OK, so why is it that Ferarri's / other exotics are so troublesome???

I've owned my 328 for 15 years with about 40 DE's on it. I have had no trouble with it except the following. The engine main seal leaked oil and had to be replaced. The AC leaked at pressure switch, the blower switch needed some cleaner squirted in it, and the passenger window switch needed some cleaner squirted as well.

That is all that went wrong with it. It has not been tracked since 1997 as I have a car specifically for that now.

As you can see, I have had few problems with it. I think that is a pretty good record. A main seal is just the luck of the draw. In my experience, I think some people are magnets for car trouble. I rarely have had trouble with any of my vehicles in the million or so miles I have driven them.

 

Hmmm... 1985 Euro 308GTS QV and have done 7k miles in the past 8 months and so far only ONE problem. Typical headlight motor. Could have fixed for $2, yet decided to replace the entire motor for $200. That's it. Nothing else. Ok, decided to have the 60k major done a bit early, yet that is different than a "problem".

(Knocking wood) Always starts hot or cold. Runs great, sounds great, and has a great smiles-per-miles ratio. Actually the highest "cost" has been tickets for alleged speeding. Interesting, have went to court for two of the three tickets and none have resulted in points nor fines (both dismissed).

Perhaps it is luck, a great PPI'ed car, Zen, karma...???

Enjoy the Drive ("That's Amore'" with a few writers embellishments right now),

Steven R. Rochlin

"(In Maranello where love is king
When boy meets car here's what they say)

When the car hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore
When the Ferrari seems to shine like you've had too much wine
That's amore
The engine will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you'll sing "Vita bella"
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella

When the car make you drool just like a pasta ***iole
That's amore
When you drive down the street with a Ferrari at your feet
You're in love
When you're driving in a dream but you know you're not
Dreaming signore
Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Maranello
That's amore..."

 

They are low production cars so they can't make it up on volume. The need to make there money by selling parts and service. If they make the cars bulletproof how are they going to make any money.

 

One of the old Ferrari stories I heard in the early 80's when asked why Ferrari had such a rust problem?.

" We build toys for rich guys, and they don't have to last that long. Most of our target market gets bored and changes cars every 2-3 years"


Even today, with better quality....the type of people that buy new Ferraris, tend to get rid of them before the warrenty expires. Keep trading up a model.

Some ferraris never have a problem! And guys swear by them. But some do and then its expensive. As long as the fear is out there.... Ferrari has a problem.

 

Ive had many years of trouble free driving in both Fcars and Lambos. The Lotus is fine also.

 

Simple IMHO.......

Low volume.....4,000 or so sales a year of a rarely driven car (generally speaking) with shorter than normal warranties means an inability to correct product deficiencies due to accurate, timely and numerous feedback about product issues in the first place.

 

The modern engines {348, 355, 360} do not use the same vavle train technology as the older cars. Basically, you are asking why a 20 year old car needs to be maintained like (say) a 20 year old car! The only real difference is that it still looks fresh and has reasonable performence--astonishing performance for a 20 year old car.

Effectively, an F355 engine IS a 1980 F1 engine re-engineered to survive 100,000 miles with 3 major services, and have cold startability and compliant emissions throughout its life. Not bad actually. {the RPMs are down from 12,5000 RPM peak power to 8200 RPMs but the life is up from 220 miles between rebuilds to 100,000 miles.}

A 5.7 litre american pushrod engine would have to deliver 635 HP to be in the same state of tune as the F355 engine. Best factory 5.7 engine out right now is 405 HP. The American factories don't make 600 HP 5.7 litre motors because (basically) they can't! Ferrari can {so can Toyota and so can Honda}.

The first owner gets all this stuff taken care of. The modern cars have very little that needs taken care of.

Exactly the opposite!

P-cars have similar reliability and maintanance costs as F-cars. Ask an owner that takes one to the race track regularly. But Porsche only makes 10X the cars that Ferrari makes on a per/year basis.

The real question: When you are lying on your death bed will you ask:

"Should I have spend less on maintanence for my Ferrari"?

or will you ask

"Should I have spend more time driving my Ferrari"?

 

You want something built by a Friggin ROBOT?!?!!? You think Michelangelo would ever let a robot sculpt David or the paint the Sistine chapel, You think Da Vinci would let a robot paint the Mona Lisa, You think Beethoven would allow a robot to compose music for him?!?!?!?!

Ferraris are art, art is made by humans not friggin robots, you want something a robot built, go buy a refrigerator, toaster or a Camry, all appliances, Not Art

As for the service schedules, Ferraris are as close as you can get to a race car for the street, Have you ever seen the maintenance schedule on a race car ? Rebuild engine, & trans & replace clutch after every race, replace tires during the race.

Again you see, to want an appliance not a race car. You want a nice quality sportscar, theres a price to be paid

 

I dunno, why are exotic women more troublesome than average ones?

Good death bed analogy. When folks ask me why I drive my Ferrari every day I say "Because life's too short not to!"

 

No complaints here, but what I don't understand (ok, my ignorance) is the use of rubber instead of steel (ie., chain) for the cam belt. At least if it were steel, cam belts don't have to be changed every 5 years.

 

Chevy can't build a 600 hp motor?
Oh please.
Im sure if they wanted to build a $150,000 dollar car it could make 600hp.
but who would buy a $150,000 dollar chevy?, not many people.

They can build a car that can compete with ferrari, for 1/3 the price
and LOW MANTAINANCE.
Also don't forget they also can do all this and get 25MPG. oh ya. take that.

P.S. they also have Torque

 

I think the reliability problem has alot to do with the lack of use in these cars. I use my 328 frequently and have very few problems.

 

that makes sense

 

sbj- it is much mroe than just the weight of the chain vs belt.

Chain drive requires approximately HALF the entire capacity of an engine's oil circulation system output. Yep, fully half. The rest lubes the pistons/cams/crank/valves/etc. Everything.

Would I care if Ferrari added on 5lbs here, 10lbs there, 25 lbs over here... YES! Because the car would end up 1,000lbs heavier, less nimble, and NO FUN!

To whomever suggested Chevy could build a 600hp 5.7l engine that went 100k miles withought ever being touched, you are on crack. (not that 405 out of a pushrod 5.7 isn't fairly impressive, it's also not as much FUN!)

Best!
Ben.

 

That Z06 is a fun car, and for more than half the price, it will run faster lap times on a road course and drag strip. But, in the end, it is NOT a Ferrari

 

The frequent use comment makes a good point that I forgot to mention. Mine gets used at least once a week. I live in the south so it can be driven all winter.

 

Artherd Who said any thing about going 100,000 miles without mantanance?

Also how much fun an engine is, thats relative. I prefer torque.

Ferrari could make changes that would lower mantanance, yes drive gears or chain for starters.

 

My experience is that my 328GTS has been rock solid since I've owned it. I also agree with those of you that commented that our cars need to be used. I try to drive mine at least once a week, and it has worked well for me.
Gil

 

My wife's twin turbo Cayenne has a nice 4.5 liter motor that has 20K oil changes and 100K engine services. It makes 450 HP. That puppy will run 24/7 at 165. The new Bentley coupe will have an engine that can run at 207MPH until it runs out of gas and much less required service than many F cars. It can be done and as the competition gets better F will have to respond. Esp. if they hope to sell the 4 seat 612 for 110K more than the Bentley coupe.