I concur. True, demand has so outstripped supply at this point that we have 599s going for huge amounts over MSRP. I admit there's something cool about the mystique of 'the line' to get a Ferrari, but any economist would say they're not making enough cars. As far as the car pictured in the link above, I'm guessing it's a preliminary artist's conception, but I'm glad to see Ferrari going smaller. $180K ain't cheap - I'm not worried.
I know someone who for over a year now had a letter in which the dealer had him as an early spot for the new "dino".
What is the problem?? Makes perfect sense. Current price level of 430 will be applied thus the F149 will still be "hard to get". The F430 replacement will be at least 10-15-20% higher priced...as well as the others IMO With this engine the new "entry" Ferrari will still smoke almost every car on the street, both looks and performance... So it will be a highly desired car. Now F produces only 3(!) car family. 430, 599, 612. I guess there is room for one more... and going up from 6K to 10K does not mean mass production! I do not know if any of you have actually seen the car, I haven't, but I am sure that if Ferrari was willing to take this brave step , that car must be stunning!!!! On the other hand, if you want to be competitive, you need funds, really, if Ferrari sticked to the principle of producing cars only for the "really chosen ones", they would surely be out of business within the next decades...IMHO. Neeeeeedddd money to be able to develop the best cars of the world.... Best, B
Heh, I almost feel like it has. It hurts me a lot to say it. But I don't really understand the greed. If they want to generate more income they should just up the MSRP as the market has shown that they clearly could.
Can't help thinking back to the sixties when things were beyond casual at the factory. Seems we've traded Michaelangelo for Machievelli.
I completely agree with you. I think that over the past few years Montezemolo and Ferrari in general have proven themselves to be trustworthy. I have no doubts that the myth shall live on... Carlo
That could work in the short term but if the economy continues to tank here (it would cause a recession all over the World too,regardless of what anyone says about the effect of US on Global Markets) it would be much more difficult to go back in pricing. Ferrari does not do rebates (similarly to Hermes or other ultra luxury brands)and with the current pricing policy their product would not be affected even in case of very deep recession. At worst,the waiting lines would be drastically reduced but the cars would still go at list.
Incredible !!! I hope you don t buy a Ferrari model because it s expensive,but only because you like it, and you need such a technics and esthetics specifications. If the price remain the most important,every Ferrari customer will buy a 612!!! price and myth are very different,very opposate for actual cars.A lower price(could we speak of lower price at this level !!!) isn t the principal aspect in a personal decision when you choose to buy a Ferrari. I think you just should buy the model you ve need.
I'm thinking they (F) may discontinue the 612, placing the 599 (and it's successor) as the flagship even though it' not a 2+2. But...how many 612's are sold currently, indicating soft demand for the 2+2. And, the 599 seems to have achieved the ultra lux sport/GT mantle, which in my opinion it deserves. If i'm right, the new model becomes the entry level, and it will probably be priced at just about the current entry level for the F430 (as others here have speculated); then the F430 successor goes upmarket a few ticks, which would be understandable in my view; and then the 599 'assumes the throne' at the top. thoughts??
Ferrari has recently produced two cars that I wouldn't buy - the 599 and the 612 - but that doesn't mean that I love the marque any less. Did I miss something? I don't see where this car is going to be called a "Dino." It looks like this car is going to move into the price range of the F430 coupe - at the low end for new Ferraris, perhaps, but hardly "cheap!" Then the replacement for the F430 will be a bit more than the car it replaces. (This stands to reason: 360s cost more than 355s when they came out; 355s cost more than 348s, which cost more than 328s. . .) A convertible with a removable hardtop is not a bad idea; it might be more versatile than a typical targa top. I'm just not quite certain about the looks, yet. . .I'll have to wait until I can see the car in person - or at least some better photos - before I'll be able to say that I might consider buying one. But "mass-produced?" "Dilutes the brand?" "Ferrari is becoming Toyota?" Whoa, guys, take it easy! Ferrari isn't even close to approaching Porsche's production numbers (thank God!) And they're not even turning out sedans, much less SUVs. Repeat the mantra: "It will all be okay. . .It will all be okay. . ." Breathe deep. . .
In today's business world to stand still is to die. Plant expansion in Maranello shows the Ferrari has planned an increase in production for quite a while. Making more of the existing lines would threaten the demand that they've so diligently nurtured. This leaves a move slightly down market. A move with historical precedent given the iconic Dino.
This car looks like a baby 599...agreed? Slightly less performance perhaps, but a convertible hardtop and at $160K less (a fairly well equipt 08' 599 is $360K). Gotta want those cylinders a pretty badly at $40K a piece. What do you think?
He said Ferrari would never do a lower-end Ferrari ala Dino. The f149 is by no means going to be the new Dino. No. The F149 is simply going to be a fourth model and its production won't touch the rest of the lineup. In fact the 612M (or whatever they're going to call the updated version of the 612) should be coming out in the not so distant future according to Milan's Ferrari dealership (Rosso Corsa).
I do not think so. There is a huge performance difference and the 599 is the king of the line up. Many customers want the "king"...
Indeed, in many cases it has, but the article (and others) seems to hint that the entire car might be produced off site at Pininfarina's facility, ala various low production Peugeots etc.. This may have more to do with the state of things at Pininfarina than at Ferrari. I believe that they are with out any production contracts at the moment and are looking for such work.
yeah you don't even need to guess it. the F430 successor will me something like F540, still V8, maybe bi-turbo? gallardo is going exactly the same way, mind LP560
Some dealers will tell people anything - including something like this - to secure some down payment money. As for the new car - F149 - I think it's a great move. Porsche, in my opinion, is very underrated. They make amazing cars. Is it weird to see Porsche's badge on the back of an SUV everyday...? Of course. But Porsche's brilliance isn't just in its sports cars; it's also in its decision to mass produce the Cayenne and many of its other models, so they could get back on their feet and finance a hugely successful project like the Carrera GT. Ferrari makes a lot of money. But they also spend a lot of money as well. A move like this will only facilitate Ferrari's plans for the future with greater comfort and greater expectations. It's foolish to think that "exotic" and "rare" are mutually exclusive.
I am glad to see them build this car for the price and the production numbers maybe it will provide some people who can't afford to pay huge premiums over MSRP(F430/599GT) the chance to buy a new Ferrari.
It is a great move, if only because Ferrari could use a "big news" car --they haven't done anything groundbreaking since the Enzo, and that was more an image car than an actual product you could buy. (The F430 Scuderia is a lightened-up F430, but that car was a sequel to the 360, which is going on 10 years old.) The most important thing is that Ferrari get back to making a smaller, lighter sports car that generates a lot of interest among people who really don't think about Ferrari from one week to the next.
Smaller, lighter remains to be seen. I'm betting this car is actually heavier than a 430. Supposedly, lighter cars are in the future still. Dave