California T or Portofino - owner's feedback, real world

California T or Portofino - owner's feedback, real world

Author
Discussion

jonamv8

3,164 posts

168 months

Tuesday 7th November 2023
quotequote all
Was in the same predicament and went for the CaliT. Not sold on the Portofino in the specs I was seeing them in, almost too modern looking, have seen some nice ones in pics online tho. Interior did impress.

Saved a chunk of £££££ and went for the CaliT which to my eyes looked nicer, I grew up with the 355 so prefer an older look, also like saving money. CaliT sounded a bit better as standard to me too.

Also a huge BMW fan, coming from an M6 Competition whoch was a phenomenal car, but its not a Ferrari!

Y not

24 posts

107 months

Tuesday 7th November 2023
quotequote all
Owned mine from new 2020. Wanted something for European road trips and general fun days. 16k miles in (feels like 100k if measured in smiles ). One pothole took out a tyre and one A/c leak. Dealers very responsive and trailered car back to sort in short order. Plenty of fun stuff like factory/alps/north wales / race events and tours with a group of others.

Buying experience was like a bespoke suit (Ferrari) rather than crap overpriced high street level service (Porsche). Lucky to get my factory atelier in just as covid was starting.

Owned lots of Porsches. Including a few at the same time as the Porto. The 911s have all been sold (not special enough).

Went Porto as didn’t want all the haptic guff that was coming on the later models.

Tried to pm/email OP the detail of my ownership thread on Ferrarichat as it’s a bit long.

If OP buys one, just drive it to Italy, the reactions are great fun.


DeejRC

5,871 posts

84 months

Wednesday 8th November 2023
quotequote all
The last post is interesting as it says something I’ve thought about and ranted about a cpl of times this yr.
I run Toyotas through the biz, a Hilux for heavier farm & animal duties and a Yaris for smaller stuff. Their service is superb. Their customer interactions are excellent and the products top notch.
When I deal with Ferrari, as the poster said, it is motoring equivalent of a tailors. Or, and forgive my one man pampering indulgence pls, a wet shave appt. You feel a valued customer. Everything about the experience feels aimed at working for you. You pay for it, yes, but it’s about delivering an experience that you don’t begrudge the money.
When I deal with Porsche, dear God, but every single time it feels like the bloody opposite to Ferrari. And to Toyota!!! It’s about ensuring they take as much money off me as possible in return for me being grateful that I own a Porsche. Rather than a tailor, it absolutely feels like an upper mid brand clothing shop trying to pretend to me that they are a bespoke outfitters. Whilst charging the full tailor money. And every time I drive a 911 I’m left, again, with the impression that the Yaris is more fun to drive! I keep thinking, I’m a PH’er, I’m supposed to love a 911, I must love a 911, so how come I keep thinking this is the dullest thing I’ve done all year?!
  1. FirstWorldProblems I know tongue out

NRG1976

1,107 posts

12 months

Wednesday 8th November 2023
quotequote all
DeejRC said:
The last post is interesting as it says something I’ve thought about and ranted about a cpl of times this yr.
I run Toyotas through the biz, a Hilux for heavier farm & animal duties and a Yaris for smaller stuff. Their service is superb. Their customer interactions are excellent and the products top notch.
When I deal with Ferrari, as the poster said, it is motoring equivalent of a tailors. Or, and forgive my one man pampering indulgence pls, a wet shave appt. You feel a valued customer. Everything about the experience feels aimed at working for you. You pay for it, yes, but it’s about delivering an experience that you don’t begrudge the money.
When I deal with Porsche, dear God, but every single time it feels like the bloody opposite to Ferrari. And to Toyota!!! It’s about ensuring they take as much money off me as possible in return for me being grateful that I own a Porsche. Rather than a tailor, it absolutely feels like an upper mid brand clothing shop trying to pretend to me that they are a bespoke outfitters. Whilst charging the full tailor money. And every time I drive a 911 I’m left, again, with the impression that the Yaris is more fun to drive! I keep thinking, I’m a PH’er, I’m supposed to love a 911, I must love a 911, so how come I keep thinking this is the dullest thing I’ve done all year?!
  1. FirstWorldProblems I know tongue out
Our local Toyota garage has treated me better than any of the prestige ones, honestly they are brilliant at customer service smile

HardtopManual

2,454 posts

168 months

Thursday 9th November 2023
quotequote all
MaverickV12 said:
When the old girl goes in for servicing, say goodbye for a month or so
Where are you going for your servicing? I have a 355 - an annual can be turned around in a day like any other car. I don't think it even took a month to get it fixed when it lunched a couple of exhaust valves and a cylinder liner.