Considering a 456

Prefer the M because it has all the updates.
Don’t like red. Better: blue/ green/silver, if you like: black (I don’t)
I like tan seats but with the kids black has a better future.
All that said you will have a Ferrari to enjoy alone or with family.

 

Hi,

well, there’s nothing wrong with the standard seats. Personally I have never seen Daytona seats live in person anywhere on a 456. I know they exist but perhaps more in the US where ”bling” is more popular.

To the other stuff, I would say the same as for any E-type (or to he honest, any Jag) get the best you can find.

These cars are fantastic value for money, but also they can be money pits. As they are now 20-30 years old, the original stereo, AC, power steering, self levelling rear suspension, and especially the door windows can be a problem and athough they all can be repaired they can be a bit laborsome.

To me the biggest effort so far was repacing driver’s door seal! No I mean really, you can not imagine how much work is required. :-o

Still definitely worth the effort, just a couple of stints at 260-280km/h on the German Autobahn without problems and minimal wind noise and it was really worth all the trouble.

Great threads here on fchat, check them out.

cheers!

 

As a family car, a 456M GTA would be my choise. Silky smooth and comfortable... real oil pan automatic. It is a quite heavy car and I feel that transmission gives the car a very good delivery of all the engine’s torque. I had a 456M GT manual. It was a great car. Good luck.

 

MHO
The gate shifted GT is part of the fun of driving a Ferrari.

 

Mine is black, and I will say that while it’s very bad ass looking, the black does obscure the gorgeous lines a little.

 

My COMPLETELY prejudiced response would be Tour de France Blue, Daytona Seats with contrasting inserts, M, and 6-sp. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Some, me included, prefer the looks of the earlier (non-M) cars: hood vents and especially the interior with the non-airbag wheel and more/nicer gauges.
Color of course is very personal but I think the Blue LeMans on my '95 really showes the subtlety of the design well.

 

I agree. I also see no point in having a torque converter in a Ferrari.

Matt

 

We bought our 456 for precisely the same reason. Our children were young at the time and we took them to most of the F club functions. Plenty of room in the back. The manual is a preferred option for most, but the auto is good too. We still have the 456 and will do for many years. It’s a gorgeous car to drive. I’d agree with regard to colour, almost anything but red, it just doesn’t do the car justice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Either way, these are tremendous value for your Ferrari dollar. I think, as some have stated, it comes down to finding one with the specs you like. There were just under 3200 456s of all flavours produced, as I recall.

I agree that the manual is a must, and I think you're definitely better off buying more expensive but sorted examples. Rear suspension, window regulator pins and shrinking interior leather are the three big problems. Aside from that, they are simple creatures for the most part (obscure ECUs in everything notwithstanding).

To help a bit: one thing that a lot of people forget: the M is a slightly tighter fit inside. I'm 188cm, and I was hitting the ceiling in the M. I have about 2cm to spare in my GT. (I do like to sit somewhat more upright). I can't have anyone sitting behind me, but I bring my wife and 3-year-old along often.
M has OBD2 (in US), which in many cases seems to be a mixed blessing. M has newer and better stereo system.

GTs are mostly manual (70% or so), while the reverse is true for Ms. You'll have more chances of finding a manual GT, and it will be cheaper than a comparable M.


(all stats are as I can best recall, I don't claim absolute truth!)

 

The 97 US GTs and GTAs had Motronic 5.2 and OBDII, from mid-CY96 through the introduction of the M in late 97.

 

Hi

I bought a 456M GTA as a family car about 5 years ago and I have never regretted buying it. Mine’s an auto as there just weren’t any RHD manuals on the market - they are like hens teeth in the UK. I have used the car on school runs, on fishing trips, family visits and just about everything other than track days. In that time it has only left me by the side of the motorway once. Like others have said - do your research and make sure the car you get has been properly looked after otherwise you will be in for a few hefty garage bills. Also be aware that some of the parts aren’t made anymore so if they fail, you have to wait until you can get hold of the part from one of the breakers. It took me 2 years to get a seat switch for example.

 

Mike, welcome.

I recently was in this situation. I bought a 99 456M GTA a couple years ago.

As far as the M vs. Non-M. Two questions you must ask yourself. Which looks better? Do you want the updates? To me, they look about the same, so the former was not a big issue; the latter, however, was of importance to me. Seats are subjective, get the one that you like best. I will say the standard seats are the most comfortable seats of all the cars I've owned!

I would recommend if this is your first Ferrari to get the 6-speed. While the automatic is very well suited for the car, much of the 'magic' of Ferrari, I feel, lies in the gated shifter. I already own another Ferrari with this anachronistic wonder, so having an automatic is less a liability for my personal usage.

Not to pooh-pooh the automatic, as I said - it matches the touring nature of the vehicle. I have other cars that are far more exciting or visceral when sporting is my primary goal. To me, the 456 always represented a tuxedo vs. tracksuit. Some would argue to find a compromise, say a 'suit' for the formal event, much merit to this. I just feel if you are going to don the Tuxedo, one should utilize the more traditional (and less sporty) cummerbund.

I have no regrets - the car has been an absolute pleasure. Boy do I love the power of full depreciation as well.

Best to you.

 

Well sorted 456s are a joy, 6 speed or automatic, and the automatic transmission is perfectly matched to the big V12.

 

There’s a wonderful 456 GT stick coming up on BAT , Seen it a bunch at cars and coffee everything has been fixed .

 

Have you considered the FF?

Manual transmissions are great but paddle shifts are fun too.

had a manual 456 for about a year and bought it for similar reasons to you but at the end of the day I left the kids at home and drove my 458 instead.

I will admit that the 456 does have a certain, rare cool factor.

 

Hi
I have a 95 456 GT and I have owned it for 15 years. Purchased from Ferrari of SF with 23000 miles and it now has 53000 miles. I’ll probably own it for the rest of my life. The early cars have more cabin space which appeals to me because I’m a big guy. It also has more of the styling cues borrowed from the Daytona and other iconic earlier models I like. The M cars seem to bring slightly more money, for whatever reason.
Mine is CDF (gunmetal gray) over natural hides which I believe is about perfect. Darker colors are best because of the subdued styling. Windows fitting properly will be a problem, but it’s not insurmountable. The six speed stick is great.
Mike
Seattle

 

Looks like most of the bases have been covered. I'll only add, at least in my 456, the cabin do tend to smell of gas and exhaust from the V12, just something to consider/watch for when looking, especially if shuttling your kids around for long periods. Cheers.

 

Oh yea, if the car has sat and/or has low miles you will likely need to replace the all the rollover valves on top of the fuel tank and check the back of the fuel pumps for cracks and you also must replace both rubber fuel pump surrounds (they also dissolve) as well as the other gaskets that dissolve within the tank. Not a big deal, but it has to get done or you will eventually be purchasing new fuel pumps and/or wondering why your car has a rough idle, smells like gas, is down on power, etc...

Make sure you have the tank full when you are smelling around too. !

 

Stick with the stick.
You already stated you prefer a manual and I guarantee you will forever wonder should you go with a GTA

 

I'd be curious to see how many cars actually have had valve guides fail. I'd be willing to bet it is another of those overblown issues that happened to a few very loud owners. When I was looking, I came across a lot of 80k km+ cars in Europe, nobody ever spoke about them.

 

Glad somebody said that.