Trip to Ferrari Factory last week | FerrariChat

Trip to Ferrari Factory last week

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by robert biscan, Sep 26, 2005.

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  1. robert biscan

    robert biscan F1 Veteran
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    Jan 17, 2003
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    Well I almost didn't get in for starters. I leaft Venice and headed to Maranello by way of Bologna and hit a 2 hour traffic jamb and was late. I called the factory to see if I should just go back to Venice or continue but Daniela didn't answer her cell so I went to Maranello. When I got there, I pulled into the parking lot and immediately was told to move , NOW! They don't have a visitor lot and you find a place on your own somewhere which isn't that easy.
    Anyway I came back and showed my paper work and asked if I could still visit and remarkably the girl said come back at 3pm and I could join a new group. Apparently out of 20 for the 10am tour only 8 showed up for the same reason as me. When I should back up at 3 I was told to go home cause I missed the 10 appointment. We went round and round and after a call from the holy father in the Vatican , they let me in. I had a 5 and 1/2 hour drive there and back. It's supposed to take 2 hours plus.
    A few facts for those of you who have never been:
    1. There are 2 normal lines that the cars are made. One is for the 8 cylinder cars and one for the 12's. The line moves every 32 minutes and 15 cars are produced a day per line.
    2. There may be a 3rd line in production if a special model is underway. In my case it was the FXX line. They were making them right in front of my eyes. We actually stopped and were able to ask questions on this line and hung out for a while.
    3. Each car made is tested on the track for 30 minutes or so. They are not track driven to win a race but to insure the safety of the car.
    4. The engine of a 12 is assembled by one mechanic all the way thru but an 8 is not just one guy and neither is the Maserati engines made there. The Maser 8's are not the same as the F cars 8 but are built by Ferrari.
    5.We did not see the paint booth but Ferrari paints the Maserati too. That is all the work F does on the M cars.
    6. It takes 3 cow hides to make the interior of one F car.
    7. Currently 3 430's are being make in the 12 line due to the high demand for the 430 according to Ferrari. I think the reason is that the 12's just aren't selling as well as they should.
    8. The Ferrari Factory works only one shift and closes for one month during August for holiday.

    If I think of anything else useful I'll try and add more to the post. I enjoyed the visit and always wanted to see the Factory. I did not feel overly appreciated as a Ferrari owner and they did not give me the feeling that my business was appreciated. That was a disappointment. I guess they have rules to follow and if you are late that is your fault and not that of Ferrari. They are proud to say all their cars are sold before they leave the Factory. I don't think that is 100% true. It is a long trip from Nashville to Maranello and I think they should be a little more understanding that anyone who goes there has spent a lot of money and time to get there. Also driving in Italy is not that easy with all those round abouts. You have to allow time for wrong turns. The Factory is not right next to the interstate and there are many turns to get there. The people at the Ferrari gift shop couldn't of been nicer and they were very helpful. I had lunch at the Cavalino resturant just for fun and it was nice. I looked thru the fence at the track and walked to the Montana resturant to take a few shots. Another F chatter posted his pictures a few months ago so I won't post any as his were great.
     
  2. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Aug 3, 2002
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    Robert, congratulations...! Sounds like you had a great time... Did you see any black FXXs...? :)
     
  3. Scotty

    Scotty F1 World Champ
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    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.
     
  4. robert biscan

    robert biscan F1 Veteran
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    No, all red with the white stripes.
     
  5. robert biscan

    robert biscan F1 Veteran
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    You must look like M.S. or Enzo himself. No one got inside the gate for long.
     
  6. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
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    Central Texas
     
  7. robert biscan

    robert biscan F1 Veteran
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    I did love Italy and thought the people were very helpful. All of the places we went to were just great. I will definetely go back soon.
     
  8. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    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.
     
  9. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2001
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    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.
     
  10. ItaliaF1

    ItaliaF1 F1 Veteran

    Aug 28, 2005
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    robert, it is great to here someone in nashville post this thread. hopre you have a better time if u go back again.
     
  11. tifosi4life

    tifosi4life Rookie

    Oct 19, 2004
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    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.
     
  12. cmparrenzo

    cmparrenzo F1 Rookie

    Mar 3, 2002
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    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.
     
  13. Trevor L

    Trevor L Formula Junior

    Jul 21, 2004
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    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.
     
  14. robert biscan

    robert biscan F1 Veteran
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    One of the funnier things was when we were entering the guide collected our cameras but told the French it was ok to take theirs in with them. They were the group on the 3 tour. Our second group was also seperate at 3. We didn't get the audio headsets.
     
  15. Cavallino_Rampante

    Jun 18, 2005
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    Stefano
    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 :D

    Is there any way at all to get a factory tour if you don't own a Ferrari?
     
  16. rizzo308

    rizzo308 F1 Rookie
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    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
     
  17. Ferrari 328 Euro

    Ferrari 328 Euro Formula Junior

    Jul 19, 2004
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    Brandon
    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.
     
  18. robert biscan

    robert biscan F1 Veteran
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    I had to give my dealer my car and chasis number. I think you must be an owner.
     
  19. Cavallino_Rampante

    Jun 18, 2005
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    #19 Cavallino_Rampante, Sep 28, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    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 :D

    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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