Collecting my new 488 from the factory.....

So it has been a long wait but it is finally over and im at Heathrow Airport just on my way out to pick my new ride up and drive it home!!

It's been an interesting experience getting to this point both ordering the car and arranging the factory collection....but now the wait is over.....

Will post some pictures over the next few days along with my experiences and thoughts.

Just wanted to also say thank you to those on here that have answered my questions etc...

This will be my second F car after a gap of more than 20 years!!!

Regards

Michael
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My brother and I have just got back from Dinner at restaurant Montana, which was an interesting experience.

The Restaurant as some will know is on an industrial estate near Fiorano test track. It is full of memorabilia which was great to see and lots of Ferrari people eating in there.

I wasn't sure what to expect with the food ....but it was very nice rustic Italian food. The funny thing is there is no menu or price list, the waiter just tells you what he has available and you make your choice...very quirky but nice, and a good experience.

Tonight we are staying in the UNA hotel in Modena .... the hotel is a good modern business hotel, and again full of Ferrari folk.....! And plenty of parking outside...

It still doesn't seem real to me that I am here now and will be picking up my car in the morning.

If I'm honest it feels a bit strange that I am in this posistion where I am fortunate enough to be picking up my new car tomorrow........

Lots more pictures to follow over the next week or so as I pick it up and drive it home....

Thank you to all for the kind words that you have posted.

Regards

Michael

 

Thank you John

Maybe meet up in Exeter soon?

Regards

Michael

 

Hi

Yes Mark is here with us!

Can't wait to get mine back and start using it!

Regards

Michael

 

Ok....so it is nearly 3 AM and I genuinely can't get to sleep........so apologies for another post on here but a few bits of info for you all:-

Ordering the Car
For those that are interested in dates and timescales, here in the UK
First went into the garage in Exeter in early September 2016
Placed the order and the £20k deposit on 28th September 2016
Was originally expecting my car late July 2017
Car was built about 3-4 weeks ago now and had I had a dealer delivery could have had the car approx 20th October in UK
I really wanted the factory collection so after some faffing around with that I got a date for tomorrow 9th November
I have not yet had any production photos.....apparently they are late coming through at present

Factory Collection
What do you get and what is involved.....
First of all it is not cheap....PM me if you want more info on that...
Car is registered in the UK the day before collection and we take a set of plates and the registration document out with us.
Fly out the day before- at own expense
Hotel the night before - at own expense
Dinner last night at Ristorante Montana- courtesey of the dealership
9.55 am Today arrive at the factory for the unveiling and handover
An official photographer follows you for the day to take photos and you then get an album sent through with photos of the whole day
12.30 - Lunch at cavalino Ristorante - courtesey of the dealer
2pm - Tour of the factory just myself and My brother the photographer and the dealer
4.30 - Finish the tour and drive the car out of the factory gates! - That is the iconic bit for me and what it is all about...

Driving Home
We plan to be back in the uk approximately next Friday but have a bit of flex in that, and the things that we want to try and fit in on route in no particular order are...

Visit to Pagani - booked that online the other day
Visit to a Balsamic Vinegar Acetia- done these before they are very good and would recommend it - again booked online last week
Visits to a Parmigiano factory- booked that online
Go to see a friend of mine and stay with him a couple nights in Mennagio on lake Como
Go into milan for a day and have a walk around the shops ...10 Corsa Como and Eataly are 2 of my favourites
Go to the schilthorn mountain and visit restaurant Piz Gloria ( the James Bond restaurant) not been there before and got lucky booked to go on the last day before they close for there 2 week maintenance
Visit CERN near Geneva...so this was the only thing I could not get booked online the tours are almost impossible to book unlesss you sit on your computer the minute they are released....So we are just going to the visitor centre which in itself is Kool, unless anyone on here knows a way I can get booked on a tour????
If the passes,are open and not covered in snow then hopefully Furka/grimsel/Gottard passes - and yes we will be very careful as it will be cold if not snow and ice and the tyres will be like blocks of wood! And yep got the mandatory snow chains!

Then need to work our way back through France and get the ferry back from either Dieppe or Calais.... to either Newhaven or Dover. I'm not a fan of the tunnel and would only use that as a last resort....

Then pray I have not got to many stone chips on the car as it goes in for PPF on the Monday I'm back home in the UK!

If anyone has any other ideas of Kool things to do on the way back let me know....

I did toy with the idea of taking my brother to Venice but.....Was a little nervous about leaving the car at Garage San Marco (used it before and probably the best one) as you have to leave them the key it is mandatory. Or could have taken the car on the ferry to Lido and stayed there and got the water bus over each day but I decided it was to much hassle and I'm not the biggest fan of Venice but would have been more for my brother as he has not been to Italy before...

Ok I think I need to try and get some sleep now......

Regards

Michael

 

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Not long now....

Just going in to the factory!

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