[MEDIA]
So I had a long talk with the dealer earlier this week.... your mileage may vary. I’m on my fifth f-car and get a new car every 3-4 years, so I’m not a “top tier” client, but I am a dedicated Ferrari guy with multi-car ownership history. My current car is a 2013 458 spider and i have a 488 spider on order. My 488 spider delivery/order Timeline: - Early June, non refundable deposit. - Mid June, specification with a target delivery of “Q1” - Mid October : notice of “January build slot” - Latest: January build slot, but factory communication is spotty, so that could be early January or late January. Let’s say late January to be “safe.” Then 4-6 weeks on a boat to New Jersey and clear customs. Then three to four weeks to truck it across the US to the west coast.....so, late March or early April Come on! I’m dying here! Good thing I’m keeping my 458 spider until the 488 spider arrives! So, I want a 488 GTO.... I spoke with him about getting the new 488 “GTO” (or whatever they’re going to call it). Reserved for their best clients as a first priority. Kinda guys that buy a new car every year or two for the last 10 years and own multiple and/or high end cars. Next down on the list are the “mid-tier” guys with a car every “few years” (a.k.a like me). Sometimes they (we) squeak into a slot, most times not. At my dealer he said they aren’t taking deposits (at least at that is what he said about my dealership) and they don’t know how many cars they will be allocated. If they make it beyond the “top client list” I offered to help them out by buying a GT4CLusso in order to move up the list....Hmmm...that might help, I’ll keep you in mind. That and $5 and I can get a Starbucks coffee.
The info that actually I have are that for sure will be presented in march at Ginevra and to get the chance to get one I had to change my order of the 812 Superfast (delivery march/april 2018) to order a 488 GTB (delivery february 2018) to be eligible for the 488 GTO/Speciale. This change, I know, it might sound crazy for many but for me is not. My dream car still the 458 Speciale, I don't know why but that car drive me crazy also now, so to get the chance to have the "equivalent" for the 488 did make me "shake my hands" during the phone call when they told me that I will get one in march 2019 (hopefully). Those info are not from a dealership but directly from people high level in Ferrari, just to be clear. I hope many of you are so excited like me, really can't believe I have the chance to get one.
I'm in the exact same position a s you. If your serious, the answer is buying a car your dealer really needs to sell. As an example, a left over California in the wake of the Portofino should do the trick. I just couldn't live with the $100k loss I'd have to take to make that happen.
What am I missing here Jelial - why not buy a Speciale and skip all the BS? Very few guys dumped their Speciales for a 488 and didn't regret it. Plus, you'll lose more trading in the 488 than you'll gain on the 488GTO (if that's a factor), so why not just pull the trigger on your dream car? I understand the lure to build your own Ferrari and the excitement of waiting for it, but the search and acquisition of your perfect Speciale can be just as rewarding.
Of course if I had already a Speciale in my garage I will never sell it. I always get emotional with my cars/bikes especially with the one that I dream about since long time. Saying that, when the Speciale came out, I was not even close to be a Ferrari owner, and now I really got the chance to be selected to build my own "special" model, the way I like it, with all the option that I want. Yes, to find my 458 speciale the way I love, can be equally rewarding but to go to the dealer and build, wait, dream about a car that probably you will be one of the first to get it I have to be honest is really exciting for me! Few years ago I though this could never been possible.....I hope I clarified my position and dreams!!
Enjoy the experience. I know what you are saying. I could have easily bought a used 488, but I really wanted to spec my car. I just loved the idea that they were making my car and that my name would be affixed to that VIN in the archives. So cool. If I end up loving the new 488 then I hope to experience it again.
I can't wait to get my 488 GTB in february, I feel like a child waiting Christmas.....you can immagine waiting the "GTO" in 2019!! I will end up crazy!
It s totally crazy how people are ready to make anything , just for a 488 with few increase... Sometimes, most of us should forget this emblem, just because marketing strategy is actually an arrogance symbol ...
While it is very true that Ferrari (as well as all high end brands) appeal to the certain wealthy individuals as a symbol of status, most Ferrari owners I know are first and foremost passionate about the cars, the heritage and the brand. Ferrari has built the worlds greatest automotive marque through decades of passionate design, technology and performance, not through marketing schemes. Being aligned with Ferrari by owning their cars (regardless of the era) makes you part of that lineage.
He does have a point if I even understand what he wrote. Ferrari offers track oriented models that compromise the base models practicality, comfort, etc to gain extra bit performance that can only be utilized on track. Yet watch what happens in few years when successor to 488 is announced. Owners of 488gto will post question, should I get new model or keep gto? Makes no sense bc they are totally different. Already happened w 360cs/430, scud/458, speciale/488 which indicates track ferrari owners want latest model over theirs
I appreciate your point, but I don't really look at the the variants of each model as track cars. They are cars for the road (like the standard models from which they were born), but made to appeal to a buyer with more aggressive palate (both in design and performance). I'm am extremely pleased with the overall experience I get from my 488 GTB. As for it's design (which is the most important thing to me), it is very aggressive as is. Once the 488 special version is revealed I will know if it is something I will want to move up towards. Now, getting the opportunity to order one is another matter altogether. To your point, the desire for some owners to routinely trade up to the newest model is very understandable.
I consider cars like gt3, speciale, performante, 675lt to be track oriented versions of base cars. If you never track them, then imo 911, 458, huracan, 650 will all do a better job being driven on street. Look at it this way, if grading cars on scale 1-10 lets say ferrari is a 10. Now consider 488 gets to 10 by being a 6 in road manners and a 4 on track. 488gto will still be a 10 but it will get there by reversing the equation to 4 on road and 6 on track. This has been true of cs, scud, and speciale. They are compromised in one aspect to improve in another. I guess one could accept the compromises even if never drives car on track if they only drive it few thousand miles over few years. In that case, having gto version looking cool in garage or at c&c makes up for the rest
Good thoughts. I can’t claim to be a track guy. I don’t see that changing. If I love the upcoming 488 version, honestly, it will mainly be because of its design (just like I like the 458 Speciale over the Italia). If I do love it and I’m lucky enough to order one, I don’t foresee me tracking it. Regardless, it will be exciting for all of us to see this car revealed.
If you mean "better job" meaning a more comfortable, versatile, and usable experience, then I agree. If you mean a more engaging experience, I respectfully but wholeheartedly disagree. I've always found a large difference in excitement and engagement for any "hardcore" versions that I've driven compared to their "non-hardcore" counterparts, even when just driving on the street.
What is important is wheter Ferrari limits the production on this 488GTO or not ... Pitty we don't really know by now ...
and we will never know i guess. except there will be a plate with a running number on it. but F would be quite stupid to do so. If there are today more potential buyers - than ever - for such cars. Why? because $ are everywere. depreciation. Automatic gearboxes. compared to 30 years ago a nearly maintance free technic. i would like to get a car which is also a 10. but 9 on track and 1 on the street. and suddenly a limited run of 1000cars would make sense again - to help to get rid of them.
Supercars are inherently compromised vehicles - trading off practicality and comfort in exchange for an emotional experience. Track focused variants take this to another level which is why they're desirable to so many, even if they have no intention of ever tracking them.
Hopefully stay not hybrid for long time!!! For carbon wheels is really or not ? Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Looks like a regular 488 Coupe wrapped up and ready for shipping. Video must be months old too as the trees and grass are still green.
finally i found "official" 488GTO pics - i even found them on fchat. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login and we are posting around already 31 pages long... has a bit of heritage. a lot of aero. perfect. ...
