable than the V8s?

Interesting question.

Be good to have a poll to find out how many V12 & V8 owners have had engine problems and work out the ratio's.

You definitely hear about more issues on V8's but I think that could be down to larger production numbers.

V12's definitely cost more to fix when they go tits up.

 

YES

 

I agree, I think it is just because there are just more V8s around than v12s. It might also be to do with the V12 not being quite as over worked and over stressed as a V8?

 

He's talking about V12's not flat 12's !!

 

yes v12 do have prob's.

 

I thought a flat 12 was a 180 degree V12 !
Am I incorrect ?

 

I always thought a flat twelve was just that and a V12 had a distinctive V design. Different surely. Never heard Porsche talk about a V6 when talking about the classic flat 6.

 

Am positive the testarossa etc. is actually a 180 degree V12 engine and not a proper boxer like a 911.Its to do with the Ferrari having shared flat plane crankshaft pins for the opposing cylinders whereas 911 pistons are actually directly opposing.

 

Dear Comrade gt4me M8,

This is also my understanding.

As for twelve cylinder cars being more reliable - I believe it is a fact that they are much less highly stressed than the Vee Eight's and there is really no need to work them anything like as hard in general driving. For example, with the TR it is rarely necessary to go much over four thousand rev's.

With kind regards,

Teapotearaway

 

Yes

 

Would think this depends on which model/engine.

 

No problems with my V12 over the last 7k miles, hang on, what's all that smoke?????

 

Hi James, great to see you over here! Hows the 550?

 

612

 

i can't say much more than that.

 

Great thanks Rob, love it more every day; I'm never sure whether to drive it or just stay at home and lick it all over.......

Cheers

 

From the mechanic who looks after the Daytona and my Dad's Ferrari's and is the best Ferrari mechanic in the country (I won't name him without asking permission 1st).

He thinks the best Ferrari engine is the 328 motor and virtually bullet proof if maintained properly. The 355 engine is very fragile and doesn't take high mileages well. the 360 engine is better in that respect (partly because maintainence on it is easier). The 360 is also the first Ferrari you can jack up at all four corners and the body doesn't flex due to the aluminum tub! The modern V12's on the 456/ 550 are very good but the cars suffer from other problems such as water pumps, and engine mounts. The Enzo engine is a problem mainly due to the oil pump design (it's a different pump on a 599). 599 is to early to tell.

Most of the issues on Ferrari's are down to poor or lack of maintenance. They are put away for the winter left for six months and fired up for the summer and the owner expects it to work first go!

He has also done some pre-purchase inspections on a number of Ferrari's where work indicated as done in the service history has not been carried out. Moral when buying a Ferrari even from a dealer always get it independently inspected by someone who knows what they are talking about.