The Ferrari FF Family Car Is Now Cheaper Than A New BMW M5

For those in the position to purchase a modern high-performance sports sedan, there is a wide variety of mouth-watering options to choose from. From the rapid BMW M5 and the quick-but-thrifty Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid, to the super-luxury Bentley Flying Spur for those with very deep pockets. There is something that should suit every price tag. But nothing quite matches the aura and history and the exclusivity and one-upmanship of the Ferrari badge, so being able to buy a fully-fledged Ferrari family car is a dream for many.

Understanding this, the Italian marque has offered a fair number of different four-seater models over the years. It currently stocks the Purosangue SUV as its practical model, though it’ll cost you around $400,000. The subject of this missive will set you back just a quarter of this, and come in cheaper than other modern premium performance sedans in the process.

The FF Was The Successor To The 612 Scaglietti

Ferrari

Ferrari’s history of offering four-seater models goes back decades, with models like the 330 GT 2+2 and the 365 GT 2+2 allowing owners to transport their families around during the 1960s. In modern times, Ferrari has offered vehicles such as the 456 and 612 Scaglietti, which were built to the conventional four-seat Ferrari recipe: a flowing two-door coupe body hiding two extra seats in the back, with a powerful engine placed out front, usually a naturally aspirated V12.

Ferrari

Ferrari elected to get cracking early on in the 612 Scaglietti’s life to develop its successor, with the new vehicle first being thought about in 2007. Following a four-year development program, the FF was released to the world in 2011. Rather than simply become an evolved version of the 612, Ferrari decided to tread down a different path with its new V12 four-seater.

The FF Was The First Ferrari To Have All-Wheel Drive

Ferrari

The FF, which stands for “Ferrari Four” thanks to its all-wheel drive system, made history when it was launched, as it was the first production Ferrari model to come with AWD, as opposed to RWD, like every prancing horse before it had, ensuring the FF could take on slippery Alpine roads with ease. It retained a naturally-aspirated V12 engine like most of its forerunners, though it looked very different. Ferrari ditched the traditional coupe body style and went with a shooting brake outline instead, which also came with the benefit of increasing rear cabin and trunk space.

Ferrari

The trunk could house 15.9 cubic feet of cargo, which is almost as much as a modern mid-size sedan like the Honda Accord, which has a 16.7-cu-ft trunk. The rear seats could house two full-size adults though, so the FF positioned itself as the ideal car for a brief getaway to some exotic location. Folding down those rear seats instead liberates a total of 28 cu-ft.

The FF Can Be Had For Less Than A Brand-New M5

Ferrari

Fancy one? Well, if you’ve got $100,000 or so lying around, then there are several compelling reasons to consider one. Browsing around on Autotempest, we can see there are several FFs in good condition that can be purchased for around $115,000, while ropier examples can be purchased for less than $100,000. If you want a pristine FF for your collection, then you’ll need to find around $150,000. Values of the FF have dropped across the board across the past year though, with mint versions worth around 10% less than they were 12 months ago.

Ferrari

Given the FF is still a thoroughly modern Ferrari, this represents a pretty handy saving, considering it cost a shade over $300,000, without options, when it was shiny and new in 2011. Solid used examples are, therefore, also cheaper than a new M5, which starts from $119,500. It also comes in at less than most Porsche Panamera models on the market, with only the entry-level V6-powered variant coming in for less cash, at new prices of between $106k and $114k.

That said, don’t be too tempted by bargain-basement examples as they could be hiding some nasty secrets. Make sure to carry out all the necessary used car checks, and maybe bring along a Ferrari expert who can work out whether it’s been looked after or not, and whether the fancy AWD system is still in good nick. Supercars will cost a ton of money to keep going, so you’ll want to get ahead wherever you can.

The FF Can Really Shift

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While possessing a naturally aspirated V12 like the preceding 612 Scaglietti, the FF’s unit was significantly more powerful. While the old 612’s 5.7-liter engine provided 533 hp, the FF’s enlarged 6.3-liter V12 transmitted 660 hp between the four wheels, which was enough to slingshot it from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 208 mph. The engine is mated to the wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The FF’s AWD Setup Is Incredibly Complex

Ferrari

While the rest of the FF’s technical make-up represents a handy step up from what came before, its 4RM AWD system is the real star of the show. Wanting to mount the V12 behind the front axle to aid weight distribution, Ferrari developed a compact Power Transfer Unit (PTU) that sat over the front axle, which would dictate how much power was channeled to the front wheels. A standard driveshaft took care of the rear wheels.

The setup meant that not only did it weigh half what a normal AWD system does (only 90 pounds), but the FF retained a near-perfect 47/53 weight distribution despite having its heavy V12 placed toward the front. The PTU essentially acts as a second gearbox, and will kick in when the favored rear wheels start to lose grip by taking power off the front of the engine to power the front axle. Don’t think for a second that it doesn’t drive like a real Ferrari, however. That second gearbox is shut down the moment you hook third gear, and we know from first-hand experience that you can hang the FF’s tail out like a champ. As a driving tool, it beats the new M5 hands down.

The FF may be an expensive-used option compared to some of these brand-new weapons, but who cares when you glance at the steering wheel and see a prancing horse winking back at you.

Older Four-Seat Ferraris Are Available On A Tighter Budget

Ferrari

Should the FF’s still-considerable $100,000+ price be out of your range, then perhaps its grandfather would be better suited. The 456 was built between 1992 and 2003 over two iterations, with the second called the 456M, for Modificata. The initial 456 was built between 1992 and 1998, when the 456M came along. While its naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V12 remained unchanged, the 456M got updated styling, an enhanced interior as well as some revisions to the cooling system.

Earlier 456s Offer Excellent Value

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Its rear seats may not be quite as spacious as the FF’s as a result of its lower coupe roofline, but they can still be utilized to take the kids to school in the morning. And let’s face it, most gearheads will fold their spine in two to have the chance to ride in the back of a Ferrari anyway. For around $50,000, you could net yourself a 1996 GTA version of the 456, which comes with a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, the latter surprisingly well-suited to the big V12 and, consequently, more expensive and sought-after. The V12 sends a commanding 442 hp to the rear wheels, which allows it to hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds.

The 456 may not be quite as practical as the FF, given its tighter rear compartment and trunk that only measures 11.1 cubic feet in volume, but it still provides a gorgeous V12 soundtrack, a luxurious cabin and a dashing turn of pace. And all this for around half the cost of an FF, which sounds like a pretty solid deal in our book.

Sources: Ferrari.