Buying a New Ferrari

unfortunately that's the game. If he wants a new car right away, buy a Lamborghini.

Buy a 360, enjoy it, get on the list for the next one

 

Not much chance of getting a new one if he buys the used one at a Bentley dealer. I'd suggest buying the used one at his closest Ferrari dealer. Then maybe he will get a new one in a few years. Good luck.

 

Is it like this everywhere or just in the U.S.?

Is there no way you can buy your first Ferrari new?

 

what kind of sh*t is that!

 

nope, there is always a list

 

There are many on this Board who never owned a Ferrari before and now drive an F430. I am one of them.

Your friend could have one immediately - if he would be willing to pay what the cars are selling for in the marketplace: over MSRP. I did and it was the best decision I ever made, automotively-speaking, and have not regretted it for second!

There are numerous threads and posts on this subject, if you do a Search.

 

sounds like ebay's the way to go?

here's a beautiful F430..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-Ferrari-F430-Spider-Silverstone-with-Black-Int_W0QQitemZ150018502196QQihZ005QQcategoryZ6212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

but it looks like they want nearly $350,000.00 for it. Isn't that about $100k above MSRP?

 

Yep, that's the market force at work. I think we all have to make a decision on whether we want to play the game.

 

So you cant get on the list unless you have owned a Ferrari?

 

crazzzy.. i myself, will be buying a used 360 for my first ferrari haha

 

I purchased a new F430 a couple months ago without ever having purchased a new Ferrari before. However, I placed my order and deposit back on 2-1-02. There is approximately a 5 year waiting list right now for any "new" cars at MSRP from my local Ferrari dealership in Arizona.

 

Afraid if you have no prior Ferrari purchases its difficult to get onto the list, even here in South Africa if you havent purchased before its virtually impossible to get into the list and down here we have the added problem that those that do buy cars arent interested in selling them unless the premium is in the region of $75 000 or so.....

 

If you want to buy at MSRP, you will have to get on a dealer list and wait. If you want it now, you can buy a "used" 430 today at a price over sticker.

 

Tell him to clear out most of the showroom right then and there, then ask if he can get an F430.

 

Is it like this in canada too? I know Canada law states you cant sell over MSRP.

 

that's how the game is played. You buy a used ferrari from the dealer, then typically they will ask you on the list if there is room. I usually decline the list thing and just buy "last years" model. When the 360 was coming out, I picked up a used 355. The dealer offered me a position on the list and I declined. Now that the 430 is out, I picked up a 360 used. I actually like the 360 more than the 430 in some respects. It may not be as fast, but the 360 is a great car inside and out as far as the styling, etc.

but yeah, if you aren't just joe blow and the dealer hasn't done prior business with you, don't hold your breath for getting on any lists.

Ray

 

As described above, as a general rule, you can do it one of two ways:

1- pay the market rate on a pre owned car so you will be above MSRP. What are F430 coupes going for now? ~240 or so? Something like that. What you are doing here is showing the dealer you are for real. Remember the market has more buyers than there are cars so they can pick and choose you- its not like when you are going to the supermarket and there are 18 kinds of cereal for you to choose from. You now get on the list for the next one at msrp and when the next one is ready you trade your car into the same dealer.

2- be prepared to wait a very long time. this is frankly a little more risky in the fact that you could wait and wait and wait and then find out that the car is so hot that the dealer doesnt want to sell it new at msrp to someone whose never given them a dime. yes you can say that you have a contract, etc, but that means you will be in court while someone else is driving your car.

This is my take on it as a general rule, it does not mean that you could find the exception. My advice is if your friend wants the car badly and doesnt want the BS then just accept what the market place is and go for it. If not and this bothers him then there are other fine vehicles out there.

best regards,
Jerry

 

Actually they have a reason for this (or at least this is the "beard");

These cars as you know are in hot demand. They do not want folks buying and flipping them for the profit for two reasons

1) They want to buy them up used with few miles and flip them for profit plus plus and,

2) Ferrari NA has issued a new policy as of 8/1 that if a car is flipped quickly a dealer's allotment will be trimmed. So dealers are strong-armed into selling them at MSRP to real users.

Prior to this, some dealers swould sell them to folks who would immediately sell them back and allow the dealer to make another $80-100K for cars such as 430 Spyders. Ferrari frowns on this behavior and has discouraged it un-officially for some time. Dealers have done it anyway so the new rule as of 8/1

The "list" actually allows dealers to qualify a buyer and all work on a level field and really protects consumers in that there will be less of these tricks. Oh sure, some guys will buy them and sell them quick anyway, but over the next couple of years it will happen less and less. I predict a by-product will be that near-new examples will have even higher premiums but there will be fewer available.

That's the logic anyway.

 

If you are lucky and the dealer will honor his word.

 

Has anybody else heard this?
This is the first time I've heard this policy and welcome it.

 

Don't know if it is FNA's policy or individual dealerships but I have signed such a policy/ contract with my dealership for my 430. Dealership told me FNA notified them that their customers were flipping them (not back to the dealer)and the dealership wasn't aware of it. Apparently FNA knows based on the serial number where the car was originally purchased and as previously stated, the dealership will lose out on allotments as a result. My contract states that my car will be purchased at MSRP but if I decide to sell it within a short time frame (don't think it said any specific days/ months?), that I would give the dealership first opportunity. I was also told those people "flipping" outside the dealership can basically kiss goodbye any future opportunities to be considered on any "list".

 

Yes. This is now the policy. It has been confirmed by my dealer.

 

That dealership is pulling **** out there ass..

 

I don't know about FNA's policy, but when I made a deposit on what would be a 430 in 9/02, they told me that if I did sell it, they wanted a first right of refusal. This is perfectly reasonable to me. There was nothing written, but it was made pretty clear that anyone who sells without giving them a chance to buy would likely never get another new car, at least not a popular one.

Dave