How your California or first Ferrari has changed your life

Congrats. on the new Cali purchase, you'll love it.

While I would say owning a Ferrari has changed my life but it sure has made it more fun.
Every time you get behind the wheel you'll have a sense of pride. Many days on the way out of my neighborhood I'll just think to myself holy ---- this thing is unbelievable.

Be prepared to get a lot of thumbs up. Pay attention at stop lights, people will roll down their windows and ask you questions. Plan on spending a little extra time at the gas pump answering questions about your car. When you walk up to your car in a parking lot you may find a young boy or girl looking at the car. Nothing better when they ask if they can take a picture of the car and you tell them to give you the camera and then you take a picture of them behind the wheel. I have done this three different times. I makes my day and they love it.

Have fun with your new California. Be sure to post some pics when you get her.

 

I have a Yellow 430 and my wife has a rossa California. I have to say the 430 get more attention than the Cali, but a Ferrari is a Ferrari get ready for the attention and get ready to put a smile on peoples faces.

 

Driving the Cali is an "event". I never got the same excitement driving my 911. It is a special car that is thrilling yet pleasant to daily drive. Be prepared for much more attention than your vette. I had kids taking pics with their camera phones at the grocery store, a construction worker quiz me for five minutes at chevron and a girl in a white mini cooper follow me off the highway exit towards my home. She looked cute but it was hard to tell with her sunglasses. Scary lol.

 

Have had mine for almost 2 years in NY (Westchester) and shipped it to Naples, Fla. for this winter. I have to say that in Westchester and Connecticut it is terrific. You can enjoy the car and no one will bother you with attention...and NY being what it is there are virtually no speed traps and the police will always give you a pass if you're not being an idiot. 90% of the time, you might as well be driving a Camry.

SWest Florida is entirely different story. Everyday people make nice comments when you get out of the car...sometimes when you're still sitting in the car...and of course you feel compelled to say thank you....but it does get old very fast. It surprises me because there's no shortage of them on the roads...a routinely see a TDF, a Nero and a Corsa (and my Mugello) every day or two. To make matters worse I got a laser ticket for 12mph over! Something tells me that wouldn't have happened if I'd been driving something else. Guess I need to install the full NASA radar kit that some of you have.

 

I see them occasionally around Greenwich (dealer in town)...but many more in Naples where, interestingly enough, there isn't a dealer within 90 miles. I'm guessing, like myself, they ship their cars here for winter...though there is a good Ferrari reseller here that always has a couple in stock and does service.

No other changes for me...take it to the same grocery, hardware and dry cleaners! In my area of Fla every store seems to have a parking lot in front of it (urban-sprawl type development) so I try to park a row or two back so there's less chance of anyone making a fuss seeing me get out the car. You have to avoid most parking valet guys that don't have a clue how to get it in gear or turn it off. In rare cases where Ferrari's are more common (a couple of restaurants and hotels here) the valets know what they're doing....otherwise park it yourself.

 

Ferrari's are like eating peanuts. Once you have one, you can't stop.

 

Great reply!

 

+1!

Rick

 

It made me know what I really want. It is the most important experience in life to know what one wants. The California is a milestone in serving this purpose.

 

It is a toy for me....nothing more. I would sell it tomorrow if I needed or wanted to.

This doesn't mean that I don't obsess about it nearly every day or that I don't long for the opportunities to drive it with the big smile on my face. Nor does this necessarily mean that I could take it or leave it.

What it means is that it hasn't changed who I am or what is important to me. It hasn't helped me prioritize my life mainly because my life didn't need prioritizing.

I will buy another one soon - hopefully the new 620 (can't wait to see it and the specs. this week!) - just because I love the rush and the experience. But then again - I may not.

 

If you ask my opinion, I think people all over the world who are diving or have any Ferrari are the CHOSEN ONE! and we all should consider ourself really BLESSED!!

 

Yep, Very fortunate we are! Although, in my case, working three jobs most of my life, doing the right things at the right time, and having a bunch of luck (that is where preparation meets opportunity) has helped.

Rick

 

Rick you are my ture HERO! and rellay inspired me to drive my cali every day even when i go to starbucks LOL!! ...

 

mjc,

Congratulations! You'll love it. And, Bob is right. Bought my second one only 7 months later. I would never have predicted that in a million years!

The Ferraris have definitely drawn more attention than I would have guessed (or hoped). Difficult to fly "under the radar", regardless of color. I just remind myself of the decades that I spent drooling over them, and that helps me to be more receptive to compliments and questions.

We really are blessed, although Rick is also correct when he suggests that you make your own luck to some degree in this life. Very few folks fall into success, financial or otherwise, by accident. I love the Edison quote about 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

 

Yep Rick is my inspiration to drive my Cali every day also haha.

 

Wow, I share the same experience. Rainforest had been with me all along on my Cali purchase and had been visiting me. We went through a nice discovery journey and I wanted a second one 2 months later and replaced the first one within 5 months. It's this crazy. For this purpose, the Cali made me realize what I wanted in life, another Ferrari albeit a different one, the one I currently own now! I am all happy and the Cali was a stepping stone to the journey of discovery and joy! It's very important!

 

And then we hear the sound from the February 29 announcement from Ferrari for the 599 replacement that I just got via email.

The SOUND!!!!!

12 cylinders at 9,000?? rpm sounds WAY better than 8 cylinders at 8,000 rpm, and hopefully I don't offend my many Porsche friends but both are WAY better than six cylinders at 6,500 rpm! A modern Ferrari certainly is a life changer!

Rick

 

Private preview on Feb 21st. So there will be news on the 599 section.

 

+1. I think the sound must affect some primal, hard wiring in our brains.

I'm not a California owner but owning a Ferrari has gotten me in touch with quite a number of wonderful people who happen to be fellow car enthusiasts and have become good friends. I can't say I've been changed for the better, but I have been changed for good!

 

Rick, I think I can see you in a 599 replacement aka F620 with 50K km soon...

I ask myself if I should move from Front engined Cali to now my 458 back to Front engined V12. To me, the best sellers are always the V8s. However, the 599 replacement sounds attractive. So any plan for you? (pity us, 115% tax so any car for me is 115% taxed over US MSRP with premium... so I would dare not think about the F620...)

Would they do the hardtop convertible on F620 and if so, that's you very much so! Any thoughts?