Ekona Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 (edited) Man, I really hate the way Ferrari spell that. Should be a space and a capital B! Anyway, I got to drive one of these today. We were at Silverstone for the Ferrari Racing Days, with full hospitality. Upon arrival we were told that we could book garage tours and a test drive of our choice, so now that I've had extensive drives in the 458 Spider I decided to go for the big one: The F12. Now, this wasn't going to be a proper test drive: I knew that before getting in, so I didn't expect to be able to thrash it round corners and play with the balance. It was one of the their driving coaches that went out with you, so as they're not trying to sell you anything and they don't know you from Adam they're not going to let you risk their car. All totally fair enough, but just a bit of warning so you know why I don't massively go into vehicle dynamics in this one. It's not actually as big a car as you think, y'know. Sure, it's imposing, and those gorgeously sculpted front flanks give you a wonderful view from the cockpit, but it never feels huge. It's a clever trick, and one I think Ferrari have mastered pretty well now. Everything in there felt very similar to the 458, as the steering wheel and display are identical. That's fine, I'm quite used to the location of the indicators and the LCD info now, and it's certainly ergonomic enough. For an Italian car I mean: The air vents could do with having a little more movement in them, as I found having air blowing directly onto my hands a little off putting. Picky? You have to be with this car. It's stunning. No, I still haven't lost my holiday belly So we pootled out of Silverstone, and there is nothing like driving a V12 Ferrari to make people stop, stare, and yank their camera phones out of their pockets for a photo. I felt like a f*cking film star, I tell you. The second you touch the red ENGINE START button though, you feel every bit the mere tea boy to the Hollywood idol of that V12. 6.3 litres, directly related to the one from the Enzo, but bigger and with another 80bhp. Seven hundred and thirty horsepower. In a 1500kg car. My old 911 weighed more than that, and with just 385bhp it felt nippy. This is utterly starship warp factor 11. Out of the 40mph zone around the track, and on the sliproad down onto the A43. Second gear. Manual mode. Throttle down, but progressively. Holy. Mary. Mother of God. At first, there's a rumble. Then a whine. Then a ferocious roar as the exhaust valves open, and from 3000 up to 6500 RPM there is a shove of the like I have never felt. Keep the foot in, and you fly round to the 8500 RPM redline where the V12 is at its most vocal, almost finding another breath with which to pummel you with. Grab the right hand paddle, push the throttle again, and it takes off like a stabbed rat. I have no idea what it sounds like from outside, but from inside it's just a symphony of ignition with a backing track of valves and conducted by pistons. Mesmerising is not the word. Ballistic certainly is. I catch my breath and settle into a 75mph cruise, in 7th. Now it's like I'm driving a Focus, only one bathed in the finest alcantara and the snuggest comfort seats wrapped around your posterior. Honestly, like this it's a pussycat, proven by how comfortable Jo was with her one that she went out in. Still, I'm not here to cruise, I want more. So I back off and find some space, come down the gears to second, and push the pedal down with more assuredness this time. After all, I'm used to it now, right? Nope! It lulls you into a false sense of security, and as the rear wheels start to spin up as they cannot contain the 730bhp and 509ft/lb I'm asking them to, I pause a fraction. They find grip, I nail it again, and off we go. This thing just puts on speed like you would not believe. The 458 feels like a diesel compared to this. 3rd, 4th, 5th: The gear changes just lock in with a lovely mechanical thump, leaving you concentrating on the rapidly approaching skyline. Suffice to say, a Ferrari V12 on full chat is a magnificent thing to behold. As I said, this wasn't a handling test so I cannot in good faith comment on that too much. I will say that when other reviews mention how quick the steering is, they're really not kidding. The F12 darts for apexes like a much smaller car with the weight behind you, but you never feel like you have lost feeling or control. It weights up nicely at speed to make lane changes a cinch, and low speed manoeuvres are obviously going to be easy. The brakes felt good and strong, but again with just one real application you would expect that from any car. Suspension was full of feedback, and the car handled the lumps of the A43 very well indeed. I remember reading about this car before it was released, on how the engine and gearbox mated to the chassis, how the design of the aero was integrated into the styling, and how the interior was designed around the driver. I wanted so much at that point to drive one, above any other Ferrari out there today. They say never meet your heroes, but to that I give it b*llocks. This is one hero I would love to spend a lifetime with. Edited September 14, 2014 by Ekona 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryjackson Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 I went to this event on Saturday, it was totally awesome!!! F1 cars we're the best sound I've ever heard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humpy Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Great read that Dan and sounds like you had an even better time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 You lucky sob Dan, ...very jealous. Sounds incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 One of the best recent Ferrari's, and will be a true classic in the future. Good write up, can you remember who your instructor was ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 I think it was Rob, but that may have been Jo's one and not mine, can't remember now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMT Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Ah so thats what you look like...lol haha You lucky sod! One of the few Ferraris I think are the business! (yet somehow I hanker for an FF lol). Very lucky guy, hope you enjoyed it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 FF you say? Stay tuned... I loved it, I really did. Much more so than anything else I've driven for a long time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMT Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Oooh what are you up to lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Nice write up Dan, looks like a hoot . . but just one thing . . . . . Steering wheel is on the wrong side 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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