Let's talk shields please

I know this may be a divisive issue with strong opinions on either side, but I personally not sure how I might feel later, because I have never owned a Ferrari so I want to ask you guys. Should I get the shields or not?

I ordered shields, but I am worried I might prefer not to have them so that the car looks less like a Ferrari and more anonymous. Strange thing I know, but I hate to show off and am purchasing a California because I like to drive it and could care less if anyone knows what it is and prefer they don't know right away or so easily. Without the iconic shields it could pass as some other car, especially since mine will be Grigio Silverstone and not red.

Finally the sales person was quite persistent to encourage me to get the shields, making me feel if I didn't he might not even want to buy back my car one day and he is letting me know that others might not want to purchase my car used one day because I didn't have the shields.

What I am expecting is that at first I feel the car is flashy and embarassing, and don't want people to know I am driving a Ferrari, but after a few weeks, I will get over it, and it will just be a car to me and I will want people to know that I am driving a Ferrari and regret not only that I didn't get the shields, but that I didn't get the car in Red. Hahaha.

One thing, the sales person told me that it is not possible to have them added later, by the next owner or by me if I regret it. Vice versa I suppose I couldn't take them off.

Finally, does anyone else think it is quite annoying that they require one to pay for the shields? Shouldn't they just take some money off or even charge you if you don't want them (because it would then be a special order item) but of course they should give them to you included in the price.

Thanks for the advice.

 

For resale he is most likely correct, Factory Shields ARE impossible or very hard to add later.
Bad on him tho, for selling you something you might not really want....WTF??

Subjective call for sure...but don't let the Shield Haters put you off...

If I was buying a newer Ferrari I might add them onto to list of options.

Enjoy the car!

Edit, I'd definately want the LED steering wheel and it is stupid money expensive! LOL!

 

I do agree, you should get advertising residuals....LOL!

 

1. I think the design of the car is cleaner without them. I think the vents are enough for the fender. As you can see my vents are cf. That is all the fenders need IMHO.

2. The people who know cars will still know what it is and the ones who don't know I would prefer to keep in the dark. I use my car as a daily driver so it is parked out on public streets where I would prefer to have little or no attention given to it. I too live in Northern Califronia.

3. As for resale, who knows. I think anyone buying it as a daily driver might agree with 1 or 2 above. I had no problem selling my 612 which also did not have shields.

4. If we were talking about a weekend car like a 458, I would feel different.
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Shields are a marketing gimmick. On the CA, I think it looks better without. Others will disagree I'm sure.

Don't let resale value be your deciding factor. Choose what YOU like best and be happy.

You're annoyed that you have to pay for shields? How about $400 bucks just to have some colored thread? It's not like they were going to glue the seats together instead of sewing them!

 

Not sure I'd call them a gimmick any more than daytona seats, carbon fibre trim or a colored tach. But I completely agree that you should just go with what you like best and don't worry about the small resale difference.

 

It's a marketing gimmick for the reason the OP states. Salesmen use it to get you to add 2 grand to the bill. No salesman tells you what seats to buy or what CF trim to add for resale purposes. But they do for shields.

 

I have a 599 in Grigio Silverstone without shields....I didnt order the car so I didnt have a choice but it sure did not stop me from buying it....Iam with you I bought the car for me and what I think plus by the looks of ARED4RE Cali.it looks great without them..
A real enthuiast will know what your car is. Get what YOU want..

PS: Like most salesmen hes FOS..If someone does not want to buy your car(including him) because it doesnt have shields they are making lame excuses and are not serious anyway.lol...

 

I have to tell you that my dealer gave me the "you have to get Daytona seats...everyone wants them at resale" or words to that effect.

 

You know, you're right. I would put Daytona seats in the gimmick column too.

These are just dreamed up to get people to pay ridiculous sums of money over the Msrp.

 

He didn't push me for the Daytona seats, but I got them anyway, but they did push me for the 20 inch wheels, but I really like the look of those a lot. He also suggested the yellow tach and yellow pads. I had already wanted the pads, but the tach I had not consider but I got it. He did steer me away from a backup camera, but I know that might come in handy, but I just went for the front and rear parking sensors.

By the way, I will be driving the Cali hard in the twisties only during daylight hours so I didn't get the dimming mirrors or special headlights that turn like on my Mercedes. Figured I rarely go out at night anyway with with little boys at home.

By the way, I think the shields a little bit remind me of Ferrari stores and Ferrari world amusement park.

Hey ARED4RE, your photo is what got me thinking as mine will be Silverstore too. Order placed in December, today just confirmed March build, saying delivery in May.

 

Get what YOU like. Don't buy your car for the next owner. You're not choosing a purple exterior with green leather or a stripped down model - your car will sell regardless of whether it has shields. The whole point of Ferrari making the options available is to allow you to feel you are buying something "unique" to you.

I thought the 20" wheels fill out the wheel wells better. My sense is that yellow calipers will draw more eyes to your car due to the splash of color. I personally would want them to break up the similarity of the colors of the body and wheels.

I'm glad I chose the autodim mirrors. I've been driving to work during the recent nice weather, and they're helpful because its already dark by the time I leave for home. I'm now up to 1K miles. I have the rotating headlights on my 997 and frankly I don't drive dark twisties so they have limited benefit.

All the bling adds up!

 

I say get shields. I have them, and I definitely think the car looks better with them. But it is very subjective, of course.

I really don't think omitting the shields makes the car more low key. There's a huge prancing horse on both the front and the back, so it's kind of hard to hide the fact that it's a Ferrari.

 

Dude, you live in California! You're worried about appearance??!! Seriously, IMO, the shields are a nice touch (I have them). The type of car it is, it is bs to get the shields for "resale." The person who buys it preowned will be looking for more important things. That should not be a deal breaker for most buyers unless they really don't know what they are looking for. The car is already a bit low-key in exotic car worlds. I don't think the shields push it over the edge. Aside from my initial comment, I do know what you're saying. I live in a rural conservative town and I don't take my car to work for fear of what people may think. But, it is what it is. It is true blooded Ferrari. If one truly wants to be low key, then get a Porsche!! You will like the shields. Enjoy the heck out of that baby!!!
Ray

 

I agree!

 

Or $700 for yellow calipers ... guess that is gold filled yellow paint ... but I got them anyway.

 

Hey...I paid the $700 for the grey. I don't regret it, but they might as well be bare metal. You got more for your money...at least you know they painted them!

 

It's a personal preference. I think the California looks better without the shields. I like shields on the 360/430/458. I would get what makes you happy.

 

+1 ... get the shields ... if you don't want attention then get a Prius.

 

Agreed!!!!



PDG

 

Please yourself!

 

My Silverstone 599 was spec'd by the dealer and has shields. I would prefer that they weren't there. They are a little too flashy for me. Somewhere I saw a photo of a car with carbon fiber/grey/black shields. Does anyone know if they are available from Ferrari? They would fill the recess in the fender and might not be quite so prominent.
My car also has the cf steering wheel with the LEDs. Being rather clueless, until I really started driving the car I thought the LEDs were of no value. I mean, how hard can it be to see that big yellow tach right behind them?

 

look how stunning this is and the shields add that special touch. If it came down to it, i as the potential buyer of your used CA, would go for the one with shields over the one without and that will mean something to you oneday.
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I think it depends on the color of the car, the brakes and whether you have CF vents. I have seen Calis both ways that look good. Sometimes the shields can "compete" with the gills, other times not. My 360 does not have shields and I like it that way because they would break up the beautiful lines of the car. The Cali is a different design where they might work better.

BTW, this weekend I saw a Carrera here in San Fran that had Porsche shields -- it looked totally ridiculous.

 

+1

What color is the car?