The running costs of a Ferrari

There is NOTHING in that article that is accurate... That is a classic fallacy article. About as meaningful as some random idiot saying Harley Davidson is junk and break down every time you drive them. it a board full of losers that have zero real world knowledge of Ferrari. My guess is that I will drive my F430 60,000 miles and never spend more than 500-1k a year in maintenance(prob less). Oil changes only basically and the occasional mile service which is NOT expensive.

 

The referenced article: http://www.sportscarmarket.com/articles/archives/939
Sheehan is off his rocker on somethings, but generally has a better idea about living with a Ferrari than the average or above average Joe. He seems to call it as it is, although I have not heard of too many other cars in this world that require the windshield washer reservoir to be replaced at 17000miles and less than three years old for over $500. The owner of this specific car seems a bit anal in keeping up a car that was depreciating fast, fixxing things that could/should wait until it was time to sell. For example, if your wheels have road rash at 15K and you are planning to keep the car for 45-60K miles, why would you fix it at that point if you are not entering concourses, and if you are, why are you putting on so many miles? Also, if I had a GM car that was in the shop as often and at the miles indicated, it would be considered a lemon.

 

The owner is a bit anal, but -- it's a Ferrari, and most of us won't tolerate broken bits the way we would on a daily driver Honda or BMW.

That said, why would you say the article is inaccurate? It sums up the actual, real world costs of ownership of a 550. If anything, it's a reality check. Whatever you think of the World Car Fans board (I don't visit it often, so I don't know much about it), they're linking to a Sheehan article in SCM. While I don't agree with everything Sheehan says, he and Keith Martin are two of the more respected guys in the field.

The stuff that really pi$$es me off is similar to the latest entry in the Edmunds Long Term Test blog on the Ferrari 308, where some guy thought about driving the car and didn't, made some Tom Selleck joke and wondered if the car would have caught fire if drove it. That's worthless hearsay. Sheehan and Keith Martin/SCM are good information.

Look, I love my Ferrari, but the truth is that even the 'ultra-reliable' 328s, with none of microprocessors and electronic crap, are expensive to own by normal car standards. I'd rather have potential owners go into this knowing the real potential costs.

 

I would fix road rash on my Ferrari's wheels immediately. The car's a rolling conversation piece/attention magnet, and I'd rather not look like an idiot who can't drive it without kissing the curb.

 

I had an engine out service on my BB512i in March 2003 at FoA and had the alternators rebuilt at Sleepy Hollow Auto Electric. Since that time the only problems I have had was an A/C compressor seal replacement . I have changed the oil/filter each Spring and Fall and that is it...not bad for a 26 year old Fiat...

 

maybe i missed something but the link i clicked up top brought me to a short blub thing with some guy talking about his friend's 550 saying it cost 65k to own in maintenance or something.... then i read a couple of the comments about it below it with kids saying that;s why im not a ferrari fan and how porsche is the ultimate and a bunch of other crap from non owning, non knowing, kids

 

I hope most wheel rash comes from parking not driving. If it comes from driving, the rash on the wheels is likely the least of the worries.

 

You have to click on the link in the link

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/articles/archives/939

Are these numbers right? It does seem high, and like was said earlier if one had to spend that much time at a dealership maintenance shop that early it would be considered a lemon.

 

Well, you know, real Ferrari drivers park at 80mph...

 

ah ok, read that now thank you......

looks like 20-25k of the 65k was cosmetic and personal upgrades.

Also looks like the dealer is KILLING HIM. replacing shocks and sway bars but not the bushings until a short time later? Adding cost. Oil leaks galore, fix em right the first time. Guy hits way too many curbs... wheels should NEVER have road rash even after 200k miles. Learn to drive and save some money. LOL @ windshield washer reservoir... if you use this contraption to wash your windshield, you shouldn't own a ferrari, hell I don't even have the wipers on my car (both stupid inventions).... rain-x for rain and soap/water and a sponge for washer fluid. The only real major issues were both covered by ferrari extending the warranty... the rest of the stuff was seemingly driver fault and abuse. just my opinions obv

 

There are pre-Luca ferraris and post-Luca ferraris.
A pre-Luca ferrari is an Enzo-philosophy car; ie. poor reliability and use of 1950's technology. Think testarossa, 328, etc. The video at the factory museum is absolutely hilarious - it features Enzo talking about using modern technology coupled with screen shots of the most archaic foundry film ever, people beating out engine parts by hand etc.

The last car considered to be pre-Luca was the 348. The 355 was a transition car, during which Luca di Montemezolo was putting cutting edge technology into the factory and cleaning out the old ways of building cars. This was pointed out in several car magazines at the time. The 360 was the first post-Luca car, in that the reliability was roughly equivalent to modern competitors.

The 550 was a transition car also, although first fabricated after the 355. The 575 was an improvement but obviously based on the 550 and therefore must be classified as a transition car also. The 599 is an example of a V12 Luca-era car.

 

I don't think you'll find many guys who would call the 355 more reliable than the 328.

I would also draw a clear line between the Enzo-era cars that ended after the 328 (tubular frame, hand-assembled), and the more technology-laden, robot-assembled cars (348-date) launched after his death in 1988. The old man certainly wasn't in a rush to adopt technology, but I see both good and bad in the 348-355-360-430.

 

The issue is not why the owner chose to fix the road rash, the issue is why is that being included in the cost of ownership. Similarly why is Sheehan including the installation of Tubis and clear bra and window tint in cost of ownership as well. These are not costs resulting from the car failing. I had a 1997 550 I bought used in 2002 and recently sold after 6 years with 30,000 miles and except for annual fluid services, the 30,000 major service, replacing some coolant hoses and a new set of tires, I had no major issues or expenses. The car started every day, never left me stranded, and at the end of the day with depreciation and all expenses, probably cost me less than 1200 per month to own, which is cheaper than leasing most decent cars these days.