Why so much Cali hate?

More Ferrari misinformation from the poseur crew. In case you are not knowing, the Mondial t is one of the best handling mid-engined Ferraris ever. Sure mine is a Cab. and so not the ultimate, but there is a guy around here with a coupe who regularly whoops all sorts of highly shocked suckers at Laguna Seca. People who know Ferraris call t coupes "Stealth Fighters". Going by the numbers, even my Cab will make short work of lots of 3x8s Oh, but you knew all that, didn't you, Mr. Wizard?

Look dude, I am not trying to really say anything about you or anyone else. If you have a 512bb, that's awesome! Hell, let me drive it sometime. I just don't get all the fuss about the Cali's looks when what matters to me about my Ferrari is how it drives, and all indications are that the Cali drives great! Realistically I don't know if I will ever be able to afford one, but I am damn sure going to try to be there when they start to become available on the used market.

 

Around here, one of those neighborhoods TheCheddar strives for, where the MB C-class is the new Corolla, BMW 5s litter the roads like Accords, and 3s are station cars, the Cali will jolt the senses of those one might otherwise "impress" like a turd in a punch bowl.

All to provide a FIAT response to the Nissan GT-R.

 

I'm finding it hard to take seriously the argument that a car's looks don't matter, it's all about the drive. I don't even believe that the posters making that argument believe what they're saying, but then a lot of this thread is tongue in cheek - I hope. Amazing this thread has lasted so long.

Now, to those who insist the California is all about the drive, a quiz: where did I read the following?

"The California has a host of features that will help it appeal to wearers of Manolo Blahniks not brogues."

 

Of course looks don't matter, men are not visual at all which explains why.the fat girl with ratty hair but the greatest personality can get any guy she wants and the beautiful girl sits home alone everynight with no options, people like Jessica Simpson and Paris for their intelligence and wit, that's hot!

 

"people like Jessica Simpson and Paris for their intelligence and wit, that's hot!"

 

Girly???????

Barbie drove a 328!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1988-Barbie-White-Ferrari-3564-In-Box-Rare-Vhtf_W0QQitemZ390030135684QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDolls?hash=item390030135684&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

She wouldn't be seen dead in a California! hahaha

 

Barbie actually DROVE a pink Corvette - that 328 came from her sugar-daddy Ken and was a garage queen.

 

What do the Cali- haters think of the engine, transmission, and folding top?

What should the Cali cost in respect to F430 spider? More or less?

 

We all care how our cars look. Look at the market difference between a Daytona and 365 GTC/4. Or the Testarossa versus the originally less expensive 328. Or the Dino 246 versus the originally more expensive 512BB.

And why is the least expensive vintage Ferrari priced more than most 360s?

No offense taken, but I think you've missed the point if the California has won your praise for being a highly competent driver's car for public roads. So is the Merc SL. The reasons most of bother with a Ferrari almost universally include stunning looks, stunning sound, race-car like experience and cachet.

I concur. Advanced technology is hardly a justification for owning a Ferrari. Porsche was using fuel injection in the early 1970s, disc brakes from the mid 1860s, and unit bodies from the 1940s.

Exactly. The bikini thread is mostly pics of fat PhDs, which is why no one visits that thread.

 

Once again, Bullfighter, you hit the mark dead on.

Well, I for one may be one of those "poseurs" -- and I could care less. I love my F430 spider and I adore parking it in front of fancy hotels and restaurants. I blast the heck out of it on city streets and can't see taking it to a track, ever. It's enough of a thrill for me to drive it around town without needing to go 10/10th's.

I like keeping it clean. I like smelling the interior. I like watching people wave and point as I drive by. I like pushing the silly red button to start it. I like that people come up to it and ask me the same questions each time. Heck, I even like filling it with gas. But most of all, I like driving it.

And tough to anyone who doesn't like it.

As to the California, I never cared for 911's or Corvettes but I always admired that you could drive either of them anywhere everyday and no one thought anything about it. If the California can do that and give me the unique driving experience I demand from this brand, I'm all over it.

As to the question "what would Enzo think!", again, who cares. As far as I can tell, he just wanted to build outstanding road cars so he could win at racing. As long as the current management continues that thinking, I'm happy.

As to the addition of technology in cars, well, I for one actually LIKE airbags if it saves my life or my special passenger. I for one like A/C. I for one like brakes that stop the car so fast your eyeballs pop out. I for one like using Formula one technology to drive quickly. I for one like the soft leather seats and a convertible top.

SO SUE ME.

I love the classics. I certainly love the 512 and most cars that came earlier than it. Hell, I had a Dino for 15 years and loved every minute I drove it. But, that does not mean that I cannot appreciate --or dare I say love -- the California for what it is.... perhaps the greatest modern GT in the world.

End of story.

 

Looks great on paper, fay, and fey bull****; All wrapped in Nipponese bull****.

Same engine, at 3000lbs, real transmission, canvas top, one real Italian design director (or the guy who did the Aston Vantage, with a few grappas in him): $150k.

 

Better yet, the Honda 2000S.

 

I posted some months ago on this forum that I was disappointed in the pics re: California styling, but that I was sure it would go like stink, although tests were not yet published. Still feel the same re: styling from pics, but I AM waiting to really see one in person, esp. next to other Fcars, before I really form a final opinion of the car.

My 348 is my 3rd Ferrari, and my admiration and love for Ferraris is based on the fact I feel they ARE Automotive Art, or should strive to achieve that, both aesthetically and mechanically. In my view, some hit the mark more than others, and there are a few that I'm pretty lukewarm about in terms of styling.

I recognize Ferrari has become more of a business over the years, but see no reason why they should not still try to create Automotive Art in each new model, especially for $200k or more per UNIT (since we're now obligated to see Ferraris in Business terms). Function should not override Form, for my $ (no I can't afford a new one).

Neither the fact that the Cali is a 2+2, nor the fact it has a new folding hardtop are a problem for me re: achieving Automotive Art. But having seen the car in pics, I'm still fearful that the Cali will fall well short of that achievement in terms of styling. Will be interested in seeing one in the flesh, before I decide.

 

Good idea we should start a smart great personality woman pic thread for the guys that appreciate the Calis inner beauty as they say beauty is only skin deep but ugly is to the bone or frame in the Calis case

 

In my experience women who are smart and have a great personality are almost always highly presentable. Maybe not hotty of the year, but actually easier on the eyes day in and day out....

So, please, start that thread, and include phone numbers!

 

Opus, why do you think Luca is so awful.

Please read some of the financial articles about Ferrari. In 2008, they managed to increase sales and profit. (And you can find your source by searching google with the word Ferrari and look for news.)

I don't know how you can find fault with that. Tell me another car company who had a better year.

 

Thoughtful and plain spoken too opaque for you? Too concise?

Here then, rejecting any need for a lesser Ferrari GT, on a spoon:

The Cali engine seems a fine piece but, the car's too heavy so the engine has to be too big. IF they had drawn the car in Aluminum on a clean sheet, rather than adapt an existing FIAT platform to the material, the car would easily meet a <3000lb target and then a 3liter Ferrari engine, dare I dream of a V-12, would easily fit the bill at 400hp @ 9-10k rpm. Imagine the sound.

The dual clutch transmission is nothing more than a FIAT marketing department dictate to make the car available to those who are too dumb, inept, lazy or corpulent to learn how to drive: Fay is being kind. A <3000lb, 400hp car could make use of a much lighter and compact, more reliable and serviceable, proper 6spd manual.

The roof is truly ridiculous: At $250k who is going to be using a Cali as their foul weather or only car? So, why does it need the weight, complexity and Oprah-lovin' bulk of the "The World's Fasted Folding Hardtop"? Because Mercedes has one, and the pitch is to yaboos, not enthusiasts: Fey, and bull. Find the guy who did the FIAT 124 Sport Spider's folding roof, drag him out of retirement and fill him with Red Bull until he does it again.

Finally, if you focus-group only rich young ass-hats, you'll get only insular, unsophisticated, hyperbolic opinions: The styling is Transformeresque Nipponese bull. Find one artistic Italian car-guy to art direct the styling, have them familiarize themselves with the Ferrari-Pininfarina cannon, learn the vocabulary but not plagiarize from it piecemeal. See if Fioravanti can't still be bought.

So there it is, a real 21st century Ferrari California:
Gorgeous, all aluminum, convertible, <3000lb, 400hp 3liter V-12, 6spd manual.

Drop the fake scoops, outlets and Mitsubishi body kit, make it stick to the road like rubber cement without the Nanny Gizmos, and it might be worth $200k in this economy, as a Ferrari.

And, meanwhile, Aston Martin already makes a very pretty, proper slushbox, boulevardier for your girlfriend, dozens of which can be chosen from with only 3000mi for ~$70k.

 

Sales and profits are not how Ferraris are traditionally measured.

FIATs, sure, not Ferraris.

 

Enzo was more concerned with his name and passion for his cars than profits or units sold, he refused to Federalize the Boxer as it would effect the looks of his quote beautiful car, the corporate car execs would consider him crazy or a poor businessman today or the board would have him removed for incompetence, this car the Cali with its SL characteristics but posing the Ferrari badge would appeal to the types that Enzo scorned in his day, platform sharing high production numbers below average styling a Z has more appeal. I doubt anyone will take this car anywhere near its limits more of a cruiser down Rodeo drive with the top down look at me experience. Platform sharing is a great way to make profits and save production costs for typicals cars but Ferraris are not supposed to be average or typical

 

Financial health is *very* important. Duh! Name me one car company that does as good a job as Ferrari does supplying parts for out of production models. You can't. Some of us are "enthusiastic" about working on our Ferraris. Without that kind of support, it's no fun. Sorry, but you Cali haters live in a fantasy world. I repeat: BUY A LOTUS!

 

Well now I can see why you hate the Cali.

3.0 litre V-12? Ferrari hasn't made one of those in a long time.

I 'm not sure what kind of power a street/emissions legal 3.0 Liter V-12 could produce. Or if it would be any lighter? Or what the power/torque/weight distribution advantage would be compared to the present 4.3 L V-8 with direct injection.

But putting a V-12 in front would definitely increase the price by $80K-$100K.

I'm also not sure what performance gains would be had by mating a 3.0 liter V-12h to a 6 speed manual box. (The Cali can be ordered with a manual transmission, though.)

As far as materials are concerned, I think the Cali's structure is made out of Aluminum including the folding top. So there isn't heavy steel lurking beneath the panels if that was your point.

You claim that the Cali is too heavy. Meaning what-that it is slow, handles poorly, gets poor mileage? But none of the people who actually have driven the car drew that conclusion. They generally thought the car was fast, powerful, and fun to drive. Not only that, it gets better mileage and pollutes less than anything else they make.

Maybe you should write Ferrrari a letter giving your own white paper proposal for a brand new 3 liter V12 pure Italian coupe?

 

The biggest issue most have is this car is plain ugly,.if it were beautiful you could forgive the Maserati engine and platform sharing plus the 2+2 design but its not, a Subaru WRX hauls azz but its ugly as hell so most dont like it and it makes the performance pointless as few want to be seen driving it

 

I don't buy the idea that Ferrari road cars are worse off today compared to Enzo's era. The new wind tunnel, modern metalurgy facilities, state of the art paint facility, computerized design solutions, electronic engine management systems, improved sales and service support make Ferrari road cars so much better than before.

 

Just what "Enzo" are you talking about? Maybe Enzo Schwartz.

Is this the same Enzo that sold out road car production to Fiat so he could go racing? Is this the same Enzo that renamed the Dino 308Gt4 a Ferrari 308 because it would sell better? Is this the same Enzo who specifically designed the Testarossa for the US market because that's were the volume is? Is this the same Enzo who massively increased production in the early 80's? Is this the same Enzo who installed a GM Turbohydomatic slush box in the 400? Is this the same Enzo that took the 308 and added two little seats, called it a Mondial (aka "World" car), in order to make a bigger market using pretty much the same components as the 308?

Jeesh the stuff posted here makes your head spin sometimes.