California vs 458

+1 on your previous comment. The Cali left me cold too.
and
+1 on your comment here. When I buy a performance car I want PERFORMANCE. I have other DDs when I need to go pick up groceries, take people to the airport, or just want to isolate myself from all the outside noises. My wife's Porsche has 320 horses. More than enough to get you into trouble with the law. But it's a bland car and not too exciting at any speed. It's a whole different story when I go into the garage and start the Scuderia. The adrenalin starts and my heart starts racing. The car is exciting just idling. For me the Cali would be better than the Porsche but no where near the Scuderia. That's why I would choose the 458 over the Cali. The Cali is a great car but more of a DD than a performance car in my garage. I'm waiting on the 458 Scuderia.

 

I absolutely love the 458 and it's definitely more exciting than the California but I am in the same situation as "jenniferq". I have to young kids (2 and 4 years old) and if I want to enjoy my car a little more than a couple of weekends a year I need car that can carry them as well.

Anyway I drove both cars and they are both sensational! IMHO

 

I have no problem with an almost 5' child in the back of the driver's seat. I am 5'6" and because the seat and steering wheel both adjust electronically I can scoot the seat and steering wheel up and while I wouldn't drive 3,000 miles this way, (Good on ya, Mark!) I find it is just fine for the short trips we take with the kids.

My husband did go pick up some fellow Aussies from their hotel the other day. He put the 6'1" bloke in the back of the passenger seat! I wish I'd gotten a picture of that as he likened it to having Hermann Munster back there looking over the windshield!

After having ridden in one (but specced at almost $300k!), I totally agree that the 458 is more adrenalin-inducing; but, with 4 kids, and wanting to use this car daily, it's just not practical. Of course, this is my first Ferrari, so for me even the Cali induces plenty of adrenalin, especially when I pull up for gas or milk and everyone stares and smiles and offers very appreciative comments.

Really, IMO, the adrenalin comes from everyone else staring at the darn thing! If I were on my own, in a vacuum, I'd enjoy the car much more without feeling somewhat embarrassed to be driving it, esp ITE.

 

This weekend we will do our cross country R/C sailplane thing ... three guys in a Cali. I am 6' 225 lbs, team leader is 6'1", normal build sits in the right rear sear, and a spotter 5'10" 220 lbs in left rear seat. I will drive with the seat all the way forward.

Yep, it is tight but a national championships is at stake and there is no other convertible available.

They were told that if it starts to rain they get out and the top goes up until the rain stops or we land the airplane. It should be interesting. We also carry water and food since if all goes well we could do up to 10 laps of the 8.2 mile course.

Now I know this is not normal use but I've already trial fitted myself in the back and it looks like it will work. Can't do that in a 458! (I would love BOTH though! Hopefully I get on the 458 list later this year)

 

You know, it's amazing what some people will do to ride in a Ferrari!

+1 And why I try to let everyone who wants to, sit in it, or go for a ride in it. I feel it's my duty; sort of like the art collector who gives the painting to the museum instead of keeping it locked in her house, I suppose!

Cheers!

 

Hoping the same for the 458, if only my hubby will oblige. After that drive the other day, I'd hoped he'd be hooked, but he's so darn Practical, that man!

And Rick, I keep wondering, who's riding shotgun??? Maybe I don't fully understand the dynamics of this R/C sailplane. Will google that now.

Please, take some photos, especially of all of those backseaters with their heads over the windshield and post soon after. And don't forget to park it properly with no EPB available!

 

I purchased the Cali not for the rear seats but for the ability to store my golf clubs and other larger items in the trunk. I debated waiting on the 458 but felt the Cali would be more practical.

After almost a year with the car I feel I made a great decision. I can go anywhere with the car without worrying about ground clearance or what to do with my luggage. The surprise (somewhat) is the power from the Cali. There is nowhere I can drive in this area where the "small" difference in performance (458 vs Cali) will be an issue. If I was able to track the car it may be a different story.

All in all, Ferrari made a wise decision to manufacture both cars.

 

I did laps of Fiorano with Dario in a Cali and a Scud. Cali is no slouch. Absolute performance is not the issue. It is the way that the Cali delivers it. Ferrari in most people's thinking represents an edgy car that gives sensory overload. Cali in this respect is lame and why I did not buy one. I would not pay Cali price for a DD folding hard top car

 

Yes but What kind of sensory overload are you looking for while going to the office, running around town, or even on a road trip? On the track, I would agree with you, But most won't have the chance to track their cars and doing the daily grind in a scud or more extreme car without the room to be able to function doesn't make sense. I don't want to not drive my ferrari because I might have to pick up my kids in the afternoon and only have a 2 seater. I think getting 80% of the "extreme" experience and being able to use it all the time wins because most of us will not be able to use the extra 20% we're missing 95% of the time anyway.

 

Wow riding with Dario, "The Ultimate Ferrari Test Driver", must have been an experience!

Did you ask him how the Cali fared at Fiorano? Ferrari has not published a Fiorano lap time for the California. I know the Cali is a GT cruiser but would still like to see how she runs at the home track.

 

We did the same. It's the reason he's never gotten a Porsche - the golf club issue...

 

LOL. Everytime I load my golf clubs into the passenger seat of my 993RS because I like the road to the golf club, I think how stupid this is!!!

 

Do not know the time but the Cali is bloody impressive on the track. Dario thinks it is a fantastic car. I rode in the car just before it was unveiled and the talk at the time was that the Cali was lacking Ferrari DNA - absolutely wrong!!!

 

I don't use road cars on the track. I have race cars for that purpose. I never tracked my Scud because it is too slow compared with my Formula Renault. The last road car that I really enjoyed on the track was the CGT. Scud for me was a great road car and I am looking forward to my 458 which is in transit now. Scud on the road was a fantastic car - I loved the electronics. My favourite road car at present is a 993RS which I much prefer over the 997GT3RS.