Ferrari FF buying guide

The FF has one engine, one gearbox and one body for the whole run, with no factory derivative. Mechanical differences between model years are minimal, and CarsCounsel says no year is strictly bad. It suggests 2014 to 2016, with 2015 and 2016 the most refined, and advises care with 2012 cars because of first-year production risks and recalls.

Apple CarPlay arrived as an option in 2015, so a later car may have it and an earlier one will not. Optional equipment from new included an LCD display on the passenger side and TV screens in the rear headrests.

Specification counts for more than mileage, since the options list also took in a glass roof, carbon trim and forged wheels. FFs were bought to be used, so high mileage is normal, and Octane Files rates a documented, regularly driven car above a low-mileage one that has sat. Check what a car was ordered with and whether the screens, roof and wheels are in good order.

Our Ferrari F430 buying guide and Ferrari 360 buying guide cover other Ferraris if you want to compare.

The power transfer unit comes first below because it is the best-documented weak point.

Power transfer unit failure

Fluid gets into the PTU, typically past a faulty crankcase seal, and the unit fails. KickTyres says one sign is a '4WD failure' message with the manettino stuck in Wet. A recall covered around 2,650 PTUs because spline wear could disconnect the front drive and lose Park.

Dual-clutch gearbox faults

On early cars the dual-clutch box might stumble at low speed, take a moment to pick up first gear after reversing, and fight the shift from sixth into seventh. Most of these cars have since been sorted. Autocar's reliability page adds that the gearbox can leak and develop sensor faults, and either may mean a rebuild or replacement.

Carbon-ceramic disc bolts

On carbon-ceramic Ferraris built after 2009, bolts that rust have been a genuine headache. Replacement discs are dear, so the bolts and the wear records deserve attention.

Lithium battery damage

A lithium battery left idle can be damaged for good, and a replacement is expensive. A trickle charger is the advice for any FF that sits for long periods.

Brake fluid cap recall

One recall concerns a brake fluid reservoir cap that fails to vent. The result can be a leak and a loss of braking.

Radiator and oil pan leaks

Past about 100,000 miles the plastic radiator tank tends to start weeping, and the oil pan may drip as well, according to Autocar.

Switch and sensor glitches

Exotic Car Hacks calls manettino switch failure and tire pressure sensor errors common. The plastic coating on interior buttons and switches can also turn sticky.

Uneven brake wear

Because of the traction control system, the rear brakes can wear faster than the fronts.

Octane Files quotes in pounds, putting a PTU rebuild at around £8,000 and a new Ferrari unit at about £30,000. Autocar's reliability page gives about £30k for a replacement and about £10,000 for a specialist repair and upgrade.

Octane Files reckons a gearbox rebuild at around £5,000, and replacement carbon-ceramic discs through a dealer at £20,000 or more. Giallo Modena says magnetic damper replacement can cost £4,000 per corner, and advises oil changes every 7,000 miles or annually. For wider context on ownership, see how much a Ferrari costs.

Buy on paperwork, not on year or odometer. An FF with PTU evidence, a stamped seven-year maintenance record and a documented history of regular use is a better bet than a quiet, low-mileage car with gaps. Among the years, 2014 to 2016 is where CarsCounsel points, and the Ferrari FF price guide shows how the market treats each one.

Walk away from a car showing a 4WD failure message or oil at the front of the engine until the fault is diagnosed and quoted, and have a Ferrari dealer or specialist inspect any car you are serious about. What Car Should I Buy? calls the FF practical and all-weather but costly to maintain, and the PTU is where that cost shows up first.