OFFICIAL FERRARI F12 TDF PICTURE THREAD

Is the TDF very difficult to drive? I have driven the F12 and while I liked it. I found it less predictable than any of my mid engine Ferraris, although a big improvement over my early 599, which could be scary. What colors is your TDF and how long have you had it?

 

The standard f12 is notably more tame and doesn't sound the same at all. It's not that it isn't to drive, it's just not easy to drive slowly. You will want to go faster than the Prius's.

 

I understand your car has been delivered congrats ! Are there some pics somewhere ? If my memory is correct it's Giallo tristrato...

 

It's really interesting how many grey Tdf's we've seen, and generally not that many red. Could this be the proportionately lowest number of red cars for any special edition Ferrari to date? Wonder if this thread silently had any effect. iirc the grigio's were discussed quite heavily for a while, around the time when a lot of orders would have been placed.

 

I put a couple up 1-2 pages ago taken up at Lime Rock Park. Yes, got the 3-layer.

Hard to drive? No. Different? yes. The power delivery and sharpness of the chassis are well amplified over the F12, most noticeably on turn-in when going quickly. I loved our F12, but compared to the F12tdf the F12 was floaty and you could feel the weight a bit. The tdf really feels like a different chassis. As i said, the added width of the front tires really makes a big difference, the RWS is very mild and you get used to it after the first few times you feel it.

 

Exactly, floaty is how I'd describe how the first 599's felt, then the handling package helped some, later the F12 felt even more improved but retained a little bit of floaty. I am very encouraged with your characterization of the TDF and relieved the RWS isn't excessive. I hope the aero, mechanical grip and sofisticated traction control keep the TDF more tied down. Can't wait to drive it, still at stage 40.

 

Just drove my F12TDF, and I must say that I am totally amazed by this car.
Despite 33 years owning all sort of Ferraris and some other cars, Ferrari keeps surprising
me with their cars.
This is a piece of art, a beauty, agressive but yet so elegant.
I really had not too much time to drive it, but just the few miles, tell me that this is
going to be one of my best drives ever.
I am attaching new pictures of this beauty
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I agree with Darth Vader. TDF driving is incredible. In race mode the power is sharp and strong. Even in the wrong gear you get significant power. Car handling feels different than an F12 and requires some trust in the car but the car doesn't let you down. Very different driving than a 488. More power and very fun!

 

Great looking car Darthvader ! Congrats !!!

 

Great shot and comments. Exciting, congratulations.

 

a few more driving observations....

1) the braking performance is steps above the F12. That's a combo of the slightly lower weight, the slightly lower CG, perhaps better brakes themselves, and absolutely the larger front tires. As with all F-cars, pedal effort is high, brake temp needs to be up, but they modulate well if your footwork is deft. Like all cars, it pitches under braking, but the CG/ride height and the spring rates and dampers seem to really bring it down.

2) as mentioned, the higher speed turn in is amazing. Once you adjust your brain, hands and eyes, it's natural, but a bit different. Hard to tell when the RWS is at play, it's subtle, but you tend to notice it in the steering vs. in your butt. Low/mid speed corners are definitely benefiting from the revised front end; turn in is sharp, and the natural understeer is limited. Of course, step on the throttle a bit and it will push, step more and the rear end will rotate. Of course, I'm not going banzai on the street, but compared to other cars, this one has me doing less trail braking to get it turning, and is very neutral mid-corner when off brake and throttle, then plants on exit. This is a good car to remember the "string between the wheel and throttle" in terms of progressive throttle application.

3) overall chassis feel continues to be a big departure from the F12. It's stiff, but not uncomfortable.

4) the engine seems to love to rev quicker and harder than the F12. I'm going to imagine it's a combo of the mapping and the new inlet system, it wants to go and damn does it have mojo. Like many of the V12's, it has 3 stages - low end (good; in this car great), mid (great - pulls hard) and high (ludicrous mode, with accompanying soundtrack). It will go and go and go...whereas the F12 (and FF) seem to build up, the TDF has a very quick spool time.

5) gearbox programming is great, and well matched to the engine. Shift speed is noticeably faster when on throttle, and downshifts much crisper than F12/FF. We tend to focus on the engine, but the gearbox on this car is great. IMHO NFW a manual gearbox would keep up or be a fun alternative with this engine.

6) seriously, one could argue that Clarkson was right, the F12 may have had too much power; to modify that, maybe too much for the chassis. This car has the chassis, but it is just ridiculous. I tend to disregard most media/journalist reviews, but the more I drive the more Chris Harris' video is right on target.

7) with apologies in advance, and not to flame the 599GTO owners (the GTO is amazing), this car has more Jekyll/Hyde - it is much more technically advanced than the GTO, but it has even more insanity and rawness, whether absolutely or relative to the more modern chassis. Both cars great, not comparing.

8) the software. Have drive in Wet mode, hyper similar to the F12. Essentially neuters all your inputs (drove once in rain). Sport Mode, the nannies are on high alert, but not onerously so. Race Mode - notched up a bit, it's not "Drift Mode" but you can easily get the car over the point where the nannies can help you, just based on the laws of physics. When/if the limiter kicks in, that big engine makes it feel like you tossed an anchor out, though the TC does a decent job of softening it. Said otherwise, if your footwork is off, chances are you will unsettle the car- it will likely catch you, but be careful.

9) Safe Harbor Statement - you can drive the car easily around town and have fun with little risk. It's daily drivable if you want, perhaps even more practically than a 488. However, the limits and potential are so high, and the car's ability to get there quickly, is like carrying a razor blade. This car is easy to get in over your head with, so requires respect. I had previously commented that while my LaF, P1 and 918 experiences are limited, those cars are brutally quick, but very easy to drive. The TDF is perhaps a notch back in absolute speed, but has more Porsche 930/Porsche Carrera GT elements - i.e. you need to be on top of it. Sort of like a helicopter, it's violating a few laws of physics by definition of its existence; Felisa and his boys did a great job. IF you own one, and IF you have not had some performance driving experience, I'd get some. No judgment, but you'll appreciate the car more and be better able to enjoy it.
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a couple more....

The HVAC works really well. FWIW a mandatory option for us on any car now is the heat insulating windshield. It's pricey and adds 1kg but works really really well.

New Infotainment upgrades seem identical to 488 (controls, display). Compared to our other recent cars, it works. Some may be annoyed by the (lack of) menu logic and controls, but once you figure it out, it's good. Average maybe compared to other stuff out there. We also have Carplay, which is way overpriced, but considering everything else, it works well.

Sound system quality? I have no idea.

Personally speaking, we outfitted the interior like our F12 - just about all leather everywhere, floor mats. Alcantara only on floor mats, and we picked all the optional CF (way overkill). FWIW, I think they should have left the extra 1-2kg of the glovebox, there is literally nowhere to put anything. Yes, I know, it's a "hard core car", but I tend to keep the books in the car, an EZPass, a flashlight and leatherman, etc. I might have to improvise something. Should have asked when at the Atelier if I could convince them to keep the glovebox...

 

Wow you have wonderful taste. What a classy and beautiful spec on your TDF.

 

Wow thank you for such a wonderful write up about the TDF. I didn't think it was possible, but your comments make me want one even more!

 

Thank you all for the pictures of your beautiful cars and the wonderful writeups!

 

Beautiful and congratulations and I am even enjoying the interior more and more - for some reason the red suits the car better than the standard F12.

ENTROPY: Thanks for a great and informative write up. If I am reading you correctly, even in Race you have to be on your guard? CT Off I expected full Defcon 1 , but Race?

 

Great write up, can't wait to drive it! Enjoy and be safe.

 

The short answer - yes.

The longer answer - yes, but as you'd expect it's dependent on the combination of how fast you are going, and how hard you are driving. Simply put, my impressions so far is this car has so much power that- even with the added grip and improved chassis - you need to have a sensitive right foot when applying throttle. Race guys you enough of a leash to have fun, but the combination of the power and, honestly, the fact that this is still a front-engine car, can get you going. In other respects, as you'd expect, you get going faster, quicker, and arrive at places (eg. brake zones, turns) carrying a bit more speed.

I've only tried "everything turned off" under very controlled conditions, and you can drift or donut your heart out pretty easily. On faster, more flowing corners, it's solid as a rock, with the turn-in a bit more direct and aggressive. On slow-in, fast-out corners, you can balance the car with the throttle and leave long black marks behind you pretty easily (which you can see once the smoke clears). It's in those situations where I'd suggest you build up and be cautious.

Like most really good cars, it will tell you when you could have braked later/turned later/gotten to power earlier, but each of those phases is exaggerated between the chassis, steering, brakes and powertrain.

To be clear - I do NOT consider the car to be "risky" at all, it has amazing capability. However, I'd day to get the 90-100% out of it (maybe more like 80%+) you really need to be on top of it, at that point it's very rewarding. In "fun street driving", it's actually very docile and tractable, though it clearly wants to run hard all the time.

hope this helps

 

Many thanks for the great insight and I so look forward to finding out for myself.

 

Thanks for the awesome write up Entropy. Probably the most in depth write up done so far including most car journalist as its from a owner with obviously a deep understanding of all things cars. I like point 7 with the comparison to the gto and can easily see the tdf cementing itself as one of the all time greats.

 

Great write-up from a real owner and not a quick journalist review. The faster spool-up is also a trait of the solid lifters tracking tightly to the cam angles with no hydraulic delay. The new mapping will take this into account along with the larger throttle bodies. You suffer from increased wear and maintenance but who cares with such a car.

 

Chalstrad's machine

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/14716659_1147104695380471_3613118075001372672_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM1ODkxMDA0Nzc4NjIzNTQ3Ng%3D%3D.2?dl=1