458 UK pricing announced

Auto blog reporting UK price at USD 277,000 A shade below 430 Scuderia

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/18/ferrari-prices-the-458-italia-for-the-uk-from-169-545/

 

A 40% increase over the base price of a 430. What happened to all those magazine predictions that the price increase would be 10%? And don't forget this if for a base 458 with no options yet.

Edit: There's a dealers' meeting this Friday in Palm Beach. Maybe FNA will release some information to dealers about pricing and deliveries? I've also heard the 458 is having some kind of snafus in production.

 

Direct translating of any European prices into US$ is pointless.
Our prices here have no relation to theirs period.

 

So true. But every economy is hurting including the UK. Ferrari has a lot of nerve raising the base price 40% in bad times. This may be a sign of what's to come for US pricing?

 

US pricing should be lower because of less red tape associated with vehicles in the US. I don't know if Ferrari is hedged against a declining dollar like Porsche. British pound got killed against the Euro over the last year so that could be the reason as well.

 

I don't think this is very relevant. The more important thing is that the base UK price of 458 is just 7k pounds below the base UK price of Scuderia. Ferrari also raised prices of the other cars. It's a strategy to move upmarket. Italia will be expensive. I can see it easily getting into very high 200's with some common options.

 

I hope not.....

 

What snafus?

And have any UK dealers of hold of a car yet?

 

The dealer wouldn't elaborate on the problem(s). It's possible he might not know the exact the problem? I'm thinking the 458 will not come to the US in June/July as planned but more like September.

 

RHD = May/June

 

a french magasine etimated the 458 at 198K€ and at the same time some dealers makes price around 250k€ (if you doesn t want to wait your 458 in "normal" period).

The 458 it s a new car, everything is different, probably the price up 20% more than a 430 but it seems the 458 agreement is better than 30,40% better than a 430.
458 automatic system is the best at the moment in the market, changing the gears there s no rupture of charge, the precision of direction etc etc..

 

I spoke to my local dealer, was quoted a 3 year wait, with a £20K non refundable deposit, with a price of around £180K in total, sounded VERY expensive, also denied there would be a lightweight version, which I don't take seriously at all.
That Scud does look appealing!

 

It's normal for UK quoted prices to include Value Added Tax (VAT). So the base price is
BP 169K/1.175 = BP 144K. Exchange at 1.63 = base in US $ 234K in UK. Given historically higher prices in Europe I expect US base to be $225K, compared to $192K for the Cali

 

That's more like it!

 

I understand VAT is included.But my point is they have priced the car just below the 430 Scud
which also includes VAT.Hence it would appear that they may do the same here in the US.
They are not going to offer the 458 at a small difference over the Cali.
Especially since it has 100 odd horsepower more plus cost of build is higher on mid engine cars.

 

There is one relation. Net of taxes our prices have mostly been higher than Europe.So whatever pricing structure they have expect more here

 

But consider California is a hardtop, and hardtop does cost more too.

Let's say if Ferrari make a Cali coupe version for ~$170K, then F458's $230K base sounds very reasonable...

Or, assume F458 spider for $260K base vs Cali's $192K base, reasonable too...

Just my 0.02 cents....

 

I'm hoping to be wrong and the 458 being priced close to 230k as opposed to 280k.
But with the Euro strengthing I can't see how they will do it.

 

If you agree that most Ferrari customers who are driving F430 coupes and spiders have usually had to come up with 30k to 60k every couple years to move into their new Ferraris which is what I have experienced over the last ten years then what is going to happen to all those 430 owners who will have to come up with 100k plus to make the move to the 458 and stay with the Ferrari brand? Can Ferrari really afford to shake out so many of their loyal customers?

 

This is a pretty good observation about rolling into the new model and the cost associated with doing so. If the Base price of the 458 is North of $250k USD and with options and taxes it's North of $300k USD, I strongly urge F chatters to drive/buy a 430 Scuderia before you pull the trigger on a 458. The 458 gives you "leather wrapped" Scuderia performance. Wait for the 458 Spider (Value = 16M) or wait for the Unplugged, Scuderia version of the 458 (value > Scuderia).

There is no way the 458 sounds better than the Scuderia when the valves open up. And if this is an exercise in emotions (it is for me) there is no reason to pay $300k for a 458.

458 Spider, Yes. 458 Unplugged, Yes.

 

...uh, Steve, if there is ONE thing that I am certain of, it's that the US Ferrari dealer network couldn't care less about their 'customers'. It's all about money (did I say greed?), and scrounging every penny they can whenever they can. You only have to search these threads to review numerous examples of this. They will do what they usually do: badly gouge on the initial enthusiasm for the car, then wonder why they can't sell many when the reality of the economy takes hold. You can find better ethics at a Chrysler dealer (no offence to Chrysler!).

 

If Ferrari and their dealers didn't care about their customers than I wouldn't be driving a Ferrari now or in the past years. They would have only sold to the highest bidders. Since the 360 came out until 2007 market price for a new Ferrari was on average 50 to 100k over sticker. Regular customers rarely paid market. At least I didn't.

Many customers have already gotten shaken out due to economic conditions. Most of the rest probably won't be able to come up with 100k plus to make the natural progression to the 458. My prediction is that Ferrari is going to severly limit production so that those who can't afford to make the move couldn't anyway because there wouldn't be a car for them. I think this will continue until the economy recovers. Sadly most of us will be too far out of the game to get back in.

This looks like it may be the end of the road for many

 

The only reason Ferrari would 'limit' production is if there are not enough customers. They have just invested a hideous amount of capital in basically designing and building an entire new factory. Never mind the new museum and other facilities. Ferrari need to generate as much cash as the can. If they announce a more 'limited production', you can guarantee it's because the customers aren't there.

 

US $ 6 month high against Euro. Futures indicate another 15% appreciation for $. Euro crisis before summer on account of deficts in Greece, Portugal etc. When Bernake starts to tighten wait for close to US $/Euro parity.
Also you wil be surprised how soon first owner cars will be here. June/July.

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed.....