Weird Problem: Trying to Choose between a 612 and a 360 Stick

What do you typically like to do with your cars? I had a 328 and 355 - both mid-V8's with 2 seats. I was finding that I liked to go on our local FCA trips, several of which were 150-200+ mile trips with my wife. Having a touring car just made sense. I also have a 9 year old at home so having a back seat also made some sense. The 328 was sold and replaced by the 612.

While having both the 328 and 355, I found that the cars basically served the same type of driving purpose. The 355 was much more fun to drive so the 328 didn't get taken out much. If you go the 360 route, while vastly different cars, you may find that the 308 sits in the garage a lot. Going with the touring car - 612 or maybe a 599 if the back seat isn't important, gives you more options and driving experiences. Just my rational on it.

 

I really dig my 612. Real humans can sit in the back, and the sound is awesome.

 

What about letting the 308 go in favor of a 360 AND get the 612? That way you have a more modern v-8 and have the touring car as well. I hated to sell my 328 as I loved the look of that car but I really wasn't that into driving it. I preferred driving the 355 hands down.

 

I have a 360 (manual) which I love. Had it for 10 + years. I also have a F430 F1 spider which I'm not a big fan of. Would love it to be a manual.
Im also looking into getting a 612 because I want to bring my wife and daughter along. Been looking at a few 612's but not come to terms with one yet. I've also been sniffing towards Conti GTC and DB9 volante... Common for them all, v12 and 4 seats.

 

Yeah, not a big fan of the F1 trans. Love the manual in the 360. It gives me such satisfaction.
Actually, the reason I sold my Gallardo was the E-Gear as well...

Still searching for a suitable 612, or it might be a Conti or DB9... Time will show.

 

These were on the top of my list initially as well but the more i thought about it they really weren't things that I was going to really take full advantage of. The 612 for me is a compromise car while my daughter is still young enough to want to do things with her parents or for the casual longer drive for to FCA event with my wife. Keeping that in mind, I lowered my "needs" list. If the car had the sport package it was a plus but wasn't something that I was going to pay much more for. IN the end I found one in the color I liked with the interior I likes for a fantastic price, just no sports package.

As said earlier, its a compromise car which I intend, at least at this point, to trade out for a 599 or F12 in a few years when the 4 seats are no longer important.

 

Concur with TrojanFan, keep the 308 and buy the 612. I just got back from FCA Vandenberg AFB event. It was nice to meet Peter and other FCA members. I wish Peter good luck with his recent acquisition. I also like driving my car to events and like the extra room for people and "stuff", something you generally cannot do with a two-seat car. The "driving" quality of the 612 cannot be overlooked. Handling, power and ride. Special thanks to Craig Calder at Fast Cars, the ride height on my car has been corrected to near factory specs. The correction was immediately felt.

 

There is one for sale in Switzerland at huge premium. Would love a manual 612.

 

If this is just about Manual Transmission, there are some cottage specialists working on a F1 to MT conversion - F1 & MT are more alike than you realize.

The 360 & 612 have some things in common. The 360 was first all-aluminum V8 and the 612 was first all-aluminum V12. Both are much bigger than their predecessors, but add little in weight thanks to their AL-based design.

Regardless, the 612 is a transitional car - it has the same body composition used in the new 812 today, but with last iteration of the the belt-driven engine used by the 456, 550, and 575. It is a very good engine. The 612 is also the last rear-drive V12 2+2 made and - compared to the FF variants - has a design that is more consistent with heritage Ferraris. So, I believe it will go up in value eventually.

Both are great cars, but mass-produced modern V8s are not likely to appreciate that much. They made so many of them when compares to the V12s, such as the 612. I believe the only time a V12 out-sold a V8 was the TR vs 328.