New and first time exotic owner needs advice

I'd say there really isn't anything really needed to mod the car. Chip? If you're going to the track, just a set of wheels and tires

 

Welcome and congrats on your purchase! It is rare to see someone save for so long to afford a car like that so congrats on that milestone! Super impressive! I will recommend you keep your stock parts whatever you end up modding just in case. As for aesthetics, usually nothing fits as good as oem parts. I have seen a few modded parts here and there on these cars and they look pretty good from what I can see, but I do not remember the brands. I will have to reach out and ask again.

As for tracking, definitely a set of wheels/tires and you will need brake pads and fluids more frequently.

As for racing schools I know there is danny who does fast lane racing school at WSIR.

I highly recommend you get a proper detail to protect this car that you worked so hard for so long for. If you are going to track I recommend clear bra PPF at least on the areas where it will see rock chipping. I highly recommend D'elegance Detailing 619-718-0031 for all your detailing needs. They do clear bras, tint, basic mods, and much more. Try and book the appointment before show season cause they tend to get booked quick around that time.

 

The extra set of wheels are for the tires that you will be wearing out very quickly on the track. Of course it also depends how often you will be tracking the car.

 

Sau,

PM me on tracking. I'm an SCCA clubracer and know all the local tracks and local HPDE clubs. I race all over the country and raced a 348 racecar back in the day. I will occasionally track my 550 to exercise it and know what you need to track the 488 without hurting it or adding a bunch of expense like 2nd set of wheels. We have a pretty regular group of Ferrari guys who will track their Ferraris a couple times a year plus there are monthly opportunities to get on track if you really get into it. There is even a group who has track session for exotics so a guy in a 1000hp vette does not throw track debris at you. You want to get on track at CoTA and other tracks out of Cali I know how to get that done too.

 

If you are free come to the Pederson Auto museam this Sunday for the annual Enzo drive in. It is sponsored by Ferrari Club of America and you can meet like minded Ferrari enthusiasts. Im in the Fly Yellow 458. Mods are such a personal choice, the only mods I've done are a Capristo cat back exhaust with valve controller. Capristo, Novetic are top notch.

 

As said previously extra set is for track use only and is for the track tires you will most likely want to use. Depending how aggressive of a driver you are, you could go through a set in 1 day. This is why having your street set is nice to have unless you are planning on trailering the car. There typically isn't a shop on site that can mount and balance tires. So what you typically want to do is once you are done tracking for the day swap out the track wheels for your street wheels and drive home.

The only track in CA that I remember that has a shop that can just swap tires is Sears Point aka Infineon. You can drive back home on your track tires I just don't really recommend it.

Dealerships do not typically fully cover the areas a tracked car will need, additionally they typically do not use good film. I highly recommend you at least get the vehicle to include the clear bra ceramic coated. This helps with protecting the vehicle from pretty much everything. It makes sense imho if you spent the money on this car to spend a small fraction of its value in protecting it. Also it tends to add value to the vehicle as well, so essentially it pays for itself.

TAG has been around for awhile and so has novitec. I recommend you do your research and figure out if those are right for you. I am in SD so I tend to go to different shops.

 

If you clicked on his SN or avatar a little box appears. There is a link that says "start conversation" click that and you should be able to PM him.

 

What part of Los Angeles ? Quite a few worthwhile mods available for these cars now being Forced induction.

 

Hey, congratulations!! In this thread:
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/145876861/
you just said you bought a brand new GTS for 30k off list price! After you were debating between a 355 vs 360 vs an Honda S2000.
You must have fallen into some great fortune in the last couple weeks! (Since you state above you don't have much money in the bank to upgrade your rims for your new 488)

Have you installed the wing on your 488 yet?

 

Someone get me this guy's number. 30k off a new gts - apparently with 0 down financing because he couldn't even buy a set of track wheels for his ferrari. A new 488 with no Ferrari purchase history. A dealer gave him 'complimentary' ppf on that new 488. I'm in the market for a McLaren F1. Want to pay not a penny more than 250k. Can you help me negotiate that deal?

 

You just dropped 1/2 a million dollars in 1 month *cash* for 2 cars; you seem like a 'rich dude' to me. Not that anything is wrong with that, just surprising after you made sure to emphasize that your "normal dude working as general manager in small company that saved 7 years" and that " I am not the rich executives nor kids who inherits something big and treat cash just like scrap papers."

Hey totally cool if after 7 years of hard work you saved up $500,000 and decided to spend it all on a 488 and GTS in one month. Who am I to judge? Just trying to gauge your background because you seem awfully concerned about $400 oil changes, just not something I've seen a guy that dropped 1/2 million on 2 cars in 1 month would be too worried about.

Again, pardon my confusion - today you said you dropped $200K on a car a week after you said maybe a used S2000 is more appropriate for you.

Have you thought of getting a La Ferrari? or maybe a Honda Civic is closer to your needs?

 

That's too bad, I heard the wing makes you go about 1-second faster 0-60. You sure you don't want to reconsider? Huge kudos btw on working hard to be able to drop 1/2 million on 2 cars in 1 month after 7 years of hard work. Respect from me man. I know of guys that don't get off their butts, instead, they make up fantasy scenarios - and then never amount to anything. I want to tell these guys to look at folks like you, work hard, live the dream, and show to everyone that anything is possible.

 

Looking forward to those pics of the 488 ,not to mention the Porker which is on the way too.