Scared!!! To order new Spider.

Just finalized my spec today at Algar for 2015. You live exactly one time only- go for it. Best. Mike

 

Do you want to order a spider and WAIT?

Or do you want to find a great spider and drive her now?

If you are worried about depreciation, perhaps you should buy an annuity.

Best

Btw I bought used. No regrets. Funny. Some of my must have options I do not use (yet who knows?). And some I would not have ordered I love.

Best

 

If you can buy a 2015 at msrp what's the issue? It's not like you can buy a 2013 or 2014 at a meaningful discount. The 2015 just makes more sense if you're willing to wait.

There's more of a concern with the introduction of the 2016 or 2017 replacement for the 458 and how the Ferrari community would embrace the new car... The depreciation would accelerate especially in the first six months to year introduction of that new car.

But, that arrival should not be for at least another 18 months in the US and if your not at the top of the list at your local dealer there's no point waiting for that car either. You will be waiting for 3 years or more. But life...it's too short...I would just get the 2015.

 

There's a philosophical issue, too - seems to be the general consensus that the next 458 will be turbocharged. Personally, I'd prefer a N/A sports car any day, and I think many true Ferrari drivers think that as well. Lots of other intricacies for the answer to your question, and this is just another.

 

+1

We don't need no stinking turbo.

 

You know why 458 Spider is holding it's value? Because if you own one and sell it now, you have nowhere to go or nothing to wait for. There is nothing at the moment that looks, sounds, and drives better or the same with 458 Spider. There are plenty faster, but speed is not the point here. And people still speculating about the successor, but learning from the new California T, it just won't sound that great anymore, just faster. The only car that can replace your 458 Spider if you sell it now, is the Aventador Spider. It looks good, sounds good, V12 mid engine, but it won't as fun to drive like 458 because of 4WD and the transmission is a problem.

 

And are we sure that 2015 is the last of the 458's?

 

Personally, I think 2016 will be the last year, and as mentioned if you wait for the next model you could be waiting 3-5 years. Since these cars are about fun and not investing, why not have fun for those years? If you are afraid to lose 20K a year you probably shouldn't be buying the car imho..

 

Phil，would you care to mention which must have options you find you do not use, and which options you would not have ordered that you love?

Thanks.

 

This.

 

I'm not sure the "last year gets hit with the most depreciation" argument applies here. I haven't looked specifically at this, but I doubt the '04 360s (or was '05 the last year for that?) or '09 430s suffered any more than other years of those cars. At most, maybe for a year or two, but most buyers look for condition, color, options and service history rather than model years.

The 458 was a bit of a game changer with its DCT making it more user-friendly for daily use in traffic (not to mention its HP, looks, etc.), but it probably affected all 430s and not just the last year of production disproportionately against prior year 430s. And Ferrari makes running improvements, some small, some large, making the last of the model years theoretically best of breed. Later model 430s had CCBs standard, for example (although track hounds don't necessarily view that as a good thing).

Then there are those who, in retrospect, will like the prior models better (e.g. because the DCT is "too civilized" and they want the more "raw" feel of the F1 transmission). If the 458 successor is turbocharged, there will be those who will crave the naturally aspirated 458 more.

As pointed out by others, even ordering the car now will take some time to arrive, and the successor car isn't likely to get here for some time. You can, in the meantime, enjoy a car spec'd exactly the way you want it.

 

Spending ridiculous amounts of money on any vehicle is scary.
That being said, I have a expected a loss on every vehicle that I have ever purchased. Typically, all vehicles are a losing proposition; and in the case of any vehicle over 200K, the loss is usually the price of another car.
There are some exceptions to the rule; such as the ford GT, but buying a vehicle in this price should be based on what you absolutely want and enjoy and depreciated losses shouldn't even be a consideration.
No matter what you buy, there will always be something better. In this league of vehicle pricing it is strictly an emotional purchase, and value or common sense doesn't even come into play.
For me if I can't afford the loss, I probably can't afford the vehicle; no matter what price range it may happen to be in.

 

Why not just place an order for the 458T Spider (what ever it's called), it will be along soon enough and I'm sure it will be in big demand so no worries! Spider and coupe will be released together.

 

Had to have Sat Radio. With the hard drive I can load all my favorite music easily. I am constantly changing SAT stations on my other cars to avoid music I do not like. Would probably order it for resale purposes but I have not yet subscribed.

Had to have front and rear parking sensors. I do not parallel park so they are just annoying. Rear camera works for me and a front camera would be more useful (but not available).

Had to have AFS lights. but I rarely drive the 458 at night. our other cars have AFS and we take them instead. would hate to hit a deer, elk, bear, etc. in the 458. and I do not like to valet the Fcar...we take the other cars to restaurants when we dine out at night.

I would NOT have ordered the Nav. But it has come in VERY handy several times. Sure I could use my Garmin, but the wires hanging around the cockpit are annoying to say the least.

I would NOT have ordered the black sports exhaust. I love it. No maintenance and looks great. [My new car on order (RS5) has a black sports exhaust.]

 

Agree with Need for Speed. Last year for a Ferrari won't be the depreciation nightmare. And when the replacement gets here, it won't be a spider right away and when those arrive it will be just a few. The point is you have more time than it might seem before you enter the depreciation danger zone. That time will come but it will be a little while.

 

IMO, your rolling the dice. Who knows if there will be a Spider replacement in 2015. If like the 458, it took two more years for Spider production. Also, I am not a fan of buying the first model year of any automobile. 458's today are perfected. But if you currently have a sports car you really enjoy today, you may want to wait. I just think health is fragile, and if have the money now, enjoy it now.

Good luck, you really are in a win win situation.

 

If you are a miser you shouldn't own a Ferrari.

 

A definite +1. Practical reasons for acting now include:
-- It will be a few years before the 458 replacement Spider is available
-- It is not necessarily true that Spider values will plummet when the 458 replacement is announced; they will not be making any more of them.
-- You will get the most up to date, evolved, and reliable embodiment of the 458, which will be a classic Ferrari.

 

+1

We've now been through a few Ferraris, we consider ourselves lucky to be able to indulge our passions.

I will admit that every now and then, the "D" word (depreciation) enters my mind. I will tell you that it's the ultimate buzzkill of Ferrari ownership. Owning, driving, experiencing....all amazing. IF you obsess about resale or trade value, or agonize about every mile you are going to add, it will kill the fun.

We tend to love talking about how many miles we've driven and how much fun we've had. If you worry about what the trade value is going to be (BTW - these cars WILL depreciate, they are not investments - at all) then I'd go used or skip it. (the same worry about buying a new new one now will translate into you convincing yourself that buying used just means you'll lose less)

 

I'm interested why there seems to be a consensus that the 458 replacement Spider won't be available from the get go - I thought it was generally accepted that the Spider and Coupe would be launched together or at least very quickly one after the other. Sure the 458 Spider lagged behind the coupe but there was a complete new roof to design, the 458 replacement although TT will be an EVO version of the 458 just like the 430 was for the 360 so the roof is already done.
Can't see Ferrari can afford to loose sales to the competition by holding back the Spider for no good reason but do you guys know different? I had the impression from my dealer that orders are being taken?

 

I say go for it.. if you like the car.. I would prefer the non turbo car myself ..

 

The problem with waiting for the 458 Spider replacement is that you likely won't get an early one even if you give them a deposit now. Dealers are going to reset their waiting lists and give the earliest cars to the most loyal customers. That's how it's always been done (at least here in the USA) with Ferrari dealers. If you're one of those loyal customers maybe you'll get one in the first year, otherwise you'll be waiting. Maybe however, if you buy a used one off their lot now (with a nice markup for them) and agree to trade it back (at a price they can apply another nice markup to) when your new car arrives they'll agree to make you one of those earlier customers. I don't think ordering a new one at MSRP today is going to help you there.

This is how new Ferrari buying works and this situation is only going to get less and less customer-friendly as the number of potential Ferrari buyers (and markets) keeps rising while the number of Ferrari's being produced are fixed at 7,000 total. Ferrari says they're keeping that number locked for the foreseeable future which means more scarcity of new order slots and higher prices for new cars. If it reaches a fever pitch it could potentially help resale prices as well but I don't think it will. There are too many other great cars out there to choose from. I think Ferrari is doing the right thing to keep their profit margins high. BTW, I think ultimately this situation will be good for customer choice. Lamborghini is really starting to make more friendly cars (Hurracan looks great) and McLaren will get past their growing pains and produce more exciting models. Then Porsche will show up with their mid-engine exotic 458-competitor and there will be even more choice in this segment. That's great for exotic car buyers but it will ultimately push Ferrari up higher in price and exclusivity which is what the company wants but probably leaves some of us wanting but not getting.

 

Too much work.... Just order the car, drive it & enjoy it!

 

Last Normally aspirated 8 available in all likelihood.....

Jealous.


Enjoy the process.

ScottS