Speciale-getting anxious to order in US

Still don't understand why Ferrari has gone this route. C.f. mirrors, and engine compartment were all standard options on CS and Scuderia.

 

Very nice. Hope to see you at a local FCA event.

 

Because the value of money is 25-30% lower since 2008(Scuderia debut). Governments have created trillions of currency units, they have shown up as credit inflation especially in luxury goods. Ferrari's cost of production in nominal terms has increased dramatically, however they don't want to sticker shock customers with a high base MSRP. That is why what was standard is now optional. People would be turned off with a 400k base MSRP even if it had CF as standard everywhere. Look how high nominal prices are already for mid engine v8 cars.

 

Sorry, but that's not correct... All interior parts looking like carbon are made from real cf. I had this confirmed when I was in the Atelier in Maranello specc'ing my Speciale.

 

Agreed - it's real CF. We had to have a couple pieces in our 458 adjusted, our tech took the parts off and they are real CF molded; definitely not structural grade, but "real" CF and not laminated over metal.

In fact, the mounting brackets on back had some fingerprints in the epoxy and some writing. Definitely "hand-made" (with all the good and bad that comes with it).

IIRC the door levers are carbon laminate, I'm going to guess that's due to strength/durability (carbon is brittle that thin), homologation (for safety/extrication) or some other rationale (i.e. cheaper).

 

congrats!! It will be an exciting car to own for sure!

Also I was looking at your website and some of the work you have in the gallery is truly amazing! Those out door theaters really blew my mind! When the time comes that I have that kind of money and house, I will be coming to you for sure!

 

errmm you just confirmed that it's "not real cf"...i.e. that it's cosmetic with a layer of real carbon fiber fabric overlaid only on the topmost exposed surface with the underlying material in some plastic composite / epoxy.

i'm sorry but non-structural cf = not real cf in my books. that's an overlay.

/discussion

and anyways, cosmetic cf makes sense for these non-crucial parts. my peeve is we're paying "real cf" prices for cosmetic / "not real cf". and case in point, most don't know the difference or care. but kinda sucks when the older generation Ferraris have "real cf / cf-kevlar" through and through.

 

No, the trim piece itself is all carbon fiber. The epoxy is what was used to bond the metal mounting bracket to the CF piece. It's a single piece of molded CF through and through. However, you're correct in that it's not structural, but it's also not an overlay.

We got the carbon interior in the 458 simply because we liked the way it looks better than the aluminum.

 

Alwin, I believe he was referring to the door levers only not being of the "true" carbon fiber.

 

correct, thanks for clarifying. I am failing to be specific enough here.

AFAIK, the door lever IS in fact a "decorative" laminate overlay. The interior pieces are all "real" CF, albeit cosmetic. The balance of the CF option pieces on the car are similar, however I have not looked at the CF front wings.

 

Unless Ferrari very recently changed it (talking about non structural parts such as interior pieces), it's carbon fiber laid over glass fiber. I seriously doubt Ferrari did as 99% of their customers simply don't know that it's laminated (albeit a real piece of carbon and not a sticker) and their cost will go up (manufacturing time is longer).

I get where Freshmeat is coming from, paying real CF prices for parts that are part glass fiber with a layer of carbon over it.

I also see your side, it looks better (eye of the beholder, but I agree) and the KG's it adds is simply unnoticeable to the driver so won't detract from the experience.

 

if bits like the ac vents were real carbon, it would not have weighed a ton for such a small mass when I held it. It should be as light as paper and strong as steel ie if i stood on it, it won't just snap like a twig.

Like Bas Jaski has already said, it's an overlay; carbon fiber fabric over some plastic composite like fiber glass, pur etc.

Still not real carbon fiber, but you're definitely paying real carbon fiber prices. I can't believe I'm having this discussion...it's almost as comical as the fellas that allegedly own 458s but had no idea what magnetorheological dampers were and if it came standard on their cars...

 

Alwin, not everyone is a wizard at this stuff as you ya know! lol
But FWIW, you better believe there are MANY that don't know jack $h!t about what these caliber of cars have to offer as far as engineering goes. All you need is cash. Ferrari could give a f!$# what you know about the car itself!

Having said that, I don't believe Entropy falls into that category. It may just be a misunderstanding and a break down in communication, so-to-speak.

 

meh, i'm far from it. but i at least try to do my due diligence.

edit: entropy let me find the pics i took. im positive they are not real carbon.

 

we're getting way off thread into a CF debate. If you have pics, would be interested to see...I guess I could have been imagining it, but have been around (real)(laminated)(fake) CF.

These are pics from when we took delivery; note the piece right under the left TFT is not aligned. This is the piece we removed...am looking for pics of the BACK, but this piece pops out (has simple prong mounts, which needed to be adjusted).

Damn near though I was going to crack it; the back was non-clear coated, raw but cured CF (with the aforementioned epoxy glue). I did not remove anything else

Question - for any Scud owners, is the CF engine compartment (real) CF or laminated?

perhaps we should refer to this stuff as "decorative CF" from now on

anyway, back to the Speciale....
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Here's a side-by-side of fake and real carbon. figure out which one is real, which one is fake and there should be no more doubt:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/11661590146_8e74507c1a_b.jpg

 

Well that one's easy. ;-)

 

one of the real bits. 458 center column console:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/11661653455_91615a11d4_b.jpg