1980s Ferrari?

[farfisa23]

I am thinking about buying a 1982-1985 Ferrari 400 or 412.

Anyone have experience owning one? I have a feeling it will cost me not a lot to buy -18-15K - but a fortune to upkeep.

 

[Night Owl]

Figure a few dollars/mile in operating costs.

 

[Full Canvas]

Originally Posted by farfisa23

I am thinking about buying a 1982-1985 Ferrari 400 or 412.

Anyone have experience owning one? I have a feeling it will cost me not a lot to buy -18-15K - but a fortune to upkeep.

Styling on the 400/412 was intentionally modest because ransom-inspired abductions were frequent at that time in Italy. The year models you listed are all fuel injected. So, your maintenance will be slightly less expensive there over the earlier carbureted models. Nevertheless, they are V-12 Ferrari cars and they come with certain maintenance requirements that a Chevrolet sedan lacks.

The devil is in the details. Check to see the exhaust is in good shape. They suffer from bottoming on driveways and speed bumps. Oil coolers were known to crack frequently. Just be aware that an engine tune-up will likely run $3,000 or more, a valve job can easily approach $10,000, and an engine rebuild will be well north of $20,000. So, be sure to get a complete exam and report before you purchase. Try not to purchase someone else's deferred maintenance!

If you elect to get one of the automatic transmission models, that part of the car will be bulletproof. It's a GM 3-speed automatic. The trade-off for that reliability is that your acceleration from standstill is relatively sluggish because the GM transmission has a fairly high first gear. Oh, and the top speed is lower than the five-speed transmission cars. But, it's a touring car anyway. So, half a second or so slower to sixty miles per hour and a top speed of "only" one hundred fifty miles per hour shouldn't be the primary concern. You can cruise forever at one hundred twenty miles per hour and the car merely yawns!

No Ferrari is inexpensive to operate. Every gentleman should own a Ferrari at some point in his life. The 400s are a good way to get the true Ferrari Grand Touring experience without the expense of the more desirably styled models. I would rather drive a 400 than one any of the contemporary 308 models if the journey were to exceed 150 miles.

My driving experience with the 400 was a one time affair as a guest driver from Monterey to La Jolla. My Ferrari V12 ownership experience is with a 365 GTB-4 for nearly six years.

___

 

[Virginia Dandy]

Spend some time on ferrarichat.com and then ask this question over there - very helpful and well-informed crowd - especially on the model specific subfora.

Increased reliability or not - any Ferrari with an automatic transmission is an abomination.

 

[bullethead]

kudos on your choice. I always thought the 400 was underrated.

 

[farfisa23]

Originally Posted by bullethead

kudos on your choice. I always thought the 400 was underrated.

It is such a good looking car. I just don't want to spend 10-12k a year on upkeep.

Talking to a mechanic next week, will report back.

 

[LabelKing]

I like the looks of it--rather discreetly extravagant.

 

[Baron]

A friend of mine has one of these. More specifically, his business partner has one but the partner is often out of the country and my friend has use of the car. I think it would be impractical to use as your only car if you actually needed a reliable car for daily use, but it would be a pretty cool toy otherwise.

 

[farfisa23]

Originally Posted by Baron

A friend of mine has one of these. More specifically, his business partner has one but the partner is often out of the country and my friend has use of the car. I think it would be impractical to use as your only car if you actually needed a reliable car for daily use, but it would be a pretty cool toy otherwise.

Baron, you know my situation with cars, this would be my weekend car for LA or SF. I promise you as many rides as you want.

 

[GQgeek]

I don't understand why anyone would want one. They really aren't attractive and maintenance will be a *****.

 

[Artisan Fan]

Originally Posted by farfisa23

I am thinking about buying a 1982-1985 Ferrari 400 or 412.

Anyone have experience owning one? I have a feeling it will cost me not a lot to buy -18-15K - but a fortune to upkeep.

Stay in the 308-328 area.

 

[farfisa23]

want a 2+2, plus the 400/412 is underrated.

a 308/328 looks kinda dumb to me. I am fan of classic Ferraris, if I had to get a new one, it would be a 612.

 

[Baron]

Originally Posted by farfisa23

Baron, you know my situation with cars, this would be my weekend car for LA or SF. I promise you as many rides as you want.

Sweet. I'm pissed I didn't get to cruise in the Maybach.

 

[farfisa23]

Originally Posted by Baron

Sweet. I'm pissed I didn't get to cruise in the Maybach.

I have a sick ass Hyundai when I am down in two weeks.