Well, I have a very red Challenge Stradale sitting in my garage as of last night. The purchase has a semi-amusing story to go with it. I was about to close a deal on a 2005 Porsche Turbo S Cabriolet last month to replace my '04 Turbo Cab. It was June 30 and the dealership had an "end-of-month" anxiety attack and made me a killer deal on a car that I just stopped by to check out. I called my wife and said "come down and take a look at it and tell me what you think". Well, she came, she looked, and she said "it's very nice, but is it what you want?" Some explanation occurred about what a great deal it was. Again, "is it what you want?" Some more talk. So she says, "I'm hearing about the deal, but not about the car. What else did you look at?". I explained I had just been over at the F-car dealer. "You really want another Ferrari, don't you?" (I had a Jaguar XKE-V12 roadster, while we were BF & GF and bought a 308 GTB just before we got married; both gave us nothing but trouble, so I switched to P-cars soon after, which have worked brilliantly and reliably; so the understanding between us was that another Porsche was just "the right thing to do"). She calls the salesman over, who has been waiting patiently with the sales contract already printed out, and says, "Sorry, no sale, I know that if he really wanted this car, he never would have called me to look at it. He would have just bought it. He really wants a Ferrari, so he's going to be getting a Ferrari". The salesman sh*t a brick, since he had sweat blood to cut the deal (I did feel really badly for him, he was so certain that I had bought the car that he must have processed some part of the sale as I got the purchase survey calls from Porsche the following week). So for the last month, I've been happily sorting through inventories, options and models and finally took delivery of a Challenge Stradale yesterday. I feel really thankful that I'm married to a woman who can read my mind and is willing to relive possible auto malfunction tortures with me ;-), if that's part of what I want. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that the modern Ferrari experience has improved as much as everyone says.
You have such a wonderful wife like mine! You will love your CS. Did you get a late production CS? I did not have any problem with my July/04 built CS. I sold it since my F430 was coming but it was a very nice car and it's served us well. It is a bargain for what it is. There are so many special items on this model that regular loaded 360s did not have and could not get. I hope you and your wife enjoy it and have a lots of great memories with it.
congrats! enjoy the new ride. the CS is really special car. it's everything a ferrari should be - and then some. be warned though, once you own a CS it's tough to imagine where you go from there! if you haven't already, make sure you get yours checked out for the latest TSBs and the like. mine just had two campaigns done to it - and it was a late production model. enjoy it in good health. and remember - she'll bite if you're not careful. none of those PSM-like features. doody.
Thanks. As far as what's next, I've already asked the dealer to put me on the imaginary list for the imaginary 430 CS . One of the actions the dealer supposedly performed was to upgrade all the ECU's with the lastest code as of last Friday. The clutch was also supposedly checked and was "perfect". Is there any way to tell other than take the service dept at their word?
Details: Rosso Scuderia, Black/Red Alcantera, Red Calipers, Stereo, Fire Extinguisher, No Stripe, Clear Armor. Pics are attached, but they're quick snaps and the color balance is off - the body is a bit too orange and the alcantera is a bit too purple. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
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So, will I see you crusing on 280 or any other great strench of Bay area roads soon? BTW: Awesome car, no stripe, no problem...
My wife once told me that as long as we were married, I would NEVER ever get a Ferrari. For once in her life she was right!! She's now my ex-wife and I now have a Ferrari.
Yes. I had it on 280 Friday and up on Hwy9/35 yesterday. I have to prep & cook for my son's 16th b-day swim&BBQ today, so can't take it out; but the kids are going gaa-gaa over it .
I purchased through Ferrari of Silicon Valley (actually located in Redwood City). Which is a new F-car dealer that opened in May '05. I understand the owner also owns Ferrari of Beverly Hills. The sales team seems very nice and professional, so I can heartily ecommend them if you're in the local area and looking.
Your wife is a definite keeper... and BTW so is the Stradale. Finally Ferrari got it right in this category. After messsing around with the formula begining with the 348 to the 355 to the 360 they evolved into the car they had meant to build all along. I honestly can't see myself trading into a 430. The CS is simply "right"!
Congrats on the car.......!! Somewhere in Socal sits a "used" Turbo S cabriolet with the warranty clock ticking. Will probably be an even better $$ deal for the next guy who takes delivery of it. From what you described the car was already "RDR'd" (retail delivery reported) by the dealer at month end to help make their numbers since you received the CSI survey call from PCNA....heh.
