Which Ferrari has the most Performance & Practicality

I'd have to go with the 360 CS, 550/575 very close.

Gary

 

365GTC4. It had great performance for its day, sounded better than any other street legal Ferrari, bar none, and could sit four. The 360 and 550/575 perform better, but don't sound as good and are NOT practical at all as they sit only two.

 

I'd say this one - big torquey V-12, all the modcons, seats 4, plus room for the dogs/groceries/smaller pieces from Sotheby's/what have you.

Cheers
Kevin
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This is kind of like asking what color you like best. It all depends on personal preference. For me it's currently the 360, for the design, sportiness and something that suits my style. For the next guy this might be a whole different story.

 

Well, to some, practical means being able to load a sheet of plywood, so it's all relative. To me, practical is two people and their bags.

Gary

 

612.

 

Oddly enough, mine!

 

Have you ever seen 4 people in a GTC/4?
There is not enough space between the back of the front seat and the rear seat for a leg. Forget about an entire foot.

Love the car but don't say its practical because it seats 4

Erich

 

If practical means using it on a daily basis and living your life...I would have to vote for the Mondial T Cabriolet followed by the 456M GT.

Mondial T Cab
Performance is decent, storage space is decent and you can fit two couples in the car. All of this with top down motoring... Suspect the M3 Cab is an even better deal but nothing beats the sound of the Ferrari engine...even if it is "only" an 8.

456M GT
Performance is great for big car standards...decent room. Alas...hard top only.

Personally, I love driving an open top car...

 

since in my world practicality dictates a touring coupe,and over the years have driven the gamut from 250 gte to maranellos...
the models mentioned already match my choices however after looking at the many variables between a 1972 C4 compared with a drive by wire traction controled 575....i feel it comes down to which suits ones tastes..
old school versus new school
while the 575 creature comfort and technical advantages make for an incredible driving experience,i like the fact that you dont need to click off some electrical thingy in the C4 to scare friends ****less.

 

without a doubt 612
Think what you want about the styling, it seats 4 and goes like the clappers

 

360/550/575....i would say the 456 as it is a 2+2, but it doesn't have the raw Ferrari feel more like the 360 and 550/575. Practical, to me, means it sits two persons and their bags/luggage, etc. Practicality doesn't have to have four seats. Two is fine, with space for other stuff and a very potent engine.

 

To me, practicality means reliability & capability as every day car, and perfromance means w/in the frame of daily situation, not on circuits.

I say 456 or 550/575 fits a bill for me. 456 can accomodate 4 grown ups (5 would be too tight unless you're sandwiched by 2 exotic person) Maranello is my most practical Ferrari.

After driving 8 cylidners though, these 2 cars felt very different. 550 I test drove almost felt like a powerful sedan like M-B & BMW.

360 has pretty good space behind the seat, so it could be strong second choice. I am interested how 430 interior will be like.

 

See my post in the current Maintenance Cost thread.

 

456, mondial t cab

 

Is that not a disgrace to Ferrari! A 456 station wagon! What moron would order such a car! To think, the dude probably paid close to a million dollars to have that car built. A Ferrari station wagon. What a disgrace.

 

It was a one off for the Sultan of Brunei.

I would say the best mix of performance and practicality is a 456. 4 seats, not too flashy, and huge power.

 

Great thread.
For me:
Ferrari performance and practicality index=

(power x agility) + seating + cargo
------------------------------------------------
(aquisition cost)(maint. costs) - value appreciation

My winner (which I bought) was a Mondial 3.2 or t. The 456 is terrific for me as well if it weren't for the 'denominator'. A GTC/4, 330 GT 2+2 or 365 2+2 also rank pretty well.

Just my value set...

 

gotta go with the 550/575 with a test pipes.

 

I was thinking about this very question today while checking out a gorgeous black F50. I've always considered the F50 one of the most desirable cars on the planet. Top 4. My CS being as close as I could ever justify cost-wise to an F50 or Mclaren F1.

But as I looked over the F50 inside and out, I realized... I could have never taken the awesome road trip from Dallas to Monterey this summer in the F50. It may have even less storage space than a Gallardo!! I suddenly found myself loving my Stradale even more, if that's at all possible!


But, to answer your question, you have to define "practicality". For my chosen use... to drive to track events all over the country... to drive all the great twisty roads in the country... and to show it at all the great shows in the country... and to be my semi-daily-driver... the best combo of performance and practicality is the Challenge Stradale. Nothing else can touch it.

But if you give me a different definition of practicality... like my wife's needs... a great sportscar than can hold her and the kids... well, then only a 2+2 will do. At which point I'd have to say the 612 Scaglietti would take that prize.