Trip to Ferrari Factory last week

Robert, congratulations...! Sounds like you had a great time... Did you see any black FXXs...?

 

When I was there (several years ago) they were making 360's on the V12 line--I think making 8's on the 12 line is becoming standard procedure.

I was able to park just inside the locked gate--I have no EARTHLY idea why--but I felt like a celeb.

 

With a 10:00AM tour it would have been better to just stay there down the street. Just a little FYI for the next time Also, my experience proved very accomodating on F's part at the factory and restored some faith after witnessing the attitudes in some of the local dealers here.

 

I just got back from the factory 2 weeks ago and was treated like MS himself! You have to understand that while I was waiting for my tour to start about 10 people walked in trying to get a tour. None were owners and everyone tried to talk their way in. People were taking pictures infront of the gates and trying to see what was going on, it was a circus!

The reason they are so strict with time is that all the tour guides are part-time. They are only brought in to give the tour, so when you are late so are they. My tour guide was a medical student going to school. We did wait about a half hour for a Japanese couple who were arriving by Taxi and when they finally arrived we started.

We did see the FXX and a heavily clad V12 which was probably the new 600 Imola, it was going to Fiorano and as we left it was doing laps! Sounded fantastic. The personal attention given to us was unprecidented even though I only own a 308 GT4. I can't say enough good things about it. Sorry your experience wasn't as good.

 

robert, it is great to here someone in nashville post this thread. hopre you have a better time if u go back again.

 

Reading your adventures at the factory really brought back some memories. I went in 1998 with the Grand Prix Tours and it was one of the best weeks of my life. The tour guides were great and they treated us just like royalty. But when you have Phil Hill as your ambassador, it's impossible not to get treated well. Traveling with Phil Hill in Italy, was like traveling Pope. Everyone knew him and wanted to say hi. A big thumbs up to Mr. Hill. One on the classiest guys I have ever met, and man can he tell some great stories.

 

My experiences at the factory have been very positive on each visit I have made.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Phil Hill on several occasions and you are correct, he is a class act.

I was at his party at Monterey this year and I was saddened to see his health was not good, I am afraid we are going to lose an important part of our history and a true legend.

 

You need to quit staring at the boobies on Music Row and practice your round about driving.

Sounds like a great trip even if they didnt treat you like Fangio.

 

when i went there two years ago i i loved it and it wasn't TOO bad finding maranello. I saw the prototype for what would have been the 612 Scaglietti going around Fiorano, sounded great, ill be going again next year

Is there any way at all to get a factory tour if you don't own a Ferrari?

 

Rob did you pre book your tour whats the go with the tours for f owners .Maybe next trip you make they will treat you as if you where a movie star, good onya!! mate i it's one thing i want to do in the next year or so cheers phil

 

While I am glad that you made the pilgrimage, I am sorry that you felt you were not treated especially well. Sounds like you had a bad day overall. Consider going again in the future when time is more available.

My trip in April was incredible and I felt treated like Enzo himself. In fact, after the tour was over, the tourguide actually took me aside and showed me a few out-of-the-way things that were not on the tour. She seemed to appreciate my attempts to speak Italian and later told me that I reminded her of her son when he first visited Rome. I guess the awe on my face was obvious and my excitement was very rewarding for her.

Everywhere I went in Maranello, I was treated like gold. My stay at the Planet hotel was great (I still argue that I had the best view from room 404) and the gentleman at the front desk was really friendly and always remembered my name.

Even the Ferrari Store (on the ground floor level of the Planet Hotel) was staffed with really friendly folks. I bought a lot of small things for friends back in the US and they gave me special Ferrari bags for each item... They'd never do that in Saks or Neimans here...

Overall, I have always found the folks in Italy to be incredibly gracious. I really do think that when we as visitors try to speak the language (no matter how horrible we sound) they really do appreciate it and go the extra mile for us.

 

thanks for the response, I still dont have my license let alone a ferrari :/

i also stayed at the planet hotel and this was my view

i would sit there seeing cars drive by, i remember seeing 2 enzo's, one of them with a black car bra
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