488 Pista - qualifying demands

What I meant to say is I don't believe 488 replacement or facelift is coming March '19. It'll come at least a year after.

Going from Ferr9000, what'll be introduced in March will be a model to stand above the 488, a different model range entirely.

Regular 488 production seems to have shifted to Pista, as that's what's in-demand currently.

 

Yep its happening and even get worse.

In my circumstance I won. Basically house prices went through the roof in Melbourne Australia . Sold my investment right on the peak. So actually got the 488 GTB for free. Those times wont be happening again for at least another 10 -15 years.

 

Have you heard Lamborghini is releasing an update version of the Huracan next year ? Basically a Performante without the spoiler.

Im betting that Ferrari does the same. A Pista shell with all the 488 interior. Sounds plausible. Many other car companies have done the same.

 

Makes sense and very possible. This will also eat into the Pista assuming power train and other updates carry over like with the HP.

 

you still don't believe the news when the Ferrari dealer is advised that the 488 replacements will be shown next March?

 

Uh huh sure, that’s what a lot of people said about the Speciale.... how’d that work out?

Sounds like sour grapes to me.

 

Sour grapes? So would that be a raisin?

 

I just can't see Ferrari switching production from regular 488 to Pista.

The Pista is a special edition car, and whilst numbers aren't limited, a move like that would tarnish the whole concept.

It would also alienate long standing customers who are effectively rewarded with special edition allocations.

 

I dont necessarily disagree with you but I know many people with next to zero relationship/no ferrari purchases who are getting a Pista.
Ferrari can do what they want, some people will be PO’d but 10 more step up behind them to try and live in the F bubble glow.

 

You guys need to get over the concept that these companies care about their customers. Their goal is to sell cars and they will do anything in order to do that.

IF that means putting up the charade of rewarding loyalty, they will do that. If that means they use criteria of buying car x to get car y, they will do that.

If that means increasing production they will do that. Ferrari market cap is down. Sales need to be increased. Loyalty be damned.

 

Agree with growth in production is needed but they are having issues with growing production. This includes issues with a new paint process, supply issues for Pista carbon fiber wheels even wheels for the Portofino. My dealer has received several Portofino with the basic wheels even though the customer ordered upgraded wheels. Ferrari has told the dealer to let the customers know once the supplier can deliver the proper wheels they will be swapped out. You cant just grow production by crossing your fingers. Ferrari is not ready for 10k cars a year. The 4th quarter earnings results will tell a lot.

 

Most manufacturers have hurdles like those

 

GRIN

 

That's disappointing to hear, and is presumably a reflection of a poor market, where Lusso & Portofino sales can be given a boost by linking them to a Pista allocation.

 

They offered me a Pista. I bought it. March 2019 build. I figure it will be a hell of a car and probably worth a bit more than I’ll pay for it. Win Win. I had a 488 coupe and a spider now. I’m guessing that’s why I’m ‘eligible’.

Side note. Drove the Portofino. Fast, a little soft and plasticy but probably the nicest 4 seater drop top I’ve ever driven.

Doc


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I think that is rather 1980’s thinking. I operate many brands in many EU markets - none of them Ferrari or their competitors. Even we learned long ago that looking after your customers is the most cost-effective and best way to build a spectacularly successful business. I doubt very much Ferrari is too naive to understand that. It’s not because they’re nice, call it enlightened self interest. Screw your customers, screw your business. And having 10 more to replace them doesn’t last long if you don’t look after them.

 

^ well said

 

It’s always cheaper to market to your existing customer base then to find new customers. Nothing new here. But then how do you explain someone off the street buying a lusso or a spider jumping ahead of someone who bought 10 Ferrari’s for a Pista as is being reported.

 

Exactly

 

Having never been to the factory until a few months ago, here are my impressions relating to your points:

+ The Pista comes off the same exact line as the 488. There likely isn’t a lot more cost in producing a Pista vs. a 488
+ But the price point is what....$75-100k higher?
+ Has Ferrari come out and formerly announced that the Pista is a limited production car? (Have not seen this)
+ If it were me and my business, I would start producing as many Pista’s as possible while the demand is there
+ And, yes, the company is now public and increasing revenue dramatically while not having to produce many more units is very, very tempting.

 

This may be a logical business argument, but it is not much of a long term strategy. I just don’t see Ferrari as a company that would choose short term gain at the risk of damaging its loyal customer base.








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I would explain it two ways. Firstly it is very common for things that are ‘reported’ to not be the full facts - often comments are either some of the facts only or even fake news completely. Second, in the case that this is exactly the truth and as has been mentioned before, US dealers seem to be afforded freedoms by law that Ferrari would rather was not the case but can do nothing about. I would never suggest that all dealers are disciplined enough to think long-term about profit by looking after customers properly, they have a very different set of pressures that drive their actions (though in the UK they are all large public corporations and generally toe the Ferrari line). No, I only suggest that manufacturers and importers have mostly worked it out - the comment I responded to suggested that Ferrari doesn’t really care about screwing their customers because 10 more are lined up behind them. And I believe that they have long worked this out and act accordingly where they can.

As an example for my first point - comments not being the complete story - I have a friend who has exercised his right to be a more challenging customer and had bought numerous Ferraris, over two countries and three dealers, falling out with all of them along the way. They did not give him an allocation initially. He had to pull a lot of strings through other channels to get sorted. I am younger, have bought a few less Ferraris but am generally more accommodating as a customer and I was offered one of the first allocations with no pulling of strings or any other shenanigans. That had nothing to do with me being offered, and buying, a car to jump the queue but quoting only some of those facts could easily make it sound that way.

 

There's 10 more new clients waiting to step up esp as there are 1,700 new millionaires made per day in USA. Factor in China, etc...Ferrari doesnt have to care.

 

If they don’t care, then why did they bother setting qualifying criteria for the first round of Pista allocations. Just sell to the highest bidder according to your logic.


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Just cause you are a millionaire, doesnt mean you can afford a Ferrari. When they say you are a millionaire, its your net worth- including your house etc.