Worthwhile article on Ferrari in today's WSJ:

To quote you; "Money is the bottom line." That is usually the case with most people or businesses, but I think Ferrari does not want to sacrifice quality for profit...and that is why we LOVE them!

(PS I am now getting rid of the Porsche!)

 

It’s clear that the urge to drive “the best” has taken to the extreme. I’m not sure of anybody who would feel as comfortable paying $520K for a 612 for instance. I would imagine it to be ergonomically difficult for the company to come through as fully as expected simply due to their quite…humble factory. This is not a company that will ‘mass-produce’ a fast car. After all, Frank Gehry never did pre-fab. It is merely waiting for your tailored suit to be finished. No less, no more.

It begs to be asked however, that if it is a matter of exclusivity where part of being in the club means you have to wait your turn, what is it that is exclusive? Everybody can buy a Ferrari who has the money. Celebrities echo this year after year; it is the limited number however, that dubs Ferrari as the choice marque. The boutique as opposed to the galleria.




Best
Jon

 

Fine, so there aren't enough F430 Spiders to go around this month. What's Ferrari to do (bites nails here)...

Realistically, this just keeps the 360 Spider prices up a while longer. It's not like all the 360s went to the crusher the day after the 430 was announced. And for most or nearly all of us, the differences between the cars are trivial other than one being 'the new model'.

I think the crux of the problem is that too many people feel the need to have the newest model the month it comes out. Maybe a PR article is supposed to pump up the already excessive demand, but what's so terrible about being stuck with an '04 360 Spider for a couple of years and then buying the '06 430 Spider when it's a year or two old and has four coats of wax and 620 miles on the odometer?

If we were talking about Ford F150s, BMW sedans or other daily use/disposable cars, this lack of supply would be a disaster for those automakers. But we're talking about the super rich not being able to get a 599 right away because the super-super rich pissed away $200K to get ahead of them in line. There are plenty of Ferraris to go around. Too many, maybe, as the 360 was overproduced.

I realize the concept of 'used car' is offensive to the upper-upper-upper crust of the world, but plainly there are more than enough newer Ferraris to go around -- in fact there are rows of 360s sitting around dealer lots now, probably an oversupply. It's not as though people are being forced into Daytonas, Boxers, 308/328, etc. -- old cars that demand attention. There are tons of near-new Ferraris around for anyone who can afford one. And the scarce 575M can be had with zero wait.

I think Ferrari is brilliant for keeping its used cars as desired as they are, and I worry that they're overproducing now -- because 360s are too abundant.

 

Yeah, I definetley smell a price increase...which is fine with me...all of ours will all of the sudden be worth more