Message from CEO of Ferrari on Manual Transmission

Very interesting. Never say never, but seems like no new gated cars in the short term. One of the recent articles in Forza was hoping Ferrari would introduce a new Dino with a stick. Enthusiasts (and collectors) want the three pedals, but it's obvious the nouveau riche are a bit scared of them. Those carbon fiber paddles suit them just fine.

 

This is just a summary of the briefing he gave at the Frankfurt show so I'll guess there are already numerous threads from September

 

Wow, I knew they weren't selling well, but 3 units!

 

No offense to anyone, but I would not exactly equate a typical California buyer as someone looking for a manual.

 

since modern six speed manual cars are so much more valuable than F1, why doesn't Ferrari just offer it as a very expensive option? say $100k per vehicle. capture some of the value the secondary market places on the gearbox and help offset R&D, etc.

 

Is it just me, but why can't a company like under ground racing figure out a way to convert the cars to manual? If not the new models, but maybe the 2000 era Ferraris. Charge $100k per conversion, as they do with the TT options.

And I love GuyIncognito Idea, just match the secondary market needs. If people are paying $600k for a 599, then they will pay $100k more for a manual option.

 

It has been done, that option is already out there and for far less money yet the number of takers is a very small handful.

It is no different than when Ford changed the T Bird from a 2 seat sports car to a 4 seat bloated whale. The people that decry the demise are not the check writers.

Paying extra for a 6 speed 360 is still a boatload different from bellying up to the bar and paying for a new take your pick Ferrari.

The new car buying demographic has changed, it's really that simple.

 

The difference, is if Ferrari offer manual again, the used car manual market will plummet!
The only reason why it is desirable is NOT because it is desirable driving experience, rather because it is rare, and speculator hoping that it will raise in value and make money of it.

 

Already an option for 430's for far less than $100k but the thread in the 360 section was filled with "It'll be worth less once you mod it" BS.

It's the same fear owners of newer Ferrari's have of "all these newfangled electronical thingamajiggies" that prevents them from working on their own cars. They don't do their own oil changes or work on their car.. but will tell you how it can't be done.

When I get my 599 in the future I'm going to convert it to 6 speed... and if I have the funds because its more fabrication.. I'm going to convert a 458 or 488.

 

Would they introduce a car that is cheaper to maintain?

 

That has never changed. Only a very small percentage have ever done their own work.

 

I am also surprised there were only 3. But if you dont tell anyone its an option that doesnt surprise me at all.



PDG

 

The last MT Ferrari has long since left the production line in Maranello.

 

So Sayeth the Chief!

 

Even if true your first point doesn't matter to me as your second point does not apply to me. Do not think I'm alone.

 

I'm a dyed in the wool 3 pedal guy. When I went to the California introduction in Santa Monica in 2008, I sat in one, looked at all the modern tech stuff and figured no one would get a 6 speed manual over a 7 speed DCT. I do wonder how many they really made available since they had already cut back on 430s despite many buyers still waiting at the time.

Dave

 

That's exactly what I'm doing to my 599 HGTE once I get over the fear the Ferrari gods will strike me down ! Kidding aside, if I decide to keep her long term, it will be a project.

 

I am also a '3 pedal guy' but times are a changing - likely for the worse. But with each passing generation of computer controlled cars (have you seen the review of the new NSX!?!?) I foresee a future as described in the Rush song "Red Barchetta". http://youtu.be/P9Q05UyIOX4

 

we might want to merge this with the "real men only drive manual" (sic) thread!

I like both manual and DCT - but a big part of the dialogue in the other thread (at least, my part) was that the cost and complexity to do this would be extreme....

In the case of the manual California, a $100K manual option would have made Ferrari $300K, which is probably a fraction of the regulatory and emissions homologation and certification testing costs, not to mention the non-recurring engineering and procurement costs...

As a manufacturer (even with "low volume" loopholes), Ferrari has to be compliant with all the various (i.e. US, Canada, EU, China, etc etc) laws - that's just a mess. Unfortunately, even if they wanted to do one-off hot rods (which they could), the regulatory and compliance costs are likely the killers. (that's one reason they'll do just about anything cosmetic on the SP cars, but it has to be based on a current model chassis - crash, compliance, emissions, etc)

I am unsure what the actual cost would be, I could imagine some people would pay for it.

A more direct bit of evidence is that new car buyers - Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, etc etc - have all voted with their wallets about the move towards DCT. The manual gearbox Cali was "free" - as was the 430 6 speed. People still went for the F1/DCT.

We can whine about it and call it "less pure, less visceral" but people did not buy manuals. And, while Porsche still has enough huge volumes and existing manual gearbox product, it's (in reality) a minute part of their overall volume....and dropping. They will do it as long as they can leverage and stretch their engineering investment and charge a good premium.

 

(Sorry didn't address with earlier comment)
You are speaking for yourself on this one. I've owned mine for 5 years now, and I bought it because of the driving experience. And when I.. many of us "we"... bought the cars F1's were the same price.

 

When I was starting the order process of a 360 Spider (before being list-bumped a year into it and cancelling), I was pressured strongly NOT to order a manual. They almost wouldn't do it, as if it was now sacrilege, and an insult to Mr. Ferrari himself. Told me that it would take even longer to hit in-production status. Oh, well, - I'm undoubtedly happier with my non-computerized vintage cars, anyway.
Likely that they played that game with the Cali, and not surprisingly, most people won't order the manual they originally wanted. Funny, how that works.
Probably not the only recent model they did that to, either. How many non-F1 575s, 599s, or 612s?

Audi had the same justification for not bringing their S4 Avant (wagon) to the US in 1999 or so - that nobody ordered what they didn't offer....and couldn't order.

 

Disagree. People who want or prefer a manual (used) Ferrari have continued to trade in them. I wanted a 6 speed 355 since 1997, finally got a virgin 1999 version this year. It's a wonderful car to drive (and I have, and have had, plenty of F1 and DCT cars, which are also awesome).

What HAS happened is the prices have gone up, IMHO a lot driven by speculators looking to cash in on the "naturally aspirated, manual gearbox" scarcity mania.

My personal sense is the enthusiast market has always been there, and still is - though the market may be pricing some out soon (we'll see).

 

I am a manual transmission guy but in all honesty, I am not so sure they would match up very well with these light speed jet fighter engines now.

 

They did the same thing with 430s. I was told that none of the buyers for flipped cars wanted sticks. Of course, paddle cars were also an extra 12G so dealers made plenty more money on them as well. I stuck to my guns and ordered a stick anyway. Curiously, the same dealer was already paying a few Gs more for 360s with sticks because they sold so well!

Dave