Which options a must for my first Ferrari?

Hey Guys, new to this forum and was planning to order a 2012 California..(was thinking white with tan interior)

Was wondering if there is like a set number of basic options that I should have?

I put together a list of what sounded like useful.. but please help with any guidance!

1) Seats - I like comfortable - are Daytona's worth it? or Diamond stitching?
2) Magneride dual suspension
3) Scuderia Shields
4) 19" or 20" & Diamond Finish?
5) Red Brake Callipers
6) Yellow Tachometer
7) Steering wheel - with LED's or not and Carbon fibre?
8) AFS -Advanced Frontlighting System
9) Run Flat tyres?
10) Tyre Pressure & Temperature Monitoring System?
11) Spare Wheel kit?
12) Front Parking Sensors
13) Reverse Camera - is this worth the price?
14) iPod connection
15) Premium Hi-Fi - is there much difference?

Am I missing anything? your help is much appreciated!

 

I have the electric Daytona seats I like them fine although I like the Diamond better
I did not have the Maganide I did not think it worth getting have seen mixed reviews for the california
Definitely get the shields big difference in looks
either the 19 or 20 Diamond finish I have the 20
colored brake calipers are good
I like the yellow tach
Definitely get the LED wheel it really is fun when driving the car at its limit keeps you in the power range very well
no to the run flats
I do not have the spare dont have in many of my cars
tyre pressure monitoring is real handy
definitely on the parking sensors
I wish I had the camara but did not get would get it next time
Ipod is required cannot comment on upgrade stereo
dont forget the cup holder
I like the colored dash
I like the kick plates


THese are all IMO for what its worth I have a 2011 California and love it drive it almost everyday most fun of any car I have owned .I hope this helps I do not claim to be an expert

 

My suggestion is for Magnaride and the LED CF wheel. Both will make driving more fun or more pleasant.

Yes, for sure on the shields. If you don't want them, the next guy you try to sell it to will.

I do not like run flat tires. I'd rather have performance tires and call a tow truck. They come with a fix a flat can.

Daytona and Diamond seats feel the same to me. It's more styling than anything. It's only the inserts that change but your butt can't tell the difference.

The rest of it is just how much you want to pay for the car. And, everything is 4 times the price you would pay for the exact same thing on a Toyota. So, you have to get used to it.

 

Now your list is complete!!! My work here is done. Best of luck in your pursuit of your dream car. May she be all that you want it to be!!!!

 

Your list looks good. I would not opt for the AFS lights or run flat tires. Also if you are not planning on doing a lot of parallel parking I wouldn't go for the back up camera either.

My car has the 20" diamond finish wheels and I think they are better looking than the 19" options.

 

Thanks for the great help and advice guys..based on your advice seems I might do the following:

Colour - White exterior with Beige or Cuoio

1) Magneride (maybe, might test drive to see the difference)
2) Scuderia shields
3) 20" Diamond-Finishing Sport Rim
4) Giallo Modena brake Callipers
5) Yellow Tachometer
6) Steering Wheel in LEDs (non CF)
7) Alcantara windscreen arch upholstery
8) Full electric seats (standard option I think)
9) Daytona Style Seats
10) Daytona style for rear seats
11) Colour seat piping
12) Contrast Stitching
13) HELE - High Emotion Low Emission (Only available on 149 DCT SS version)
14) Anti-theft Satellite System + 1 year subscription
15) Tyre Pressure & Temperature Monitoring Syste
16) Cruise Control (maybe)
17) Front Parking Sensors
18) Rear Parking Camera
19) Inner Electro chromic mirror
20) Foot rest in Aluminum
21) iPod Connection
22) Stitched Cavillinos
23) Cup Holder

Just a few questions..
- Is the Alcantara A-Pillars and headliner a good option?
- Anit theft satellite system..? does the California not have a built in tracker as standard?
- Does Magnaride add anything to resale value?
- I was thinking of getting a black roof, the option seems very expensive.. do you think a black polished (Not Matt) vinyl wrap might do the trick instead?

Thanks again guys! really excited to order my first ever Ferrari!

 

In order to judge magnaride, you have to drive it on a bumpy road. What it does is allow you to soften the jolts when the ride is rough and yet keep it firm when you want the better handling.

It's standard on the 458 and it does help. So, it depends on how often and where you are going to drive it.

As to resale, I think most mechanical options are the first to be under appreciated. But, resale should be the least of your issues when selecting a car of this price. You're spending a lot. You should get what you want. Otherwise, what's the point?

I would stay away from the mat black roof. It's total pain to take care of.

 

Thanks bdelp I might just test drive with the Magnaride to see if it feels good option for me..

 

Options are very personal. My final list and my starting list bear little resemblance. I believe you should at least consider ease of resale before ordering unique (ie unpopular) combinations unless that is something you must have. Engage your dealer and start the process, which has been fun for me so far.

As for your list,
Full electric: addition of heat, lumbar and a few other adjustments, and memory.
HELE: few have ordered this but most have regretted their decision.
Tire pressure and temp: standard
Black roof: may make it harder to sell since not everyone loves this.

btw, I looked at lots of pictures using these resources:

http://www.autogespot.com/en/viewcars.php?type=Ferrari&type=Ferrari&cartype=California

http://www.exoticsonroad.com/?go=more/693190/0/modern

 

The Magnaride setup on the 458 is very different to that on the Cali. BWI who make the system had a hand in calibrating it on the 458 but not on the Cali, Ferrari did that job themselves. The differences are very noticeable IMHO.

 

If I remember right the California also got the generation of Magnaride older than the 458.... It's a more "basic" set-up on the Cali.

I have to admit I am very tempted with a 458 but I really enjoy taking my kids with me in the car

 

I'd expect the forthcoming HGTC package to include a revision to the suspension calibration in the same way the HGTE pack did on the 599.

 

If you are going white with shields, I would seriously consider the yellow calipers. Will flow better aesthetically in my opinion.

 

absolutely!

 

Thanks... They're great links..

 

sounds nicely optioned...

 

I like leather A-pillars and headliners. I think Alcantara is a cheaper material (correct me if I am wrong). It might be lighter but I don't think it makes the interior look nicer.

A nice Mercedes has an Alcantara headliner and a Rolls Royce or Bentley has a full leather headliner.

 

Do not get the Upgraded hi-fi. waste of money. The option I wish i purchased but didn't is the cruise control. Otherwise nice list.

 

I agree with AlfaR on all these points. Unless you drive on dark twisty roads, AFS will have marginal benefit, and they are 1 more system that can break. Run flats will have a harsher ride and be noisier. I don't know whether their grip is comparable, either. My opinion is that 20s fill the wheel well better than the 19s - but they will result in a slightly harsher ride and the tires are more expensive.

I actually like the Alcantara and wish I had gotten it for the A-pillars & headliner. I like the tactile feel and smell of it ... Hmmm, maybe it's my automotive Angora! How much of the headliner is actually Alcantara or leather? I would have thought the folding area would need to still be the nylon/polypropylene material for flexibility and to avoid creases?

Note that if you get the LED wheel, the center portion is carbon fiber and won't match the center console separating the driver & passenger unless you spec other carbon bits. That's why I opted for the regular wheel (plus I can see my tach fine and I'm not redlining too frequently).

Regardless, enjoy the ordering process. To me, it was one of the pleasures of buying a new car versus saving money and time buying used.

 

Agree with Balsamina re carbon. I had the carbon fiber driver zone on my initial spec but then realized I needed to carbonize the upper zone and center arch to match everything. The result was too much carbon and $$$. So I deleted all carbon and I believe it looks nice enough.

 

Thanks for the advice your right about the AFS as I would use the Cali mainly for urban use, so good idea to scrap it! I always thought that its important to have larger alloys but maybe 19's might do for a smoother right.. need to think on that!

With regards to the Alcantara I do like the feeling but again when I'm at the Atelier checking options I'll take a closer look as to how much of it is there on the headliner.

I definitely like the thought of LED lights but as iusk suggested ask for LED option on the standard non CF wheel. As most certainly CF costs can all add up and needs to match!

 

You can get Alcantara for the A pillars, but not the headliner...According to my dealer. I, like Balsamina, like the Alcantara. My M5 had it, and both of my CTTs have had it. Prefer the look and feel to a leather headliner.


J

 

You're welcome. Please do let us know what you learn about the headliner difference, it will be interesting to see if the Atelier has different info than NA dealers.

Had the ability to customize a non-CF wheel with LEDs been available, I would have seriously considered it. F is clever to enable personalization to drive increased sales of options, which I presume are very high gross margin sales.

 

You cannot go wrong with Cuoio interior with almost ANY exterior color. I know that many Ferrari owners choose tan...but Cuoio adds depth to the interior without being too showy.

 

I was part of a Ferrari invite day for a test drive of Cali's. They had 5 different configurations at the winery; go figure - drink champagne and then here are the keys

I fell in love with the CF racing seats, tried the standard and Daytona but the racing seats were beyond anything I could imagine. They were really comfortable and I felt "closer" to the car. The only downside is that you need to be tall as they do not move upwards. I had to get an insert made for my wife, yeah Toys R Us booster seat did not cut it.

Also, go with the 20" rims - seeing a side by side comparison of 19" and 20" there is no question.