Living with a Ferrari?

Fcars became really reliable over the past 5 years, starting with the F430.
The FF was designed to be an everyday car, comfortable, 4 seats (real ones), big boot etcetc
if you were considering anything from a F360/575 backwards, I would tell you to probably think twice. but since we are talking about the FF, go for it! It is an all-weather car, very reliable and practical, and you are probably going to get a good deal, since they are not flying off the showrooms and the new F12 is out.

My uncle drives his FF everyday, he has done about 23.000KM in BRAZIL, and here the car costs 1.5M$.

The car has been perfect until now, just needs regular service and his stereo/ipodconection/passenger side display went out once, but was a quick/cheap fix.

BTW, the closest dealer from where we live is in Sao Paulo, around 3.000km from our city. It's a 3 day drive.

He had a California as a DD before the FF, also, no problems at all!

His Range Rover had more issues than the Cali.

I own an F355 B, now that's another issue... Lol

 

I'm sorry. I thought this thread was: Living IN a Ferrari.

Remember, you can live in a car but you can't drive a house.

 

I'll probably catch some flack for this but,
The FF is easily the best everyday car Ferrari makes. Note that I said "everyday car", not GT, not track car, not weekend flyer, just everyday car.
It might not sell the greatest because it's a Ferrari and people want "Holy Crap!" factor. But make no mistake, if I had a choice of ANY car to take for a long trip? This would be the one. It's incredibly comfortable. It's fast as heck and lots of fun but remains tame and cozy if you want it as well. It cruises extremely quietly and yet if you put the pedal down it shows it's character. Not just in speed (hell a panamera will do that) but in that Ferrari grunt and push that we all know. Shooting brake style might not be for everyone but when you put skiis in the back and take the 4wd FF up to the slopes, you'll be laughing the whole time.
It's probably one of the more unloved Ferrari because people want the spice and hair on fire thing. That being said, it's also their best car.
I wouldn't worry about reliability as I've never had anything go wrong with them. In fact, when something needed an adjustment (software I think) they came and picked it up in an enclosed truck and then dropped it off the same way. Talk to your dealer and I'm sure they will arrange something.
For reference, I've got/had a 550, 458, 458 spyder, 599, FF, California, F430 Spyder and a bunch of other non Ferrari.

 

John, I drive my daughter to high school every day, about 25 minutes each way. There has not been a morning where I go out and start it and my heart pounds and my smile explodes as I realize how special the FF is and how lucky I am! Your description of starting it in the dealership is exactly how I feel every day. I can hardly add to all of the other previous posts. My dealer is 125 miles away, about 2 hours 15 minutes drive. I take it there for oil changes and they come to pick it up when warranty service is needed, and that has only happened once about oil change time for the hot oil smell I sometimes get out of the engine compartment. Knowing the reliability of modern Ferrari's I would feel just as comfortable being three times the distance. 12,000 in my FF, 29,000 in a Cali and 16,000 in my latest Cali all have been no big deal.

Rick

 

Honestly, the biggest challenges to living with them are three fold

1) distance to your dealer. The farther away, the more a PITA.

2) getting used to your dealer. Don't expect the Lexus treatment. $300 grand and no free cup of coffee, and don't expect a loaner car either.

3) getting use to people asking you about it, parking next to it, etc. If you want a good daily driver, get a neutral color that won't shout it. Just less hassle in dealing with the public. Parallel parking in the city is a pain.

Otherwise... go for it!

 

So if I spend $50K I can get treated well but if I spend $300K I get treated like I'm doing THEM a favor?

Something's wrong with that picture.

 

Well, I could forgo the free cup of coffee for owning and driving something I really like.

I think Ferrari has never really been a Daily Driver kind of company. The California is probably their first real attempt. It's a different business model as most F car owners already have 3 other cars and don't need a loaner. Most people drop them off and then walk away for a week or two. Let's face it... most of Fcars aren't driven more than 3,000 miles a year. That's far from being an everyday DD.

I'm not excusing it but I think they are in transition as they push for lower maintenance costs and service included in the price.

 

You should ask for a loaner one day just for kicks and see what they say. You never know, they might surprise you.

 

I will add that "The Mayors" dealer experience is quite different from mine, so don't take that as the final word. Check out your dealer, and get to know them, and figure that part out for yourself. nobody in our dealership has ever failed to offer water, coffee, espresso, soft drinks, rides to or from the dealership, or any end of services I never expect any car dealer to offer. We love our dealer and would never trade a lexus dealer for them. But your mileage will vary... Make the connection and work that out for yourself.

As for the car: most flawless and easy to live with Ferrari we've owned in 13 years and seven Ferraris starting with the early 456 and including one old timer (330GTC). For long drives, its the ultimate car. Check out my write up of one of our recent drives at our website Seattle to Santa Fe in the Red Snowmobile. Just a sampling of the fun and trouble-free driving we've had with it.

As for styling, we love it. Never had a disparaging remark form others, except other so-called Ferrari lovers. We find them to be most problematic. But in the real world, people look at it and ask what it is, then are fairly far across the board about their feelings, but we've never heard harsh remarks from others outside those who proclaim to be Ferrari fanatics. Real world people find it curious, and amazing that a Ferrari could go where SUVs dare not.
Its a great car, and I think from your description of your needs and expectations, you will be beyond pleased if you choose to join the FF-owner/user club.

 

Don't hesitate John. I won't cover as many miles in mine as Rick, probably 9K in the year, but can attest to the FF's reliability, comfort and most of all fun factor. The car really is fantastic as a DD. It will do whatever you ask of it and a whole lot more. I can't imagine how Ferrari will ever better it. It looks amazing in the flesh, sounds even better, and again, as Rick has said, it will never fail to put a smile on your face! The more you drive this car, the better it gets. Anyone who owns one of these truly love it!

 

Actually, what they will do is call enterprise.

 

For me, it's not a big deal. But for some who think they buy a car 4 times what a Lexus costs and expected it to be like a Lexus DD-- it's something you have to get used to.

 

I have a California for a daily driver and it has not had to go back to the dealer for anything but the annual maintenance and that takes one day . I call the dealer they send someone to pick it up ..Normallyy I can get the trip for either no charge or I pay one way and they send it back for free. THis is by enclosed carrier. I have been treated very well by the dealer the car has been great and I think the FF is a great car although I did not buy one.(yet).In my case I live 200 miles away from the dealer so I am a free agent (can buy from any dealer ). I have 2 dealers both the same distance away . I have dealt with both and they both seem very nice (I have other ferraris).. Now don't expect a loaner car or a discount but for me getting the work done and keeping the car on the road is my main goal.

 

I have had the FF for about 3 months. I had a 575 some years ago. The difference from a driveability perspective is night and day. The FF is a car that you can use whenever you want to - even if it is commuting in rush hour traffic, in snow or in rain - the only question is whether you want to. Long drives - no problem.

With respect to dealership experience, mine has been excellent - friendly, helpful and yes loaners (just not Ferraris).

 

I guess your mileage may vary. I have nothing but great things to say about my dealer. They treat me incredibly well and are some of the nicest guys I've ever met. In the past they've always had a loaner car for me that I've always turned down. I have literally never had a bad experience and I'm 12 cars in.
Oh, and as an example of the FF as a daily? I coach baseball and fit all the gear for the team in the back along with my kids and snacks.

 

I guess you guys aren't understanding what I said. It's not a question of the staff being cold or them not doing good work. It's the shock of going from a Lexus dealer to a Ferrari dealer in the perks dept.

I go to my BMW dealer and there's a waiting room full of sofa's and comfortable chairs, big flat screen TV's, premium coffee and danish, free Wi Fi, etc.

It's stuff like this that is the "shock" of living with a Ferrari. You would expect something greater but reality is quite different. For a lot of people who move from BMW, Mercedes, or Lexus to Ferrari as a DD, it's a surprise and something to get used to. Your first reaction is "huh?".

Again, I think it's because most F cars are not DD's. The California and the FF are moving more in that direction and things may change.

 

I must also add on the dealer perspective that mine also lets me go back with the mechanic and chat with him while he works on the car. Over the years I have put big block engines in cars myself, changed and overhauled transmissions, assisted on a stock car with maintenance, changed inductions systems, etc. all before I was 18 before I got into electronics and software so that mechanical stuff still REALLY interests me. I learn a lot from Dan while he does his magic on the car. MAG in Columbus, Ohio is really easy to deal with. I have visited Winn in Las Vegas, showing my Ferrari Club of America card and they treated me like royalty too, same with the dealer in Chicago and Detroit, and now that I remember Seattle too although that one I was visiting to sell my software to ... and in the middle of the sales pitch someone drove a 12 cylinder Ferrari into their basement maintenance area, right under the office we met in and I FELL IN LOVE, heart pounding from that beautiful V12 sound. Right then I knew I just had to have one. It took a few years but once you hear the sound of a Ferrari V12 nothing else will do.

Rick