Bought a Ferrari FF - the best modern car ever made?

[MJBO]

First Ferrari I ever drove was an FF, that engine is just sensational.

[Alfisti]

Congrats, honestly don't see how you can go wrong with a NA V12. I have struggled to warm to Ferrari for a while now, not sure if it's the gaudy looks (especially interiors) or the attention they receive on the road but V12, I mean, the engine to me is worth the price tag alone.

[e92hunter]

One big reason I didn't get an FF and got an F90 is because of the AWD system failing frequently (inevitable) on the FF. The issue was not resolved for the Lusso either. I read that this is a $20k+ job if it fails thus backed off from buying.

[damnitBobby]

Nice it's a special car for sure. The V12 is glorious. I don't think I could handle all the attention I would get though. Just against my whole personality.

I'm looking to get into a NA V8 for my next car (IS500). I want to get one before they disappear completely!

[dgoldenz]

Originally Posted by brad850csi

I love the FF and GTC4 but I must say I'm somewhat stuck on an 812 due to the redline as my next car.

I do have one question and I don't want to be rude but honestly the colour just looks like white in those pics. Do you have a pic that shows off the uniqueness of the colour a bit better?

Here’s a pic and a short walkaround that shows the color better in the sunlight. Youtube degrades the quality a bit when uploading so that sucks:

[dgoldenz]

Originally Posted by MJBO

First Ferrari I ever drove was an FF, that engine is just sensational.

Yes it sure is...

Originally Posted by e92hunter

One big reason I didn't get an FF and got an F90 is because of the AWD system failing frequently (inevitable) on the FF. The issue was not resolved for the Lusso either. I read that this is a $20k+ job if it fails thus backed off from buying.

There's a repair kit available now for about $8k, so maybe $10-12k with labor if it goes. A new one is like $30k from Ferrari. This car has 38k miles and it hasn't gone yet, so crossing my fingers...

Originally Posted by damnitBobby

Nice it's a special car for sure. The V12 is glorious. I don't think I could handle all the attention I would get though. Just against my whole personality.

I'm looking to get into a NA V8 for my next car (IS500). I want to get one before they disappear completely!

Most people don't even know what the car is since it doesn't "look like a Ferrari" or at least the way most people think a Ferrari looks (i.e. a 458/488). I've been driving it around for a week and the only attention has been a few thumbs up and "badass ride" comments at gas station/stoplight. 458/88 would get more attention for sure, I like that the FF is more low-key. NA is the way to go, a turbo will just never be the same and most newer exotic cars are now in the "can't use it on the street" territory of power levels.

[..Rush..]

Do you have a good Ferrari mechanic in your town?

[dgoldenz]

Originally Posted by ..Rush..

Do you have a good Ferrari mechanic in your town?

Yeah we have a few good indy shops. If the dealer was the only option I'd be more hesitant to buy one.

[eljay]

Beautiful machine!
Thank you very much for sharing the clips and photos!

[spiceyxi]

Great choice in car! That is one of my dream cars to own and hope pricing doesn't get too crazy when I am in the market.

[VisualEcho]

Not a fan of that shape at all, but there's no denying it's frikin' awesome. And that sound, holy wow. Congrats!

[RM7]

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

Not a fan of that shape at all, but there's no denying it's frikin' awesome. And that sound, holy wow. Congrats!

Same.

But I also recognize that right now there are some very good analog/manual cars available that will likely be the last of the breed. That's why I got a 1LE and it's a blast.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

Same.

But I also recognize that right now there are some very good analog/manual cars available that will likely be the last of the breed. That's why I got a 1LE and it's a blast.

That's why I can't bring myself to get rid of my Exige, there's just nothing out there like it.

[dgoldenz]

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

Not a fan of that shape at all, but there's no denying it's frikin' awesome. And that sound, holy wow. Congrats!

When it first came out I thought it was weird looking. Now it’s one of my favorite designs ever made. Weird how our tastes change over time. The sound though...

[W///]

That sounds absolutely ridiculous. This is why I still can't get excited about electric sports cars. I'd rather be driving this at 45 MPH and listening to that exhaust. Congrats on the new car

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by dgoldenz

This is my second shot at an FF after a debacle on a CPO car last year that had some undisclosed damage and the dealer wound up buying the car back. Through a twist of fate, a Ferrarichat forum member had been texting me while all of that was going on and a few weeks ago asked if I'd be interested in buying his car since he was getting a new F8 and had to clear garage space. The car was perfectly optioned and apparently is the only FF ever made (only Ferrari ever made too?) in this color, Grigio Freddo. Perfect mods (IMO), right color combo, full exhaust, Novitec springs, sold. He offered me a very fair price and I accepted pending PPI results. Few minor things to fix but nothing major, done deal.

Very sweet pearl white/gray, plus the black/white contrast stitching interior was exactly what I was looking for. It's hard to find any FF's with full diamond stitching and even harder to find one with full contrast color stitching. Did I mention it has a V12 and sits four adults comfortably? Yeah, that too. The sound though. Oh, the fucking sound.

Impressions:

-Every single drive feels "special" - I've had a GT3, a few 911's, etc. Nothing feels "special" like driving a Ferrari. Hard to describe until you're behind the wheel, but you know it's just another level compared to everything else.

-Incredibly comfortable car. Easy to get in and out of, sits high enough that I don't have worry about scraping over every bump, even though it's on Novitec lowering springs. Could easily drive a long distance in this thing.

-The best steering wheel ever made, IMO. The newer generations also have awesome steering wheels but yeah, I just love these.

-Car is pretty big but feels like a much smaller car when driving it. Incredible handling for being a "big" heavy GT car.

-Yes we all know the infotainment is outdated and from a Chrysler minivan. Who cares? The touchscreen is responsive with no lag and easy to use, can't say the same about most modern cars. Sound system is pretty solid for stock.

-The sound. Is there a car under $500k that sounds better than a Ferrari V12? Probably not. Maybe a 458 with full exhaust, but I'm partial to the V12.

-The full exhaust makes a MASSIVE difference and totally transforms the car. In stock form it's actually pretty damn quiet inside considering how loud it is on the outside. Double-glazed glass and lots of insulation. Full exhaust is how it should have come from the factory, but we can probably say that about most sports cars.

-If you can afford it, get one before they keep climbing in price. NA V12 modern Ferraris are few and far between in the first place. I won't be surprised if they rise another 20-30% from here. Good examples will probably never be less than $90-100k regardless of mileage, so much car for the money.

-I tend to cycle through cars every 1-2 years. This one might be a forever keeper if it doesn't put me in the poor house with maintenance/repairs. What an incredible machine.

Here's a quick tunnel blast. Hard to record and drive at the same time without killing myself:

If it wasn't for the AWD system, FF/GTC4 Lusso would be very close to perfection. V12 + Shooting Brake; what's not to love?

Just watch out for that 4-5 shift trap when pushing on it (especially in damp conditions).

[chassis]

Yep, V12 shooting brakes are cool. The FF is in good company: Lamborghini 400 Flying Star and Bentley Continental Flying Star:

[dgoldenz]

Originally Posted by lemetier

If it wasn't for the AWD system, FF/GTC4 Lusso would be very close to perfection. V12 + Shooting Brake; what's not to love?

Just watch out for that 4-5 shift trap when pushing on it (especially in damp conditions).

There’s a shop in NJ that was working on a conversion to RWD for a customer that had the PTU failure. That would be sweet. The PTU potential expense is a major hurdle for most which is understandable. Fortunately there’s now an aftermarket fix for about $10k instead of paying $30k for a new one.

The car is amazing. I can’t say enough good things about it. Really a special experience every time you fire it up that you can’t get with the German brands, even Porsche as much as I love them.

[dgoldenz]

Originally Posted by chassis

Yep, V12 shooting brakes are cool. The FF is in good company: Lamborghini 400 Flying Star and Bentley Continental Flying Star:

These are awesome, had no idea that Flying Star even existed. Would love to see them make a 2021 version with the new Continental. The interior on those is just amazingly well crafted. Hopefully they’ll be under $100k in a few years