F12 Ordering

I spoke with my dealer and he said that while they have an internal list Ferrari is not officially taking US orders. Does anyone know when they will be?

 

This is really a similar situation for every new car. It was the same for the 458. Dealers don't know when they can take official orders until they get their quotas. Now, they do lobby for quota's based on interest level of their customers and their own sales estimates based on passed performance and their local market knowledge.

When they will get their quotas is a guess. But, if you want one, my suggestion would be to get on that list asap and stay in touch with them.

 

Given this will be my first F car purchase, is there any advice you can give me to try to accelerate getting the car?

 

Yes buy at least two inventory cars from a dealer now, put a deposit on the F12 and expect delivery towards late 2013 at the earliest. Best buy a 2011 599, let the dealer sell it as used, lose $50k. Give your dealer a chance to make some money off you.

 

Question is if I go through all that will I really get priority? If I don't buy a car from him now how much more time would it take me to get one?

 

No clear answer for that.
It varies from dealer to dealer,based on location mainly,most have an established number of clients who always get the first shot.

 

Where are you located? As absent said, there is no telling but the more you grease the palms through purchases and sales, the more favorable treatment you will get.

This may surprise you as no other company in the world treats their customers like this but please, please, please, don't be offended, surprised, or angered by this; i.e don't whine, it will make you look childish. Just stiffen your spine and accept it as reality.

Every, and I mean every customer gets this kind of treatment from Ferrari. It was like this from day one and it will likely be like this until the end of time.

There are brief windows during economic downturns when Ferrari relaxes the stiff arm treatment but they only last for about a year before Ferrari reverts back to their old ways. If you want to be on the team, you've got to play the game.

Seriously, where are you located? Based on that people can give you more insight on how things will play out.

-F

 

Well, there is always two sides to a story.

No other company in the world? Hardly.

If you're a frequent flier on a airline, would you be upset of a guy who is a first time customer got to choose his seat before you --or got an upgrade? Would you be upset? Would you maybe be upset enough to buy a ticket from someone else next time --who appreciates your business?

If you frequent the same restaurant very often, maybe the owner gives you a free desert as his gift of thanks and wish for continued service. Should the other customers who came in for the first time be jealous and demand the same?

If you have a good long term relationship with a bank, do you get a loan easier than someone the bank never dealt with before?

You can blame Ferrari as you say but you have to also admit they respect loyal past customers with a benefit of the potential earliest deliveries. And, they wait also.

There are some very, very loyal customers to Ferrari on Fchat. I'm sure they appreciate getting a car earlier instead of being told: "just get in line like everyone else".

There's no perfect solution here as long as they build cars that a lot of people want under a very limited supply.

Here's the biggest irony on Fchat.

Everyone complains that wait lists are too long.

yet:

Everyone complains Ferrari is building too many cars and they lose exclusivity.

You can't have it both ways....

 

I am located in NYC. Far from whining I actually agree with Ferrari's philosophy. The better customers should get priority and I agree if I frequent a restaurant, bank, etc. I expect priority and better service. It is good business to take care of your better customers.

 

Ha, ha, good point. I guess I was thinking of companies that sell products. But I suppose there are examples there too of companies, particularly luxury brands, that have the same stiff attitude. Do the French couture brands sell to anyone who walks in the street? Does Richard Mille sell the latest model of watch to just anyone? Probably not.

My point to the OP was, don't be offended. Even buyers of the Enzo replacement have to play the game of buying and selling several models before they are even considered.

I guess my mind goes to the Porsche customers who come to Ferrari for the first time and are flabbergasted by the idea that they have to be "approved" before they can make a purchase of a new model. They have never experienced anything like that with Porsche (or Mercedes or Bentley or Aston Martin) and just can't believe Ferrari would treat a customer with cash like that and ultimately they end up storming away, looking childish as a result, while everyone else has a laugh at their expense.

-F

 

Great! You get it. It can be a silly, frustrating game but the sooner you accept it, the sooner you can play it.

I'm not too familiar with the NY dealer network but if the rules are like they were in the past, you will be forced to buy from your "local" dealer, whoever that may be. Recent buyers can confirm this.

Hopefully some guys from NY can chime in and maybe give you some insight on how the allocation has been in the past with the NY dealers, quantities, time frame, waiting lists, etc.

At least the F12 will be a production model and not limited to a specific quantity. Purchasing the limited edition models new from the dealer (599 GTO for example) can be even more challenging.

-F

 

Porsche is by no means an exclusive brand though. It's not just luxury businesses but really most businesses should take care of their most loyal and biggest customers first..just makes sense.

 

Very well said, bdelp.

 

I think by 2014 the F12 USA demand will be more like the situation for the 458 coupe now. Certain dealers will be able to deliver a car within 5/6 months of a MODIS order.
Recall the frenzy and the crazies who paid $150K over list for the early 599's. Two years later their $475k car was selling wholesale for under $300K, now it is a $215K car at best.
Out of warranty 12 cyl's are treated like lepers. Misplaced in my opinion but that is the market. Also just a matter of a year or less before GTO's follow 430 Scuds.

 

Unlike Porsche, Bentley, AM, etc, Ferrari only builds cars to order. They do not produce as many as they can and stock dealers with inventory. Instead of inventory, dealers get allocations based upon their ability to pre-sell every single car made. Ferrari could sell thousands more cars than they build so with that sort of supply/demand imbalance, they can afford to select the "best" owners. Money (and ability to lose it buying and selling cars from/to dealers) is but one factor but everyone they deal with has money. So owners must differentiate themselves on factors of loyalty, interest in the marque and protection of the car's value in the resale market. For a first time buyer this process might seem unfair but there is a method to the madness.

 

To your point I was at a dealer in December and they had an unsold new 599 that they were willing to sell for around 10% off sticker. It is possible, of course, that this was a customer ordered car that the customer backed out from.

 

Take your checkbook to the dealer. Write them a check for $100,000 and tell them that this is your deposit and the amount you're paying over sticker for one of the first 3 F12 build dates for that dealer. You will experience an unusual phenomenon of "rapid list escalation."

 

My dealer already contacted me last Friday asking me if i was interested in buying one. I passed.........I already have what I want.

 

There is a difference between being valued by the factory and being valued by the dealer. While I do not question the existence of the practice and its effectiveness with regular production models, I do doubt that it would work on the limited edition models like the Enzo etc. Do you think it does?

 

It don't think it applies on limited edition models unless the expected owner backs out of the deal (late) for some reason and the dealer uses this opportunity to get a first time limited edition prospect to bid up. Probably a rare occurrence with limited edition models.

 

Tomshop,

I want to apologize for my response and diversion of your thread and for well, just acting like an ass. It was uncalled for.

On several occasions, both on this board and first hand, I have seen new and even current customers be given the Ferrari treatment (no car for you) resulting in hurt feelings. But obviously you are not that type of person.

You will get some great advice from current customers who can guide you through the process of getting the car you want.

I wish you luck and good fortune and hope in a year from now to see you in a bright shiny new F12. You're going to love it, that I am sure of.

-F

 

No worries at all. I didn't take anything you said to be off base.

 

+1

 

You must be a GTO addict