A Ferrari is a highly coveted and sought after car, right? They have waiting lists and premiums over MSRP, unlike any other brand. People go nuts to get a Ferrari. Even pre-owned Ferraris hold their value far better than any other automaker. Why is it, then, that four seat Ferraris don't evoke the same passion and illustrious glow that the two seat Ferrari does?

One can't even say two door versus four door, because they all have two doors. So, it is truly the addition of the back seat that hurts the luster. The four seat Ferrari, when new, generally sells for more than the two seat car, so it is not as though Ferrari has placed a lower intrinsic value in our heart and mind. The four seater also comes with ceramic brakes, high-end audio and a big voracious V12 power plant, so it is not as though it is missing the goods. Is there really an answer to this conundrum?

If the answer is as simple as people prefer the two seat Ferrari more than four seat cars, why does Ferrari even bother making the bigger car and how does it get away with charging extra when new? If the answer is that the four seat car doesn't look as sexy, then get Pininfarina to dig deep in their bag of design tricks and make a sexy looking four seater, like the Maserati GranTurismo.

One thing is for sure, Ferrari builds fewer four place cars than two place cars. I think there is a need in the marketplace for Ferrari to build a few four place cars for when the successful person says, "I wish my two seat Ferrari had a back seat." If the back seat were tiny, the dimensions would look better but it would realistically be an unusable back seat, like a Porsche 911, Aston Martin DB9, or Jaguar XK where legroom varies between three and zero inches. So Ferrari has wisely opted for a real back seat, which then creates potentially challenging design dimensions. Nothing gets the heart racing like a two seat Ferrari and ultimately, that adrenaline directly impacts the hearts (and wallets) of buyers who will do anything to drive a svelte sports car, which the four place Ferrari just doesn't encapsulate.

Looking at some four place Ferraris over the past few decades for a reference point are the 612 Scaglietti, 456, Mondial, 400/412 and 308 GT4. Currently, there is the king-of-the-hill 612 Scaglietti, which is arguably the best looking four place Ferrari built, even if it is oddly proportioned with an insanely long hood and near-Maybach-long wheel base. This layout places the driver far back in the car with the rear seat back almost in the trunk. Before the 612 Scaglietti was the 456 of the 1990s. This car was built for a long production run and while it has seen a lot of depreciation, it has aged well. Though subtle and understated in design, is still a lovely car that shares more than a little resemblance to the rear end of the 612 Scaglietti. Before the 456 was the angular 400/412 of the 1980s. This series car has a dated look, though upon closer inspection, it is still a good looking car, however stuck in the doldrums from a price and maintenance standpoint. There was also the Mondial and the 308 GT4 before it, both are likely the least loved Ferraris of all time and they both fit into the hardly usable backseat category.

Maybe the four place Ferrari's unloved place in the market isn't fixated only on the back seat or the diluted styling but instead on the lack of a hair raising visceral driving experience provided so uniquely by the two seat car. The longer wheelbase and heavier chassis associated with the four seater requires a big V12 and thus, the nimble, rip-roarious charm of driving the two seat V8 is markedly different. So, not only is the four seater less breath taking in appearance or bloated in weight and dimensions, but it drives like a heavy machine. Sure, it's got power to hustle, even to dance through the curvy roads, but it simply isn't as lithe as the mid-engine V8 strapped for just two. Ferrari clearly does two seaters better than anyone in the business.

I think Ferrari has the approach correct. Since history says a four seat Ferrari won't hold a strong cache once it sells beyond the original owner, their charging a premium on the few they do build and then letting the market be the judge in years to come. Build them as powerful and beautiful as possible, with the help of Pininfarina. And then, take solace in knowing that when you get to the stage in life when you need a Ferrari with a back seat, you have two choices: buy the chart-topping latest Ferrari that represents Maranello's best, or get a great deal on yesterday's glorious family-sized Ferrari. It is perplexing that the four seat Ferrari doesn't fare better than they do, but history seems to show that there is a limited interest in the market place.

Labels: Club Sportiva, exotic car share club, Ferrari 456, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, four seat Ferrari, Pininfarina, V12