How reliable is the dual clutch transmission?

I can't help on the question of wear, but the difference in smoothness is night and day. I had a Maserati QP and drove a 599 with the old F1--unless you are extremely careful, or drive it all out, it feels as clunky as teaching your teenager to drive a manual shift for the first time. The minute I test drove a Cali I was completely sold on the dual clutch.

 

The Ferrari DCT is a wet clutch system. Theoretically, it never wears out and needs no maintenance for the life of the car.

Early boxes had reliability issues.

 

Every generation creates evolution. The Cali weighs 600lbs more than the 430 but the 0-60 times are identical. This due to the DCT shifting at 20 ms vs the 430 100+ ms. No jerking as the next gear engages. Some say too refined and even the 458 gets the critics talking. That shift lag might be the "aggressive" feel you experience as your head goes back and forth.

The 430 is more "raw" and perhaps more engaging with the mid engine sound.

But it fits my life style, drive my kid to school everyday in the back ( looking at parents opening the door of the mini van while I pull up is priceless ) Hard top roof was also a must for me.

This is not an entry level Ferrari, a BMW 1 series is, this is just a Ferrari aimed at a different client.

Hope that helps confuse your decision

 

Saw a brand new spider in the FoW bay a couple months ago with a dead dct, 300mi.

 

Just curious, how was it "dead?"

 

Didn't MalibuGuy go through 3 or 4 transmissions? But I think that's been fixed.

The Cali engine is basically the same as the 430's, so it should have about the same good reliability.

 

29,000 miles in my first Cali, 18,000 in my second, the transmission and clutches are perfect. Ground clearance is quite good. I have not hit any curbs with the second one. Pulling into a parking space I look for the curb to barely begin to appear under the driver's outside mirror then stop. But on the road I have never had any problem, even driving them in the winter .

Rick

 

The Cali can be quiet when driving through the neighborhood but opens up when asked to. The front clearance is fine - I'm careful, but no need to completely stop and drive at diagonals at most grade changes.

 

+1. The bumper and splitter clear most standard parking lot curbs, too (just barely, but for me that's a huge advantage), where a 360 or 430 would surely hit them. Some people lower their Californias for looks, but many more have resisted doing that so as not to destroy functionality (lowering the car also reduces suspension travel).

Ferrari also really got the exhaust sound right. I don't feel the need for a Tubi or Capristo, though the clips of both sound great, too.

 

Was still being diagnosed.

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