Any members piling the miles on?

Am wondering how the California is holding up with higher mileage. Other (used) options for me are the Gallardo and R8 - many report over 50K on those with little trouble.

For years I've been eyeing a 328 GTS but finally admitted to myself that I simply don't have the time to look after/ restore one; so am budgeting ~$100K on something used + semi-reliable. It's a relief to see California prices have finally really started dropping and judging by F430 values believe early cars will be in my price range once the new model has been out for a year or so.

Likely I'll only own one exotic in my lifetime. Is the California worth waiting for? Current toys are current gen MX-5 and current gen 328i convertible.

 

You want to make friends in a forum of California owners by saying it's a "relief to see California prices have finally really started dropping...??!!

 

Run a search for posts by Rick Lederman. He is an avid California enthusiast who posts here often. He is on his 2nd Cali and seems to have no issue putting on the miles.

As for me, 2.5 years in and I have 5K miles on the car. (Mine is not a daily driver) Still loving it!

 

My miles have slowed down. My 2012 Cali has about 16,500 miles since December 2011. Last October I bought an FF and it now has 14,600 miles. I've driven the Cali only a dozen times since getting the FF. My 2010 Cali had almost 30,000 miles, delivered in Dec 2009 and sold it in October (I think) 2011.

First & second Cali were true daily drivers until the FF showed up, now it is the daily driver until the weather warms up significantly. No V12 in the Cali sadly although the Cali still sounds GREAT.

The Gallardo and the R8 simply don't offer the "Ferrari Experience". The Cali really does. However it would really surprise me to see a $100K Cali. They are WAY too much fun and powerful to drop that far. We will see.

Rick

 

Got 60,000 miles on my Cali

 

Nice! I need to work hard to catch up.

That also reminds me a little of Jim Glickenhas' quote at the bottom of his posts: "Not putting miles on your Ferrari is like not having sex with your Girl Friend so she'll be more desirable to her next Boy Friend."

 

i have 25k on my 2010. did you have to replace brakes? curious on cost?

 

I had to replace the brake pads on my 2010 at about 23,000 miles but 50% of that was used up on a two day session at the Mid Ohio race course with a Porsche club Drivers Education event. I had 2.5 hours total time on the track, hitting 140 mph on the long straight. Burning off that speed was pretty hard on the brakes.

Rick

 

I am lucky not to had to replace my pads yet. Most of the driving is flat level roads without much stop and go.

 

Some 458 Italia owners had similar experiences when driving on the track.

A few afternoons can use up the brakes pretty fast.

 

Have almost stopped laughing from this comment enough to type a reply


Thanks for the replies; good to see people are using them and no major issues appearing. From many years of lurking here is seems from the F360 forward reliability has seriously improved

Am no expert but from the numbers of Californias sold (have read 2,500-3,000 per year) they'll definitely depreciate to below where F430s and F360s are now - given time obviously

FF... drool.. short of becoming a car reviewer I'll never experience one


Hopefully I'll be back in several years asking DIY questions about my own California. Fingers crossed it's simple, semi-affordable DIY

If they prove reliable the California holds the top spot right now. Just need a bigger garage for all my convertibles.
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2011 with 20k.

 

The annual production numbers on the 458 , coupe plus spider, are actually greater than the Cali.

I'm not sure where values will go. So I don't know why you think the Cali will go below F430 or F360 values.

But if you want one, buy a used one and maybe time it after the arrival of the replacement generation Cali which should be faster and better

 

I missed the second part of the question, $3,000 for a set of pads plus labor. Since I am retired military (32 years) I was given a discount which paid for the labor. They also flushed the brake fluid. The rear pads were actually worn more than the front pads. I stood there and watched Dan do the work (they didn't even charge me more to watch). It is pretty straight forward, I could do it but at my age would rather not.

Rick

 

The good thing about high production numbers + incredible recent advances in affordable CNC milling machines, 3D scanners and 3D printers is that there should be more affordable aftermarket consumables soon. 3D Printers permit fabricating a prototype, once the scad file looks good it can be set away for fabrication or these days parts even milled by small niche shops. If anyone is interested during a recent work break I built and played with an entry level 3D printer: Should I buy a 3D Printer?

Hmm.. assuming they are not all extra sales overseas this virtually guarantees a hit to used values even on the mid-engined two seaters which have historically really held their values. Once over ~$80K the number of regular working joes who have that kind of money to spend on a car is pretty limited as they'll put kids through private school etc first. Oversupply + lower demand as regular joe salaries are being squeezed like never before (it's efficiency drive after efficiency at every large company I've assisted recently)

Spending above ~$120K diminishes super rapidly. Virtually all are very successful self-employed types or a tiny fraction of FTEs who make a really senior position. It's fun looking up their compensation online + weeping Guy two seats from me in the last gig made almost $2.5m last year... (published as public record via SEC filing IIRC) and he's an Audi guy

Mercedes SL is a great example of what happens with oversupply. Over $200K new for an AMG SL to ~$22K for a 2003 equivalent these days. Obviously the California will never end up anywhere near that extreme

 

OK, mp3_e46, you're forgiven for your ill-wishes on our California prices. Mine is 2010 with only 9k miles (about 200 on the track) because I also love the clutch pedal in my 335i convertible. Love the California for different reasons. Don't give up on the 328GTS if you really like that car--they don't require much maintenance, are great value, and many need no restoration (too many have owners who brag about very low mileage and want absurd prices, though). A good 1989 (antilock brakes) can be had below $50k, which is what I paid for mine in 1998. The California is more spectacular, but the 328 is a whole lot of fun and possibly more "exotic" looking. A 328GTS and your Mazda are probably redundant, so you'll have more garage space. Happy shopping!

 

Came across this interesting car story TOP 10 LEAST DEPRECIATING CARS, June 2012 on MSN Cars:

2009 California had the lowest depreciation of all UK cars for 2012 at 16.9% depreciation over 3 years...

beating out the F430 at 33.7%...

the Audi R8 at 27.3% and...

the Lamborghini Gallardo at 17.5%​

The second worst depreciating car in the UK for 2012 was the Jaguar XJ at a whopping 63.2% depreciation over 3 years.

Average 3-year depreciation for UK cars in 2012 was 44%, according to this MSN article.
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Thank you for posting this article!

When the Cali was first introduced, it was the target of a ton of criticism.

It's nice to see that time is treating her less rudely.

Everytime I park or fill up for gas or pass adolescent boys, I get compliments.

 

You're welcome MalibuGuy.

I think the Cali represents "new school" with lots of firsts for Ferrari so it's therefore a trailblazer. Traditionalists are always going to have problems with change especially with a new car being named after one of the most lauded Ferraris of all. But the market reality is that the California is an incredible package that resonates well with most people.

BTW, those adolescent boys do get around, don't they! LOL.

 

Given the excellent retention of value and the fact that I will be jumping out of my 2013 for the 2015 or 2016 complete redo I am beginning to wonder whether this is one of those instances when a lease makes more sense. Has anyone ever leased a California? If after 3 years the retained value is still high why not just pay for what I am using and take the money that would be sitting there for 3 years and put it into something more appreciating. Generally I have never owned a car that has lasted more than 36 months. And this car, given the new version due in a couple of years will definitely be traded onto the new release.

So, any lease holders on a California? If so, what were the monthly terms?

 

Thanks! The attraction to the 328 is somewhat like a tractor beam.. they just look so gorgeous. Maybe I'll pick one up this winter and see how it goes. Worst case it can be sold at hopefully max $10K loss. My BMW is really a 'beater' for winter as the Miata is no fun on dark/ rainy nights - saying that the wife seems to have claimed it this year. It's my seventh BMW (six were factory delivered new); i.e. I am a serious BMW fan but the MX-5 is much more fun at the track. It's a great feeling catching more powerful cars! Highly recommended: suspension swap and eight point roll bar install was done in my own garage at ~1,000 miles and cost peanuts - a great experience. Can afford to total it which helps for a track car


People still seem interested in depreciation: Many Ferrari models do amazingly well in their first years as supply is very limited, waiting lists exist (some say supply is intentionally limited to creating waiting lists) + there is buckets of free hype from the automotive press to fuel demand

Below are production numbers for mid engined two seaters (historically held their value way better than other models). F360 prices really started really collapsing once they hit about ten years old. Many are in the $60->80K range today:

308 12,143
328 7,412
348 8,654
355 11,273
360 17,800
F430 unable to locate final numbers but ~9,000 seem likely. Global recession back then is helping hold up values today. Prices have fallen but not started collapsing

Testarossa/ 512s are good examples of there being too many produced. V12 flagship car but ~10,000 were sold. Used prices are barely more than the 328 now, and their msrp was about half


Saying that, as a wannabe used Ferrari buyer their reliability/ possibility of DIY repair is far more important than purchase cost. Most buyers of 10+ year old cars are terrified by $40K+ for engine rebuilds and $20K+ for serious transmission issues would bring tears to most of our checkbooks. Writing a track car off would feel ok, spending that kind of outlay on a transmission repair not so much

 

another person waiting on cali prices to come down. great looking car with either the roof up or down!

 

The Cali is a very nice user friendly car.

I have had transmission failures but I think things have been sorted out.

In the future I believe that the dealer will be allowed to open the box and work on the DCT. This will bring the cost of transmission repair down.

The Cali engine seems really strong. I have 61,000 miles on my engine and she hums along jus great. Just this evening at a light a silver Mercedes SLS pulls next to me two lanes to my left. He revs his engine and glares at me. I do my best to just ignore him.

There is a clear straight ahead with no traffic.

The light turns green and we both take off. He tries to pull ahead. I'll have none of that. I stay ahead of him until we both hit about 60 and then I back off. I owned him.

Anyway, I shouldn't be so immature.

The Cali is pretty cool.

 

My Cali appears to have developed a bad gearbox at the 3 yr/ 20K mile mark. Developed as a whine that varied with tire speed and initially thought it was a wheel bearing. Further investigation by the dealer localized it to the gearbox. Heard they are sending me a new one... Not a repair evidently... 2010 model.

SV

 

20,000+ 430s were built, including Scuderias and 16Ms. Production grew every year from 2005-2010 except 2009 when the overall production was down from 6,587 units in 2008, to 6,250 units in 2009 it rebounded in 2010 to over 6,500 units. Over 3,500 Scuderias were built including 16Ms. The V8 line is more than 50% of total production as an example the FF comprises only 400 units total a year, that is more than the 612.