California Waiting lists? Ha! Already in used car lots!

Cruising around this morning....

Look what I stumbled across:http://www.ferrariofdenver.com/inventory_detail.cfm?id=1189 I know it's a demo car (or I believe so) but starting to see more of these popping up on some sites.

Think this car will be increasingly common, increasingly affordable and readily available in the near future. Resale of this car should be falling faster than a hooker's knickers in the next few years.

PS: Who the heck is now writing the adds for F of D? Looks like they hired some add writer from "Honest Ed's Used Car Emporium".

 

I think that this is their demonstrator car. It has all the options and even has matching blue seat belts.

 

Ya I know.

It's just odd. I've had a dealer call me twice now "just checking" to see if I want to get back on the order list. Never had that happen before.

 

The economy affects sales of expensive cars.

The California is expensive for a GT. It doesn't generate the same obsessive "gotta have it" at any price that a sports V-8 like the Italia does.

But even Scuds, 599s, Maser GT's and Alfa 8C's are sitting on showroom floors at sticker.

 

The Fed announced today Bank lending will remain tight until mid-2010. Get used to soft pricing on all cars. If it continues I bet it will even impact the 458.

 

Not really.
First year of production is already spoken for (regardless of economy) with coming allocations to be distributed by dealers to their best and most loyal customers,before any "waiting lists" are put in play.
By the time these 1st year cars are sold the lending will ease.

 

That's not entirely true. The city I just moved from had a long list like you describe. However, I've never bought a car from the dealer in the city in which I now live. I could have had a car in the first allotment. They have called me back a couple of times to check if I want back in. Any Joe Public can order a Cali right now and not have to be put on some long list... they get the allocation.

I predict in a year or two it will be very easy to get a California, with a few miles, at a heavy discount.

 

While all car sales from KIAs to Chevys to Lamborghinis are way down, from your link, this isn't exactly the bargain basement used car deal your alarmist thread title implies:

2009 Ferrari California
Mileage: 1,000
Description: AVAILABLE TODAY!
Price: $228,414.00

If you had seen it with 15,000 miles and selling for $140,000 or less, then you'd have more of a convincing case. Will it go there? Sure eventually. Most of the front V12 GTs (V8 in this case) lose value quicker than the mid/rear cars.

 

Why is this thread even relevant? What's the purpose? My advice to Cali haters... go home! We don't pick on your cars, do we?

 

Because for some unknown reason, for the extreme polarized cult of hate, it must be "all alarms and scandal" about this car where none exists. Also, it's been kind of quiet about the Cali due to the attention on the 458, and the hate must somehow be refreshed.

This car isn't a bargain nor are it's sales to be considered anomalously sluggish, standing apart from other cars. It's just another model of Ferrari, honestly. It poses no threat to anyone personally. It's just a convertible GT car, considered to be too "soft," that breaks Ferrari tradition with the use of a hardtop retractable roof and front V8, with a somewhat funky rear that isn't half as bad as some other models of Ferraris appear over their entire body. That is all it really is.

 

I just get tired of these endless slams. Why don't they go the Dino section and slam it?

"the California is a Maserati".... "the Dino is a Fiat".

"the California will depreciate"... "the Dino was so cheaply built Ferrari that he wouldn't even put his name on"

"the California goes against a common Mercedes"...."the Dino goes against a common 911".

I take it personally because I heard all this junk in the 80's as I happily drove my Dino as a daily driver while others used a soft diaper to wipe down their "real Ferrari" garage queens on the weekends.

The California is a daily driver. What is the crime?

 

I did not mean California,I was commenting on this:

"Originally Posted by PA Wolfpacker
The Fed announced today Bank lending will remain tight until mid-2010. Get used to soft pricing on all cars. If it continues I bet it will even impact the 458."

In other words,458 is not going to be affected by economy in it's first year,IMHO.

 

Oh come on and lighten up people.

My title is not an "alarmist". Just having a bit of fun.

I happen to like the car. I think it's a great addition to the lineup but rather overpriced. The deal killer for me was the husge @ss it has and the price point missed IMHO.

Guess people on this forum have lost a bit of humor?

 

Yes, when there's a hundred pages of venom in the "why all the Cali hate" thread.

I think people forget that there are actual OWNERS here... or those who've put it on order. Would you like your personal choice slammed for a hundred pages? I don't think so.

The poison that has been thrown at this car is nothing short of amazing....

 

Stand up and testify!

I mean, with all the criticism, I feel like if I took one of these to a local meet or cars and coffee, I would get rotten tomatoes thrown at me (and the car).

Criticism, when constructive, is fine. So is an opinion. But as bdelp points out, there are owners and soon-to-be owners here. How about..."It's not for me, but enjoy the heck outta yours!"

Sorry to rant and hijack. To keep this on topic, I am interested to see if the car in the original posting finds an owner. I am sure the OP understands how the title could be mistaken as a slam.

 

what a ridiculous post. this is a dealer finally allowed to sell a demo. what else are they supposed to do with them.

However, I cannot see where the car has magnaride. i know FOD reads this post. please confirm and tell us why the car does not have it. perhaps it really is not needed if driven normally and not on a track.

i tried it with and without magnaride and did not notice a real difference for normal road driving, not worth the $5500 IMO

 

You are right no Magnaride. Must be good for something though since it is standard on the 599 sport. A little less roll and maybe a smoother more level ride. Helps reduce driver fatigue.

The cruise control- that might be a waste of money too.

 

Dealers were not allowed to pick and choose their options for their initial California Demo.

 

I see the point of letting Ferrari pick the options on the demonstrators. Ferrari wants to be able to show off the options so a customer can get an idea about the possibilities.

Having said this though, what is your opinion of the magnaride option? What are the advantages?

 

More $$s in the cash register Didn't spec it on mine as I found it way too soft in comfort mode and not really firm enough in sport mode to justify the price. From road test reviews I've seen thus far it seems that the standard set up is somewhere between the comfort and sport setting of magnaride. The reviewer said save the cost of magnaride and spend it on more worthwhile options.

 

Still, it's a good-looking Cali. And I'm not a big fan of them. But add a crema interior and yellow calipers and I think that one would be just about right.
BTW, is 228,414 the MSRP? I assume that's what is being asked?

 

I honestly don't recall if any of the Californias that Ferrari had for us to drive in Lake Las Vegas a few months ago had Magnaride and since every Cali we've had thus far has been pre-sold I can't comment from first hand experience.

I can tell you that some of the advantages of such a quick reacting system give you a better contact patch with the road as well as a smoother ride. Typically those two features don't go hand in hand. Anyways, if it's good enough for the 599GTB, it's definitely good enough for the California!

 

they didnt sell all the 16m's they allocated for the us, that car seems like it would have more appeal and its numbers are even more limited

 

I didn't like it in photos. Loved it when I first saw it in person. Loved it more when I drove it and was given an allocation a couple days later.

As far as cruise control, I will be driving mine 130 miles from Toledo to Columbus Ohio a few times a year to visit my son in college and to Ferrari gatherings ... the cruise will come in handy with the Ohio Highway Patrol thick in certain portions of the trip. When you are not having fun pushing the car you might as well keep the speeding tickets down. I know, that is what a radar detector is for.

I can really hardly wait until the January 2010 delivery date ... and for a few dry days here in Toledo in mid winter.

 

sounds like you only had about a 6 month wait? or

how long between alloation and 1/'10?