Should I get a California?

Question. Are you buying the car for what you like or what others think? Is the car supposed to be an investment or simply a depreciating asset you would enjoy?

"Haters gonna hate" The California was made by Ferrari and it sold very well. The car is a Ferrari. Is it the fastest one or the most beautiful model? No. But, people still go "ooh" when they see it drive by! If you are looking for F-community "street cred" then the car might not be the right one for everyone. However, there are plenty of F-car lovers who respect the Cali.

 

Forget what anyone else thinks or says.
If you like the car, then BUY IT.

 

Ferrari is an exclusive brand, and I think it tends to foster a fair amount of exclusive attitudes and, dare I say it, snobbery. As I understand it, there are those who feel that a front-engined Ferrari should have 12 cylinders or it isn't a "real" Ferrari. Personally I don't give a hoot, and if it says Ferrari, then it's a Ferrari in my book. Heck, a 206/246 only has 6 cylinders and it doesn't even say Ferrari anywhere on it, and yet many Ferrarista lust after one. Apples to oranges maybe, but still...

 

Here’s the problem. The most beautiful car in the world is a California Spider (Google is your friend.) Because this is my opinion, I value it highly. When Ferrari used this name on a new car, I (and many others) felt ripped off. Ferrari has the legal right to do this, but it still pisses me off.

As a 550 Maranello fan, I’m biased to like any front-engine Ferrari. I grew up in the ‘60s when God decreed any car had to have it’s engine in front of the driver.

That said, this miss-named abomination is a Ferrari. This means if you expect reliability, if you expect competence, if you expect no drama in your life, buy a Toyota Corolla. But if want to talk a walk on the wild side, as in sniffing coke off strippers asses, buy a Ferrari.

You may regret it, but you will never forget it.






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Damn, there you go with this “are you experienced” stuff.


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Hi, Texas - I'm afraid I don't understand your reply.
Please explain.
Thanks, Bob Z.

 

don’t worry Texas, I got this.

First, find a stripper. These are most easily found in a strip club. They are usually sleeping during the day. Make sure she has an ass.

Next, find some cocaine. Good places to check would be Columbia, Bolivia, or local cocaine dealer.

Finally, put said cocaine on strippers ass and snort it by tilting your head sideways and sharply inhaling.

got it?

 

TF - I'm pretty sure we've partied together!

Kevin

 

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^

 

WTF?? Seriously?
I thought the the thread was about buying a Ferrari-

Believe me- I love strpippers- Damn near married one-

Hate cocaine but it's fun when used properly-

WTF Does any of that have to do with buying a Cali?

 

Unfortunately for the OP most people either
A- like the cali
B- don’t like it but don’t want to offend members that own the car
C- think he should decide for himself

On the other hand, strippers are a much easier topic to advise on. No, I would not recommend marrying one.

 

Well I would say yes to the Cali and no to the strippers and cocaine- well at least the cocaine

 

As others have said, you should buy what you like.

My main concern with buying a 10-year old California would be that if is a complicated car, out of warranty, that may require expensive and potentially difficult-to-source spares. The dual clutch gearbox and power roof mechanism will, with age, become potential five-figure repairs, for example.

It is unlikely to be an investment-grade car, because they sold well and there are many used ones, so the benefit is enjoyment. As far as “respect” the issues usually boil down to styling and concessions to luxury that make it more a tourer than a sports car. Unless you’re looking for a track car… who cares.



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Speaking as not-the-guy-who-brought this up - those are high risk (and high reward?) things in life, just like a Ferrari - as compared to a Toyota Corolla (and the nice girl from accounting) where you know what you're getting and there's no surprises later.

So, to the OP - yes, you like the car, buy it. Want your toy car to be a Ferrarri? It is one!

Kevin

 

The nice girls from accounting scare me!

 

Well you asked for opinions so here goes…

I had an early California as a driver for almost six months. My conclusion is that it was an excellent Maserati.

While a fine car, it didn’t “feel” like a Ferrari to me. It was more a watered down model created to bring new customers to the brand. Maybe Ferrari Lite? Not to mention it is rather large and awkwardly proportioned with a ridiculously high rear deck lid line for a sports car. The rear “seats” are useless. Even my young kids hated them.

If you like it then that’s your answer but you asked for our thoughts. Personally I’d recommend considering any of the other fine options even if it meant going to an older model.

 

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Well , I have.

 

Directly to answer your question, to some degree it is true. Every car maker has followers who prefer one model over another of the same make. These differentiating opinions commonly are based on aesthetic, performance, or relative expression of wallet size considerations.

Ferrari has such preference groups among the owners and non-owners. Front/rear engine, 8/12 cylinders, big selling/rare-small production are some group preference lines. Among these hierarchies Mondial, 456, and Cali/Porto are examples where some people remark less favorably compared to their own chosen favorite models. I've enjoyed owning all these models and using them as daily drivers. There seems to me to be a correlation of lower respect with higher sales and better usability. My preference group is my personal hands-on enjoyment maximized by common usage and I am not sensitive to a little shade thrown from alternative perspectives.

 

If that’s a car that makes you dream and if you can afford it, the answer is a big YES!

Ferrari makes models that appeal to various kind of buyers (hard-core racing automobiles, GTs, convertibles, “family cars”, …). And……every model is a true Ferrari!

Not everyone is in love with a hard-core Ferrari, a Pista, a Stradale, … I do not care at all about buying a Pista for example, that’s not for me, but I respect it and would never say anything bad about people who love such a model. In the end, we all share a passion for Ferrari. I’m a GT guy and Ferrari makes some of the best cars and most desirable cars in the world. Don’t let arrogant people ruin your dream, the vast majority of owners is with you…

 

It is a different type of Ferrari marketed towards a different clientele. I have never been interested in one, but this is just one guy's opinion.

 

Buy it..if you like it. But it will never be worth more than what you paid for it. To be perfectly honest..they are the classic example of lipstick on a pig. They are an awful car.

But if you like it..buy and enjoy it..make sure you have some bucks put aside for oil leak repairs.. which in some cases require the engine to be removed and re-sealed. Make sure you are prepared for gearbox issues etc..other than that..wonderful car..

 

Ferrari is either in your blood or it is not. These front mounted v8s are for the latter. Save your money and buy some other rag top.

Big G

 

The snobs hated the car when it came out. It was a front-engined V8, 2+2, "stole" an iconic name, and was shaped differently than the mid-engined V8s

But they've aged well, the California T has a bit better lines, but the original California is holding its own as a solid ride in its own right. Plenty of them out there with real world miles. I don't own one yet, but the only really bad thing I've heard mechanically is that the transmission can have expensive problems, and likewise the roofs. So definitely look out for those elements.

I don't know anyone in my crowd that disparages the California.

And best yet, if you buy a Cali, you can look down on those folks buying the SUVs with a horse

Ask yourself: are you buying it because you want it, or are you buying it to get the name off your bucket list?

 

Welcome to the forum Benedict. I agree with many of the answers here but I think there's a question you could answer that would help many give you better insight. What is it about the California that appeals to you? Of all the Ferraris is there something particular that makes you love the California, or is it because you want a Ferrari and see the California as a more affordable entry? As a car-guy and not necessarily a Ferrari-guy, I can't honestly see the appeal in a California or why someone would choose it over other cars in the same class. But if there's something specific about it you personally love, then that's what matters.