Something 612-related I wrote a while ago...

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
I think the 612 has aged really well and looks elegant ....... Grown old gracefully.
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
Hi Nathan, thats the first time i've re-read the article since you had the car. Its well written and the car looks great (well I would say that). I still have it of course and its been ran out but not too far during these last few weeks. Andy, I was the same earlier in their life, I thought they were awkward looking and under tyred with the standared wheels. When I saw this one in the flesh at KHPC, the colour combination and the bigger wheels just blew me away and within minutes I had made the decision in my head. Once I drove it, the V12 and sports exhaust made me sign on the dotted line. Its brilliant although quite a fragile build quality.
After reading it again I shall take it out tonight :)
Cheers
[/QU
I think the 612 has aged really well and looks elegant ....... Grown old gracefully.
The 612 is a grower. I remember seeing the red test car in Evo and thinking it looked like an enormous blood blister. However in less eye popping hues it really works. TDF blue or that lovely grey for me...

OTOs are a lot more money but that updated gearbox does make a lot of difference.
Though the carbon ceramics I hear are eye wateringly expensive to refurbish...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Guy

Guy

Member
Messages
2,000
That OTO looks stunning but not sure 120k makes sense when compared to 599 prices?
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,309
That OTO looks stunning but not sure 120k makes sense when compared to 599 prices?

You’re getting towards GTC4 Lusso money there, when you’ve factored in 12 months of running costs (service pack and warranty on the GTC).
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
You’re getting towards GTC4 Lusso money there, when you’ve factored in 12 months of running costs (service pack and warranty on the GTC).

If (and it is a pretty big if) I consider a prancing horse, it would be for a GTC4 - which I consider to be a much better looking car than the 612
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
That OTO looks stunning but not sure 120k makes sense when compared to 599 prices?
In fairness to the dealers - who I know well - similar OTOs and HGTC/HGTS cars are in the same ballpark.
For what it’s worth on looks alone I’d choose the 612 over the cars that came after it. Not a fan of the breadvans at all, though the GTC4 Lusso is a great improvement over the FF.
 

outrun

Member
Messages
5,017
In fairness to the dealers - who I know well - similar OTOs and HGTC/HGTS cars are in the same ballpark.
For what it’s worth on looks alone I’d choose the 612 over the cars that came after it. Not a fan of the breadvans at all, though the GTC4 Lusso is a great improvement over the FF.

Really? The FF and Lusso both look far better in the flesh than they do in photos. Obviously, I am bias however I drove the Lusso extensively and far preferred the FF which is much more raw and enjoyable, where the Lusso is refined. I do like a 612 however I drove one of them too but you're really comparing old vs modern with more than a hint of rose tinted glasses on. The 612 is nice but for me, it's now an old car and comes with all the running costs and potential for disaster of Ferraris from that era. The FF and Lusso are both leaps forward in technology, handling, build quality and performance.

Styling is a subjective thing of course, and I see why someone doesn't like the hatchbacks, but for me they offer everything you could ever need in one package and are now the bargain of all Ferraris. And the FF, in the right colour is much more pure a design than the Lusso with it's fussy side blades etc.
 

Wagons-Lits

Member
Messages
250
Great point and that is why I chose the Strad above the 612 for similar money. I looked at the service records of a few 612s and £15k services were quite common. One has to look at the whole cost of ownership when making comparisons.
I think the other thing to consider (at least I do), is where does a car fit relative to it's siblings; the Strad is the best of Maserati, don't think you can say the same about the 612 as it relates to other Ferraris.

the OPs car is very nice and no offence is intended, but I personally think it's not until you get to the FF that the 4 seat F cars are worth having over something else at a similar price point
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
;
the Strad is the best of Maserati,

This is an interesting comment .... and of course is subjective.

To me, the Strad makes no sense. Why take a 4 seater GT car and try and turn it into a 2 seater sports car?

It's very much like sporty SUVs. If you want an SUV, buy one. If you want a sports car - buy one.

Now runs and ducks for cover in anticipation of abuse :)
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,309
This is an interesting comment .... and of course is subjective.

To me, the Strad makes no sense. Why take a 4 seater GT car and try and turn it into a 2 seater sports car?

It's very much like sporty SUVs. If you want an SUV, buy one. If you want a sports car - buy one.

Now runs and ducks for cover in anticipation of abuse :)
I agree, but don’t forget the 4 seat Stradale which is far more useable.
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,306
It's very much like sporty SUVs. If you want an SUV, buy one. If you want a sports car - buy one.

I can really see the appeal of a sporty SUV however. I live very rurally and the standard of the roads is shocking. I could really so with an SUV as I have to crawl around the lanes at such slow speeds for the risk of under floor & wheel damage. I have a Nissan Navara for dog hauling and get around in it faster than my other cars. I used to have a Pajero Evolution which was fantastic and can see my next purchase being a sporty SUV so that it can cope with all conditions and all weather, whilst still having a good amount of poke & zip.
A Levante Trofeo to compliment my GT Trofeo maybe?!
 

Wagons-Lits

Member
Messages
250
This is an interesting comment .... and of course is subjective.

To me, the Strad makes no sense. Why take a 4 seater GT car and try and turn it into a 2 seater sports car?

It's very much like sporty SUVs. If you want an SUV, buy one. If you want a sports car - buy one.

Now runs and ducks for cover in anticipation of abuse :)
yes entirely subjective :) but then very few cars, 4 seat GT or 2 seat sports car, have as much character, charisma or style as an MC Stradale. These are the things that personally matter to me in cars
 

makeshiftUK

Member
Messages
1,089
This is an interesting comment .... and of course is subjective.

To me, the Strad makes no sense. Why take a 4 seater GT car and try and turn it into a 2 seater sports car?

It's very much like sporty SUVs. If you want an SUV, buy one. If you want a sports car - buy one.

Now runs and ducks for cover in anticipation of abuse :)
And for me, the Strad represents the pinnacle of performance and engineering with the road-going GT... the rarity/exclusivity of these cars makes them appealing to me, and I personally wouldn't benefit from anything that achieves 0-60 faster (other than to gain points quicker).

The QP itself was conceived in the early 60's as an unlikely marriage between 4 door, practical luxury and fantastic performance (the fastest 4 door saloon at the time, I think)... and a 7 series (as much as I love them) or S Class just simply isn't the same.

Just my 2 cents!
 

Guy

Member
Messages
2,000
And for me, the Strad represents the pinnacle of performance and engineering with the road-going GT... the rarity/exclusivity of these cars makes them appealing to me, and I personally wouldn't benefit from anything that achieves 0-60 faster (other than to gain points quicker).

The QP itself was conceived in the early 60's as an unlikely marriage between 4 door, practical luxury and fantastic performance (the fastest 4 door saloon at the time, I think)... and a 7 series (as much as I love them) or S Class just simply isn't the same.

Just my 2 cents!
Spot on and I will happily swap my two mint 7 series V8s for a QPV to fully support your argument!! :p
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
Spot on and I will happily swap my two mint 7 series V8s for a QPV to fully support your argument!! :p

Back to OP - I like the pictures of the blue one. Have flirted with the 612 as my V12 motor but unconvinced by the couple I have seen. Most recently an unloved grey car parked at Leighton Buzzard rail station.

^^^ re QP vs alternate. The seven series was great looking several models ago, so I had one. Come time to replace the ex Mrs 48635 castle preferred the interior of Alfa 166 over the 740i so we have that V6. After that and second 166 died I arrived in the QP. No way back into the seven series after sitting in M139 QP. Why have cotton when you can have silk?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Guy

Guy

Member
Messages
2,000
^^^ re QP vs alternate. The seven series was great looking several models ago, so I had one. Come time to replace the ex Mrs 48635 castle preferred the interior of Alfa 166 over the 740i so we have that V6. After that and second 166 died I arrived in the QP. No way back into the seven series after sitting in M139 QP. Why have cotton when you can have silk?
[/QUOTE]

Fully agree it's just that silk wears out rather more quickly than cotton. Show me the man maths to justify 30k miles a year in a QPV. Please!
 

Devonboy

Member
Messages
1,289
Fully agree it's just that silk wears out rather more quickly than cotton. Show me the man maths to justify 30k miles a year in a QPV. Please!
[/QUOTE]

Easy - just compare it to the costs of running a FF/GT Lusso!
 

makeshiftUK

Member
Messages
1,089
Fully agree it's just that silk wears out rather more quickly than cotton. Show me the man maths to justify 30k miles a year in a QPV. Please!

Easy - just compare it to the costs of running a FF/GT Lusso!
[/QUOTE]
Going to need some numbers... go on, how much was a service?! :):)
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
Not to put a fly in the QP ointment but a very good 166 3.2 is up for grabs at the moment. £8k but it’s had a **** of a lot of work done.