Factory Visit!!

congrats. that has been one of my dreams for a long time now.

 

I envy you. I plan on making the trip next year.

 

It's not a competition or anything. All that you have to do is call your dealer and give them your VIN # and three dates that would work and they'll do the rest. It's what we in the SAT profession call "a sure thing." If you want a factory tour just call and give them that information and you can go too.

EDIT: From what I've been told by those who've been (I may go this year when I'm in Spain for the Running of the Bulls) the owners factory tour is awesome and incredible but the regular factory visit (they won't let non-owners tour the factory) is pretty boring (if you can believe that). Supposedly it is only worth it if you get the factory tour (although I find that truly hard to believe).

 

I plan to go to Italy the next year, and as a gearhead I really want to make all the factory visits I can : Pagani, Lamborghini, Maserati and ofcourse Ferrari.
However - and unfortunatly - I do not own a car by any of those brands. Is the factory tour only available to owners ?
How can I book them in advance ?

 

We've been on this tour before - it's wonderful. The Planet Hotel is a great place - we had the ultimate room there a loft room on the top floor with a balcony that overlooked the factory entrance, race division and you could see cars running at Fiorano. The price is extremely reasonable for the benefits derived from this owners only tour. We've done the free dealer arranged tour also and this one you will be taking is definitely tops. Don't know where you live but your best best is to fly into BLQ (Bologona) and rent a car. Milan Milpensa (MXP) is a second choice if you can't get into BLQ. We've been to Maranello many times and always enjoy each trip (we're headed back in April for our annual pilgrimage to the San Marino GP). We always top the evening off in Maranello at the Maranello Cafe (in the square by the Domus) - for expresso - great little place where the local go.

How long are you going to be there?

Carol

Dom - you might consider filling out at least part of your profile.

Rockforte - Ferrari = Owner's only - sorry

 

The factory tour, right ? Galleria Ferrari is open to all, I assume ?
And what about the other factories/museums?

thanks

 

Have lunch at the Ristorante accross the road from the Factory gate, (on the opposite corner from the Planet Hotel). Lots of fantastic memoribilia there from all the drivers. There are about 20 helmets hanging in the bar, from Schumy, Barrichello, Arnoux, Berger, Mansell etc. Also take a sticker from your local Ferrari Club and add to the collection on the door.

Unfortunately no cameras in the factory but you wont forget what you see!

Galleria Ferrari is also very cool, you can get up close and personal to iconic cars. Just down the road from the factory.

Also watched through the fence as they tested a new 430 around Fiorano

 

OOP'S my error - I assumed that you were taking the tour as advertised on 7 & 8 March - not the "freebie" factory tour. I think that's the one we had - it's a corner room. We have Ferrari friends from London we are meeting in April in Maranello, they found a really neat place to stay in Maranello - the link is on the computer email at home (I am at work now) - can furnish that too - photos are really neat.

Here's part of what I posted in another thread where a kid was going on a trip to Italy with parents this summer:

"Rome is a neat place, crazy drivers at the round-abouts and loads of history lessons - I can't really provide much current info as my time spent in Rome was in 1980. We normally make two trips to Italy a year which are car related, one of which is attending the San Marino GP, thus our time is spent in the Maranello/Imola area. We include a day to go to San Marino - lovely little country, drive to the top and go through the towers - duty free shopping, lots of stores that sell models, fantastic views . . .the Maranello Rosso Museum is on the left on the road into town not far before the "gates" - cars with impressive histories/nice exhibits/lots of history relative to Enzo and Ferrari automobiles - well worth the visit. We have visited the Galleria in Maranello many, many times and with the new renovation the exhibits/exhibit area is very nice - well worth your time. If you go to Imola, you sometimes see 360's running on the track, the shop is usually open (across from the pit area) - small - but neat shirts, etc., you can walk to the Senna Memorial. As you come into Maranello from Modena, after the last round-about, Montana will be on your right, just off the road - great restaurant, delicious food. Just past Montana, you can park along the road, go to the fence, go between the trees and watch the cars running at Fiorano (there's some other great spots too). If you turn left at the intersection just prior to the Ferrari Store and follow that road (it runs alongside the factory), it will take you to a round-about with an enormous prancing horse statue and the main entrance/windtunnel. Il Cavallino normally doesn't open for dinner until 19.30; Montana is usually 19.00. da William is also a good place to eat ($$$). You might consider spending an overnight at Maranello - we stay at the Best Western Domus in town. Late night cafe latte at the Maranello Cafe (in the square by the Domus) is a great way to top off a wonderful day. Modena is a great place too. A statue that Pierro Ferrari placed in honor of his father is awesome - so much history and small details from all angles - there's one in Maranello as well as just across from the Domus. If you get further afield, go to Milan and the Alfa Romeo Museum. Just be sure to have toll money! We always rent a car and getting around is very easy."

Hope some of this helps you with your planning. Depending on arrival time into Maranello on Thursday - definitely recommend Montana for dinner; you can go to Il Cavallino for lunch on Friday.

Again, sorry for the mix-up on the "factory tour".

Ciao,
Carol

 

Galleria Ferrari is open to all - other museums - heartily recommend Maranello Rosso in San Marino - if you are interested in Ferrari history (Enzo and the cars) this is the place to go. There's also an Abarth museum there too. There's the Alfa Romeo museum just outside Milan.

www.maranellorosso.com

Have fun,
Carol

 

Thannks alot Carol, that Abarth museum isn't it only by appointement?

 

I don't recall it being by appointment. We were last there in April '05 and visited only the Ferrari exhibit due to time constraints. The two museums are separate and admission to one did not include admission to the other. For some reason, I'm tending to remember that the Abarth museum was a guided tour type of thing (which the Ferrari museum is not) but I've certainly slept since then and could very easily be mistaken. An e-mail inquiry might be a good idea just to make sure. The Ferrari part of the museum definitely worth a visit. The 250GTO is worth the price of admission all by itself. The cars are on the first floor and the second floor is dedicated to historical materials. We tend to spend as much time looking through them as we do the cars. Enjoy your trip and be sure to take lots of pictures.
Ciao,
John

 

You mentioned that all you have to do is call your dealer do you have to be an original owner or just an owner? I'm actually a 4th owner?

 

I think an owner is an owner. At least I hope so, because I'm the 3rd owner of my car. It will be 2 more years before I do the factory tour, can't wait.

 

As Doug328 said, "an owner is an owner." And something else that's interesting: I have had a fairly decently sized deposit on an F430 manual coupe at my dealer (since 2003). I asked if my standing order for the F430 would get me into the factory tour. They said that they need the VIN of the Ferrari that I own now (which they have on file anyway). So I guess that you really need to be an owner and an owner is an owner in their eyes.

 

I know this may sound like a stupid question but I'm new here but I assume thet there is also a waiting list for the factory tour as well.If so I'd better make my apointment as well.It sounds incredable! Can't wait!

 

no wait list that I know of - just have you local Ferrari dealer arrange it for you (need your VIN), tell them when you plan to be there (that's what we did and of course that year Bernie changed the date for the San Marino GP so we had our date adjusted accordingly) - unless of course, you opt to take the Owner's tour which is a set date - current one is 7-8 March (only available thru the Owner's Site) and it's very reasonably priced. Been on that before, highly recommend it.

Carol

 

There is an organised tour that takes in practically every car orientated place of interest in the Modena/Maranello area.
The 5th (?) post on this link is by a guy who went on the tour. It gives an exhaustive description of the places that were visited - I doubt if there is much else to see or visit.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=247763&f=63&h=0

 

Greetings Dom

Sounds like you are really enjoying yourself! Have a great day exploring the area as there's certainly lots to see and do. We're headed to Maranello the 8th of April and again on the 19th of April.

Carol

 

If you're going to go to Rome, DON'T skip a night there. It's an awesome city and there are loads of things to do at night! You have your choice of excellent nightlife in all corners of Rome, not to mention right downtown along the banks of the Tiber. I was there with the g/f a couple years ago and it easily ranks among my favorite cities that I've seen in Europe.

Cheers,
Aaron
'75 GT4 (sold)
'82 GTSi