Simple compensation for serious breakdown on first day | FerrariChat
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Simple compensation for serious breakdown on first day

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by Cavalier, Jul 7, 2011.

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  1. Cavalier

    Cavalier Karting

    Nov 9, 2010
    100
    Tiburon, Calif.
    #1 Cavalier, Jul 7, 2011
    Do you guys think it is reasonable to get compensated for a serious breakdown on the first day of taking the car? This was side of the road embarrassment, waiting for taxi etc. Taxi was only $30 but the inconvenience and embarrassment was the problem. I had it for only 5 hours. Brand new. I basically feel foolish to buy $200K+ car to have it breakdown like that on the first day.

    Was just asking for a Ferrari child seat to make up for it.
     
  2. MalibuGuy

    MalibuGuy F1 Veteran

    Sep 18, 2007
    5,892
    #2 MalibuGuy, Jul 8, 2011
    Wow sorry to hear about your breakdown! Good thing is that there was not an accident.

    Totally feel your let down and frustration.

    I think your dealer will be sympathetic to your request.
     
  3. rams

    rams Karting

    Aug 18, 2009
    219
    NC-USA/SG/MY
    #3 rams, Jul 8, 2011
    can you explain what do you mean by a serious breakdown?

    But I would be totally flustered as well and fully understand your anguish.

    Heck, I would demand a child seat and a Ferrari watch. :D
     
  4. rainforest

    rainforest Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2010
    419
    #4 rainforest, Jul 8, 2011
    I remember leaving work one day and seeing a guy in a brand new 360 convertible stuck in the middle of the road holding up all the traffic. And his roof was down.

    You're right - it's embarassing. But worse is that you're starting to get me nervous about my own car! Knock on wood.
     
  5. calitalia

    calitalia Formula Junior

    Sep 29, 2009
    536
    #5 calitalia, Jul 8, 2011
  6. Balsamina

    Balsamina Formula Junior

    May 19, 2010
    946
    San Francisco Area
    Full Name:
    S
    #6 Balsamina, Jul 8, 2011
    Sorry to learn about your disappointment. Not a good intro to the marque, which is part of the marketing purpose of the Cali.

    I think the answer should partially depend on whether the dealer should have caught the problem in the pre-delivery inspection. If it was something they should have, then they should quickly agree to an accommodation. However, if it was something they couldn't reasonably have known about, then I think the accountability should be laid on FNA - ask your dealer for the accommodation, but acknowledge that they will have to seek reimbursement from FNA. You are going to want to maintain your service relationship with the dealer, at least for the warranty work, so be careful of poisoning the well from which you draw your drinking water.

    From my biz experience, oftentimes the most satisfied customers are the ones who were treated right after a mistake was made.

    Good luck, please keep us posted as to diagnosis of the problem and how this was resolved.
     
  7. RickLederman

    RickLederman F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2007
    2,837
    Swanton Ohio
    Full Name:
    Rick Lederman
    #7 RickLederman, Jul 8, 2011
    Cav, what was wrong with the car, what were the symptoms? I have had three cases where the dealer picked mine up for a warranty repair but none of those was a breakdown. Only serious one was an airbag warning that many Cali's have had.

    Rick
     
  8. forgeahead

    forgeahead F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Sep 16, 2008
    4,408
    Rocky Mount, NC
    Full Name:
    Ray
    #8 forgeahead, Jul 8, 2011
    Seat, watch, hat, t shirt, coupon for a showroom detail. That ought to do it! Hey, it's Italian!
     
  9. rainforest

    rainforest Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2010
    419
    #9 rainforest, Jul 9, 2011
    My friend, who owns an SUV, just told me last night that his transmission needs to be replaced for the second time after only 50,000km. Is it normal for car transmissions to break down? I was thinking of keeping my Cali for a long time, but if transmissions normally do this, maybe it's not a good idea? I always thought cars could be kept for a long time.
     
  10. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 27, 2006
    31,897
    In the flight path to Offutt
    Full Name:
    The original Fernando
    #10 Whisky, Jul 9, 2011
    How can you possibly compare an SUV tranny to a Cali tranny?

    I have had six cars in my life, have put 200,000 miles on five of them, and have not had to replace any trannies or engines or anything 'expensive'.
     
  11. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,666
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    #11 greyboxer, Jul 9, 2011
    I had a friend once who got married - then their partner left them - I'm about to get married - does that prove my partner will also leave me ?
     
  12. rainforest

    rainforest Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2010
    419
    #12 rainforest, Jul 9, 2011
    Just to let you know, it was a Ford Explorer.
     
  13. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    106,167
    Vegas baby
    #13 TheMayor, Jul 9, 2011
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2011
    Aside from my MBG (surely one of the worst cars ever made), the worst car I've ever owned was a Honda Accord. So much for surveys for reliability.

    On the other hand, I owned my Dino for 15 years and replaced the second gear synchro (did the clutch at the same time), one fan, and the clutch cable.

    So, my worst reliability list would go like this.

    MGB
    Honda Accord
    Fiat 3P (also a pretty awful car)
    Ford Pinto
    Fiat X 1/9
    Fiat 124 Spider
    Alfa spider(s)
    Dodge Dart
    Alfa Guiletta
    308 GTB
    308 GTS
    Dino Gt
    Maserati Spyder
    Ferrari F430 spider
     
  14. SVCalifornia

    SVCalifornia F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 28, 2011
    2,571
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Keith
    #14 SVCalifornia, Jul 9, 2011
    What were the total number of miles for each...?

    SVC
     
  15. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    106,167
    Vegas baby
    #15 TheMayor, Jul 9, 2011
    On the road or the tow hook? :)
     
  16. rams

    rams Karting

    Aug 18, 2009
    219
    NC-USA/SG/MY
    #16 rams, Jul 9, 2011
    But generally speaking, the calis I've seen or heard so far have been major-problem free. The Cali sets a new chapter for Ferrari in terms of maintenance and reliability.
     
  17. rams

    rams Karting

    Aug 18, 2009
    219
    NC-USA/SG/MY
    #17 rams, Jul 9, 2011
  18. calitalia

    calitalia Formula Junior

    Sep 29, 2009
    536
    #18 calitalia, Jul 10, 2011
    Rainforest, don't think too far ahead... I always thought I'd keep me car for 3-4 years but at the end of the day they ended up leaving me after 4000 km a mere 18 months. Don't think too far ahead and enjoy the ride and don't worry about broken transmissions on the Cali, you won't keep it beyond 50,000 km let alone 5,000 to be honest... :) the 458 spider is coming.
     
  19. calitalia

    calitalia Formula Junior

    Sep 29, 2009
    536
    #19 calitalia, Jul 10, 2011
    roger that. rock solid trouble free as good as a 911 if not more. I'd say even more!
     
  20. forgeahead

    forgeahead F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Sep 16, 2008
    4,408
    Rocky Mount, NC
    Full Name:
    Ray
    #20 forgeahead, Jul 10, 2011
    When the Cali was introduced, the dealers were told that it's DCT would last....forever.
     
  21. rainforest

    rainforest Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2010
    419
    #21 rainforest, Jul 10, 2011
    I feel reassured!
     
  22. Xeron

    Xeron Formula Junior

    Jan 25, 2010
    404
    Vegas
    #22 Xeron, Jul 10, 2011
    So, what caused the malfunction?
     
  23. Cavalier

    Cavalier Karting

    Nov 9, 2010
    100
    Tiburon, Calif.
    #23 Cavalier, Jul 14, 2011
    I think it might have been the HELE system as my car has one of the first ? Some of the messages pointed to this too. Anyway it was a March/April 2011 production. The car totally lost power on the highway but I was able to exit slowly, stop at a light then it wouldn't start again. I got it started but the car was going haywire, lots of lights coming on and no power. I drove slowly for about 1 mile on side streets until it wouldn't start any longer. Luckily I was on the side of the road by this time and not in the middle of the road. Worst part of it, I left my mobile at home and had to walk to a gas station and borrow their phone to call a taxi.

    Service told me it lost fuel pressure and needs some new part.

    I am starting to feel the car is jinxed because its transport ship broke down in the middle of the ocean and had to be towed to port and was about 3 weeks later than they said it would be here.

    Now the worst part of all of this, I went away for more than a month out of the country and I go back next week for one day before leaving the country again for 10 days and it is looking like the damn car is not fixed yet!!!! I just want to drive it for one day.
     
  24. rams

    rams Karting

    Aug 18, 2009
    219
    NC-USA/SG/MY
    #24 rams, Jul 14, 2011
    oh man... I feel your pain. :-(
    hope the car sorts out well after your trip.
     
  25. Balsamina

    Balsamina Formula Junior

    May 19, 2010
    946
    San Francisco Area
    Full Name:
    S
    #25 Balsamina, Jul 14, 2011
    Ugh sorry to hear about your problems. Did the dealer mention it might be the fuel pump? Porsche & BMW have had well publicized problems with high pressure fuel pumps with their 1st gen direct fuel injected engines.

    Let us know how the dealer is treating you. I still maintain my relationship with a guy at your dealer notwithstanding I bought from the other local one.
     
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