Ferrari 456 (1992 – 2003) Review
Ferrari 456 (1992 – 2003) At A Glance
Good looking, 4-seater front-engined Ferrari. Comparatively cheap way into Ferrari ownership.
Can be high maintenance.
It was the grown up Ferrari for, well, grown-ups. The 456 was launched in 1992 – a traditional 2+2 with the engine in the front and the drive going to the rear wheels. This meant that the grown-ups had plenty of space to stretch out, and even room to put their weekend bags in boot.
While that might sound a bit boring, motoring journalists the world over went positively gaga for the 456 (which for a long time was the most expensive Ferrari in the range, costing more than £167k). And with a 5.5-litre V12 under the bonnet that was good for 442bhp and could hit 60mph in just over five seconds, it was easy to see why.
We like it because it has pop-up headlights. Okay, maybe the 187mph top speed does have something to do with it and we’ll have to trust Clarkson, Hammond et al when they say it’s a driving experience like no other as we’ve never had the pleasure.
If you’re looking to buy one, then it’s probably going to be an automatic – it’s a cruiser, after all. But a six-speed manual with the Ferrari ’box was available. Amazingly, these cars have lost almost half their value now and you can pick one up for under £50k. That’s still a lot of money – but it’s a lost less than they originally cost.
