Need help buying F430 spider

$50K ? That is outrageous! Your dealer is simply trying to finance his working capital needs with free money from gullible buyers.
I am a long time buyer of new Ferraris and other "in demand" cars. $5,000 is a typical deposit for Ferraris. My local Mercedes dealer doesn't require a deposit from current customers.

With regard to the waiting time, three years is, at best, a rough estimate as the airbag issue is unresolved and there are hungry new markets in Asia willing to take cars without airbag cutoff switches. There may be no new 430's delivered in the US after the airbag requirement rule becomes effective.

If you really want a 430 Spider I'd suggest you pay the market premium and get one today. The future regarding 430's is uncertain at best.

 

$100K

 

They're going for upwards of $320K

 

Me too!

 

I'm sorry.....did you just use the word "fair" and "430 spider" in the same sentence??????

Rumor has it that Ferrari is having issues with air-bag compliance on the 430's, lots of theories.....some suggest they may just blow-out the next 2 years selling all the cars they can make to the Euro market until a new model comes out (leaving us high & dry)...others say they'll find a way to work out the details and soon we'll see lots of 430's churned-out mass-production style....each theory sounds a tad nutty.

Either way, the flow is slow.....

 

purchasing a cgt would be the move to make right now with their market prices only seperated by less then 50k usd

 

I have posted this before, but, here I go again.

I am currently awaiting delivery of my F430 spider. It is at MSRP and I have NOT provided a deposit, nor was I told I was on a waiting list - I am a customer of the dealer and have been for several years. I told them I wanted one and when I was up in the queue, I got a call, spec'd it out and that is it.

I get frustrated when I read posts from others noting that they have given deposits or are a waiting list or......

If my dealer told me I was on a waiting list, I would have been shocked - As well if he had asked for a deposit.

It is also quite frustrating to see posts where folks say they are on a "waiting list" and keep getting "their" allocation moved back six months, one year, etc. Again, while a dealer may have some internal list, Ferrari does not - Ferrari won't take a deposit, does not authorize dealers to do so, and again, nothing will guarantee you one. In fact, nothing guarantees me one either -- ever.

Also, irrespective of whether you buy a used Ferrari or a Maserati or other car from a Ferrari dealer, quite frankly, nothing guarantees you of a car at MSRP or otherwise. It may make your relationship better with the dealer (at that point in time) but there is no quid pro quo.

 

So your dealer didn't tell you that you were on a waiting list.......how did he explain the delay in getting you a car?

What's this if it's not a waiting list???

Well how do you explain the fact that you still haven't got a car, or did you not want one before now?

Lots of people have been on waiting lists, some people for quite a few years.Lots of people have had their dealer explain that delivery slots, rather than "allocations" have been delayed by several months due to technical difficulties at the factory, gearbox problems etc. etc.

So the dealer didn't take a deposit from you, big deal! I GUARANTEE he'd have asked for one if you'd ordered an unusual spec, or a "paint colour upon sample" colour!

Don't tell me, you've ordered Rosso Corsa with a Tan interior and Shields??? Hardly a tough one to move on if you cancel at the last minute!!!

My mistake!!! I've just checked your previous posts and you didn't order re-sale red, you ordered Argento Nurburgring, but I'm a bit puzzled that according to your post of 11th April 2006

you've already taken delivery, but today you say you're still waiting???

 

Spidey, I love folks who post interesting analyses and who are blessed with the luxury of having a lot of time on their hands. I, unfortunately, have to run a business to support my car habit, so..... Having said that I did note that I posted this info before and I basically cut and pasted it - with some moving of paragraphs - to be responsive to the inquiry. I could sit on the sidelines and take shots, but I try to post to be additive to a dialogue, not to just post.

Again, my dealer takes no deposits. I told him I was interested and when a slot came up, he called and I ordered. My relationship with him is such that even if I ordered a special paint, he would not have asked for a deposit - tho I suspect if I bailed out and he was unable to sell it for MSRP, I would have been asked to mitigate his loss and pay for the difference - which I would have done.

There was no "delay" - He gave me no expectation of a time (I wanted a 6 speed) and I had no expectation other than when the first 6 speed from that point forward came up, he would call. And he did.

As for delivery, I had it flown in. As noted above, I cut my prior post to provide context to the person posting here; apologies for me not updating my cut and paste (but you already knew that since you obviously scoured all of my prior posts).

 

FWIW, I have the same relationship with my dealer. No deposit order the car over the phone or come in and do it. They fax me the final spec sheet I approve and the car is ordered. Of course, I have had several years relationship and purchase several Ferrari's from the dealership. I also allow them to sell my Ferrari's and ALL my servicing is done at the dealership.

 

Or just to feel superior!

When did you tell him this? Was it just weeks before the call to say that he had a production slot available? Or did you have to wait a couple of years like a mere mortal?

But how long was that? You give the impression that "your dealer" simply gave you the next production slot that hadn't already gone past the stage of altering the spec! I.e. he gave you someone else's car!

I simply don't understand why you have the only dealer in the USA who doesn't have a queue of people wanting to buy a 430! From what I understand, all the likely US allocation is sold out, i.e. firm orders from real customers and in the vast majority of cases, deposits placed.

You give the impression that you had virtually no wait between "expressing a desire to buy a 430" and finalising the spec 3 months before build date, I just don't understand it!

Please, as I'm obviously stupid, could you spell out how long between your initial expression of interest and delivery of the car?

 

I understand most of what you're saying, but what is the timing between your initial order (not you finalising the spec, unless the answer's the same)and the car arriving?

 

You either pay a premium for the desireable car or you buy some undesireable cars. Either way, you are going to pay the price. deeroff, if your case is different would you mind sharing your dealer. I would love to buy a car from him. I mean this seriously. I will pay cash via wire the minute he is ready.

P.S. I will take any 430 he has. F1, 6-speed, any color, etc.

 

You've pretty much answered your own question. Your Porsche dealer knows that you're a multiple P-car customer and takes your order on that basis. Same with F-cars as mentioned by some of the posters, if you are known and have done lots of business with the dealer (multiple cars, service) then you can expect to get what you want within the limits of what is getting shipped and how many customers like you the dealer has.

You're not known, haven't been a customer, so you can expect to go to the very back of the line. There is also a very real and very large after-market premium on 430 spiders that has held up for a long time. If the dealer gave you any preference, he would be giving you the benefit of that premium and he has no reason (yet) to do that.

 

res ipsa loquitur

Just trying to be additive to the process.

 

Fantastic riposte!.....not!

How about a straight answer, or are you just too important? You patronising condescending little man!

 

My experience is not dissimilar to other long-standing customers.

The relationship with my dealer spans quite a period of time. That includes buying cars during the late 80s after the market crash, as well as during the bubble bursting in the early 00s.

They know their customers well (we are not a large group) and, given my past interest and purchases, they called me when the 430 was announced to see if I would be interested in buying another spider. I said yes - but only a 6 speed - And given my past dealings, they knew I was not going to pressure them for the "first one." Probably why there is healthy respect there going both ways - and why I have the opportunity to acquire the cars in the first place.

We all know how few 6 speed spiders have been produced to date, so when I got a call asking if I wanted to spec it out, I did. Of course, once I knew it was being produced, I said fly it in as I have in the past - aside from the horror of shiiping by boat, there is a lot to be said for the fact that when you know it is done, and you can cut 4-6 weeks off delivery, you do it.

 

SpidermanUK - What's with the aggressive tone? This is a civilized, productive conversation. No need to offend anyone!

 

I asked a perfectly civilised question in response to some blatant bragging!

Now it seems we're starting to get some answers! deeroff claimed that he was above the waiting list concept that everyone else abides by and can just click his fingers and a car will appear as and when he chooses, at least that's the impression he tried to give!

Now it seems he was made to wait, but he still won't quantify that wait!

I wasn't the one who was aggressive, deeroff attempted to patronise me and was most condescending in his tone!

His "experience" added nothing to the debate except to antagonise other readers who are obviously no where near as important as deeroff thinks he is!

If you're so important deeroff, why have you had to wait over a year after launch to get your car? Oh yes! Of course, you had to wait until your name got to the top of THE WAITING LIST!!!!

 

I refuse to justify this post by responding - Rather, I am happy to have his posts judged for what they are. And have my posts stand in contrast.

 

Because he asks some good questions, he is offensive? Come on, get a grip.

"deeroff" has not bothered to complete a profile despite his self proclaimed status as a Ferrari owner, business owner, F car collector...whatever. Spiderman has simply raised some questions about what "deeroff"' asserts as true.

By the way, my dealer is in Lake Forest Illinois. I'm on a "waiting list" and I've been a loyal customer. They did not require a deposit.

 

But you have responded, and yet again failed to answer the perfectly legitimate questions put to you!

As for your continued supercilious posturing, I think it shows that you in fact had very little to brag about with regard to the order process.....it seems obvious you simply had to wait your place in line like any other mere mortal!