After owning a few F cars over the years and listening to all the chit chat from people dressed in red from top to toe who think they are cool looking like a bill boards I have deduced that for anyone dipping into the Ferrari brand on a budget you have to consider what you want from it? Kudos, driving pleasure, investment, garage queen or just an itch that needs scratching.
Basically all V12s upto the FF are analogue and are expensive to run with the 612 averaging around 13-14 mpg. Some will say they got 20 mpg on a run but who wants to drive at 60mph on the autobahns. Good looking car but feels big and not the easiest to move on when the time comes. Late ones in Black or Grey still have a good market though as they improved noticeably.
599s are very rapid and very thirsty and expensive to maintain, Clutches are expensive and can last 10k miles or 60k miles very much dependant on how you pull away plus reversing up hill can make the clutch smell really hot. A proper brute of a car that looks incredible and sounds like an F1 car on full chat. Not the sort of Ferrari to buy on a budget as provenance is everything so cheap ones are going to be a very expensive itch to scratch.
Early FFs are now sub 100k but can start to cost an absolute fortune if not properly looked after. Particular issues are with the PTU or front gearbox which if the car has been thrashed is 35k to replace but indies now offer replacements at around 8k. 2014 cars are better than early ones as in all cases they get better.
Great driving experience and price has bottomed out but cheap ones are cheap for a reason.
The easiest and least painful Ferrari to get into is the California from 2009 onwards, Bullet proof V8 engines, twin clutch gearbox that rarely has issues, folding tin top made by webasto for Ferrari and rarely has any issue that cannot be sorted. Plenty quick enough especially with the DMS upgrade that sweetens the whole thing out nicely and 20 plus mpg normal driving. Bottomed out now at 65-70k for early ones and still look good in Grey or Black. Servicing is no more expensive than a Maser and great to drive Plus always a market for the right colour combo.
360s are OK but feel very dated compared to the 430s which are great to drive and reasonably reliable plus plenty to choose from but the Go Cart feel to the driving is not as restful on a journey as many may hope.
458s are thought by many to be the best thing they have made, especially the Spider. Brilliant car with award winning engine and twin clutch box, fantastic sound track and more than enough power. Totally bullet proof and have bottomed out with many now thinking the last naturally aspirated V8 Ferrari could be a collectable. Tour de France Blue with Silver roof looks stunning.
Many may disagree with all that but it's just my tuppence worth
