California gripes!

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Does a less extreme/aggressive profile somehow make it less attractive?? This is not at all clear.

This entire girlie vs masculine issue, pre-occupation actually makes me wonder about the strength and integrity of the masculinity of the men who are constantly talking about it.

The California's lines are smoother, more curved, fewer straight lines and sharp angles than the other Ferraris.

I'm not sure this makes it less attractive, or even more girlie and less masculine.

Like I said, I notice this train of thought most frequently with American men, esp. over the last 20 years or so. It certainly wasn't a school of thought in the 1950s or 1960s, when most high-end sports cars looked like the California, most notably the original California.


Forza,


Cavallini

 

Well said Cavallini!

 

Cavallini- I agree. The origami school of car design is not for me. My favorite Ferrari is the 250 LM, and it is all curves. With 320 hp and 1800 lbs or so, it is definitely not girlie and I do not think the California is either.

Sam- If you are doing 140-150 mph and dodging traffic, you belong in jail and not in any Ferrari.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

He failed to answer me as to where he was going through traffic at 150 ... maybe 150 kph?

 

http://m.jalopnik.com/5703289/2012-nissan-gt+r-0+60-mph-in-29-seconds

It looks like there will be lots of puzzled as well as angry Italians Germans again saying it must be the slick... Sure sure

Low and behold, it defies physics and it puts all those squished so called Supercar to shame...

 

2012 MY. I don't think you can buy one yet.

 

Tempting despite its interesting design and look.

Here's another LESS GIRLY video.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/110120129831/porsche-911-gt3-and-lamborghini-gallardo-superleggera-street

For sure using the original post's standard, GT 3 , Superleggera and GTR will never be mistaken as girls... never for GTR... or would it be the ugly girl?

 

I can tell you for a fact that the 100% figure for bugatti is wrong-- my friends hot blond cousin has a veriyon that her husband bought her for her birthday last year in Newport Beach , California

 

Sam- Good luck. You will need it.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

That explains it ... driving across Texas once I had a pickup truck in the left lane (while approaching an exit) take a dig to the left, crossing the median, crossing oncoming traffic, entering the on ramp (the wrong way) to exit the freeway. It was rather unconventional but rather cool too. He would not get away with that in Ohio.

 

Thank you very much. At the time, it looked like a fat pitch down the middle...just had to take a swing at it.

 

Thanks for starting this thread ScuderiaDallas.

I too have been wondering about the Cailfornia's image. I can't tell on the malfunctions since I don't own one. I do know that the sports seats are comfortable. I'm not sure if it looks well inside a California but I did test them and they're very nice. I also sat in the normal seats and on the racetrack I don't find them nice.

I think it's a great car. Amazing gearbox...I always switched off the manual though (C'mon guys, how can you drive in automatic mode?) Amazing sound and acceleration. High pitch is missing, but that's perfectly OK for a GT car. Definitely love the exhaust. It has space and can even be cabrio. I also like the fact that Ferrari came with a new platform. It's definitely one of my favorite GT's.

The ride is soft and therefore not very aggressive. Then again, it's designed this way. It's not a track car but an every-day-use GT car. I drive my 360 on a daily basis, and therefore was thinking to buy the California to replace it.

But....I have two problems with it. First of all I don't like the soft ride on track (but that's just me and my love for track days). So my love for track-days keeps me from buying it. Secondly, more in line with this thread, I also miss the aggressiveness of the car. And to me a Ferrari should scare you. I wouldn't call it 'masculine' or 'feminine', since a woman can scare the hell out of me too . Just aggressive. A problem with it is, perhaps, that the price on the 2nd hand market is dropping like a bomb. Then again, I think that in 5 years time there'll be a lot more 458's than Californias, which should be a positive thing for this car.

And if Ferrari intends to have a go at the BMW/Mercedes market, they should get things right like the navi and sound control. Again, I haven't tried these so I don't know if they work or not. I did hear more complaints about the roof not opening/closing. The car does feel very solid, I mean not like some of the older Ferraris where you expect them to fall apart any time, even when they were relatively young.

Another thing I was wondering about....a lot of California owners seem to be EXTREMELY happy about the car. Are they exaggerating and trying to compensate for something? Or does the car truly make you that happy? That would be great!

Don't know...I've been pondering for months which I would prefer... a brand new smoothly shifting, quickly accelerating California (but perhaps have the suspension replaced by some more firm ones for the trackdays)? Or an older but more exclusive 550 barchetta with the sports handling package? To me, both lack aggressiveness. But both are great cars nonetheless....

And would people still find it 'girly' if it would get and HGTE package and beat the Enzo on the Fiorano track, for example???

 

I am extremely happy with this car and I am glad I did not get the 458.

 

huh!

 

Despite some glitches, I am happy with the car. Have you driven it in sport mode? It really is quite a difference. There are also options to stiffen up if you like (i'm talking springs, not pills!). I may ponder a 458 as I get close to warranty end. The navi isn't all that bad. It works well and has good options (phone number directed search). The stereo upgrade is sorely lacking. I really noticed this when I got a similarly priced stereo upgrade in my Panamera and Audi Q7. Those systems are awesome and pale the California stereo.
FNA blew me off about a couple of issues which I am still stewing over. Whatever, I do not regret it at all.

 

Yep, I'm getting very positive feedback on Porsche's hifi equipment too.

I did try the car in sports mode. It's great for the road. But I'd probably modify the suspension to some Intrax ones or similar. Also EVO recommends adapting the suspension to something else than the magneride's ones (http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/238321/ferrari_california.html).

 

Perhaps, I could add my comments about driving a California. First, let me set the scene. For 25 years, I have had a policy of running only one car at a time: a car that I can use as an every day driver and on track days. I started with a 928S4; moved through various 911s, including a 993 RS (I did 24k miles in 12 months and lots of track days in this car); a couple of turbos; a 959 (yes: a 959 which I also used on track days); a couple of 355s; a 360 (which I lowered); a 612 (a truly great car with enough power to break traction in 3rd gear); and now a California. I could list several annoying faults with the California but what's the point? It's a Ferrari and they are not built to the same exemplary quality of, say, a Porsche, but I don't care. I can assure all non-California drivers that this car is FANTASTIC. Yes, I can drive it all day in automatic mode and not build up a sweat, but drive it manually in Sport mode and it takes on a different personality (and, like the 360 and 430, it will bite back). There is no doubt that one is driving a Ferrari. For street use, its blistering performance is a match for any 430. For track use, I accept that a well-driven 430 will probably be better in the corners. I have chosen my words carefully! My experience of UK track days is that most Porsches are driven really well because they are used as daily drivers. Now here comes the contentious statement, for which I apologise profusely: most Ferrari drivers are not very good on track days because they don't drive their cars often enough and it shows. Of course, everyone reading this is a great driver and I don't know what it's like on track days in America. I can speak only of my own experience in the UK.

 

Well, checkout all of my posts. There are plenty of gripes of mine, all are tiny. The mirrors move out of alignment with the mirror base, the wife mirror is a piece of crap, should not be there at all, cup holder makes my wife want to use it and should go, stickers on the door were bubbly, paint could be better (all Ferrari's have that problem), tachometer bounces a bit, I probably could go on, HOWEVER after over 17,000 miles and two track days at Mid-Ohio (blowing the doors off of the Porsches) ... this car is spetacular! It goes like stink, stops better than stink, and attracts attention wherever I take it. I drive it to Walmart, out to dinner, whatever. It will stay home only on the bad snow days or when I drive to the airport, then my S550 gets some miles. I have not given the keys to a vallet guy yet either.

Now I have not driven a 458 yet and really look forward to that experience, but the California (even with its flaws) is really a great car. There are those that will not like it, and that is OK ... some people do not like sex either. I still happen to like both! I'm retired from one career (32 years in US military) and work 50 hours a week with my current business.

Rick

 

Pagani V Lambo Rev
GT 3 V Lambo Superleggara

Now we are talking some testosterone adrenaline rush... I must agree.

Then again, the California is created for a different purpose in a class of its own but it is not fair to compare it to any of the above mentioned and or 458. Different vehicles serving different purpose but all purpose served, California win hands down.

 

Good point! Couldn't agree with you more Trevor. Not only do Ferrari owners often don't drive their cars often enough, that 1 trackday a year they participate in also doesn't allow them to take the car to a higher level. Then again, it should be all about fun. People tell me 'you are on the track once a month, so why would you be interested in a California?' and I reply that I'm sure I can have fun on a track in a California. A professional racecar driver once took me for a ride on Spa-Francorchamps, in the rain, and going sideways through Eau Rouge in a California was plenty of fun... When I asked him how he thought about the California, his one-word reply in French was 'fantastique'!

Again, I'm glad to see these posts, especially since I've been hesitating between a 2nd hand 430 spider (preferably a 2008 model) and a California. It is unfortunate, at least to me, that the cali lacks the aggressive looks I like to see in a Ferrari. But it sure is a great car.

 

I like it so much i'm on my second one! Seriously, it is the perfect car for me. I had an '07 430 before. They are not the same. For me, if I can only have one Ferrari, the California is the one. Contrary to other opinions, it really does feel like a Ferrari to me. Do i miss my 430.....sure. If i had all the money in the world i'd have both. I have driven a 458, both @ the dealer, and as a Judge at the Robb Report Car of the Year event a couple weeks ago. It is just amazing, just amazing. Do i want one...yes....will i buy one...no, for the same reasons I sold my 430. (emotions vs sensible reasoning)

In general my experience is much like Rick's, though I've driven less miles. I also get heads turned and positive comments.