Wait Time

Wow. You just got the California delivered on November 29, 2011 and already
want to replace it, after a MONTH? Why? I am curious... I just don't get that.

Jedi

 

A year does not surprise me at all. It's going to be difficult to get a coupe next year. I bet 60% - 70% will be spider allocations to catch up pent up demand of no spiders in the last 3 years -- not to mention they make more money with spiders.

That means about 1400 coupes for all of 2012 world wide.

All V8 car production runs on one line (including the California) and that production is capped.

The only trick is to put a lot down and that may speed things up. But, don't count on it. If you're lucky, someone will bough out and you can pick up their production slot.

 

That's really too long for the coupe. Does Ferrari never plan to make a new assembly line separating Cali from the 458's to atleast reduce the waiting time?

 

They want to maintain a 12 to 18 month wait period to help hold up resale values. Some of it depends on territory allocations. Different areas or regions will have different wait periods.

I waited 3 years for an F430 spider. You guys are wimps!

 

You can pick up a nice 458 off the floor with 500-1500 miles, use it for a year and sell it when your order comes in. Also that way you will better know how to drive it well.

 

My car arrives at the dealer on Monday. I placed the order back in December a year ago. The trick is to get an allocation build date sooner than expected. Can't hurt, IMHO, to drop by the dealership and ask every once and awhile to see if anyone has passed on their build slot.

 

Here's your new car
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Beautiful car Arnie
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For those future readers who research this topic, which many seem to do on a regular basis, it is critical to consider the territory that you are in. I'm confident that if I walked cold into a metropolitan Ferrari dealer and asked what the wait time for a coupe was, the answer would be either frustrating, discouraging, or completely off-putting. A one year's wait for anything (let alone three) is just NOT programmed into the american consumer's psyche!

I was fortunate to have multiple residences and thus was able to form a relationship with a unpretentious, small market Ferrari dealer. They knew me personally from a few local car events, and I had previously owned an F430, although I bought it from a somewhat pompous Ferrari dealer in my "other" residential territory. When I expressed an interest in a 458 coupe in the fall, the smaller market dealer was very accommodating, and I specced the car that month. It will be here in March (I was at the dealer yesterday, and in is being built right now). This means that my total wait time will have been about 6 months or so, start to finish. It could have been even sooner but for an unforeseen delay in allocation.

Bottom line is that there are a multitude of factors that effect delivery times. Obviously, it doesn't hurt Ferrari's feelings at all if there is a widespread perception that people are lined up for years just to get a chance at one of their lovely cars. When you read the mass media about the 458, a common theme is how many people want one but can't get one.
Those of us who are fortunate enough to get our mitts on one, out of human nature, sometimes encourage (or at least do little to discourage) the propagation of this perception. The truth, however, is that not all of us face such daunting wait periods.

Also, I have already expressed an interest in the "scuderia" version of the 458 (whatever it may be eventually called). While I harbor no illusion that I will be the first guy to get one, I know that I won't be far down the list, simply because I have formed a relationship with my dealer. If they were pretentious nut balls like a few others which shall remain unnamed, I would not be interested in buying a Ferrari from them, no matter how great the car was. I can't imagine the nonsense I would have to go through if I lived in a place were people buy Ferraris as proclamations of wealth rather than out of a love for the machine. I simply refuse to drink that cool-aid.

 

I believe I saw this car parked at the Four Seasons recently when I was there for the Chevron World Challenge.

 

I option my car tomorrow. I am told the car will be here by "early" summer. I have purchased 2 Ferrari's (360 from an unrelated dealer and a 430 from a "sister" store), as well as a 2011 Maseratti from this dealer. I am "trading in" my 430 (purportedly (we will see tomorrow) for a good price) I will share my experience.Best

 

Good luck, on the deal.

Personally, when I was offered a 458 slot 6 months ago from a Ferrari Dealer that I bought my 355 and 430 from, I was told 6 months. Last time over Christmas I was told 9 months for a coupe now. I am going to call them tomorrow and see what is the time frame. I was also told I need to trade in my 430 for a good price.

 

According to Chrysler (yes Chrysler) http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2012/01/how-chrysler-and-fiat-stacked-up-in-2011/sales-by-model-1211-xls 1640 Ferraris were sold in the US last year. With about 30 dealers across the country, an average of only about 4.6 new Fcars OF ALL MODELS is sold per dealer per month -- little more than 1 per week.

With demand high, especially for the more successful models, you can see how the dealers can exact prices over MSRP and meter out their precious allocations.

 

As I said, only about 1100 coupes will be made worldwide next year. It's going to be difficult to get a 2012 coupe if you have not already ordered it.

 

beautiful car, man. i live in westlake too. i believe i saw your car parked near los agaves last week and stopped to stare at it for a minute or five.

 

Dropped by my dealer last week and they said my expected order for March build will most likely be delayed due to the allocations they received last couple months were none. The March build was an estimate according to their allocations last year. They are hoping for more cars in the coming months to make it up, but they think Ferrari will be shipping less cars to the US this year. It's not only for the F458 but also the California. Now their line is more than a year wait and growing.

 

At least you have a slot!

 

This will certainly maintain resale premiums.

 

Seems like it, contrary to some proposing prices falling so they can bottom feed.

 

A dealer told me in sort of (purposely) vague words "around 3 years wait for a coupe and 4 years for a spider". I've only bought one used car from them thus far, so I'm not getting any special treatment. If I were to buy 1-2 more used cars, I was told the wait could be reduced by perhaps a 1 year...luckily for me I have no reservations about buying a used 458 if I decide I want one sooner.

OTOH, a new cali could be here within six months I was told...so demand for those is obviously much lower than for 458s...

To the OP, getting a new 458 with "only" a one-year wait is better than par for the course ASAIK.