My horrible experience buying my Ferrari

No PPI done prior? What dealer are you talking about...an authorized Ferrari dealer?

 

I bought my 430 from a CT dealer and am very curious which one you are talking about. I had the most pleasant experience with them. Anyhow, good luck with this. Rest assured there is no such thing as it being "just a 360". They are gorgeous cars and the envy of many!

 

Well it sounds like you knew about the clutch and belt service up front. The tires should have been obvious, too. This is why a PPI and service history documentation is so important with these cars. You said you re-negotiated the deal based on services required, great job there. (I did the same on mine, when the PPI turned up the car needing news tires.) So I would say all that is status quo.

However, the attitude of the dealer with comments on "it's just a 360" and "car isn't that nice", plus scratching the car, and not adequately checking out the top mechanism I feel are unacceptable. Perhaps climb the corporate ladder at the dealership and report your dissatisfaction. Someone will eventually care. Second, unsure if this is possible, but if it is a Ferrari Authorized Dealer, then perhaps report them to Ferrari in Maranello. They should hold their dealerships to a very high standard. You might have a manager or tech that is not happy with the dealership and giving sub-standard service that the higher ups don't know about.

Either way the situation is unacceptable! Something you work hard for and proud of should not be treated like that.

Good luck!

Deiger

 

Ouch. When my clutch measured 30% remaining the dealership told me to just drive the car until it starts falling out of gear (which is what happened). 7000 miles to have a clutch go is REALLY low mileage as most clutches last until 25K-30K miles. Your repair bill seems very high as well. I paid just above $4k for a new clutch. Tires should be about $400 each, brakes are very easy to replace $300? Did they also replace the brake fluid?

I would find a different dealership or repair shop, as well as learn to work on the car yourself (stuff like brakes, fluid changes etc.) I hope things get better for you.

 

Can you tell us about the whole deal? Such as how much you paid for the car, the estimates given by the first dealership that did the PPI vs the dealership that actually did the work?

The roof would give me concern as repairing the convertible can be really expensive.

 

Flywheel would have cost me an additional $1,800. Mine was in good shape, so it was not replaced.

 

Your buying experience is not horrible.
Your repair experience is horrible. Find a new mechanic.

 

Shipping company.. just call your credit card company. That should square things and then call them back and tell them they're repeatedly charging you. It could be their system has a glitch.

Wow. And you guys wonder why my comments come out about factory authorized places to repair Ferraris. (note I didn't write the word. ) In the end it's just a car repair shop like any other. BTW the service managers attitude and approach was 100% wrong. You don't put down the customers car if you scratch it. Good job at pictures. I'll wager you're going to have to give them the opportunity to fix it before you sue.

BTW.. what does the manager drive out of curiosity? I'll wager its not a Ferrari or car commensurate with his attitude.

 

I just put a new set of Michelin Pilot a/s 3's on my 360...$970 for the set out the door.

 

I have a feeling I know which dealer you went to considering your location. I find it hard to believe the service manager would put the car down and say it is not that nice. Regardless of the car's condition I would think a service facility would want the business, especially in the winter.

Can you post pics of the alleged paint job now (with tape lines) and the pics you have pre scratch? How long was the car at the dealer?

 

Post around in F-Chat in the area section to find a different repair facility near your that has F-chat approval. I have trouble with the comment though and wouldn't want a non-enthusiast within 20 feet of my car, let alone inside of it! Good luck.

 

Easy. Call the GM and threaten them with better business bureau. Problem solved. They will fix issue. You have proof.


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which dealer was it? I imagine based on your location it must have been FoNE or Wide World in NY right? You can PM me privately if you don't wish to put them on blast, but I'd love to know so I can be sure my car doesn't ever go there....

 

Nobody gives a about the bbb anymore. They are outdated and scandal ridden. Internet ruined a lot of different types of businesses

 

I know this isn't much solace but....

the roof issue is probably just a random a event. I wouldn't take them too much to task on this one. Doing a clutch as nothing to do with the roof. Given the car's age, it's not surprising that it "just happened". Stuff "just happens" with cars all the time. And, it might just be a micro switch out of adjustment. It could be really simple so don't sweat it until you know.

I would press the shipping company for sure on what happened with the scratch. Someone touched it up if you have the evidence you say you do. If an F car dealer did it, it's highly unlikely they would do it so poorly to leave "tape marks".

As to the repairs of the clutch, you knew the clutch was bad and whenever you open up a patient, you'll always find stuff you didn't know. There's no crystal ball here.

As frustrating as it sounds, this is pretty normal stuff (aside from the scratch). Welcome to the world of Ferrari.

The trick is to not let it ruin your experience because I guarantee you, this won't be the only blood pressure raising event you'll have during ownership.

One last thing... when you buy a Ferrari, you marry your mechanic. Find a shop and mechanic you trust and can work with and remember there will be disagreements along the way. But, it's 'till death do you part because finding a new partner means starting all over.

Remember never to take a fight to bed.

 

Wise words.

 

Good advise as I've been searching for my mechanic 'partner'...

 

Very sorry to hear of a terrible first time experience with your "authorized" dealer.

Hope to see your follow-up with a better ending result.