Ferrari F430 available
Discussion
DoctorD said:
I am about to withdraw my deposit against a new F430 for this very reason. I've heard of several other customers who have been allocated earlier cars even though I've had a £5k deposit down for nearly a year. I get the feeling I will eventually be allocated a car 'just' in time for it to depreciate as I drive it off the forecourt. At the moment all I'm doing is contributing to Sytner's bank account and I'd rather spend my money elsewhere - like on a Porsche.
There is an argument that Ferrari look after 'good customers' which I can understand, as frustrating as it is.
IMO, if you're buying a car like a 430 and the biggest gripe you have about having to wait is the additional money you might lose, then you are almost as bad as the speculators. Buy the car for what it is, not what you might lose on it. If you're worried about losing cash on it as soon as you drive off the forecout, then buy a used 360. I can certainly understand the frustration, but be frustrated at the weight no at the fact that you're not going to keep your cash 'cause someone is better connected or got on the list earlier than you.
Depreciation is a bitch with any car, Ferrari included (perhaps with the exception of those well connected or fortunate enough to be high on this list, but they are the exception rather than the rule).
All the best
Jamie
uonlyhave2seats said:
Poorcardealer: I would love to know how official Ferrari dealers really allocate new Ferraris. If I went and put a deposit on the 430 replacement would I keep my genuine place on the list or would I get bumped? Some dealers will not take deposits that far in advance others will.
The dealership I worked for would gladly bank £5K deposits on models that were just a drawing in car magazines, to give you an idea on deposits, we also sold lotus, we had 140X£1K deposits for Elises before any had been delivered.......there is no hard fast rules about allocation of new F cars........should be first on list gets their car first, doesnt usually happen..... lots might depend on how "friendly" you are with the sales manager, might be worth trying to get your hands on the company demo car by agreeing to buy at list price when it is 3 or 4 months old with a pre determined mileage.
Any dealer will know usually the year before their allocation for the following year, so for example a dealer will know he is getting say 10 F430s and some of all the other models.....it is not optional that the cars of less desirability are coming, you are getting them.
A dealer who misbehaves in some way may be "punished" by having some of their allocation of the desirable models taken away from them, or the "good" dealers may cop for the odd additional car.When the market is boyant Ferrari are a very arrogant company.
Very little by way of excitment for a dealer who knows his allocation of F430s is pre sold for 5 years at list price, so they have to try and create a good used car stock to generate additional profits.
Hasnt allways been this way with Ferrari, in the early 90s the market was crap and Ferrari were on the verge of going under. The 355 saved their bacon.
littlebro said:
There is an argument that Ferrari look after 'good customers' which I can understand, as frustrating as it is.
IMO, if you're buying a car like a 430 and the biggest gripe you have about having to wait is the additional money you might lose, then you are almost as bad as the speculators. Buy the car for what it is, not what you might lose on it. If you're worried about losing cash on it as soon as you drive off the forecout, then buy a used 360. I can certainly understand the frustration, but be frustrated at the weight no at the fact that you're not going to keep your cash 'cause someone is better connected or got on the list earlier than you.
Depreciation is a bitch with any car, Ferrari included (perhaps with the exception of those well connected or fortunate enough to be high on this list, but they are the exception rather than the rule).
All the best
Jamie
Thanks but I'm not in the least bit interested in any other Ferraris, a friend of mine has a 360CS and I've been in and around that so many times that it's become a little 'familiar'. I just happened to 'like' the F430 (good performance, decent looking interior at last etc) but get the very clear sense that the dealer is yanking my chain so to speak.
I'm not bothered about depreciation per se, and I'm far from being a speculator (quite the opposite), but I saw the F430 as the first Ferrari I actually like but am not prepared to bend over backwards for the privellege.
Like Cem, I disagree with the condescending comment about Ferrari being in a different league to Porsche. I've been around fast exotic cars for many years now and not in awe of either brand. I've done the factory tour at Maranello several times and as recent as last year had the opportunity to compare Ferrari and Lamborghini when I visited Maranello. Lamborghini won hands down in the presentation of it's museum and factory and the way it greets a potential customer. I'm a succesful professional enthusiast, the kind of customer Ferrari 'should' be attracting but I'm for ever insulted by the arrogance of their dealers.
It seems to me there are people who just 'love' Ferrari and let that define their attitude, whilst others (like me) consider Ferrari to be a car company first and foremost that needs to deliver on the values it's brand serves to present. I still find that delivery somewhat 'short' of what I can get from rival brands.
DoctorD said:
Thanks but I'm not in the least bit interested in any other Ferraris, a friend of mine has a 360CS and I've been in and around that so many times that it's become a little 'familiar'. I just happened to 'like' the F430 (good performance, decent looking interior at last etc) but get the very clear sense that the dealer is yanking my chain so to speak.
I'm not bothered about depreciation per se, and I'm far from being a speculator (quite the opposite), but I saw the F430 as the first Ferrari I actually like but am not prepared to bend over backwards for the privellege.
Like Cem, I disagree with the condescending comment about Ferrari being in a different league to Porsche. I've been around fast exotic cars for many years now and not in awe of either brand. I've done the factory tour at Maranello several times and as recent as last year had the opportunity to compare Ferrari and Lamborghini when I visited Maranello. Lamborghini won hands down in the presentation of it's museum and factory and the way it greets a potential customer. I'm a succesful professional enthusiast, the kind of customer Ferrari 'should' be attracting but I'm for ever insulted by the arrogance of their dealers.
It seems to me there are people who just 'love' Ferrari and let that define their attitude, whilst others (like me) consider Ferrari to be a car company first and foremost that needs to deliver on the values it's brand serves to present. I still find that delivery somewhat 'short' of what I can get from rival brands.
Doc,
I hear you on the bending overbackwards thing. I think Ferrari trade massively off the exclusivity of their cars, where as Lamborghini are now much more geared up to being a mass producer and are awre that they must be able to satisfy customer at many different levels.
I think its terrible when a product is so strong that the consumer has no bargaining power or is made to feel that the seller is doing you a favour by selling to you.
Apologies if my comments offneded - that was not the intention. I often read posts about people fretting about money they will lose on cars and I fail to see how you can truly enjoy a car (or anything) if you permenantly fret about what it will cost.
I'd like to think that the arrognace of Ferrari will leave them with egg on thier face and a parking lot full of unsold 430's, but it will never happen - the products are desirable on many different levels.
Someone suggested on another forum to boycot a potential new "Super Enzo" and not to place orders (or agree to purchase if you're one of the lucky selected prefered customers) as it will devalue the currnt Enzo. Like Ferrari will give a toss if that happens!...there's people queuing up to buy their products, and knowing that evidently leads to an attitude at dealer level.
All the best
Jamie
Fair point about the sales strategy of Lamborghini but when visiting both factories, Santa Agata was very welcoming and provided a personal tour guide to show us all the facilities (plus some free souveniers) whereas Modena charged us £40 to have a look in their Museum and it took half a dozen attempts to even get a look at the factory. The overriding attitude of Ferrari was that we were not welcome whereas Lamborghini were the exact opposite, but in a very warm and polite manner. They came across as true car enthusiasts, whereas Ferrari was snobbish and quite rude. I've tried to like Ferrari and spent 5 years racing Alfa Romeos (so I like italian marques) but they clearly don't need us as customers.
DoctorD said:
Fair point about the sales strategy of Lamborghini but when visiting both factories, Santa Agata was very welcoming and provided a personal tour guide to show us all the facilities (plus some free souveniers) whereas Modena charged us £40 to have a look in their Museum and it took half a dozen attempts to even get a look at the factory. The overriding attitude of Ferrari was that we were not welcome whereas Lamborghini were the exact opposite, but in a very warm and polite manner. They came across as true car enthusiasts, whereas Ferrari was snobbish and quite rude. I've tried to like Ferrari and spent 5 years racing Alfa Romeos (so I like italian marques) but they clearly don't need us as customers.
Docto,
Your experiences echo almost exactly my own. That attitude (both at factory AND dealer level), allied to the fact that, frankly, I find Lamborghini's more "exotic" and emotionally engaging means that I am now unlikely ever to become a future Ferrari customer (although I have owned them in the past)...and probably explains why I have a Lambo in my garage!
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