Should I sell my Brabus C63 and buy a Cali 30 HS? | FerrariChat
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Should I sell my Brabus C63 and buy a Cali 30 HS?

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by Themaven, Aug 15, 2023.

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  1. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2014
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    Eastdown
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    Darius
    #1 Themaven, Aug 15, 2023
    I have posted on here before, so please forgive me for a new variation of my old question but I am a man with changing car needs/desires.

    In summary, for years when the kids were small, I had "the Ferraris", up to five of them at one time, for weekend fun, and then a fast useful car for DD, mainly a V8 AMG. Then, one kid went to uni, and I bought and customised, new from the factory, a Brabus 600 C63S Cabrio, around two years ago.

    Now, the other kid is off. We still need a car which can be an occasional three or even emergency four seater. The Brabus serves this need but it's not an event to drive point to point like a Ferrari. On a highway/motorway and normal road run in traffic, it just feels like a car, not the hot rod its power output (600) suggests.

    We only drive occasionally, and technically don't have to have a car at all, but it will be used for the occasional two-up visit to relatives, giving a ride to one or both kids, and occasional errands. The car needs to be two pedal because central London, and we need a cabrio/spider. It needs to feel fine to zip around in on an errand on a drizzly November night, not like you're taking a racehorse on a cart run.

    My two current other Ferraris are a gated 430 Spider and gated 575 with FHP, both of which can be used for summertime weekend thrills albeit seating two.

    I have fixed on the Cali 30 HS because I like N/A engines. I have driven all the Cali variants (I sometimes review cars for the magazine I own) and remember enjoying this back in 2013. However I also know there seems to be a body of opinion here that Cali T > Cali 30, with a chunk more power although not necessarily sharper handling. I would buy with a Ferrari approved warranty in case of DCT/roof issues.

    I know only I can answer the question but I am posting it here anyway because I am interested in the views of people who might have made a similar move. I did have a 992 C2S Cabrio which I found a bit boring at normal speeds, I have pondered a 997 GTS Cabrio (these are all around the same price here) but it's maybe a bit old and also not so special.
     
  2. KS_California

    KS_California Karting

    Jan 24, 2022
    156
    Eastern KS - Just west of KC
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    Werner Bartels
    #2 KS_California, Aug 15, 2023
    I love my Cali - but the backseat is all but unusable to anyone over 7 years old. I'm 6'2" - if I were to put anyone behind me - the car would be undrivable. Perhaps you could put a kid behind a short person on the passenger side. Good luck with your decision.
     
  3. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

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    Darius
    #3 Themaven, Aug 15, 2023
    Sounds like a very occasional three seater then. I think I can live with that but it’s a good thing to bear in mind. Thanks.
     
  4. Sunshine1

    Sunshine1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 22, 2011
    26,414
    Miami
    #4 Sunshine1, Aug 17, 2023

    I also own a Cali30 HS. Fantastic car!! (design, beauty, presence, handling, exhaust, performances that are still on top of the world compared to almost every sports cars sold new today, quick shifting, hard top coupe as well as convertible, …). I confirm that only 1 person can fit in the back (behind the passenger’s seat) as long as it’s a child (longer trips) or an adult (less than 5’7”) for short trips.
     
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  5. WashingtonFerrari61

    WashingtonFerrari61 Formula Junior

    Jun 26, 2022
    476
    Northern, VA
    #5 WashingtonFerrari61, Aug 17, 2023
    I absolutely love AMG Benz’s, and a Brabus C63 is badass but a properly modded Cali with exhaust and wheels can’t be beat. I have seen some extremely sexy Cali’s.It’s just on another level. I hate driving cars that most people have which the Ferrari just separates you from the pack. The NA Cali is massively underrated. The Cali T design I love but the the sound it makes is beyond a joke and massively uninspiring. People on here act like exhaust note is an important factor but to me they are and anyone saying otherwise are probably Cali T owners in denial.
     
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  6. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

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    #6 Themaven, Aug 19, 2023
    Thank you for your responses, appreciated.

    I know the Cali 30 had various handling improvements over the original, the HS added stiffer settings (not always a good thing), and the T had further revisions. Setting aside the question of sound, are there any owners who found a Cali 30 HS to be more fun to drive, albeit less competent, than the Cali T? Or is the Cali T (again, engine note aside) more fun as well as more capable? The two don't always go hand in hand. Many reviews say that the T has better, more feel some steering than the N/A Calis, and that is an important factor. I much preferred the hydraulic steering in my old C63 6.3 wagon to the current AMG Brabus.

    I have driven Cali, Cali 30 HS, Cali T and Cali T HS, fairly extensively for a few days each when they were new and my memory is that the Cali 30 HS was the most fun, but memory can be deceiving and obviously these were a few years apart. Also "fun" can be subjective, I know.

    Of course I can take a test drive but in the UK you're unlikely to have a test drive that answers these questions decisively.
     

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