488 GTO ?

+1

 

It is a bit sad to see Ferrari to take advantage of its clients (or potential clients) this way. If Lusso is not selling well, why not just focus on 812 and start preparing the 812 tdf and terminate the Lusso line. Wouldn't it be better for the company as demand for 812 is much higher?

 

Having absolutely zero experience in the auto industry or similar, I'm betting X# of FFs/Lussos/Ts pays for the production line changes and a certain profit margin. Assume that production number hasn't been hit, so they need to sell more. Otherwise, your idea to end Lusso produ

Capitalism isn't sad - if exoticcardreamer doesn't want to pay $350k for a Lusso to get a 488VS, on to the next guy on the list. There will be even "sadder" stories - dealer doesn't say, "buy the Lusso for the 488VS," but "buy a Lusso with at least $75k in options for the 488VS."

 

ha ha. Good example.

Ferrari does get a little bad wrap over this issue. Porsche just charges higher then MSRP. No need to buy a different car. Mclaren is starting to become a little like ferrari too.

I always tell these kids/spotters that the real ballers are the people driving FF's/Lusso's. You know they have something good or getting something pretty good.

 

Thank you for confirming my other post on FChat about dealer allocations, but given the severe length of this site, I don't expect many to have read it....

Here are two additional details your dealer didn't tell you:
1- Let's say you do order the Lusso to secure a 488 VS/GTO allocation... guess what, that extra allocation that just opened up will NOT go to YOU. Instead they will then call another client higher up the food chain that will assuredly buy a heavily optioned 488 VS. Then (upon the second batch) is when you will get your 488 VS/GTO, as this is not a LE car.

2- There is no Ferrari (manufacturer) "approved" list for this car to cross reference... I hate to break it to many of the folks on FChat, but Ferrari has no idea who 99% of us are. The entire list for these none-LE cars comes straight from the dealer alone, which is why they're trying to game the system by forcing clients to buy the less desired cars. Any dealer employee that says otherwise is trying to make you feel more "important" or get you to pony up more funds. As they're not allowed to sell any new Ferrari at above/below MSRP, this is how they try to workaround the limitation.

Just sit tight and you'll have your allocation, eventually.

 

Thanks for the explanation. So paying more for an undesirable car is for feeding people higher up the ladder, now this is sad.

 

You will get fed, eventually... Dealer isn't going to sit on an allocation empty for 6 months... They will borrow from Peter to give to Paul during the meantime.

The worst thing you can do is confront your dealer about it... Just know in the background what truly goes on. The allocation game happens to all, even Chevy dealers that try to get Corvette allocations/etc.

 

I want a "GTO" but I'm not playing games. If they give me one, great. If not, Ill get something else. Too many great cars out there. Hell, My 488 is amazing as it is. I have a feeling by the time all this GTO stuff shakes out, it will be time to start talking about the 488 replacement.

 

Depending on where you are from the reality is that they will do whatever they can to push slower regular production cars like the 488 coupe and Lusso for this special allocation. You can be patient and possibly get an allocation later on or take the bait and switch. Either way it's not games they are necessarily playing it's the fact that Ferrari competitors are hot, 488 And Lusso are slower, plus they are a public company with shareholders. They want to move product anyway they can, dealers and RACE.

 

Understood. I guess what I was saying I want a GTO but not going to buy a Lusso or something ridiculous like that. dont get me wrong, I like the Lusso- It would be a great daily driver for me - but it just doesnt fit into my plans. I asked my dealer once- he knows I want one. Hopefully I get it. If not, meh- tired of the games between all these dealers. Too many great cars out there to care.

 

Funny how some still use the GTO name even at this point! Since I have zero interest in this car I have had a different perspective reading this thread. So much self-perpetuated hype yet blaming Ferrari for playing games. It seems there are so many schemes buyers are willing to play that Ferrari doesn't have to do anything. In fact, its being said that they are being brilliant by doing nothing. Really amazing. And on a production car that we mostly have already seen and leave open they are prepared to produce in high numbers driven by talk of finishing early the production of the existing 488 variants. There is hope though. All Ferraris are "used" once they're sold so as values tank on the non-LEs when the new platform is spotted in its camo, you can have your pick of what they built and at a very pleasing price with no games.

 

Well, I can say this is true (in my case anyway). I bought a GTC4Lusso about a month ago (in addition to an F12 about 6 months ago) and tonight I got an invitation to the client “488 Speciale Sport Series Introduction” on February 20th. I can’t imagine they’d invite me just to say I’m not on the list. Looks like I’ll be in the early allocation!


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For #1, sounds like a pretty slimy thing to do. Maybe some dealers are doing that but it’s a pretty cynical view (and maybe time to find a new dealer if true). I think most dealers are pretty decent people that try to stick to their word and not lie + shift customers around just to make a buck. Maybe I’m naive but the few dealers I’ve worked with have kept their word and been quite open each time. My experience has been overwhelmingly positive across several countries and dealerships. No high pressure, no false promises. If they don’t think they can make something happen, they seem pretty comfortable telling me so.

For #2, your comment is the opposite of what I’ve experienced and heard from those high up in Ferrari. As they increase production, they keep their exclusive brand recognition by offering special editions on top of the main line. This allows them to sell in (relative) bulk to who they want while still keeping an exclusive edge. You think dealers had a say who got a J50 or F60? Not much of a say at all. It was all factory. And yes, they do know a lot about their buyers. That’s why the dealers make sure (or should make sure) your online profile is up to date. Also be aware there are two profiles: the one the factory sees and the one you see on my.ferrari.com. Make sure the factory one is in sync since it’s they one they use for special allocations.


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Ferrari don't know who you are only if you bought a used Ferrari and didn't have it registered in MODIS by a dealer. Otherwise they do and have kept track for nearly two decades. The 488VS isn't a limited edition car and the actual production run is unclear - what the requirements are to get the new car will vary significantly between markets. In some, maybe you can just show-up and plonk down your cash and get a car?! While in others, Ferrari/dealers may encourage the sale of the Lusso etc. people are also saying there'll be a second allocation of cars - maybe there will, maybe there won't. For sure some cars will shake loose during the production period as some buyers will drop out and maybe additional ones made.

Dealers I've talked to in 3 different countries all say that Ferrari is approving buyers - where you, are clearly they are saying something else.

Finally, Ferrari is concentrating on it's "family" - these are the people that keep a stable of Ferraris and participate in Ferrari be it owning their cars, racing, official events, functions etc. So when you refer to people higher up the food chain, yes, Ferrari is treating them well. If you're a guy that buys a Ferrari, sells it and buys another one, then you will be very low on their food chain regardless of how many times you've done that.

 

For my #1 comment, that's not a necessarily a bad thing to do... It's business and allows them to sell another car while your Lusso order is being processed/built. Then by the time your car arrives or even a few months after, some of the secondary allocations start showing up and you're on top of that dealer list because you did them a favor.

My second comment only had to do with none LE cars... Which was mentioned in my post.

 

I clearly can’t comment on US market but exoticcardreamer’s view is not accurate for the UK. Ferrari absolutely do know about their clients and my dealer is very keen that I support as many Ferrari invitations as I can - for which I pay nothing. Why? Because it is one of the measures that Ferrari adopts to be confident as to who is committed to the brand. It is difficult for me because of diary commitments and the dealer knows this so they try and help as much as possible. It is important if you want to be offered the cars you want to buy.

For the VS/GTO, the dealer has to approve a list but it has to be cleared by Ferrari. I can tell in the tone of voice from the dealer that he was pleased I got approved and his phone call came completely out of the blue - I was away somewhere and not expecting any call. It was shortly after the dealer presentation, which would seem to support the view that Ferrari is involved in approving customers since this would be part of a Ferrari-defined programme-of-events. Each dealer has limited allocation for each model, some models the demand is far higher. So it is absolutely in the dealer’s interest to try and ensure their committed customers get the best cars, or at least people who they think might continue to buy many Ferraris well into the future.

I have bought/ordered a Lusso, but I ordered it nearly 2 years ago. It has still not arrived. It was due March 2017 but supply to the UK is quite limited. So the picture here is not of Ferrari trying to stuff an unwanted car into its customers - I really want mine, the V12 4-seat is the Ferrari I use most and my FF is sold. I just have not been able to get it (should arrive March).

I believe the dealer does not lie to me. I am pretty easy-going with them and they are straight with me about what will be possible and what will not - if they lie to me, that only complicates the relationship. I am a big boy, I know how business works, but telling lies would not be part of a respectful relationship. Why would they? They have told me that Ferrari had to approve the list, they told me my allocation position as soon as they knew, they believe the car will be in shorter supply than previously though whether a second allocation would open up they were not sure and seemed to feel there was a sense from Ferrari this might not happen. But, same as us, they can only really speculate.

Personally, I’m glad it works this way. In the UK, and with my dealer, the Ferrari buying experience is far ahead of Aston, Porsche and McLaren. In fact I consider the service I receive to be ‘excellent’ most of the time.

 

Only for my understanding ... is the mentionned “live-stream” a video presentation at our oem F dealers location ?


Greetings from Mel in The Netherlands.

 

Ferrari is not joking: they really have a "customer ranking" for this car, as demand is very high. But (I THINK, AS NOTHING HERE IS OFFICIAL) this doesn't mean that who hasn't much "customer points" cannot have one: later of course, after the "top" ones will have received theIr cars, but the chance to get one I THINK will be very good.
This looking to what happened in the past and knowing (more or less) the production numbers they planned (told here from a Ferrari supllier, I just read here).
F40 was a sellout immediately, you all know the story that they had to be just 400 and the demand was so high and violent that they had to raise the production to 1376 units (more or less). A friend here wanted one, but the Modena dealership (in 1989) called him and told "sorry, we haven't one". Then, in 1992, they called him and told "sir, we still have one, do you want it?" . We are talking of 93796, then delivered on January 4, 1993. And this was an ultra limited F40.

So: there are rules for the first round lot of production, who knows what Ferrari will do in the future, but story tells there will be (very likely) a lot of cars and there will also be a reasonably possibility to have one.

This said, I haven't any official info to share more than already available here, so I don't know what will happen.

Ciao

 

I like your thinking. Frankly I find it almost cringy what people will do to be "allowed" to buy a $350k car. Can't help but think a lot of them will be rarely used and then sold on for the usual mark up.

 

+1

 

I don't understand why some folks are getting upset about the way dealers are treating Ferrari Clients and asking them to buy other models. Lets face it - the dealers are getting a certain allocation of cars that they could probably sell twice over. They are not allowed to sell above MRSP so what do they do? The straight forward answer is they allocate them to their best customers who spend the most money with them on other stock. Weather thats Lussos or used stock etc. At the end of the day the Dealer is a business and every business has to maximise its turnover and profit to survive!!!

 

I for sure cannot tell what the reality is, but there seems to be some contradiction here:
- there is not much selection, the hype is overstated
- the dealer seems to believe a customer will buy an additional $400K car that he does not really want just to get an allocation...

 

Yeah I totally get you. It's a not exactly the experience many are looking for. I believe Ferrari and the dealers feel they are selling you a product that is unique and most likely has limited depreciation so they can do as they please. I guessing that regardless of all that there will be product to go around.

 

Ferrari is like Chanel, Hermes or Louis Vuitton. They will not produce to much 488 VS (I for myself think nearly same quantity like 458 Speciale) and hold the prices for used cars high. They use psychographic segmentation strategies (lifestyle, personality, social class) for selected customers. Remember about Louis Vuitton Supreme last year. Or Porsche GT2RS.

This strategy guarantee customers for the next generation of 488 and the so important SUV. We also can order here in Germany the Ferrari SUV and do this

 

I am going to a UK VIP preview on the 20th February so I appear to be on the list. However being on the list I have been told will still not guarantee a car until allocations are announced it just puts you ahead of people who are not on the 'list' even if they have offered deposits. I believe the reason I am on the list is because I bought a Speciale from new and still have it 3 years later and did not do a quick flip to make money. Interestingly when I first enquired about the car in the summer I was told I would not get one as they already had a long waiting list. I do wonder if Ferrari have realigned their dealers to put long term ownership customers of limited editions onto the list ahead of the flippers. If so at least they are rewarding the loyal customers who really want the car as opposed to those who think it is just an easy way to make a quick return.