GTC4 Drive, Inspection and Review

Like someone had mentioned, maybe the final produced version will use better material and improved mechanisms (ie doors) than the first batch that might have been haphazardly put together just in time for the journalists. At the same time, the first batch is supposed to create a good first impression...

 

the 911's are very solid (30,000mi in the past 18months on 991 C2S and 991 Turbo, through the snow, rain, salty roads, mud, pot holes, messy roads of DC and Balto, on a daily basis) but....
if you don't get one with full leather interior, well...yes, the finish is barely worthy of a VW. Standard leather is bad (is it even leather?), plastics are kinda cheap.
Was also disappointed that the sport classic steering wheel is fully trimmed in plastic.

 

I am pleased to report that the Grille Cavallino is not plastic but in metal as always on all cars currently at the factory. It may therefore be a particular requirement for US cars or a pre production issue.

 

Must be amazing news for some.....

 

.

 

Phewww!

 

Praise Jesus!

 

Still, the same MSRP means there are cost cutting somewhere. There is just no way to keep MSRP the same with the falling purchasing power of the USD, unless Ferrari decides to take in less profit.

 

How do you really know that? The point about cost cutting seems a reasonable one, but upon reflection, didn't Ferrari always intend some kind of life cycle update to the FF? Perhaps the costs etc were figured back then and amortized out over the lifespan of the entire ~10 year life of the platform?

 

....or the slump in raw material prices - all the way down to the feedstock for plastic manufactures must have had some effect on the cost of the final product

 

Exactly. Or a strategic willingness to price it the same to try to help sell the historically slow moving 4 seat model? Or a strategy to make back the money on pricey options (like a CF front horsey)? Etc, etc.

 

TheEuro to US Dollar was about 1.40 in January 2012 when Ferrari was pricing the FF. It is currently around 1.12. there is plenty of room for cost inflation even if Ferrari has the same list price for the FF and the GTC Lusso.

 

Also a v good and fair point.....

 

Falling purchasing power of the USD? USD is quite strong actually, so weak Euro is actually helping quite a bit.

There are plenty of ways to keep the same MSRP regardless. Low raw material cost, efficiency, new V8 option, getting more options sold or increasing options cost, etc. It's also likely that the R&D, marketing, and other costs are now much lower since the car/platform is now already established. As someone said, it's amortized.

 

1) currency is favorable for USD$ and is likely to continue

2) as the (high) development costs of the FF get absorbed (4RM) and the initial V12/DCT platform gets leveraged across more volume (F12, FF, GTC4), it should allow more headroom to retain margins and avoid price hikes

3) no doubt, component costs and commodities have stayed flat, and the cost of some components (eg. the INT system) have stayed flat

4) option prices have stayed flat (eg. the amount spent on options will likely continue to be strong - eg. leather seat backs).

etc etc - that, plus good market sense on price points, easily explains a relatively flat price curve.

back to this thread:

1) what started out as a really well done and in-depth comparison and review - with some balanced, "this is my view" critiques- seems to have degraded into a "and this is why I'm right and the FF is better" thread (again)

2) I am curious to see how the final article as delivered compares to these pre-production press cars (eg. is the grill plastic or metal?)

3) I would imagine that some of the driving dynamics will evolve before production; for those who had a chance to drive the pre-production 488 and Cali T models, you will probably agree that a number of things "evolved" before deliveries started. That may aggravate some, but I actually think it's a good move by Ferrari

 

A most excellent point

 

This thread blows any Oprah/Jerry Springer show away......we can't possibly give a rat's ass about what material a freakin cavallino is made of ---- I'm sure TM can have one made in 18kt white gold too --- that should help to soften the blow to any person who happens to get hit/run-over by the same lunatic that cared enough about the material used for the Cavallino on the front of the grill 😊

 

Just had my dealer inform me my TDF is at stage 40, dash/wiring/interior/options.

That monster V12 should be dropped in next, can't wait to hear it roar!

 

Wrong thread sorry

 

Great analysis

 

+1

 

No drama, No need to worry about my brain Mister "I have managed to single-handedly upset/piss-off every single person whom I have come across on this forum"

Go get your crayons and legos and design/show us all what you believe such car should be like....

Seriously, like dealing with some defensive rebellious liberal......worst type of people.....