New to ferrari -amazed at all of their weak links

It's a Ferrari !!

The sooner you accept it like the rest of us, the better.

 

You forgot the dreaded "dash leather shrinkage" issue.
.

 

Its amazing the sticky button issue is still ongoing. The engineering has definitely improved the past 20 years or so but lots of issues remain.

 

This week, I had the original folding key of my 348 copied by a locksmith.

"Hmm, why did this fold? I guess so the keys don't dig into your knee," he commented. "You'd think they'd design the interior so you'd have room for your legs, but no, they make the key fold afterwards..."

 

Doc,I went through a similar learning experience when I started looking at Ferraris three years ago. If Ferrari built its race cars the way it builds its street cars,the marque would never have won a race. And it looks like you still haven't found out about Ferrari's ball joints,tie rods,and a few other items. Enjoy the Ferrari experience!

 

Every car has its weak links as you like to say. You just might come into Ferrari expecting some kind of perfection. In its own way its wonderful, but its still a machine built by people. Its a all a question of priorities. You drive a Ferrari and you can forget the sticky buttons etc.

 

Ferraris are designed and made in Italy. That has both positive and negative sides.
Had Ferraris been designed and built in Germany, they would be technically more perfect, but not so beautiful and quite boring!

I am on my first Ferrari and do not intend to go back to German products when it comes to sports cars.
Would I buy an Italian car as a daily driver? No, there I will stay with the German products!

 

The Dr has spoken!

 

$300.000 entry level cars with 7 year parts and service guarantee, New buyers
have no worries, thats all Ferrari care about.
D.

 

Papou, the same applies to all manufacturers. Of everything we buy. They could design and manufacture for a lifespan of several decades, but why should they, as we are happy to buy the hugely overpriced spare parts. Or scrap it and buy new..
In any case, they sell and we pay!

 

I agree 100%, I might be wrong but I just think the prouduct that Japan brings to
the market place is done with more pride. i simply adore Ferrari cars have done for
45 years but my Lexus lx470 is a masterpiece.But I do understand Ferrari is built
to finance there F1 endeavors.

 

I used to have a citroen SM, it had folding keys also. I never saw it as a design flaw, more as part of the character.

 

You're absolutely right about the Japanese. My dad used to write on products liability law. If you look at Japanese Products Liability law, they are one of the last countries to introduce it because it is culturally unacceptable to sell crap. Look at Italian case law and it basically says if you buy crap you get what you get.

 

What you pay for when you buy a Ferrari

the engine
the body design
the prancing horse glued to the body

Everything else is free. So, don't complain about something you got for free. Its not polite!

 

Mechanically they are engineered pretty good IMO considering the amount of stress they were designed to cope with. In a normal owners hands they never see that intensity of usage. Like Porsches.
Ferrari is fairly close to the cutting edge, if not the forefront, of engineering so there will always be teething problems.

Yes the detail work may be sub par and sometimes on purpose. They are a bespoke builder not Toyota.

 

The Honda built in Alabama or the Nissan built in Mexico? And the shrapnel airbags they contain? Yeah. Pride. I call it more adherence to six sigma.

Or not.

FCars are built by italians who hopefully had a cannoli and a cappuccino after lunch..

 

Every model and every marque has its shortcomings and flaws. BMW rod bearing failures, Porsche IMS failures (both of which usually lead to catostrophic engine failures). Tons of airbags are now being recalled in multiple marques. Toyota, Nissan, GM, etc, etc have all had to do numerous recalls on tens of thousands of cars. The list of Ferrari failures mentioned above is a drop in the bucket compared to the failings of other marques.

Ferraris have more personality than any other marque, and, just as with people, the more personality, the more opportunity for flaws to reveal themselves. Ferraris are like smart hot chicks-- they're exhilarating and engaging, but they have their flaws just like anyone else, so you can embrace those or go find a dumpy girl and a Volkswagen. ��

 

We are talking about a manufacture employing some 5-6000 people vs Mercedes let's say at 100k people... Low volume builder of super exotic cars... All things considered, they are fairing quite well... When you're pumping out 100k corvettes or Porsches the R&D dept have the time and the resources to improve quality and assure reliability ... Ferraris go from design on paper to straight production( so to speak) and they cross their fingers and hope there aren't too many call backs... I'm actually quite impressed over all considering how low volume some models get produced.... Yes , you get the ocassional Fire but work out the ratios of cars built vs #of employees, R&D and they outshine most... I'M on my third f car in 8 years and never had any major problems ... As for sticky parts, never had those issues because my cars are kept indoors when not in use... Same goes for leather shrinkage, car kept inside ... Besides , think about it...Leather... It's skin... Ferrari interiors are finished with natural hides... If you don't condition them, they will dry out! I know my skin dries out and needs lotion when in the sun... Don't know of cars that smell like new suede or leather day after day... Beats the synthetic crap they use on most German/American and or Japanese plastic dashes that release toxins in high heat... Ferraris may have their shortcomings but quite frankly I'll live with them any day because the trade off is way worth it! Whether it's f1 or 6 speed stick(I've had both ), they are mechanical masterpieces , rolling art with symphonic exhaust tones that evoke emotion like no other car period thanks to Il Comendatore who had a vision and left his indelible mark in automotive history...

I'm living the dream... Sticky parts and all...

 

Honda will release a new "Ferrari beater" soon, just like they did some decades ago.
Superior in every aspect. Or so they and the motoring media said.
Strangely the value of these dropped like a stone and they started looking horrible after a few years.
If you can find one today, one that is not turned to a baked beans can, and that still works, it will cost you almost nothing. I expect the same with this new "fantastic" model
The equivalent FCar of the same age ? Still looks fantastic, still in working order and the value is on the way up. Way up.

I have owned a bunch of "nice" cars over the years, and the car that brings the biggest smile to my face so far is the 575M.
Shortcomings or not, I do not care.

Edit: my cherished 993 had problems too. Like interior leather that started aging, plastic knobs and controls that disintegrated.

 

458: sagging engine mounts and leaking fuel tank.

 

German "premium" products? I decline with thanks!
The times of exceptional quality are over.

 

There's a pretty good chance the OP is following the usual 'if it's expensive, it must be luxurious and reliable' train of thought.

 

If there were no flaws it would not be a Ferrari.