Geneva to London on a 612 HGTC

I am thinking of driving my 612 with the sport exausts from Geneva to London = (11 hours drive). Do you think it is enjoyable or it will be too noisy and uncofortable for such a long trip. Your input will help me decide which way to go.

 

Sounds like a perfect trip to me. That is what the 612 was made for. Have any pictures?

 

I think you will enjoy the trip on low revs at cruise speed (120-160kph), no problem at all if you're taking the highway. If you're ear sensitive, you wouldn't buy the sport exhausts

enjoy.

 

How loud is it? I tend to like that sort of thing, but my wife doesn't care for loud cars, especially on long trips.

I know the 456 with a tubi is too much for her, but with the standard exhaust is fine.

 

Go for it!

 

What's the alternative?

I would go for the 612; high gear, low revs ... but when your in the mood, open her up.

 

Yep, you just need to know how to drive cars with potentially loud exhausts...


Don't lug the engine or keep the rpm's too low-- you'll get a horrible droning (aka, 4th gear at 3k instead of 6th at 2200). The raw sound level will be lower in addition to a much easier (/amazing) exhaust note)

 

It'll be great - no problem!

 

I went from Maranello to Le Castellet in an HTGC-equipped 612 and didn't notice any particular issues with exhaust noise. The engine is so flexible that you can easily up or down shift a gear to get into the rev range that sounds most pleasing to you. Where I really noticed the engine note was going through tunnels or driving by retaining walls, in which case the idea was to downshift as often as possible

Gio P

 

If you dont enjoy it , sell the Ferrari.

 

+ 1 since isn't the point of a big grand tourer to do big grand tours eg Geneva London ?

 

Do I have to keep the car under 100 KM (60 Miles) for the first 1000 KM like some other cars

 

SOme say the cars do not need to be ran in anymore , some say to keep in under 4000 Rpm for the first 1000 kms ..

 

No but don;t thrash it, mind you if you are coming across France I wouldn't recommend going silly speeds with the strict controls in France these days

 

I think it will be enjoyable.
I bought my first Ferrari in Italy and drove it back to the UK. It was a 2 litre engine, so averaged about 4-5k rpm the whole way home. Yes it was noisy, but it wasn't uncomfortable and I loved every minute of the trip.

A lot of people would love the opportunity to make that kind of trip in a car like yours, so enjoy!

 

+1. As a matter of fact, I'll be more than happy to drive yours all the way to Le Calais and hand over the car so you can do the last part of the trip to London. It would be a good exercise for me as I still need to wait more than a year before I can go pick up mine and drive her back home.

Just do it and enjoy every minute, no, second of it.

 

There's a section in the handbook about "running-in".