My Experience with a California T

azlin75 · Nov 5, 2018

I have no experience with the 458, though it was originally what I hoped to rent the last vacation I had. But the 488 wasn’t too uncomfortable and we spent more or less 12 hours driving around the first day we had it. I did feel the bumps considerably more then a California but nothing I’d call harsh. I didn’t like how low it is and feels but even with the speed bumps in the parking garages at the casinos it never bottomed out. It also had way more room and was vastly more comfortable the an f430. I wouldn’t imagine the 458 to be a lot different but don’t have any comparison but hope my experience with the 488 gives a little insight.

Jay Pierce · Nov 5, 2018

Could someone explain to me, why a new Ferrari factory paint job would need color correcting. Additionally, what does color correcting entail?
I have been told that some of these detail people that perform color correcting charge upwards of $10,000.00!

tomc · Nov 5, 2018

Jay Pierce said: ↑

Could someone explain to me, why a new Ferrari factory paint job would need color correcting. Additionally, what does color correcting entail?
I have been told that some of these detail people that perform color correcting charge upwards of $10,000.00!
Click to expand...

I think if you look through F-chat threads, you will find that many are unhappy with the quality of the paint job that chimes with the factor. Or, perhaps better said, many feel it is not commensurate with the price tag of a new Ferrari. From my own personal experience, I think it looks fine. Cover with paint protection film, and get driving! [emoji2]
T

JBlack002 · Nov 6, 2018

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Jay Pierce said: ↑

Could someone explain to me, why a new Ferrari factory paint job would need color correcting. Additionally, what does color correcting entail?
I have been told that some of these detail people that perform color correcting charge upwards of $10,000.00!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, new cars can, and often do, have paint (i.e., clear coat) imperfections. Much depends on what was done to the car after it was painted and the conditions the car was subjected to in transit. It's not unusual to see sanding marks, paint swirls, holograms, orange peal, etc. in a newly delivered car. Ferrari is not immune, although the extent can vary. My detailer referred to the imperfections in my 488 as "Italian kisses". Sometimes the imperfections are subtle and not really visible without shining the right type of light on the surface. Others can be quite noticeable without a light assist. "Paint correction" is typically achieved by using a dual-action, random orbit polisher (e.g. Rupes) and a polish. The extent of perfections may require a 2-step process of a correction polish and then a fine finish polish. Sometimes a single-step fine polish is enough. The end result should be a car that has more clarity and gloss (and no visible imperfections). It's true that paint protection film (PPF) can sometimes be applied over imperfect paint and it will mask the imperfections (although at the expense of the best possible clarity and gloss). A simple paint correction should not cost $10,000. It's probably closer to $500 - $2,000 (unless you do it yourself). If you combine paint perfection with a full PPF wrap and then a ceramic coating on top of the PFF, the total cost should still be less than $10,000 (closer to $8,000). Anyway, that's what I paid to have my 488 paint corrected with a Suntek Ultra PPF full wrap and CQuartz Finest ceramic coating (including wheels and calipers). Here is 50/50 picture of the original paint on my 488 next to the corrected paint. Of course, the lighting accentuates the imperfections, but they were there!

Jay Pierce · Nov 6, 2018

J Black:

Thank you for that in-depth overview of color correction. I am a rookie that is contemplating the purchase of Portofino. I have never owned a Ferrari
previously. I live in your former city (Houston). You mentioned that you enjoyed driving your California T in the mountains in California. Did you drive
your Ferrari from Texas to California?

JBlack002 · Nov 6, 2018

Jay Pierce said: ↑

J Black:

Thank you for that in-depth overview of color correction. I am a rookie that is contemplating the purchase of Portofino. I have never owned a Ferrari
previously. I live in your former city (Houston). You mentioned that you enjoyed driving your California T in the mountains in California. Did you drive
your Ferrari from Texas to California?
Click to expand...

No, had the car transported from Houston. My wife wasn’t up for the drive there and back. Oh well. Transporting is not that expensive if you plan it well in advance. I transported (enclosed) from Ferrari of Houston to Maserati of Sacramento, and back. Both ends were very helpful and supportive. The transporter was referred by Ferrari of Houston and did a great job.

fermah · Mar 22, 2024

JBlack002 said: ↑

I am the original owner of a 2015 California T; purchased in March 2015. After 3+ years of ownership and 12,000+ miles, I thought I would share my ownership experience with the car. Maybe this will be useful to those who are considering a pre-owned California T.

The California T is my first Ferrari. I had never driven or even ridden in a Ferrari prior to my first test drive of a new California (not a T) in May 2014. I was then in a stage of owning Mercedes AMG models (2007 E63 AMG and later a 2012 CLS63 AMG). At that time, 4-door sedans fit my lifestyle. I was working and needed to the ability to, on occasion, take on passengers. In the meantime, my wife purchased a 2013 SL63 AMG, so I had the opportunity to experience a luxury sport GT 2-seat convertible. With the CLS lease termination on the horizon and my life moving onto pending retirement (which happened in Feb 2015), I considered a different type of vehicle, maybe something akin to the SL. I didn’t want the SL though, and considered other options, such as the Jaguar F-type or Maserati GranTurismo. So, in May 2014 (with about 1 year left on the CLS lease) we made a visit to Maserati of Houston to have a look at the GranTurismo. It was ok, but I wasn’t overwhelmed. While I’m chatting with the salesman, my wife disappears and then reappears to insist I come with her to the other side of the building (i.e., the Ferrari of Houston side) to see a beautiful 2-seat convertible. I didn’t realize the dealership also carried Ferrari. I had never considered a Ferrari and knew very little about the brand. It seemed a bit intimidating to even consider. With trepidation, I entered the Ferrari showroom and was immediately overwhelmed by the site and presence of the 458, 599, F12 and other awesome supercars on the showroom floor. I was way out of my league here! After admiring those cars, I made my way over to a Rosso corsa California on the far end of the floor. Wow! I had no idea. A Ferrari, but more approachable and, maybe, something I could see myself owning. Anyway, we took a test drive and was blown away by the experience and passion of the car. Better yet, the salesman explained that the California was soon to be replaced by the then recently announced California T. Given my timing (a year left on the CLS) I could order a new California T and it should arrive in about a year. Awesome! I put my deposit down that day. I couldn't believe I was buying a Ferrari!

Little did I know that I was the demographic Ferrari was hoping to attract with the California series (and now Portofino). Someone new to the brand, who might not otherwise purchase a mid-engine or V12 Ferrari as their first Ferrari. I was among the 70% of California buyers who were also first-time Ferrari buyers and helped Ferrari achieve its marketing strategy of expanding the brand.

With my order in the allocation que, the next step was to choose the spec. What a fun process, although intimidating with the endless color/option combinations. Being new to Ferrari, I couldn’t see myself in an attention-grabbing Rosso corsa or other flamboyant color (beautiful as they are). Rather, we selected Grigio Silverstone with a cuoio/charcoal interior. A very elegant combination that seemed to fit the California T.

The car arrived ahead of schedule in March 2015. True to form, the dealership wasn’t sure about the status until it simply arrived one day on a truck. Oh well, welcome to Ferrari! The experience of taking delivery of a new Ferrari, especially one you’ve spec’d and waited patiently for, makes for a fond memory.

The driving experience exceeded my expectations. While the car has power and performance beyond what most can effectively use on normal public roads, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy and pleasant it is to drive, whether just cruising or pushing the pace a bit. First is the engine sound, especially when the top is down. A smooth jazz trumpet, with the exclamation of a gunshot “bang” when upshifting near the 7,500 rpm redline. Now I know, many will say the sound of the NA California with its 8,000 rpm redline is superior to the California T. I will not dispute that; I’m merely describing my experience with the California T. The 2-3 and 3-4 shifts are particularly phenomenal. This invites more frequent shifts of the fantastic dual-clutch gearbox that urges one to upshift and downshift for no reason other than to hear and feel the immediacy of the shifts and crisp, tactile feel of the shift paddles. Ferrari’s approach of limiting boost in lower gears is quite effective in giving the engine a free, linear feel, with an eagerness to build revs in lower gears. The steering is neutral and light, while also precise and accurate. Minimal inputs are required to create response. It might even seem a bit quick at first, but you soon learn to trust the steering. The brakes are strong with good feel and modulation. They are carbon ceramic, so you need to build some heat up in the brakes before they’re to their optimum operating zone. I have the full electric Daytona seats. I found them to be very comfortable for long trips with a nice balance of sporty firmness along with just enough cushion. They don’t have great lateral support, but not bad for a sport GT. Interior ergonomics are typical Ferrari, meaning there is ample legroom in the footwell with an open feeling to the cockpit, allowing sufficient head and elbow room. Great visibility all around. My California T is a non-HS model with Magneride dual mode suspension. Had the HS option been available at the time, I would have ticked that box. Nonetheless, the car has a good balance of firmness and comfort with plenty of cornering feel and control. My best experience to date was 3 weeks spent in the Napa Valley area a couple years ago. The car was absolutely in its element cruising the mountain roads with the top down!

I’m very diligent about washing and detailing the car. I do it myself and, on average, wash the car every couple of weeks (Kranzle power washer, foam cannon, 2-bucket method, Master blaster sidekick dryer, microfiber only, etc.). Immediately after taking delivery of the car when new, I had a good detailer correct the paint, install paint protection film (PPF) to the front bumper and side mirrors and apply a ceramic coating (Opti-coat Pro+). The coating is still doing a great job. Dirt does not stick, and washing is amazingly easy. In fact, the car just doesn’t seem to get dirty, but I wash it nonetheless. I use CarPro Reload to enhance the coating from time to time. Other times I use P&S Beadmaker as a drying agent, which adds an amazing amount of gloss and slickness. The car still looks great after 3+ years, the paint maintains its hydrophobic character with great water beading/sheeting.

As I mentioned earlier, the California T was my introduction to Ferrari. Based on my positive experiences (as well as attendance at a couple of Ferrari Corso Pilota driving courses), I decided to expand my Ferrari experience to the mid-engine range. So, I spec’d and received a 2017 488 Spider in June 2017. An amazing car (could go on and on about the 488, but will not here)! I also recently put down my deposit for a MY 2019 Portofino, which I think will arrive early in 2019. So, the California T will eventually be moving onto another owner before long. It’s for this reason that I wanted to share my experiences with this fantastic car while it’s still in my garage.

I'll follow up this post with a comparison of the California T to the SL63 AMG and a recap of my reliability experience with the California T.

Thanks for reading!

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Mighty Joe · Sep 26, 2024

The Cali T's are standing the test of time very nicely! They still look great to me!

LightGuy · Dec 27, 2024

JBlack002 said: ↑

I’ll wrap up my California T experience with a recap of its reliability. At around 3-1/2 years of ownership, I can report that I’ve had no major issues. It seems the most frequent issues I’ve observed on FerrariChat relate to the DCT, retractable roof, and battery/electronic problems. I’ve encountered no such issues after 12,000+ miles. I have been very diligent keeping the car on the battery tender, especially if I haven’t driven for more than a couple days. I have encountered a few minor issues, detailed below.

1. 4,802 miles (first annual). There was a buzzing in one of the passenger-rear speakers. Ferrari of Houston determined that a bracket holding the tweeter was damaged, allowing the speaker to vibrate. The damage occurred when a different shop installed the K40 radar detector system. The bracket was repaired (not under warranty) with no further issue. Cost $247.50

2. 6,958 miles. The car was delivered with Bridgestone tires (all season, not run flats). One tire developed a “bubble” on the outside sidewall near the bead. The tires had also worn unusually quickly (in my opinion). I replaced all 4 with Pirelli PZeros. The ride and corning feel was amazingly better and the tires remain in good shape to this date. Cost $1,695.00

3. 9,654 miles (second annual). The front air dam was missing and was replaced. Not sure when/how it came off. Valet maybe? Cost $412.48.

4. 9,654 miles (second annual). The car has the Italian flag emblem on the trunk lid. Some loser tried (unsuccessfully) to pry the emblem off the car. The emblem was bowed up and bent (but didn’t come off) and had to be replaced. The bigger issue was that the loser used a pry bar, which left a “dimple” in the spoiler on the trunk hood. The paint wasn’t damaged, and the dimple wasn’t very noticeable. But once seen, it couldn’t be unseen. Ferrari was going to charge a lot to remove the dimple. Thankfully, my detailer had a good body specialist who did it for a lot less. Cost to replace emblem $542.41. Cost to remove dimple $150.00.

5. 9,654 miles (second annual)/11,835 miles (third annual)/12,780 miles. For some reason, the up/down steering column adjuster would jam, leaving the wheel in the most upward position (it would still adjust in/out). The first and second time this happened, the mechanism was unjammed by Ferrari of Houston. The first repair was made during the second annual maintenance and the second repair was made this past March at the third annual maintenance. Each time after being unjammed, the up/down adjustment worked for a while, but then jammed again after 4-6 months. When it happened the second time, I requested a more permanent solution (replacing the motor/mechanism), but was denied because “unjamming” the mechanism made it operable; thus, nothing to repair. The wheel doesn’t move very high, so even when in the “up” position, driving wasn’t horrible, but it was annoying. When it jammed the third time, I had moved to North Carolina and took the car to Foreign Cars Italia in Greensboro last month. To my relief, they replaced the steering column under warranty, which hopefully has solved the issue. Cost $0.

6. 11,835 miles (third annual). Had a rock chip on one wheel repaired. Cost $435.00

7. 12,780 miles. The rearview mirror is affixed to the windshield via a plastic tab that is glued to the windshield. A couple of months ago, the glue gave way and the mirror dropped, leaving it dangling by the electrical wires that connect into the mirror. Foreign Cars Italia reattached the mirror. While doing this, they inadvertently damaged the rain sensor, which required they replace the entire mirror assembly (which they did for no charge). Cost $0.

8. 12,780 miles. The middle-left AC duct came loose. Ferrari Cars Italia reattached it. $0 cost.

9. 12,780 miles. The glove compartment latch developed the “sticky” issue. Ferrari of Houston speculated that my car, being among the early California T builds, may have a latch from the old California (which apparently is the same, although without whatever treatment is now used to eliminate this issue). I don’t know whether this explanation is true, just sharing what I was told. None of the other switches appear to be developing any issues. Anyway, Foreign Cars Italia treated the latch with a “solution” provided by Ferrari that removed the stickiness. Cost $0.

I purchased a 2-year extension of the Ferrari factory warranty at the car’s 3-year anniversary this past March for $9,900, plus $570 for the extended warranty inspection. The issues that occurred at 12,780 miles were all covered by the extended warranty. Overall, aside from some minor issues (none serious), I’ve been satisfied with the reliability and service experience with the car.
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Thread bump as I ponder the wisdom of adding another car .
Great write ups .

My takeaway on dealers :
Ferrari Houston not so good .

Foreign Cars Italia : Awesome !

Zarakoff · Dec 27, 2024

I wonder what j black the op is driving now ? A good read is write up was

SLViper1 · Dec 28, 2024

Zarakoff said: ↑

I wonder what j black the op is driving now ? A good read is write up was
Click to expand...

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/the-official-ferrari-812-gts-pictures-thread.613465/page-197#post-149727986

Shark01 · Dec 28, 2024

LightGuy said: ↑

Thread bump as I ponder the wisdom of adding another car .
Great write ups .

My takeaway on dealers :
Ferrari Houston not so good .

Foreign Cars Italia : Awesome !
Click to expand...

I certainly wasn't happy with the buying experience at FOH.....even though it was nearly 20 years ago (haven't stepped in there since), being treated that poorly sticks with you.....

Zarakoff · Dec 28, 2024

SLViper1 said: ↑

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/the-official-ferrari-812-gts-pictures-thread.613465/page-197#post-149727986
Click to expand...

ah he upgraded to a portofino and now as this and a 296
Wow
What a story

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