Thinking about going from a 2011 California to a 2017 California T

Great info here:https://www.continentalautosports.com/ferrari-comparisons/ferrari-california-vs-ferrari-california-t/
100 HP & 100 torque added, improved suspension & handling updated interior & exterior for 10-15 K over a similar lower miles excellent condition 2014 Cali 30 vs
2015 Cali T

 

get HS.

 

And unlike the Cal and Cal 30,the T and PF have a LOT more hp and tq available from a tune because the factory removes so much to make the engine feel normally aspirated. For example, with the T over 100 lb-ft was removed in the first three gears. Mufflers,x-pipe,BMC air filters,and a VR Tuned flash turned my Portofino into an animal at wot.

 

I went from a 2013 Cali 30, which I loved, to a 2015 T. The T is much faster, things are more refined in the cabin and as much as I loved the looks of the Cali 30 the reworking on the front end and rear of the car really looks great to me. In my opinion, it looks better than the Portofino. Supposedly they made some improvements to the gearbox to mitigate the problems with the speed sensor -- I have had no issues -- and on my T the top has been flawless, I had some issues with the top on my 2013 that took some effort to straighten out. Really, the only thing I missed about the Cali 30 is the sound of the normally aspirated engine.

The best part about the HS package on the T, to me, is the exhaust ... it sounds much better. I added that exhaust to my 2015 and it's great. It is made for Ferrari by Tubi. It's deeper than the Cali 30 but it sounds really good now. I already have Magneride on my car and don't feel like it needs to be any stiffer than it already is in Sport mode. The one complaint I've heard is Sport can be too stiff on the street on the HS if the roads are at all questionable, which they often are here in the northeast US.

I don't think there were many, if any, changes between 2015 and 2017 other than the HS package becoming available, so I wouldn't rule out any year Cali T if the color and options are what you are looking for. It would be difficult for me to go back to an earlier California after living with the T for a while. But they are all great cars.

Happy hunting ... let us know if they do total your California, it did not look that severe to me.

 

Yes, Handling Speciale is a huge improvement fo California T. Without it car has a very small spectrum and it is too tamed. exhaust and driving improves significantly. You notice it especially when you are driving a bit faster.

 

I’ve driven both several times and the only thing I noticed that I’d maybe put in the negative I the exhaust note as vjd3 said.The T is a lot more refined. If the cost difference isn’t an issue the T in my opinion is a better car and you don’t seem to have near the worry with DCT issues.

 

Yes, I had a 2017 Cali T HS. The shifts are a lot faster and it has a sport exhaust built in. That is to say that it's more than a standard exhaust for sound. The magneride is included in the package so you can use the stiffer sport or use magneride to smooth it out. As an option package it was $8k and it was one of the best options for the money they offered on the car.

 

HS is very much personal. I don't care much for it. The T is a GT, and like the Cali, it feels like a heavy GT. This is not a criticism, it's a great car. My point is just that the HS pack tries to make the T something it's not and never will be. It does not transform it into a proper sportscar, just a more compromised and less comfy GT. Unless you track it and try to find the limit, I think HS is nothing but E numbers and a gimmick. Not saying you will think the same, that's just my view. If you want more sound, there are endless combinations on offer. Being it an OE HS exhaust or a Novi or Capristo offering, there are lots of ways to personalize the sound.

See if you can get a drive in both types and choose what you like.

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The nice thing is you can add the factory Tubi HS sport mufflers to the T after the fact, if you can live without the sharper handling (shifts seem plenty fast to me on the regular T). That is well worth the price of admission. I miss the sound of my former Cali 30 less now that I put the HS mufflers on the T. Agree that the Cali 30 had more than enough power but the T is significantly quicker, and if you get a piggyback tune to unleash the motor -- same engine as in the 488 -- I'm sure it's faster still. Not that I would do that ... it's plenty fast enough for the street.

 

Ahh....I DO miss the sound of F355 Spider......aftermarket cats, headers, and exhaust.....Jesus....I have never heard a sound so sweet.

 

One thing to be aware of, my T has had a new CCP kit due to gearbox sensor failure; it was under warranty but the part alone was circa £13000; I believe they now however can be repaired by certain F dealerships. I don’t know what causes these failures, but it does seem the Cali and other F cars of that era can be prone to failure. I don’t know if you can test to see whether there is an impending fail, I presume not.


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