Ferrari Certified vs. PPI

ALWAYS get a PPI.

 

In order to call it certified the dealer will perform an inspection. And, in some, but not all cases, will purchase an extended warranty (powercube, power or powertrain, depending upon which the car is eligible for). Clear as mud? Okay, we keep going...


...but, that inspection is performed by the selling dealer. So....many people don't consider that an unbiased opinion ;-)

 

+100

 

It's still a used car, so it's still buyer beware. I would still get a PPI, mainly to get things evaluated that aren't checked during a dealer inspection for certification purposes. I don't know exactly what they do for the certification, but it seems doubtful that compression and leak down testing are a part of that process.

On the other hand, my car's recent CEL and Slow Down light were traced to a couple of loose spark plugs and loose ignition coils (all on the same bank). So, AFAIK, the only people to touch the plugs since the car left the factory were the guys who did the PPI (since compression testing involves removing the plugs - guess they forgot about the putting them back part). Now I suppose there are other explanations for these things coming loose, but I'm just sayin'..... Thankfully it was easily corrected and all is well.

 

I've looked at 2 Ferrari CPO PPI's in the past few months and both had compression tests included.

They don't check for things like alignment, etc. But overall a fairly comprehensive look at the mechanicals, exterior, interior condition. No matter what, it is a biased one.

 

Is it the policy of Ferrari Dealers to NOT allow independent PPI's?

 

A large portion of cars offered at Ferrari dealerships is under consigment, so it should be up to the car owner whether an independent PPI is possible. Either way, declining an independent PPI is a clear sign you can look elsewhere.

 

I agree with Anzer. In my experience, the vast majority of used cars for sale at Ferrari Dealerships are on consignment and the decision on an independent PPI should be up to the car owner. I wonder if anyone has been refused an independent PPI by a Ferrari Dealer?

 

The certification is performed by the technicians at the selling dealer. Often the Tech's aren't paid enough time to encourage them to really dig in and care about how thorough the inspection is.

They'll just comb over the basics and call it done.

Even if that's not the case a PPI is like insurance, it's just not worth assuming everything is perfect.

 

Absolutely true. I made that mistake. DO NOT perform a PPI on a car out of warranty at a dealer associated with the car or the owner. If a dealer owns the car and doesn't allow the car to leave the dealership for a PPI, and doesn't want to provide some kind of written guarantee (even 30 days) that car has no problems based on their PPI, look elsewhere. Good luck.

 

When I bought my car last October, I asked the dealer (CNC Motors, Upland, CA) to take the car to the nearest Ferrari dealership for a PPI. They took it to Ferrari of Orange County and I received a "Service Clinic Inspection Certificate." Is this the same thing as a PPI?

 

From what I hear, it is not the same as a thorough PPI.

 

I called the service manager and he confirmed what you said (a Service Clinic Inspection Certificate, for $600, is not the same thing as a PPI)

He also said that most Ferrari Dealers won't perform a PPI which (apparently) includes some kind of guarantee.

BTW: I'm surprised at how little I got for $600.

 

Get an indy PPI, if everything checks out OK, have the AD do 101 pt. inspect, cert and power warranty the car for total confidence and peace of mind. This is what I did and I feel as though I'm driving a brand new car.

 

Some Ferrari Dealers will not do a PPI. But they will also not even allow an independent PPI to be done on a consigned used car.