Maranello Replacement Timing

"I'm told that there will be a 575 spyder at Monterey."

Tough choice, buy the spyder or wait for the successor? Are you guys interested in the spyder? I'd love to have a topless FCar, but don't want to give up the Stradale until (and if) there is a 430 Stradale.

 

is it possible that the "430" that is seen in the photos could actually be a return to a mid-engine 12 cylinder? keep in mind, the "long wheel base 348" mules that later turned out to be something much different (keeping in mind that when these mules appeared, the 348 was long out of production).

as much as i think a 360 restyle is coming, doody is right. the maranello sales are very slow. you can buy a new car on the showroom, while 360's still require a wait.

is it possible that the wider rear end is due to the changes that would be required to return to the mid-enigine layout? the pictures show a substantial overhang (compared to modern cars) in the coachwork compared to the rear tires. one can never tell, but this would be a good way for ferrari to through people off, if nothing else.

 

From Forbes

Ferrari will replace the coupe that bridges the 360 and 612, the mid-level 575M Maranello, in 2007 or 2008. The overhauled car is under development (temporarily named "F141") and will use an adaptation of the Enzo Ferrari supercar's V-12. Look for the 575M replacement at an auto show in 2007. The company will wait five or six years before building another Enzo-like supercar.

http://www.forbes.com/2004/03/22/cx_dl_0322feat_print.html

 

2007? That's too much time. I see no reason why these newer releases won't occur in the same order as the 456, 550, and 360. I predict a late 2004, early 2005 debut at the shows, with dealer arrival in Fall 2005. The only snafu could be the rumored retractable hard-top, which may take more time to develop. But all the pieces are there: from the Enzo engine which it definitely needs, to the mid-front, aluminum frame from the 612. I believe they saved money and time by refining the 575's engine for the 612, instead of putting the Enzo engine in it. Using the 575 engine instead of the Enzo's will also add more prestige, power and exclusivity to the 575 replacement. It should be an astounding machine.

The 550 has been around since 1997 or 1998. Eight years is plenty of time to develop a replacement.

Forza,


Cavallini

 

True, but the competition is much sharper than it was with those earlier models. In fact, except for Lamborghini, it could be argued that there was no competition, in looks or performance. Today, however, there's the Vanquish and the DB9, the SL 55, Lambo in a way, even Ford's retro GT40 and the Carrera GT are in the same range.

Although I would never buy any of those instead of a 575, they are compelling alternatives. I think the recent GTC option is Ferrari's acknowledgement that the competition is much stiffer than it was even in 1997 when the 550 set the standard for high-performance GTs.

Your thoughts...

 

I put a firm cash deposit for whatever replaces the 575M on July 7th 2002.
I'm OK with waiting until whenever it comes out.

As of two months ago, I am the only one to have actually put cash down at that dealership, although they have had a lot of inquiries.

 

I'll change my order from 612 to 575 replacement ,too.

 

While anyone is free to do whatever he/she wants with his/her money, I think that Ferrari will be able to treat its customers with complacent arrogance for a long time to come if said customers are willing to put money down on something they have not seen, furtherless driven, and which they don't even know the delivery date or features of.

If you factor in the 'bonus' quality gripes on early production models, you've got to be really ... brave. Tough luck for the average reasonable dude.

Doing this on a 430 is candid, but on the Maranello replacement, pfew ... Did anyone put already money down on the 430's replacement ?

Btw, has anyone ever heard of Ferrari conducting extreme reliability testing under extreme temperatures in north Africa or Scandinavia, like Porsche does ? Sometimes get the feeling that Ferrari's validation base is Maranello and surroundings. Have mules been spotted on proving grounds which are a bit more worst case/real world than Fiorano ?

 

I’ll try to explain my logic, or whatever passes for my rationalization.
It seem that every time I find out about a new model that looks interesting when asking about it at a dealership I get told “There’s a two year waiting list, and no, you can’t have a test drive”

I decided to preempt that and by doing so I now have several options when the car becomes available.

I am aware that all dealers have preferred customers, and I might not get one of the very first deliveries, but I should get an early one.

I can take the car if I like it.
I can flip it if the premium warrants and buy a used 575M, a car I really like and would be happy with.
I can flip it, keep the 355, and pocket the profit
I can sell my place in line (I don’t know if that’s possible, but I have heard of it being done)
I can transfer the deposit to another car of my choice.
I can get my deposit back in full, and all I have lost is interest on that amount for four or five years.
I don’t really see much of a down side other than lost of use of the funds for awhile which hasn’t affected my lifestyle in any appreciable way.

BTW, I did the same thing on a 2001 CL55, when I saw the early press releases I picked up my deposit. Glad I did now

 

Dave: interresting that they let you put down a deposit. Brad told me nothing until a car is announced. Standard typical response, but then I'm not someone like Alfred, Cliff, etc. who has 30 cars.

I may sit this one on the sidelines, expect the usual depreciation / bugs, and pick one up later on.

--Dan

 

Hopefully the only bugs will be on the windshield.

 

Dave,

Well, you may be right. In moment of hopfully fliting idiocy, I was confused and referred to the 575 replacement, not the drop-top.

--Dan