dis is a test

I interrupt the Cali bashing with some good news. My new California arrived in NJ today and I should take delivery in a week or so. I hope to be able to give some feedback soon regarding driving impressions and overall satisfaction.

 

Exterior: Rosso Corsa
Interior: Crema (wanted to be a little different than the traditional beige)
Shields
Red Callipers
Magnaride (initially I was going to pass but decided it may be worthwhile in the long run)
20" Diamond Wheels
Front Parking Sensors
Black seat piping
Center console in Crema

I passed on the electric seats (thought they were priced too high). I also considered the Challenge seats but really liked the standard seats.

 

My dealer told me two other Cali's that were held up for some reason are on that ship and it is causing a backup in processing. Maybe Ferrari decided to complete a big production run before vacation.

 

She has arrived at Algar. Could be ready by this time tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

 

I apologize in advance for the quality. It is raining in Philly and the car was in the wash bay when I arrived. I could not get a good angle to do the car justice. I plan to take delivery on Monday so hopefully I will have some better pics. BTW, the interior color is Sabbia, not Crema.
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Picked her up late today. Here are a couple more pics.

The ride home was fantastic!!! If you haven't driven this car you owe it to yourself to take a test drive. I will post more details later but I can already tell this will be one fantastic car.
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Yes it is. I graduated many years ago and have since moved to PA. I really miss NC.

 

Some background first: This is my first F-car so my point of reference will be my '03 SL. Also I do not consider myself a driving expert, more a guy that loves cars and enjoys driving. With that said here are some impressions based on about 2 hours of driving:

Cosmetic Issues: The launch control button that was in the demo car has been replaced with a SP button. I asked the dealer about this and he theorized it may have something to do with "the launch name may have been too aggressive". It performs the same but it is now incognito. One area to keep an eye on will be the rear deck where the hard top rests when closed. When open you will notice faint lines from the top. I had a clear coat applied to my front bumper so the guy put a strip along that point to protect the paint. It will be interesting to see if that becomes an issue down the road.

The overall finish looked good. It was late in the day and I had to take off so I may notice more issues when I have time to really go over it in detail. But I can say I did not notice any orange peel or other finish issues.

Freebees: Another thread mentioned you are lucky to receive a key FOB at the purchase. With the Cali you recieve a car cover (which includes seat covers as well) along with a battery "conditioner". The dealer did throw in 2 key FOBs and a hat.

Driving: The first thing that really hits you with this car (other than the fantastic sound) is the solid feel. From the wrap around seats to the firm, aggressive ride (I have the Manaride option and it was set on Sport) you feel like you are in a vault. Riding over large potholes or RR tracks do not seem to loosen up the body integrity. You have an overall sense of security that this car can "take a punch". I loved my SL but I was always concerned what would happen if I hit a pothole too hard.
As has been written on this site before, the dual clutch is amazing. I really "laid the coal on" and let the rpm's rev up before I changed gears and the "pop" you hear from the clutch is awesome. That little bump you feel is like you are letting go of a caged lion. The thrust (torque?) seems to laying in wait for you to turn it loose.
I drove about 20 miles on a crowded interstate after purchase and the car just ate up the road with little effort. I couldn't really stretch its legs, but even at "low" speeds the car is fun to drive. I didn't play with the radio but it seems to be rather intuitive and should not be a problem to use.

Hope this can give you a little perspective on what to expect. I will post more info as I put on more miles. So far so good.