FF being forced on dealers?

On Page 14 of the September issue of Car and Driver, they claim "The new FF has not been warmly received by Ferrari customers, and sources say dealers are being forced by the carmaker to take an FF with every batch of hot-selling 458's"

I do not post this as a swipe against the FF, I am just curious if anyone on F-chat who would be "in the know" can verify the truthfulness of this claim

 

this would have been my assumption but if you are to read the posts in the ff section, it would seem the car is hugely popular and selling very well.

 

Sounds like tough times


If they need to start giving them away i'll be first to sign. I think they are brilliant

 

If it bleeds, it leads. The truth is probably somewhat different than the journalism.

 

To be fair to C&D, the article was actually not about the FF at all. It was about the tense relationship between dealers and manufacturers and discussed a slew of manufacturers. The FF was just offered as an example and it was buried in the story.

 

Let's face it... the economy ain't great. The market for a $350K 4 seat sports sedan isn't immune.

When the F12 gets up and running, the V12 line will be full bore again.

 

ohh you want a 458 Spyder? Buy an FF now and we will move you up the list or even put you on the list!!!

 

Could be worse. They could have been Maybach dealers.

 

Doesn't work that way but you get a extra credit for creativity.

 

Or Lotus.

 

Did remember seeing something that Ferrari likes a split between V8s and V12s. in the order of 75% v8s and 25%.

This was the case in Australia few years back at tail end of F430. Whether that is still the case im not sure. Dealer i spoke to said that for every 612/599 that they sold they were able to get another 3 f430 as allocation

 

really?

I've heard that's exactly how it works for years.

 

btw wasn't the FF really designed for China/Russia/Middle East and not US/Europe? If so I'd think US dealers could easily export the cars if they didn't sell here....unless they're also not selling there too.

 

Same here.

 

Not an FF for an 458 spider. Apples and oranges and depreciation is too great.

What you'll see is dealers trying to move used stock.

 

fixed

 

i have a buddy that had to take a FF (on truck now) to get a 458 spider......

 

"Asked" to , but not "forced". It does not appear to me that we have had any problem moving our FF inventory, most are coming pre-sold. I think we only have one in stock and it's been the demo from the start. Fully loaded and well received by all that get some time behind the wheel.

I cannot speak for the sales departmnt, but what you buy today appears to have direct impact on what you are looking to purchase in the future.

It could be a Maserati QP today for a 458 Spider in May or an 599 for a F12 in xyz....

So , to say that there's a Dealership out that asking a client to purchase a FF in order to get in line for a F12 ( 458 Spider even ) doesn't sound out of line at all.

Just my .03 worth as always,

S

 

My dealer took an early FF as a "demo" and was required not to sell it for 90 days. It is now for sale.

 

One of my "Ferrari Experience" classmates from June (an Italia owner) said he had just agreed to buy an FF to get another allocation (either a Spider or F12...I don't recall) from his local dealer in the South. His plan was to not take physical delivery by immediately consigning it to the dealer. Happily, my dealer has taken care of me (twice in past 3 years) with reasonable waits (4-6 months) and no horse trading...I'll keep my fingers crossed that this continues.

 

Wouldn't it have been easier to just hand them an envelope with cash? If you put it back on the market right away, it just seems simpler.....

 

Nice to have a dealer chip in and give us a fair assessment.

 

How much would an FF lose if it's put on the market the same day the dealer received it? It's technically a brand new car.

 

I'm guessing it sells for close to list, but the owner has to suck up the consignment fee (5 points?)

 

REALLY? Well with the 458 spyder market hot right now and the market for the FF is colder than frozen dog ****... ferrari has been this way for years not in the modern market!! and no they will not come out and tell you this but that is what the factory is telling the dealers if they want 2013 458 ..