Factory Visit comfirmed.....

Congrats, Sean!

How does one arrange such a tour? Will you be seeing the inside, where the cars are under production?

 

You can't go if you don't own a Ferrari?

 

nope. And Ferrari has been cracking down on people using others VIN to get a factory tour. That is why I'm doing the 2nd best thing when I go this summer. I'm staying at the Planet Hotel right across the street from the factory. I'm also going to the Galleria Ferrari.

 

You'll have a blast. I went last September and saw the FXX being built along with the 430's a few more 575's and the 612's and also saw the new 599 doing laps around Fiorano. Just remember you can take all the pictures you like outside but no pictures inside, they even check your phones for cameras. You do get the nice Ferrari passport when you leave that gets a "Stamp" each time you visit. If you are following the directions that FNA give you just a note: They have done some road work and the directions may not be correct (at least they weren't for me), but we just followed a brand new 430 on a test drive right into the factory! It is surreal! Give yourself plenty of time around the factory as there are great stores across the street and not just the official stores either. Fiorano is right across the street also and many people set up chairs on the side of the road to get a peek at what is going on. Have fun!

 

Passport huh??

When did that start?

 

the first of several stamps in ours is dated 13 October 2004 - enough pages in one for six visits

Carol

 

Damn, that's elitist.

Seeing the way some Ferrari owners act on this board and elitist stuff like this, well, I think I'm going to look at a car other than the 360 when I'm ready to buy.

 

Actually nothing would get done if they didn't limit it to owners only. Could you imagine how many people would want a tour each day? There are always large groups of people "hanging around" the factory gates. After all the entire point of the tour is really a giant sales pitch to buy the newest offerings. I believe they only do a few tours each week, hence the invite (which you must bring) to get in.

 

Yeah so Audi is out too then since I understand their tour is by invitation only - talk about elitist - over-priced VW's whose indicators never work (or is that their drivers can't work them ?) and you can't even see them made....

 

Sean, the European section tuscanny rally is about the same time as your factory visit. Pop over to the coast for a day. July 8th to 15th

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82752&page=3

Good idea. I recommend a F430

 

Congratulations! I went to Italy in '04', the wrong year for a tour,(they were doing some major renovation work at the plant). So they gave me a Maserati tour instead. It was interesting but it still was not a Ferrari tour. I'm sure you will have a great time.

 

Now you're just being an ass...

 

So how many stamps do you need to get the free regular sized Ferrari?

 

Congrats, bruddaa!

"I got it one piece at a time, and it didn't cost me a dime..."
Johnny Cash

 

That's a great idea! don't know if you remember the "green stamp" books from many years ago or not but they were redeemable for merchandise. A specific number of stamps ought to be good for a freebie something. I'll have to ask that question when we're in Italy in about a week.

I don't think we even want to think about the cost per stamp in the little red Ferrari passport!

Carol

 

Elitist? And you say you wouldn't buy a Ferrari because of it?

Give me a freaking break. There is no rule saying factories have to let ANYONE in. And if they let everyone in, there would be a constant line of 40,000 people trying to push through the place.

Yet you sigh as if you would normally have the right to enter any factory you choose.

 

Henry, don't be so sensative..... I'm sure they would enjoy opening it up to others, but think about it. This is a small production factory and it would be too disruptive. Think of it as a special feature you get when you purchase their product. Probably, one of the reasons you are on this board.

BTW - You don't have to be wealthy to own a Ferrari. Have you seen the price of the W12?

 

Well, when I said ready to buy, I didn't mean in 30 years, but I'll be ready in a year or so. I've always adored that car. Frankly, I don't see anything wrong with letting people go on the tour. They get money from that, don't they? Whether directly or indirectly (tourist dollars around the factory), they'd benefit enormously. All it would do is create a waiting list of sorts, which would make the whole process even more exclusive.

 

I don't think they charge for the tour.

Making the "whole process even more exclusive" is something you frowned upon a few posts ago.

It is what it is.........

 

What I frown upon is not being able to go!

 

My apologies in advance for bringing this up again, but I couldn't help it. I don't mean this as a personal attack, but man you're all over the map here...

 

What's your point? Ferrari being elitist in not admitting non-owners admittance and Americans building crap cars compared to Europeans (especially exotics) are two different things.

 

I'm not saying anything bad, just that it seemed like you might want to re-phrase what you said or something. There are multiple reasons Ferrari won't admit non-customers into their factories, and they don't really have anything to do with any sort of elitism complex.

The factories aren't very expansive, and just imagine the backup and congestion that would be taking place around, and worst of all -- in the factory if the general public were allowed to be admitted. Work would be more stressful, more on-the-job accidents, build quality would invariably go down...etc.