California as a daily driver?

Any current Ferrari can be used as a daily driver, with the possible exception of the FXX!!

 

True, I know people that have driven both the 599 and 430, and say that they are daily driver material!

 

. How sweet would it be to go to work in an FXX ? Waking up the whole city as you go...

 

The 599 is absolutely a daily driver and the California with its dual clutch setup will be even more so. It will act exactly the same as an SL 600 for about $150k more - what a bargain!

 

The California is going to be a fantastic daily driver. Compared to the SL600 it is probably going to be more realiable and maybe cheaper to fix. Every Mercedes Service advisor I've worked with in LA has told me nothing but horror stories about the 12's.

The Mercedes CL and SL and S class have the worst service records. That's not just my whiskey talk. Thats what the survey's say. And the MB 12's are in a class of their own when it comes to repairs. I'd rather have a Ferrari than a Mercedes any day of the week! When it comes to resale...Ferrari wins hands down. It ain't just about how much you pay to buy a car!

My CL is gonna be a garage queen after I get the California. The Cl is just too much work with its absolutely stupid ABC suspension system that every month has some new malfunction.

 

just not as attractive as the mb.

 

I have owned 3 Post 2000 v-12's MB cars and never had one engine problem. Luck of the draw I guess.

 

I can't think any reason why not. Should be perfect for a dd. Most important criteria for a dd is holding golf clubs. Should be a fun daily car.

 

Havn't had any trouble with the ABC yet, but my hardtop has had issues twice in the last 12 months. Good thing I bought extended warranty on the car. I still seriously doubt that Ferrari can be more reliable and cheaper to fix than a Mercedes. My last 9000 mile oil change cost me $300, how much does Ferrari oil change cost again? Also I don't see many pictures of Mercedes burning down into molten metal on the side of the highway. That being said Mercedes resale has been really pathetic.

 

My CL has had bascially the whole ABC system replaced twice. The Pump has been changed twice, all four struts at least once, now valves need changing. Each time it runs around 3K. So I have spent more than 12K on the ABC alone. I don't think it is any less expensive to maintain than my 360. Not to mention all the sensors for oil, fuel level, and the main center display that went bad costing 2K. The most infuriating thing of all was the park lock mechanism that wouldn't let me shift out of park so the car had to be towed to have that fixed. The hood badge has been changed twice because it is so cheaply painted that the color comes off when you wash the car!

Resale on the Mercedes is really bad especially for the more expensive models ie SL, S, CL, AMG, V12's. I can understand why. The cars are just money pits with all the service issues. I really don't think that they make reliable premium high end products. They are best with the ML, E, and C classes.

One last bit of info- the mercedes service garages are always busy. Mercedes doesn't need to sell more cars. The cars that they have produced require constant repairs.

 

My engine has been good too. Just the electronics and the ABC and the gas flap cover that fall off and breaks! What kind of engineer designed the gas flap cover that comes off in your hand!

 

The 360 Oil change isn't that bad. Basically $150 labor plus the expensive oil and filter. Maybe $350 total.
The belts are expensive and so are the F-1 repairs. No argument there.

Most people don't keep their cars very long so they don't see the reliability issues. If you only keep your car 2 years, you don't get many service problems. Although having said that, my CL was in the shop 5-6 times a year for the first and second year of ownership.

 

I don't know about cheaper to fix; but it certainly would be just as comfy and about 1000x more unique! It may be a car that the wives drive though; a garage-mate to the F430.

 

I don't have a Ferrari.

Therefore it meets ALL of my criterion for a daily driver.

 

Undoubtedly a car capable of being driven daily and depreciation profile will reflect this. Unfortunately, I don't expect many to get properly used. Would be great I were proved wrong!

 

Based on my past usage of my Lotus' and MBSLK32 I would expect 5k-7k miles/year. Just about right to maintain them and since my New Year's Resolution was to not leave the house that would be high.

 

I would do it. I've been tempted actually. Saw someone photoshop it in hot pink. That's what I would rock.

 

It is going to be a great dayly driver. The dual clutch will give the needed refinement in auto mode, and the high rear, which is criticized by many, looks to guaranty a turbulent free cabin at high speeds with the roof down.

 

I'm not too familiar with what Ferrari considers a "daily driver", but just so I understand, is the California aiming to be something like an SL65? Sort of a GT cruiser with some power?

Just curious how it fits into the scheme of things.

 

I think the California is much more for crusing than anything else and more so that other Ferrari's too. It's the kinda car i would fell very comfortable driving long distance, and if you can drive a car long distance then you can defferently drive it short distances everyday to work and back.

 

I have used a 1989 Ferrari Mondial t Cab as a daily driver.

For me a long drive is a trip of around 2,500 miles.

I have even taken the Ferrari to Walmart.

The California looks like a great daily driver.

It looks like it has solved the problems of the Mondials.

Will always keep the Mondial, but might get a California when the lists get small.
I am not willing to pay a preminum.

[email protected]

 

so your mercedes that is described as a money pit costs the same to maintain as your 360? have had had bad experience with you 360?

 

a friend of mine drove up an FXX to McDrive