What does a first time Ferrari buyer need to know?

Hello My soon to be Ferrari Brother and welcome to the insanity!!!
I’d be very happy to answer all your questions . Feel free to give me a call whenever you have time.
Mike 973-610-7111
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/anyone-that-wants-to-buy-or-sell-a-ferrari-the-right-way.586271/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4MKIwhPnfE2cTRfbHJDM2tHUGM/view

 

Congrats on beginning your adventure to Ferrari ownership.

I purchased my first Ferrari about 1.5 years ago and it was a blast.

Most important thing for me was not to be afraid to travel anywhere in the country to find the right car.
Make a long weekend trip out of it and you might come home with a new car.
If you are really lucky you will develop a relationship with a dealership that might last a lifetime.

Have fun and remember that this should be a fun process.
When it isn't fun any longer then you should stop and take a break. Resume the search when it becomes fun again.

Best wishes,
GG

 

Arm candy and car candy cost more than you think in ways you never thought of.

 

My wife and I flew to Chicago from Seattle to buy my car.
It was Memorial Day weekend and it was a heck of a trip.
1st class all the way as I thought my wife deserved it (she was 100% behind the purchase).

I still have a personal relationship with Continental AutoSports post sale.
I am treated like a valued customer and invited to store functions even though I live 1500 miles away.
Nice feeling to have.

I am wishing the same for you.

GG

 

The seller is just as important as the car....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

So true. I too am looking at becoming a first time owner Here in Kalifornia where taxes and fees tack on another 10% before you even start shopping for insurance

 

1. Purchase price is just the cost of admission to the party. Keep in mind that these cars can throw a major $$$ repair bill your way at any time. Factor that into your purchase calculations.

2. Once you zero in on a model or models, read everything you can in the relevant F-chat model section about their quirks and common failure modes.

T

 

When you get the machine, take a driving class / course, these new Ferraris have lots of HP and lots of driver aids, there are a good amount of people who have destroyed their Ferraris because of over confidence , and getting in way over their heads without being able to recover . You Tube is filled with examples.

Thank you

 

Research, how reliable, maintenance cost, how often. Guess all this depends on your financial status. Most important PPI from independent shop/dealer, not from the one your buying from unless your buying new. I flew to Phili to get mine, best of luck

 

don’t forget the wife tax, which can amount to up to 100 percent of your purchase price.

 

I wish someone had told me "anything but red"

 

What model are you looking at? V12 CPO suggests F12, 812, Lusso?

you are right to mention the steering. Contemporary Ferraris have hyper quick steering. It can catch people out, even those used to powerful cars. More so in the mid engined cars where the centre of inertia is behind you. A typical case is taking a fast corner which gets unexpectedly tighter, you haven’t input enough, then react and overdo the input and you are on the wrong side of the road, or worse. Lots of videos on the internet. It’s not an issue of safety systems, because the car hasn’t lost traction or adhesion at any point, it’s an inexperienced driver literally driving the car into another car, a lamppost, a wall, because of the hyper fast steering. The steering also has very little feel and doesn’t weight up as you pile on the lock. It’s amazing engineering, but handle with care.

this is not a criticism by the way. I own two V12 Ferraris and the 812 is a magnificent car.

 

I'd also add a recommendation to talk to look FCA members, tifosi and enthusiasts about your service options.
Unless you're very handy, and do your own repairs and maintenance, I think the relationship you have with your
service provider will be the most important in your F-car ownership experience...T

 

I would say "it depends." I see from above that you are eyeing a newer V12. So, I think that more or less means an official dealer for service, but I am sure the locals can clue you in better than I could for your area. I see also that your are in Chicago area, which I think means 2 dealers - Continental and Lake Forest - so you do have options even on the dealer front. Good luck in the hunt and please post-up when you find "the one."...T

 

You'll be hooked for life, wonder why you waited this long, and assuming your Fcar is out of warranty live in slight fear of repair bills

 

If you're getting an 812, you'll have the balance of the 5-year factory warranty and 7-year maintenance. Once the warranty is over, you can buy a New Power warranty every year. You will definitely want to take it to the dealer for its annual service and any warranty issues that come up. I think buying a CPO car, with factory warranty, from a dealer, is a great place to be.

Re: the dealer, I could barely get Ferrari of Denver to budge on the price. They seem to hold the upper hand these days. You might have better luck in winter than I did in summer, but the available stock will be lower, I think. One thing to try is to work through your local Ferrari dealer to acquire the car you want. That way you have a relationship with them from the outset. Case in point: Ferrari of Denver (where I bought the car) invites me to events and stuff all the time, but Ferrari of Seattle (my local dealer) doesn't. Just something to think about.

 

First while its not just any car..it is just a car. Don't be one of those guys. Give the car to your wife and have her drive. On Insurance costs, I found that if you've had Geico insurance for more than ten years they will insure any car (must ask for a supervisor, agents don't know). I insured both my 348 & 360 for stated values and the insurance was about $650 each for 6 months. Thats' extraordinarily low.

 

Welcome to another Ferrarista in the Chicago area! My advice is to always check tire and battery age on any car you plan to buy. True, these items can be replaced, but they could mean $2000 to $3000 in additional expenses. Batteries need to be new to under three years old for maximum power, and must be replaced every three years. Tires should be under four years old, and again should be replaced every four years. In the Midwest, if you plan to drive when the temperature is less than 45 degrees, you'll need winter tires too. Enjoy your quest!