Evolutionary vs. Revolutionary

A couple of thoughts...

1. If you get into the latest technology, you're always going to get killed on depreciation and be buying into some very expensive and complicated hardware. But, if you want to cut your 0-60 times from 4.2 sec, say, to 3.8 sec, that's the price you pay. Modern cars are almost never going to be collectible or retain value due to the inherent obsolescence of their electronics.

If you have any interest in investment, you need to go with the blue chip stuff from the Enzo era when the cars were simple, handbuilt and rare (and, of course, slow and not all that easy to drive...)

My philosophy regarding cars is to lease the new and own the classic. Financially, it tends to be the best approach.

2. When you talk about sports cars, the definition is slippery. Probably almost everyone would call the Dino 246 a sports car. Most people would call the F430 a sports car, although IMHO it's probably bigger than a sports car would be. A smaller number would classify the California as one, because it is focused on luxury, with a whiff of practicality, and was not designed for the track -- consider it a more expensive Merc SL/Lexus SC430. If you drive one and like it, then go for it. But if you're a hardcore sports car enthusiast you might want something like a Porsche 997 GT3 RS, or whatever the lightweight 458 will be called.

3. A Corvette is a Corvette. They're very good now (if you don't study the rental car-level interiors...) and a good value, but they are everywhere, and Ferrari does offer something more distinctive. Even a common, regular production Ferrari (360, F430, California) is rare compared to a Corvette, so you have to decide if you want to satisfy the individuality itch as much as the technology one.

 

the purist is having his machismo challanged by the F1 transmissions and comfortable GT configuations. It is a loss of control and power, flipping paddles with finger tips, making resultant gear changes superior (faster) than anyone can do while wrestling with the gear change lever. It also is part nostalgia, the end of the era of do it yourself gear changes.
A GT friendly Ferrari suffers the same fate from the purist, creature features, soften the rawness of the brut. The GT friendlier models do not extract the level of performance of the more trackable cars, losing some bragging rights to claim being the fastest and most powerful. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter which Ferrari one picks, they will have a car that is superior to all others. Not everyone is into extracting 10/10ths every time we drive. It doesn't matter what choise of model has been, it is a Ferrari.

 

If I had an F1 trans I'd probably leave it in auto mode most of the time. I'd own the Cali in a heartbeat. All my vehicles right now are manual transmission and I enjoy them, but I like to use my Ferrari every day and I want out of it what I want out of it. When you are rolling down the highway the only person that needs to be happy and comfortable is you. My wifes car is a dual clutch VW. I've put it in manual once in the three years we've owned it. My Ferrari is a pleasure car not a race car and I've gotten most of the hot rodding on the street out of my system so I think an F1 would fit my lifestyle at this time. Although I do like the interior of the Maserati better. I must be getting old

I can see that several years into the future a manual transmission will not be a car people drive for any real distances. The dual clutches are fast becoming superior and preferred. Even Honda with a regular auto is getting better fuel economy out of it than the manual. Crazy times.

At least motorcycles are staying with the manual trans as best I can tell.

 

Check out the Murci Roadster. Might be a fun alternative until your 458 arrives.

 

The way I see it, there will always be a market for traditional F1 transmissions. Similarly to how there is still demand for traditional manuals even though the F1 is superior as far as performance and efficiency so I wouldn't let that deter you from picking a 599 over a California.

If the Cali checks all the right boxes for you (looks, 4 seats, dual clutch, direct injection, convertible, etc.), then it would make sense to go with that over a 599. Used Cali prices have held up fairly well. As for people calling it a chick car, they're just angry that Ferrari stopped making the 308 and 355. Who cares what they think, the Cali is a great car and you can't go wrong with it or a 599.

 

I was speaking with one of the guys at Ferrari of Atlanta about the dual clutch. He said he went to a 458 Tech Briefing put on by the factory. The question of how long the dual clutch would last was asked and the answer was, "for the life of the car". Then he and I debated what Ferrari meant by "life of the car". Their view of "life of the car" and ours may be very different. Interesting statement none the less.

 

in an interview the pres of Ferrari calls the Cali configuration is 2 + 1 ( and then sort of... as a last resort ) He agrees the space is very limited

 

Bob,
I say you go for the Cali. Nothing to be ashamed of. I had the privilege of driving one of the first ones delivered to the area, and I was very impressed. The Cali fits most of the criteria you are looking for. It blends in, offers a fun driving experience, and won't be obsolete for at least a few more years.
I have a friend who uses his as a DD, and IMHO, that's exactly what it was meant for. Pick up a used one and enjoy driving it as intended till your 458 is ready.

 

The dual clutch transmission is intended to last for the life of the car. That being said, there are still instances of transmission failures due to gremlins of some sort. Could be very expensive out of warranty if the only way to fix is to replace the entire unit.