Potentially future California owner, price check

Good question. The rear camera was not an option on the early cars so that is why you don't see it on many cars for sale. The benefits of magnaride are hard to feel because it is hard to arrange a back to back demo and it is a bigger ticket item so many people skip it if they are trying to keep the price down. Here is what I would do: the biggest cast of owning one of these cars is depreciation. While some people don't seem to like the looks of the California, I like it and I think it will be a big hit in the resale market because it is such a usable car. You really can drive it everyday. I would go for ordering a new one and push your build date back to where you get the 2011 model year and order exactly what you want, drive it a lot, and keep it a long time. As a result your cost per mile of use will go down and over time the depreciation hit per year will flatten out. If you want to save a few bucks, don't order the LED steering wheel and stay away from the carbon options.

 

The LED steering wheel is actually very handy. You don't have to look away from the road in front of you to see your tachometer, just watch the LEDs. The new software for the magnetic shocks (may be available for the non magniride, do not know) makes a huge difference between Sport and Comfort. And on a long cruise on a bumpy road the softer ride is much appreciated.

 

Agree totally with above. You didn't mention, are the asking prices MSRP or are they discounting for the used status? The demo is non-titled so the warranty will kick in when it is purchased. If you want to cut costs a bit, merely spec it lower. The price difference is not too much, so order new. Don't plan on it having a value of 160 in 4 years (especially off warranty). I have the magnaride. I think the suspension is a high point on this car. Indeed, I don't have a comparison. Go Ferrari all day long over MB!

 

Ferrari is having great success with the California as 60% of buyers are new to Ferrari. (15 Feb 2010 Ferrari press release.) However, the economy is having an impact on overall business and lower overall production (-5%). Bloomberg reported recent worker layoffs and strike.

http://www.formula1blog.com/2010/05/13/breaking-ferrari-to-cut-270-jobs-layoff-600-and-idle-plants/

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=F:IM&sid=a6C6RKjWWM00

If you want to price the California lower, you can specify the options which are the most desirable to you and order one. Trim finishes (particularly carbon fiber) increase the price disproportionally relative to depreciation. You can price a new vehicle around $205K with minimal options including the $4K guzzler tax and transportation and decently outfitted at around $210K (magnaride, full-power seats, cruise, shields, AFS lighting, iPod, and some additional internal colors). Trim out prices like Daytona seats, diamond-finish wheels, 20” wheels, etc., increase the price relative to value (IMO). These figures exclude sales tax.

Given the success of the California and limited production, my experience has been dealers seem unwilling to discount on ordering a new California. Anyone have other experience, eg., received a discount on ordering a new California?

 

Here are 24 of them for sale in the US starting at 199K for one with 345 miles.

http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/overview;_ylt=ApIMVG28VY_K26nhQnELHcL5V454;_ylv=3?distance=any&sortcol=price&sortdir=up&make=ferrari&model=california&askpricelb=any&askpriceub=any&deliverymileagelb=any&deliverymileageub=any&listingtype=used

I'd offer about 5% under msrp. for a new one from a dealer.

You never know...

 

Is there a website in which we can price up a Ferrari (California) with chosen options or is a visit to your local dealer the only option ?

Thanks

 

www.ferraricalifornia.com
You may get an option list with prices from any dealer. In addition, it is on here somewhere. I will try to find it and post later.

 

My experience from a month ago was don't hope for a discount. My Silverstone order (from Feb) was not going to be delivered until Nov. I went for a Mugello/Couio demo (6 months old - 800 miles). It listed at 225. I got 3 grand off + got the protective film thrown in (it had been installed by dealer)...and saved an additional 1.5 grand because the car came with a couple of things (the dimming mirrors?) that are no longer standard.

Personally I would try to keep the spec below 230...that gets you the magnaride, daytonas, 20"'s, power seats, some leather additions...the stuff that most people really want. Personally I don't think the 250 level will hold it's value....you don't need a camera, and the carbon fiber is hard to spot.

 

Rick, quick question, when did the new software for the magnetic shocks come out and how can I check if I have the updated software on my car?

 

No discounts on ordering a new one now either. Don't think there will be one for a while.

 

if the overall goal is have a luxury car/item not depreciate more than 40k in 4 years... you probably just shouldn't buy it. i am not saying you can't afford it etc... please don't take it that way. I am just saying, there is no way in gods green earth that this car is only going to depreciate 40k in 4 years.


I love the cali and am a big supporter of the car. But Ferrari is going to pump out as many as they need to... and its not going to hold to well for future values. Id say this even for the 458 italia too. Its just my personal opinion on luxury items in this economy.

 

You probably should have another cup of coffee... My out the anus guess... 90-125k in 4 years. put 50K mile on it and expect it to be worth less than $90K.

 

F o SF currently has a pearl white Cali with MSRP of $278K! It's the highest optioned Cali in the country. Seems there is a huge pricing range for a model that's less than a year old.

 

I wouldn't get my hopes up about either of these cars holding their value 4 years from now- Ferrari or Mercedes.

Cali vs SLS? If you want a convertible then your have your answer. But wait the SLS roadster is due out in a maybe a year or two! Hmmm.

I drove past a red SLS on PCH early one morning last week. It is a completely different sort of car. Not that I didn't like it. Why don't you drive one and then you can see for yourself how they compare.

If you want to get the best price then call around for the used ones and haggle.

But if you are a stickler for details, it might be just as much fun to order your own personal specification: seat style, carbon trim (rear license plate aperture) Magnaride, wheels etc

 

No it's not, not by a long shot. I know of at least two cars that had window stickers over 300K. By the way expect the car to depreciate like a falling rock, no offense to California owners I think it's a fantastic car, they (Ferrari) are just making too many of them. There are already over 1,000 here stateside. To expect only a 10K a year depreciation over 4 years is just too optimistic. That means the California would hold its value much better than a Scuderia, 599, 430 spider etc. all of which were made in smaller production numbers than the California projections. In addition the California "M" is coming in 2013 which will drive California prices down further.

 

Over $300k? What options can you do to add $100k to the car, it already has the brakes as standard that used to be the big ticket item.

 

Over 300K? I'll talk to my buddy at the dealership to see if you add every possible option to the car, if it will go over $300K. But I agree about your point on depreciation. There will simply be too many around

 

29K for out of range paint, carbon sills, gas gap, bicolor livery etc. The car is rather pretty, however I don't know what pushed the second car over 300k I will ask the owner. The paint is on the car is not some other car company's standard color like many of the out range color combos such as the "Smurf 430" which is a standard Mazda car color. A very well known collector of yellow Ferraris will have a California with a sticker over 300k as well. I will try and get his window sticker when his car arrives. There are many non standard options for these cars that are available at the right price. For instance I know of 430 Scuderia that was almost equipped with a sun roof! There is a 430 Spider with a full factory alligator interior, it is hideous. Ferrari will do almost anything for the right money.