Why so much Cali hate?

Then I'd take my 430 Spyder.

 

This past weekend presented itself with the perfect situation for the California. Gorgeous day........wanted to take the family to one of the outlet malls at a picturesque small town up in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains to pick up some things for the little ones. Accessible via some great winding backroads. Would have been a perfect day for top down motoring in a Ferrari. But instead we took one of the SUV's (boring) cause didn't want to take two Ferraris. With the California..........we wouldn't have given it a second thought on which automobile to take.

Other then subjective feelings about the esthetics of the Cali, there is no doubt that this new Ferrari fits into the plans of alot of perspective buyers.

 

I have a feeling that your kids may need the 612's backseats in a few years

 

Well right now they're still little. As long as the car seats fit we're good to go............and looking at the Cali debut pics of the installed car seat in the rear seats.......... it will be just fine.

 

Yes, I'm sure it will. Even two medium-sized adults can squeeze back there.

Here is a picture of a Cali I took in Monaco a couple of months ago:
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Wow, that does not look comfortable at all. But my little ones are 4 and 1...........so we've got some time before it becomes too uncomfortable back there.

 

wath do you think about this?
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thats alot better just gotta ger rid of the stacked tailpipes

 

You know, I actually like that better!

...but what happened to the lower-rear brake, reverse and fog lights?

I have seen maybe 20 Calis out on the roads around here and the one thing which I disliked the most was the lower brake lights which made the Cali look like a truck from behind. I honestly don't see the point of rear 5 brake lights.

However, what happens to the reverse and rear fog lights in that modified Cali?

 

Finally drove one. I've always thought the car looked good. I have nothing to add there. You either hate it or like it or love it.
I truly think this car is the offspring of a 550 Barchetta and a 599GTB. The best of both worlds. Good power and smooth riding coupled with a Convertible top if the weather allows. How honestly can you go wrong with this combination.

This car is a perfect driver. NO ONE (I REPEAT NO ONE) that drives this car will dislike it. Ferrari has created a smooth road going car that can be driven 20k miles a year effortlessly. This car actually shocked me. It's smoother and a better driver then any of my 911's or Ferrari's.

The transmission as 410SA has stated is so smooth it wouldn't spill a coffee. Yes it is the 1st Ferrari with A cup holder as well. It doesn't hit hard like my 430's when going through the gears at speed. In my opinion this car will be the Ferrari that yields the Most tickets. You're at 100mph faster then you think and it will definately get a lot of people in trouble.

The Interior is very nice. Ergonomically correct for all instruments. The creature comforts that a GT car like this need.

This car feels faster then any F430 I've ever driven. I know it's slower then the Scud but it's effortless speed actually makes it feel faster to speed. A lot less labored. The exhaust note is not a Capristo but it sounds very good. It's got a great throat to it and it's thick blip at shift points sounds fantastic.

I've not driven a front engine Ferrari since I sold my 575 years ago so the Turn in and Body roll is something I will have to get used to. It turns in very quickly. The front heavier car tends to roll a little at turn in and that's probably how my 575 was but I honestly don't remember. It isn't supposed to be a track car. So I don't care about that.

I didn't hammer the brakes. Seattle freeways and side street traffic don't really allow for that. I didn't take any 120 mph corners either. I gave it a good 15 plus mile test drive and left very happy.

This car will fit nicely in anyone's garage. It's pure Ferrari no matter how many haters there might be.

My only advice to everyone on this Board is to try it before you dis it. It's just too good of a car not to. Bentley, Aston Martin and those 200k Mercedes Benz purchasers now have a car from Ferrari that will kick the crap out of all of them. This 200k priced car is the best of that price range. No questions about it.

 

.......not bad.......not bad at all.
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Heh! I told you, (all of you), so!!!

 

I respect all that.

I still prefer my mid-engined eight cylinder in which the driver feels the road directly - including the bumps. He11, yes, you'll spill your coffee, or I wouldn't be driving it properly. My interior is fairly bare-bones, with few electric and no electronic devices, and I love that purity. It accelerates fast and takes the corners like nothing else I've seen. I prefer a car that, if it doesn't actually race, drives like it's racing.

The California sounds like the perfect car for you: You want quiet and comfort. I want exhilaration. You want luxury. I want a bare-bones track car for the road.

I don't think it's a crisis that Ferrari now offers both. Enjoy your California. I'll be enjoying my 308.

 

From his first-hand account, and from reading and viewing many reviews of the California by now, it appears that it offers almost everything, including exhilaration and noise.

With suspension tuning you can dial out lots of the body roll. It will never be like the 308 but it isn't engineered to be.

 

That's a much better rear design. I wonder why they didn't do something as simple an adjustment as that? Instead they made it more complicated or choppy.

I'm ok with rear despite the hate, but what you have done is a superior design.

 

anyone have a link or data on used cali prices in europe to see how they are holding up

 

I didn't see that post by Napolis. Oh happy, happy day!! Let the downturn roll on for a few more years, and my used Cali will soon know its true owner!!!

Hey! Has anybody, anybody!, seen a 6 speed Cali yet??? *Whiny Voice* "But they promised!"

 

Good for you. The way I look at it, I am not buying a Ferrari for other people, or to impress other people. I could care less. It is to impress and to please me. I absolutely love the Dino and could never understand the BS. There were some great 6 cylinder Ferrari's that added winning history to the mark so whatever.

 

As far as the California, I think it is the most controversial Ferrari since the Testarossa. Man it is getting a lot of Ferrari guys pissed. People are saying the "good old days are gone" and "Ferrari is going soft", etc. I love all the excitement. Between the Cali and F1 life is fun. LOL.

 

i like the cali but have to agree its more of a female car, something if i had the money id buy for my gf/wife

 

The Cali may offer good performance but its still a front engine car not a race car mid engine type for the street. This appeals to a different buyer someone looking for style and comfort but is in touch with his feminine side. The hate is its an effiminate Ferrari much like the Mondial when it came out as it was regarded as a Fiat Ferrari at the time I think the Cali will go down as the same as time passes so I have learned to accept it for what it is a modern day Mondial.

 

Saw one at the Wynn in Vegas this past week. Looks like a Mercedes SL, doesn't really have that styling that yells out, "I'm a Ferrari and I cost more than your house"

 

Where is ferrari looking to pitch this car? For me, I'm looking at something more exclusive than my 997TT, with hopefully near same reliability - 2+2 for kids school runs etc, swift, and reliable, doing 15000 miles pa, ability to go top up and down and the ability to bring a smile to my face , and slightly less visually dramatic as a 599 (i appreciate it is all relative but i can get away with a 997tt in my line of work - just, a 599 probably not - just go with my intuition on that one - as I often have to leave the Bentley at home). Depreciation is one of those things that goes with the territory working on 50% over 3 years). Accordingly I am going to give it a go. If I wanted something extreme/faster/reliable/exclusive its best to say that there are other products in the market which could tick one or some of the boxes but for me, today, it ticks the boxes, I'm awaiting delivery in a few months time in tour de france blue.

I think there has been a big void in the market for something a bit more than a 997, sl65, bentley gtc- and i hear peoples concerns in this regard as nothing is perfect, but for me it is a step in the right direction.

 

I have seen them at the auto shows, and I have seen them at the dealers, but today was the first time I saw the new California on the road.

One word.

YUCK!

Especially the rear end of that thing. The tail lights are WAAAAAY too high.

 

You would think that after 700+ posts it all would be said but....
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