More comfortable ride F12 Vs 599 vs Cali T?

I don't know about the 599 but I have an F12 and it works well as a comfy gt car as long as I put bumpy road mode on. Briefly test drove a cali t a couple of months ago and it felt just as comfy as the F12 in its softest settings.

 

I have recently driven both F12 and Cali T, for what it is worth, I think the soft setting in the Cali T is just a tad softer than the F12.

 

Ride wise F12 and 458 are very similar, I had the manual race seats in my 458 spider and dare I say it, prefer the driving position in the 458.
Also been behind the wheel of few 599s, one with standard suspension and couple with HGTE, certainly feel the bumps more in comparison to the 458 and F12.
As for the Masi, although it's very comfortable, also need to mention (sounds incredible) it's much heavier car, performance isn't in the same league.
Never tried a Cali T, but I imagine ride is probably more compliant.

 

Because it's a larger car, I feel my FF was the most comfortable ride versus all Cali, 458, 488, 430, 360 cars I've had. The F12 is a little less so as it's more speed focused and lighter than the FF.

 

I have both a Cali T and an F12 and had a 458 Spider. The F12 has racing seats which are not as soft as the CaliT. I only have 600 miles on the F compared to 3000 on the Cal, but think as an every day driver the Cali is more comfortable and slightly more user friendly. Compared to a mid engine 458 both feel bigger. Power of the Cali will surprise you but it is not even close to being in the same class as the 12. If comfort is your major issue but you want the sounds of nonturbo the FF might be good choice for you and probably a pretty good value as they have dropped hard with the new lusso out. Fwiw.

 

What about the 488? I haven't driven one yet, but from what I understand it should be quite a bit more comfy than the 458. Our old 599 was nowhere near as comfy as our current 458 Spider - so if your 458 is too firm, don't get a 599. One thing I will say is my experience with the F12 is that while it does feel about as firm as the 458, I think it tends to be less jarring and pick up less bumps. Don't know if it's the taller tyre profile, weight or length, but I think it's slightly more comfy than a 458, but only by a hair. The FF is by far the most comfy in my opinion - more so than the Cali T. However I'm not much of a Cali T lover. It's a nice car and all, and my wife was really into the idea of owning one. We had one for an extended weekend and every time we got in it, we both felt something was missing - and it was not due to the sound. We just didn't get the thrill as other F cars have given us. This continues to this day. We have a couple of friends with Cali T's and it still don't do much for any of us when we're in them.

Find a dealer and have a go in the various models. That will help you get a better feel for what's what.

Just my 02

 

Whatever you decide, try adding a set of spacers. They're inexpensive and my experience is you immediately feel a softer ride...spacers plus bumpy road setting was very smooth in my Spider and Cali T. My guess is the additional few cm's (I used 15 cm on back, 11 on front) of leverage that's created on the suspension by pushing the wheels out takes the edge off. Used them around town and track (in sport setting, which stiffens it back up) without any issues.

 

If the goal is to soften the ride, wheel and tire choice might improve things a bit.

 

My Cali T is my DD and I find it very comfortable 10K miles in under 1 year.
I've had a 458 and there's no comparison in comfort.

 

Spacers are an interesting thought. Tire pressures are HUGE on these cars. Try dropping it a little.

The Cali T feels soft, but also feels like a cheap car IMO. The F12 and FF and 458 are in another league.

FF with the Daytona seats is super comfy and everything else it does is great, except a little heavy for the track. Not ideal by any means, but doable.

 

In my experience spacers didn't make the ride much softer, but they do make the car feel more stable and strangely that often makes the car seem as if its better built. Notice my use of "feels" and "seems"... Widening the track will also make the car less nimble (how much depends).

I think from a ride standpoint your best bet is the FF. It has the longest wheelbase at 117.7" / F12 at 107"/ Cali at 105.1"/ 458 at 104.3".. I also think Ferrari has set it up with a more GT mission.

It shouldn't be too difficult to find an FF to take for a test drive. Then you'll know for sure.

 

i just traded in my 599 for a new F12 and the ride in the old 599 when in "AUTO" mode was rough....it pulled and jerked noticeably b/w gear shifts. The shifts in the F12 when in "AUTO" mode are smooth as silk - A noticeable difference. The F12 bumpy road dampeners also make for a very comfortable ride in the F12. Ride comfort b/w a F12 and 599 - no comparison! Never owned a Cali T so can't comment.

 

Sorry to go slightly off topic, but I'd be interested in anyone adding in comparisons to the older 12 cylinder Ferraris, like Testarossa and Boxer, due in part to the higher profile tires.

If anyone can provide a comparison of FF or F12 vs. the ride any of the older 12's I'd appreciate it.

 

The F12, FF and 458 onward are much better built cars in every way than what came before. The ride is better ... the DCT is faster and more smooth. If you want a bumpy mode in every mode, the old cars are for you. I have no interest in that. Yet to drive the 488 but the reports are that it lost the visceral track feel of the 458, more composed all the time, more helpful. Not cool IMO, the 458 Speciale is the nuts for track rats and the F12 is the monster machine for a more composed ride with oodles of extra power, more than you can use really, except to burn tires

Awesome

The Cali is a Maz, let's be real about that. And the seats are narrow and concave at the hip. Not comfy for most people. Cali T not much better IMO, still a cheap ride quality, too.

The F12 is a monster, street or track. The FF is equally comfy, especially with the daytona seats.

 

Thank you Brian, appreciated.

 

Agree, my wife's FF is the most comfortable car I've ever ridden in and that includes a Bentley. I'm sure some will disagree but that's my opinion.

 

Bottom line it's not about the low profile tires of new vs old, it's the whole engineering package. Maranello can basically build any ride style they choose at this point, make the cars feel and drive in any way you would want them to be. The 488 for example is more composed, likely to compensate for the power and size, and to be different from the 458 (no data, just my hunch). The LaFerrari is set up to be fun and doable for the 'normal' people more or less, who own them. Those cars could be set up to the more like the TDF, track focused and more full on. Like the FXX-K.

Each car is now a driving experience by choice. The older cars had to be what they were based on current tech advances, and that equals a more simple engineering chain and a more visceral relationship between ass, hands and road in most cases. Personally I like te modern options, and the manettino plus tire pressures on the newer cars gives those options. Buttons for ride are in most all modern cars, yet in a better way with Ferrari driving dynamics, always more fun, more engaging, more focused on the driving passion. No one got out of a modern Ferrari and said, can't wait to NOT drive that again. The modern cars are just head and shoulders above, in every way, if you like new tech and reliability and driving options.

The next level of options is maybe too much for me, as had been said at every new era by someone ... rear wheel angles? Do we need that? But that just shows you how far things have gone and how little room to improve there really is.

If you want super visceral, get the late era F1 and the bumpy, loud, more visceral things the modern cars can be too much tech to do. 599 OTO or what have you, something older. I get bored with one car that does one thing. If you have MANY cars, then you can have each be a specialist. Not my life, but some people's.

If you add an inch or two to the wheel size of the modern cars, it will throw off the factory balance. Suddenly you're a bit back in time, with an always stiffer car, and still a range of options.

 

I had the 550 for about 5 years and Thousands of miles, almost 50 by the time I was finished with it. When I drove the 599, I was really glad I had the 550 in no way did I want to trade up. Now, I have the 458 and it beats my teeth out compared to the 550. After 3 hours in the 458 Italia on the Tail of the Dragon, I am ready to get out of the car, it has the carbon fiber race seats, which hold you snug.

So I don't know if maybe I should get the FF, if I can get past the looks, as the car is a Monster in all manner.
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Along with the ride, you should consider the size, the 599 is a lot bigger inside with a tiny bit more leg room. The boot in the 599 is also quite a bit bigger if you don't take the parcel shelf out of the F12, the ride in the F12 is certainly less choppy.
Maybe look at a Lusso or FF as well ?

 

I have also back issue.... had 911 turbo (not a comfy ride for my back), Maserati GT sport (not enough power) .... so I got an FF .... it's just an amazing ride .... F12 ride is very close to FF w more power


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