Why I'm not done with Ferrari

LOL!!!!

Please post some pics of your new baby in the 458 section when you get it. I'm sure it will be a beauty!

 

Yes sir!

 

post not only some pics but your driving feedback would be nice.

 

Funniest thing I have read in a long tome. Plus its a really great anit abortion argument.

 

Mayor... Do you know that you wrote this a year ago?

Ferrari hasn't changed, you have!

 

Please....give it a rest.

 

You know, you're absolutely right. My Ferrari ownership history is as listed

1996 F355 Spider, purchased new
1997 550 Maranello, second owner
2001 360 Modena, purchased new
2004 550 Maranello, second owner
2006 430 Spider, purchased new
2008 599 GTB, purchased new
2008 599 GTB, repurchase of car I originally ordered

My 355 Spider had problems with the roof mechanism, and although I loved that car I fortunately disposed of it prior to it needing the extensive valve work to the tune of about $25,000. Cost over $700 for just the part when the rubber door gasket on the driver's side went bad. My '97 550 was a piece of junk with more electrical problems than one could count. My 360 Modena had an F1 whose clutch sensor would always alarm while sitting in traffic and required two different ECU replacement. In one and a half years. My '04 550 was admittedly a phenomenal car. My 430 was pretty much a good car while I owned it for two years, but one month after I traded it in it was having its engine replaced (at 13,000 miles); it had been serviced immaculately. My 599 had a leaking power steering rack, constant electrical system failure warning lights, and required a new steering pump. All in less than a year. But obviously I developed an affinity for that car because I bought it back, at which time it had been sorted pretty well. Never owned a 458 but I do remember a recall for spontaneous engine fires.

So you're right, Ferrari hasn't changed. Build quality remains substandard, as it has always been, particularly at its price point. Replacement parts are obnoxiously expensive (seriously, over $700 for an 8 foot or so length of rubber tubing?) I love my Ferrari dealer and more than any single thing my relationships there kept me in the fold. I have changed. I'm just no longer willing to stretch my finances to tolerate this.

 

I'm sorry to hear of your unfortunate ownership expierences. I'm also surprised you stayed with the brand that long. I think I would have bailed sooner. Why did you tolerate so much?

My expierences are better. That being said, the prices are ridiculous and the market bears it. Too a certain extant, it's the price of exclusivity.

Ferrari hasn't changed and from your point of view that's a bad thing. At least your honest enough to admit it.

 

The smell. The sound. The looks. The frenetic engines. Who knows? They are very exciting to drive. I guess I've just developed a "Been there, done that attitude." Don't miss having a Ferrari as much as I always thought I would.

 

Ferrari Chat: Come for the cars, stay for the drama.

 

I love the carbon fiber trim and seats...very well put together Jeffrey

 

Thanks. I decided not to do the paint correction as I thought the paint was very, very, good as is with a little orange peel. I was recommended not to go the great lengths to remove the orange peel if I was going to actually use the car (paint durability reasons). What are your thoughts?

 

Just curious for those who are upset with Ferrari's current way of doing business... doesn't Ferrari send out customer service surveys after you purchase a vehicle?

If the majority of buyers are upset with Ferrari's business practice it should show in their national survey score average. Even if Ferrari ignores their internal surveys, surely they pay mind to the JD Power scores....

What I am trying to get at, is for owners who are upset, why not trash Ferrari on the surveys? Eventually things will need to be changed if they keep getting killed on surveys.

 

I completely agree with the orange peel removal. I try to avoid wet sanding by all means necessary unless it's going to be a show car. Remember that paint correction is not just orange peel removal, but also the removal of other types of imperfections such as buffer trails, swirl marks, wetsand marks left behind by the factory, etc. Let me know if you want me to put it under the lights and inspect it for you. I'm waiting for an Abu Dhabi blue 458 that should arrive in the next 2 wks.

 

They don't. They only ask you about your dealer experience. How much you like what you bought is not important as long as you paid for it.

 

Surveys? Surveys? We don't need no stinking surveys...from what I can tell, JD Powers also does not survey or compile data on Ferrari. The factory sells everything it builds months before they start construction, and there is a line miles (and dollars) long to get new ones. Peter Drucker said the most important focus of a business is to stay in business. Using that metric, not sure surveys would sway corporate opinions. If sales started to lag, though, they'd change.

 

Apple is sitting on a 100+ billion cash pile.

They are also in the business to make money.

Which company is more successful?

 

Some would argue that Apple's success has not much to do with real product innovation and lot to do with convincing people that it's better and cooler.

Sound familiar?

 

Apple. It's not even close. It's thank to my Apple investments that I can afford a Ferrari!

 

I'd argue (of course) that Apple's success is due to product innovation. The original personal computer and graphical user interface (GUI). iTunes as a music platform (and later movies, TV, Podcasts, etc.). What was the smartphone like before the iPhone? Mobile apps before the iPhone? An App Store before the iPhone? Touch computing before the iPhone and the iPad? Please!

Luddites indeed!

 

Keep drinking the Apple cider! LOL

Actually I think Apple was very innovative as much as I dislike them.

 

Picked up my 458 Spider today. Wow!

I really don't understand how anyone that loves sports cars can't love this car.

On the other hand, everyone has different needs and priorities.

Regardless... Wow!

And finally, to those celebrating the Christmas holiday... Ho, Ho, Ho! A big Merry Christmas to you (you know who you are)!

😇

 

I thought it was the Ferrari cider I was sipping.

 

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It's my understanding that Xerox is generally credited with inventing the graphical user interface (GUI) as we know it, following some preliminary work done by Stanford University. The Xerox 8010 computer (which used the GUI) preceded the Apple Lisa and the Apple Macintosh. This is not to take anything away from Apple, to be sure, which popularized it over the ensuing years.