California T or Portofino - owner's feedback, real world
Discussion
I know this isn’t exactly on thread, but why not keep the i8, which is a special car in its own right and get a Ferrari with most of its depreciation done that you can still use regularly - 550 or 575 - ok, so you’ll have epic maintenance bills but very low depreciation. And something to drive whilst the Ferrari is receiving love.
As a Portofino owner (and former Cali owner) I disagree with a number of points made earlier. The car does not disappear for a month to be serviced. I use Meridien and they collect the car, service it and return it in about 3 days normally. Even if something goes wrong (which hasn't on the Portofino but has on other Ferraris I've owned) the turn round is usually pretty quick and parts seem to arrive from Italy quite quickly, except in August. And you're not sitting anything like as low as you do in a 458/488 etc. The 'stop start' can be switched off (you have to do this every time you start the car but it's just pushing one button). I personally wouldn't use a Portofino as a high mileage d/d but i think you probably could, if you could stomach the depreciation.
Thanks, again useful feedback. I may indeed keep the i8 too. Wife will be distinctly unimpressed!
In terms of depreciation i'm really not concerned, when I bought my current car from bmw I told them that I intend to wear it out. Ferrari would be hopefully for a long time, i'll aim to see 100k miles
. That's what a car is for. Not buying for investment or for the next buyer.
I will continue to do my research, maybe getting a test drive on a car I intend to buy.
Man maths continues!
In terms of depreciation i'm really not concerned, when I bought my current car from bmw I told them that I intend to wear it out. Ferrari would be hopefully for a long time, i'll aim to see 100k miles
. That's what a car is for. Not buying for investment or for the next buyer.I will continue to do my research, maybe getting a test drive on a car I intend to buy.
Man maths continues!
willy wombat said:
As a Portofino owner (and former Cali owner) I disagree with a number of points made earlier. The car does not disappear for a month to be serviced. I use Meridien and they collect the car, service it and return it in about 3 days normally. Even if something goes wrong (which hasn't on the Portofino but has on other Ferraris I've owned) the turn round is usually pretty quick and parts seem to arrive from Italy quite quickly, except in August. And you're not sitting anything like as low as you do in a 458/488 etc. The 'stop start' can be switched off (you have to do this every time you start the car but it's just pushing one button). I personally wouldn't use a Portofino as a high mileage d/d but i think you probably could, if you could stomach the depreciation.
I think the other poster is USA based which may explain the experience re delays,willy wombat said:
The car does not disappear for a month to be serviced.
You have a Portofino, a new car, you are lucky enough to have, "free", servicing. Free is not obviously, "free", its built into the purchase price, I too have experienced, "Free", servicing, and you're right, 60 minutes later the car is back in the carpark, the valeting taking as long as the service.I'm not wealthy enough to experience much free servicing. When you, "pay", privately for the serving, that's when they find a whole menagerie of problems that previous were, "not seen". Think about it from a purely business perspective, 7 years free servicing, on year 8 ..... are they going to find anything wrong, and I don't mean warranty items, I mean serviceable items ..... ?
willy wombat said:
and parts seem to arrive from Italy quite quickly
This is correct, Franchise Ferrari can order parts from Ferrari Italy and I have had obscure parts order and delivered, "overnight", ..... overnight !!! If the owner, or non franchise, order parts ... I use Maranello ... (Maranello Classic Parts), an oil filter can take a week to land on my door mat, or weeks to order and get in from where ever over the planet it's made.I see you are doing 15,000 miles a year.... wow. Willy Wombat is correct, you are going to be hit by depreciation, and badly, but on the other hand, you are going to be doing what maybe 1% of us are doing, and that is driving a Fezza every single day, mile after mile ..... for this I envy you.
If you can afford to get your California serviced at a Franchise, then all things being well .....
I watched JayEmm on YouTube discussing Ferrari ownership, I think his 812 disappeared at a Franchise for 4 months for some, "stitching" .....
Have a watch ....
https://youtu.be/NNM26hXRdJE
https://youtu.be/OnrdrlWno9g
Its basically all the stuff that people don't tell you.
To be clear though, if my job/life allowed me to sit in my Ferrari seat everyday for 15k a year, ...... I would, without hesitation.
Get the later Cali with the 3.9TT engine, the same is in the 488 .....
My Cali T was in for a few days for a ‘software reset’ - it was about 900 Quid and wasn’t covered by warranty. My older California ( non turbo - much better sound) needed the gearbox sensor replaced at 7 grand but that was covered by warranty.
In my experience Dick Lovett Swindon great to deal with, Maranello Ethan were shocking .
In my experience Dick Lovett Swindon great to deal with, Maranello Ethan were shocking .
I bought a 5yr old F12 on 3500miles. I used it as my daily and put 11,000 miles on her in 9months. Sold her for the same price I bought her.
Supremely comfortable. The dealer sent me a brand new Roma to tool about in for a week whilst they sorted some paint during the service. Totally reliable even after such minimal miles in 5yrs.
Cars are meant to be used.
Supremely comfortable. The dealer sent me a brand new Roma to tool about in for a week whilst they sorted some paint during the service. Totally reliable even after such minimal miles in 5yrs.
Cars are meant to be used.
swanseaboydan said:
So, updates OP??
Did you end up buying a portofino??
No update yet, taking my time, no rush. I've been to Ferrari to take a look at a couple of Portofinos. At the moment I really can't decide if I prefer one to a California T.Did you end up buying a portofino??
Also, I read that a new i8 is in the pipeline.
I think the Cali T and the portofino are so similar looking that the extra 50 grand or so isn’t worth it all the time - If you are taking your time you may find a Taylor made Cali T that suits you - the odds that the original owner has the same taste as you are slim but you never know !
swanseaboydan said:
I think the Cali T and the portofino are so similar looking that the extra 50 grand or so isn’t worth it all the time - If you are taking your time you may find a Taylor made Cali T that suits you - the odds that the original owner has the same taste as you are slim but you never know !
Me and my mate are looking at them now and I personally couldn't disagree more. Test drove a nice Cali T the other week and I couldn't believe how dated it looked and felt and the scuttle shake (on admittedly bad roads) was appalling for a modern car.The Porto by comparison looks like a modern day car (which it technically is even though they now aren't being built).
I was offered a build slot on a Roma Spider yesterday but I don't think it looks as good as the Porto.
I've owned quite a few 'supercars' and they are expensive to run, can be weeks, even months at the dealer and cause constant worry. You can't just park them anywhere, a lot of times they don't fit or its not safe. The whole experience can be stressful BUT it is something you get used to after a while. Coming from an i8 or a 911 you will not be used to this level of high personal input to run your car. Its time consuming. So bear that in mind, even getting insurance can take weeks to organise. Faced with a long 200 mile + journey I used to jump in my McLaren / Ferrari. Now I cant be bothered and take my £1,500 Subaru Forster 'tip' car because it attracts no attention, works, I don't need to worry about it. and cant be bothered going over 70mph on the motorway anyway. I've gone full circle.
So think about what you want it for? Why do you really want it? If its ultimate performance then buy a supercar and live with its foibles. if its 6am Sunday blasts and occasional car meets that's also fine. if its status, a trinket or to tick a box it will frustrate you and nobody cares (only jealous) so keep what you have and consider a nice classic for weekend jaunts to run alongside your i8.
So think about what you want it for? Why do you really want it? If its ultimate performance then buy a supercar and live with its foibles. if its 6am Sunday blasts and occasional car meets that's also fine. if its status, a trinket or to tick a box it will frustrate you and nobody cares (only jealous) so keep what you have and consider a nice classic for weekend jaunts to run alongside your i8.
Bispal said:
I've owned quite a few 'supercars' and they are expensive to run, can be weeks, even months at the dealer and cause constant worry. You can't just park them anywhere, a lot of times they don't fit or its not safe. The whole experience can be stressful BUT it is something you get used to after a while. Coming from an i8 or a 911 you will not be used to this level of high personal input to run your car. Its time consuming. So bear that in mind, even getting insurance can take weeks to organise. Faced with a long 200 mile + journey I used to jump in my McLaren / Ferrari. Now I cant be bothered and take my £1,500 Subaru Forster 'tip' car because it attracts no attention, works, I don't need to worry about it. and cant be bothered going over 70mph on the motorway anyway. I've gone full circle.
So think about what you want it for? Why do you really want it? If its ultimate performance then buy a supercar and live with its foibles. if its 6am Sunday blasts and occasional car meets that's also fine. if its status, a trinket or to tick a box it will frustrate you and nobody cares (only jealous) so keep what you have and consider a nice classic for weekend jaunts to run alongside your i8.
Thanks, good post. I'm kind of in this space a little. When you stop going to some places because of your car, you think 'what's the point?' In some cases, my i8 has done that already, but after 4 years I'm at but more blaise. However, I can see that a 150k plus Ferrari may deter some trips. Then, as you say, it's too much effort.So think about what you want it for? Why do you really want it? If its ultimate performance then buy a supercar and live with its foibles. if its 6am Sunday blasts and occasional car meets that's also fine. if its status, a trinket or to tick a box it will frustrate you and nobody cares (only jealous) so keep what you have and consider a nice classic for weekend jaunts to run alongside your i8.
That's why my first choice was a 992 Targa. However, it somehow doesn't seem special enough. I don't get excited like I do about a Ferrari. Grrr! - but recognise it's a nice problem.
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