New and first time exotic owner needs advice

Hello All

I am a brand new owner of 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB, just picked up yesterday (2/2/2018). First of all, I am just a normal dude working as general manager in small company and have been saving money for almost 7 years to finally able to afford the dream, paid in cash, with no monthly payment to worry. I work my ass off to earn this dream car of the life time and I proud of it.

I also set aside some cash for aftermarket parts. Nothing internally but just outside appearance. I am thinking of adding a carbon spoiler and other exterior carbon parts to make it look slightly more aggressive. Can anyone suggest the following?

• Which 2 top reputable aftermarket brands for Ferrari?
• Which 2 top reputable Ferrari specialist located in SoCal?

Is there any performance/racing school in SoCal area? I intend to track this 488GTB and my other hot hatch GLA45.

Thank you and look forward to hearing from you.

 

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.

 

Thanks for respond.

Yeah. Unfortunately for me, I am not the rich executives nor kids who inherits something big and treat cash just like scrap papers. I very much appreciate what I have earned to own this dream! I am going to own it for good and drive it for good. It will not be a garage queen.

Just curious why I will need another set of wheels for tracking? I ordered this car with upgraded wheel, which costs extra $6,000. Is the OEM not suitable for track use? I do not have much left in the bank account to spend on wheels.

I have found a shop called TAG Motosports. Anyone familiar with them?
As for the brand, dealership recommend to get only NOVITEC and nothing else. Your thoughts?
Dealership did the complimentary clear bra wrap so I guess I am good for now.

 

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.

 

Yeah I understand the tires but wheels?

 

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.

 

alright, screw me. how do i PM you? i clicked on your profile but there is not option to send message. can you PM me?

 

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.

 

Thanks. Finally I figured out. I was looking for "SEND MESSAGE" LMAO

 

ROwland Heights.

 

Great. Let me checking the performance/racing school first. I will not track with my car until I have learned and be good at it. So, maybe 1 year time of learning.

 

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?

 

Nope. I invested into the full car protection film instead. Not many people do the wing and just keep it basic should be better.

I always wanted the manual sport car. My last manual car was the 1991 Honda Civic Si. I was comparing the Ferrari 360 manual but maintenance will high in the long run and then I ran into such a great deal that even my local dealer said it's impossible and I should grab it if such deal exist. Without hesitation, I agreed to the deal and take it this morning. Car will be from shipped from New York to California.

No great fortune otherwise I would have dive into Huracan Performante. I just spent all my savings and it doesn't go too well with my lady!

 

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?

 

LOL. The GTS was new but it was last year 2017 model.

Both cars paid in cash. I do not like to finance and have monthly payment burden.

I think I have thick face to ask something that rich dudes typical will not ask because they feel embarrassed? it's never hurt to ask! I walked into local Porsche on Friday and asking 15% off on the 2018 Model and was shut down so I got it from out of state dealer who I negotiate via email only, not even phone call.

I purchased the Ferrari also via email. I never spoke with the sales rep until couple days prior to delivery date. When the car finally arrived, I asked for discount and of course was denied but then keep on asking and asking and asking then finally he says he will throw in the protection wrap as courtesy. Then I asked for free Ferrari goodies and he was OK without hesitation. I end up hand pick 4 jackets and 1 t-shirt at the dealership.

I am sure existing Ferrari customers get more goodies and price break than me.

As for McLaren F1, out of my range! LOL. I thought one was sold for $13.5 million?

 

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.

 

Thank you sir. Work hard and play hard, period. Never make up fantasy because it does you no good. Now I have to work hard again.

What, 1 second? I think I will get double Wings. I should be able to save 2 seconds!!! Thank you!

 

First, truly a normal dude or maybe above average. I am definitely not an executive nor I own million dollar house or anything. I do not considered rich just because I dropped 1/2 mil on cars. You can call me crazy.

Not that I am worry about $400 oil change but you can put in other word, I am a cheapo. Same oil change, just drain oil, change filter and put in synthetic oil but cost $400? I was like they are the same crap but just because one is Ferrari and it costs 10 times more? Perhaps I may have money to buy the car but I do not have the real status to play in this field.

Now, the fact is I truly bought 488 on Feb 20 and I just committed to GTS this morning with $30K off. The fact is that I am also a CHEAPO.

 

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

 

488. shown on my profile picture. Maybe too small.

Porsche will be here in about 10 days from Tuesday (the day expect wire transfer to be completed)