Ferrari, Not for Everyone?

The transmissions are cheap in Europe, other markets see sky high prices. I compared US option lists + prices for various parts, and in EU pre-vat everything was between 20-50% cheaper. I saw a FF have a trans replaced because of a 7th gear whine noise and the dealer told me it was 7k euro(9.3kUSD).

The 355 was a great car to drive that was built like absolute dog ****.

The current production of vehicles is the most reliable in the company's history.

 

Instead of looking at this though a straw, you might want to consider taking a step back.

Enzo once said (paraphrased) "When you buy a Ferrari, you are paying for the motor. The rest of the car is free". Ferrari's tawdry build quality was justified from the get.

Thanks to the global marketplace's social media these days, we can expect continuing improvement, but to what degree is uncertain. What is certain is that Ferrari has not made build quality part of its' mission statement.

You can however, thank the poor build quality of Ferrari's earlier years to the reason why you're driving that Lamborghini.

Ferruccio Lamborghini, a tractor manufacturer at the time, had a continuous issue with the clutch on his Ferrari. He even went to the Ferrari plant to complain. He was run out of there and told by Enzo to stick to driving tractors. When he tore open the bell housing, he immediately recognized the clutch. It was one commonly used on tractors. As it sat on his work bench, his ideas began manifesting themselves and a legend was born.

Best wishes on you finding a thoroughbred most comparable to your needs.

 

CP Shri you, and Mayor, are right; there is no excuse for poor QA/QC with any modern car much less ones that cost what Ferraris do.

 

I'll be the dissenter.

I don't think a Ferrari should ever be built as reliable as a Porsche. Watch the video of Panamera assembly. Ferrari's are handbuilt by comparison. That much reliability will take away from the handbuilt quality of the car. It should have small issues. Not transmissions failing (BTW german manufactured correct? ) but some small stuff. it reminds me that the artisan had a tad too much grappa the night before.

A Ferrari always reminds me that I'm with a woman who is out of my league (if there was such a thing). I ask he to go to bed with me.. and she slaps me and tells me firmly "NO". But then I persist and she relents... for some fantastic experiences. She's just a PITA enough that my interest is constantly piqued, and I eagerly look for the next time we're together.

 

Very informative thread as the essence of the equation was distilled by another poster. The cars become affordable to buy over time but not to repair. Hence when the 20k bill is on its way on a 75k-100k car people sell . For those that pony up and do whats required to keep their cars perfect , good on them. Its the long term cost to stay with an F-car. I just wish it were otherwise.

 

like to be teased huh ?

no, I mean out and apart like 3, max 4k

Then again prices in the US are different than the Euro ones. Let's say u can double that for NA.

I'll be in fetal position crying in the shower.

it's actually true

 

Indeed, there are reseal and overhaul kits for these boxes. While there are not a lot of the mechanical pieces listed as spares, they are not 'lifetime sealed'.

 

That's the problem, but over time more affordable parts and repair options arise from demand. As was mentioned earlier, DCT repairs have, by and large up to now, been a warranty issue. The more of these repairs and the tool kits to perform them find their way into independents, the more the prices will come down some.

An example from my immediate personal experience; My new 599 needed tie rods and ball joints. Ferrari sells the ball joint as part of an assembly with the upper control arm for $3k a piece. Hill Engineering has a nice, beefy ball joint replacement now though that is only $800. Why would Hill come out with this product while 599's were still under warranty?

DIY options arise. I also have a 612 that I'm currently looking to sell. Amazing car. But one point of failure is the window switches. The switch assembly is a grand from Ferrari. Well, a fellow rebuilding his 612 from the ground up after severe water damage (And BTW bless guys like this for well documenting and sharing with the community) posted his DIY solution to permanently fixing the window switches. His skills are clearly beyond most here, BUT, if it happened to me, I could now go to my shop, have them remove the unit, send it to sticky no more, and find someone supremely confident in their ability to follow his instructions and I'd be out a few hundred rather than a thousand.

Ferrari ownership is not for everyone. Exotic ownership in general. Fear and panic aren't supposed to be part of the experience. I have no doubt I'll own a Cali at some point, the kids really want me to get one. I'll wonder about the DCT and top for as long as I own it, but I won't let it affect my enjoyment of the vehicle. If it happens, it'll suck, but it's a rare instance. I've had a few of these now and have yet to see anything but normal maintenance. You hear a hell of a lot more out here regarding what can and has gone wrong than you do about all the trouble free miles, of which I have about 10,000 so far across four cars.

 

I would agree with that if it were a vintage Ferrari. I forgive my '78 BB almost anything as it is crude, fun and 36 years old. Were I paying for a new car, I would get upset if its reliability was only slightly better than the 1978 model (and would worry about QC issues in a car that can easliy approach 200 mph).

I generally like old stuff and none of the new F cars are that pretty or come with a manual box, but like the OP would consider an almost new L car thanks to Audi's behind the scenes QC involvement.

 

Just bear in mind most owners do not have any issues with their cars. An extreme example should not be applied as a generality. My 360 has been a great car. Dare to say on par with the Porsches I've owned. I haven't owned nor fixed with my hands a pre 2000 Ferrari yet, so I can't comment on the build quality. When I fix a car, that's my indicator of build quality. Do I fix it once, or is it a persistent issue.

I helped take the front axle and transmission out of a friends 2005 Gallardo, all Audi parts with logos. He described it as so good and reliable and competent that it was dissatisfying. He sold it for a 355! Audi has done wonders, but I can't help but wonder how R8 Lamborghini has become. Did it take away some soul? Wasn't too impressed with handling and feel below 80 personally...

 

Lovely analogy...

 

Ferrari is more like that hot stripper you want as a girlfriend. Fun to ride but also an expensive never ending pain in the backside that can cause problems when introduced to others.

Sometimes the "F'ing" your getting isn't worth the "F'ing" your getting.

 

Umm. No.

That hasn't been my experience at all actually... or I would have used that metaphor.

I'm a smart enough guy to know.. not to date the coke addled stripper with the tats. I'll let her loser boyfriend/bouncer/whatever_he_does_if_it_was_a_real_job_she_wouldnt_be_stripping deal with it.

I've always been attracted to the classier hotty. Mind you, not cheap by any means.. and bit fiesty is OK! A woman that exudes but doesn't say "I date quality men who are worthy of me". My car is a reflection of that.

 

Threads like these do leave a wrong impression. You start off with a guy complaining that he can't misuse his cars without them breaking, digress into people talking about how hard it is to work with Ferrari, but we owners don't deal directly with FNA, then on to the rare situation where there's a real, serious defect in one particular part and all of a sudden it just sucks to be a Ferrari owner, right? If this serves to scare off people that would get themselves in a bad situation financially, that's a good thing. And if it shines light on dealers and independents getting abused, that's worth knowing though not much we can do about it. But the conclusion that Fcars are vicious life sucking *****es just couldn't be more wrong.

 

Even Luca Montemozolo in his speech at Stanford conceded to "something small" being needed attention once a year. That's the price of admission to a club of 7,xxx cars a year. Anyone who wants a Toyota isn't going to be here.

The analogy of a Ferrari to a beautiful woman is a very accurate one IMHO. IIRC its commonly a shared analogy.

Lastly, if that woman was such a life sucking *****, I most certainly wouldn't speak so highly of her (even spanking or slapping me), nor have a picture of her as my Avatar

 

as you said 355's are great to drive and in theory but for build issues would be worth way more. Now the newer cars ar probably betetr built in every way, but they are also way more complex, so even if 1 thing goes wrong the bills can be eyewatering.

In any event this dicussion is great, the only newer ferrari that really appeals to me is the FF for all sorts aof strange reasons, not least because what the other two models offer there is in my mind a betetr equivalent offered elsewhere.

So if there is the ability to take care of these moderns without resoting to the value of the car, then I can wait a few years for my 80K ff and be comfortable that there is no more thana 15k hit is somethign goes wrong.

Since a Boxer eats on average 5K per year over 10 years whats the difference.

But if a 5 yo FF can go bang tot he tune of 50+ K then its big difference. So besides the trnsmission what are the weak points ont he moderns, we know they dont use belts, do the radiators and radiator hoses need a 5-10fix like the 456?

 

So you're the one....

Panamera Turbo S exactly scratches the FF itch and blows the doors off the FF, so I kinda have to disagree with you.

EDIT: Shouldn't say blows the doors off. Panamera TTS edges the FF out in performance, styling, safety and presumably long term reliability as well, given the topic at hand.

 

Performance don't know, reliability for sure.

 

Interesting opinion considering performance is a matter of record where reliability is pure conjecture at this point.

 

Even if money is absolutely no obstacle to anything I don't want to own a car that is a headache. I would cringe with having the hassle of having to take the car to service and take a cab home. There goes my day. When I picked it up it would always need polishing to get all the scratches out. There goes another day and I haven't got to the grease on the interior yet.

Repeat this a bunch of times along with the big invoices and I'm done. I would rather write the big check initially and go out and drive and enjoy the thing!

 

I've ordered from UK parts suppliers. The import duties add $$ to the order almost equalizing US pricing with currency conversion... may be a part of it... EU importation/export rules?

 

A nice analogy, is this from a personal experience Curt?

 

OP, did you sell your Lambo back to Lambo Dallas? I see it listed for sale again.

 

Thats awfully affordable given that a regular old G-50 transmission for a 911 is about $12k brand new and a PDK is about $15k.