Has Ferrari Lost It's Luster?

I think that you market a new car the old way just if you haven’t any better idea.
The 8C has a magnificent style, and if it had a Cavallino on the nose I think that people would have dreamed of it regardless her average performance.
Below a certain 0-60 your inner organs risk to be damaged by acceleration, and if they don’t you can still kill yourself or others in a number of ways.
If you have ever seen a Pagani in person, you got shocked by his attention to details. Their prices are beyond “normal” people’s pockets, yet I don’t think that anyone is buying a Pagani for the performance.
Even a Maserati MC20 - that was initially developed to be a 6C - is a lot more beautiful than the 296.
So why Ferrari doesn’t just do what any true car enthusiast want, irresistibly beautiful cars?
How is it even possible that a thread like this one exhists?
Can you imagine anyone in 1984 discussing the attractiveness of the 288 GTO, or that of the F40 in 1987? It would look like a Monty Python’s sketch seen with today’s eyes.
If anyone questioned the 288 or F40 attractiveness back then, it would be taken as a serious sign of a mental problem.
Now instead on this forum or we have all become just a bunch of old nostalgic f*rts, or something after the 458 has broken.

Anyhow, you all take care.

Nic

 

Where is the huge thread he references in the video?

 

The other day I had a coffe at Isabella’s place, one of the two kind sister friends who sold me my fantastic 328 with the original plate of my hometown.
On a shelf I noticed a thick book that I did not know: Ferrari 60, from 1947 to 2007.
I opened it and it was marvellous.
And then I thought: when did Ferrari win the last F1 drivers championship?
In 2007.
And then I also thought of road cars and that probably in 2007 Michael was tuning the 458 too.

And then it felt as if nothing truly relevant happened for the last 17 years.

So has Ferrari lost its luster? Who knows.
But has she parked her soul? For the moment it seems so.

After our coffee Isabella said that I could keep her father’s book, and I was very happy and grateful to her. It is not an expensive one, but it is a little jewel giving you a sound idea of how strong Ferrari has been, leaving you just saying… wow!

Grazie Isa!

Cheers.
Nic

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That's an interesting observation. Ferrari has hated its customers since Enzo was around. He actually had contempt for the people that were essentially poseurs who would spend obscene amounts of money for his cars. Sprinkled in there were the guys who bought the old race cars to actually drive! But he turned himself into a living legend following his passion and people would help finance his racing by buying the road cars. Anyone who has been in a Ferrari dealership and treated like crap can attest to their philosophy. I'm afraid those days are coming to an end.

At least when the company was a sports car company, not a station wagon/SUV volume manufacturer that is more interested in selling as many as they can make as a fashion statement at the valet. They used to make enthusiast cars that retained value, rather than pumping out cars that really have no passion in volumes more than the market wants.

Since they ditched Pininfarina as their designer, the looks have wained. After the driving experience, seeing a 'work of art' when you look over your shoulder in a parking lot is a big part of the experience. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but to this eye they have become butt ugly. The company no longer caters to enthusiast drivers. It caters to poseurs that want to look important at the valet stand. It's a fashion accessory. Like a Prada bag. Why else would you spend $600K on a crossover, other than to say, "I'm better than you". The last advantage they had was the cars maintained value because they made cars that people lusted after in volumes less than the market demanded. That's pretty much gone. 296s can be had off the lot for MSRP or less. The SF90 loses 50% in a year. Nobody (or very few) want a questionably attractive hybrid car that's overcomplicated and overproduced. They have lost their way. It won't be long before the dealers will do whatever they can for you with a smile, while saying, "How can we get you in this car today"!

 

Well said.

 

It's the same story with Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG. I've had ten Mercedes-AMG products over the years and they are now all gone. These cars used to be special and they lost their luster as well. Muted sound, GPF, Hybrid, screens everywhere and slap an AMG badge on anything just to sell it. Sign of the times. Unfortunately, these companies had to bend the knee to legislation and climate ideologues.

 

Can't speak for the market at large, but I still get a thrill anytime I drive the Ferrari. Owned an F12 and now a Roma. Am excited each time I fire it up.

 

Not just Ferrari, its exotics in general have become boring.

My interest in exotics went from an obsession to meh. Theres just nothing exciting happening in exotics. And its been that way for a couple decades with a few exceptions

 

Wow I'm not the only one. I used to almost always have a car I was working towards or excited about and I realized in the last few years I have really gone from "obsession to meh" just like you state. It seems to me there is a "sameness to the modern road" (another phrase I am borrowing).

 

I am in the same place these days, I still have cars but no desire to buy anything else. Been there done it sort of thing. Perhaps something interesting is introduced, until then I will be on the sidelines.

 

I think I've bought my last exotic. I'd like a 599, but I can build a very interesting collection of 50s and 60s rides for the cost of one exotic.

 

Nice point, I have a similar feeling: I do not desire anything that is new. In your opinion what is needed to make a new exotic deeply desirable today?

 

All cars worth owning have already been built. Most of them years or decades ago.

 

We’re jaded.

 

For me anything after 456/550/575 doesn’t start me up. Ferraris have become a fashion accessory…..

 

Theres nothing that can be done because the technology has reached 98% of its potential. There are no more exciting tech breakthroughs. No more meaningful seconds to trim off track times.

Its all very small incremental improvements which are cannot create the excitement that the big breakthroughs in the past could.

Even the designs have become full on 'spaceships' at this point. Can they get crazier? Sure I guess, but the big design moments are all behind us have been for quite some time.

 

Thats true and its not a condemnation of the manufacturers or the enthusiasts. Its just a natural part of the cycle of any art form. Eventually all the cool stuff is done and its just retreading old ground.

Movies, music, games, cars, etc...all the same.

 

I very much agree with you. Ferrari with a CEO who has no motoring background is problem #1. #2, its a listed company and has share holders ( I'm one of them) and that means it will do what it has to do to make money. #3 they have lost their history. its not about artisanship, its about power and high tech. ..... also they have not won at F1 for a long time, so even that is cloudy.... I hope for the best but they are not making great decisions. the SUV was / is just wrong for the brand. I'd rather a 4 door sports saloon.

 

Watch the Throttle House review of the Lucid Air Sapphire…they make your same point.

 

Yep..to make cars interesting again, they need to go backwards..

 

Well, almost. Welders in nuclear facilities are better.

Speaking of HORRIBLE, the welds on the exhaust on my Ducati are absolutely horrible. It wouldn't be quite so bad but they're visible when the bike is on its side stand. I fixed the problem however - I installed an Akrapovič exhaust.

 

They are just plain ugly now whether c8 vette Ferrari or mclaren. Look at the D-type jag era everyone had a beauty even Aston Martin and they have all stood the test of time.

 

Ferrari's newer offerings look like something from an anime cartoon.

 

I could be just an old fk stuck in my ways. In 20 years we will know if this was a dark time in Ferrari style or automotive style in general.