California “issues” or “gotchas”

The DCT transmission had sensor problems in the early cars that caused it to fail to shift. These should be fixed by now but ask to see the service records. The DCT itself is a somewhat fragile design but got better as the cars were developed.

The roof can be expensive to repair if the sensors flake out or the plastic sliders wear out.

You said Cali, but if you're looking at Cali Ts watch for minor oil leaks on the upper side of the motor. They're not cheap to fix, fortunately mine were done by a prior owner under warranty.

Sticky buttons, of course. The binnacle leather wasn't really cut large enough and can shrink and pull on the edges if stored in heat/sunlight. Obviously Ferrari knows and doesn't care.

If the jewels have fallen loose in the headlights (OG California) that's a pain because the headlights aren't designed to open to allow repair. There's a guy who can do it, but that requires sending the headlights to him.

Oddly enough, the folding back seat/trunk access is an option. So if that matters to you, check for it.

 

Aside from the typical Ferrari or cosmetic stuff the DCT and top are the big ones and they are well documented here on the forum. It's also going to 100% need a carbon cleaning if it hasn't been done but that isn't a crazy one, the OEM magneride shocks are also very expensive and will inevitable need replacing sooner rather than later if they haven't been done already and it's around 10k if you want to keep it stock.

 

Prior posts are right-on. My top failed at 14 years/30k miles. Was a pricey fix. Engine is bullet proof. Drive car or pay for a consultation/inspection. These guys are trustworthy: https://www.ngsupercars.com/

 

Some would disagree about Normal Guy Supercars. No personal experience but there is history and a ban on this forum.

2009-2012 California some find to be a bit ponderous off the line compared to the later varieties. It also had early teething issues with the dual clutch transmission, mostly involving the internal wiring being chafed and causing speed sensor errors, which required the transmission to be disassembled to replace the sensors, a costly fix. Ferrari initially would just replace the transmission, which is fine under warranty, but incredibly expensive out of warranty. Eventually Getrag trained technicians to disassemble and reassemble and it is more reasonably priced now (in Ferrari terms, at least).

2013-14 California 30 added 30 horsepower, increased torque and reduced weight. The gearing was changed so the car feels more responsive in the midrange, and sounds wonderful. The wiring issues inside the gearbox increased its reliability. The Handling Speciale package was also available, which is also a nice upgrade.

The 2009-2014 cars have two modes on the mannetino ... comfort and sport. On those cars equipped with Magneride shocks, comfort softens the shocks and sport stiffens them up a bit.

2015 on California T was a big upgrade ... front and rear was redesigned and looks more aggressive, also the (polarizing) vertical tailpipes were made horizontal. Interior had some nice upgrades as well. The engine became a twin turbo with a big jump in horsepower and a huge influx of torque, the car is noticeably faster and there is hardly any discernable turbo lag. It does not sound as good as the California 30, it's a deeper rumble, but the Handling Speciale exhaust has a great note to it, and it is an inexpensive upgrade that is well worth the cost these days. The Handling Speciale package was also available (suspension upgrades) but the car is great without it. The T with Magneride also allows you to independently soften the shocks ("bumpy road" mode) whether you are in Sport or not, which is a nice thing to have, as most people just leave the car in Sport all the time.

The turbos give way more power but also some potential oil leaks that you will want to inspect for.

None of the cars have very good infotainment, the head unit is originally out of the Chrysler parts bin and leaves a lot to be desired. But who listens to the stereo in these cars? Apple Carplay became a very expensive option in the California T. The automatic mode in the car is terrible, it shifts as quickly as possible. Leave the car in manual mode as intended and shift with the paddles.

The "must have" options on these cars are considered to be the fender shields and Magneride suspension. Most cars will have both. The carbon fiber wheel with the LEDs is popular. Heated seats are nice to have and the top is well designed so the car with the windows up, wind deflector (came standard, be sure your car has it) up and heat on, the car is comfortable down to about 40 degrees with the top down.

Based on my experience (Cali 30 and Cali T with a lot of miles and years on each):

Overall the car is quite reliable, however it has become clear over the years that the Getrag dual clutch transmission is likely to fail eventually and require a rebuild. My 2015 California was flawless for 9 years through 31k miles when it sprung an internal leak. Never an issue with shifting, or errors, etc. It just started leaking one day.

This is not just an issue with the California, Ferrari used the same gearbox in all the cars from that era -- F12, 458, 488, FF, etc. -- and they are all likely to suffer an issue sooner or later. The oil in the gearbox degrades the seals, and the unsealed bearings wear, putting metal into the gearbox. Best to change the gearbox fluids regularly but be prepared when the time comes. There are upgraded Viton seals and sealed bearings that should make it last longer the next time. If you do have an issue with the gearbox be sure and replace all the seals, sensors, bearings, etc., because the bulk of the cost is in the labor, about 40 hours. Plan on $15-18k at a good independent and make sure they know what they are doing. The telltale sign is a leak at the weep hole at the back of the gearbox -- this is designed to let the oil out if it leaks so it does not contaminate the dual clutches. It will leak when its under pressure and running. Have the undertray removed and the tray and weephole closely inspected at your PPI, along with any other signs of oil leaks on the car. Mercedes used this gearbox in some of their AMG cars, recognized the issue and extended the warranty for 8 years. Ferrari ... not so much

The Ferrari extended warranty will cover the gearbox, but it is also very expensive ... about $1800 for the required inspection and $6000 or so annually. You go three years without a transmission issue and you will have saved enough to fix it if and when it goes. The warranty covers other major components, but it does not cover everything, including oil leaks and a lot of other expensive parts, so you might be better off just putting $6k aside annually and self insuring.

I had the top inspected and lubricated annually. The Cali 30 had an annoying issue with a roof sensor but the top itself was fine mechanically. The Cali T top always worked perfectly.

I believe that these cars can be very reliable if you drive them frequently. If they sit, or have sat at some point, I think you can have a lot of issues. I would prefer one driven regularly and with some miles on it. I got my 2015 with 10k miles in 2018 and drove it for 7 years and another 22k miles and until the gearbox started leaking I had, literally, no problems with the car other than a little plastic broken actuator for a shift paddle which I fixed for about $20 -- although it would have been $4k to fix at the dealer as they prefer to just replace parts.

Keep the car on the battery tender, drive it constantly, and it will make you happy.

 

Definately agree with your assessment......

 

I keep mine on a trickle. I would also check which battery it has, as the OEM on most Ferraris aren't known for being great...

 

OEM CTEK battery maintainer on my '16 has worked fine. CTEK is used by lots of people, I have them for other brand use as well.