Is a Cali a genuine Ferrari?

[laeumh]

Hi all. A bit of genuine feedback plse.
Having had 4 Porsches and a lifelong itch for a Ferrari I'm seriously considering an earlyish California. Reason being it seems decent vfm at mid 60's and it will be kept outside hence the hard roof setup makes a lot of sense.
But there seems to be a lot of negative sentiment to these, particularly some You Tube reviews it's not a real Ferrari etc. Etc. Latest Evo magazine harps on about it being thrust on Ferrari from Maserati to try and make a success if it. Hardly inspiring...
I get it's not a 458 Spider but it's £55k cheaper! What do folks genuinely think here that have actually owned / run one ? Cheers

[F355GTS]

Brilliant car, definitely a real Ferrari, owned 3 separate cars, one of them twice. ignore the multitude who haven't owned one and just recycle Clarkson/ Harris comments.

it is true though that some elements of the design are challenging, straight on from the front, rear 3/4 being the worse but you cant;l see those when you're driving it

[Roof down]

I fully get where you are coming from, I have thought often along the same lines, 55k cheaper etc, I also in my heart don’t see it as a proper Ferrari.
I sold my 360 and truth be told kind of regret it, that was a proper Ferrari, just seen a yellow Dino here in Norfolk , now that is a proper Ferrari, yes despite the Dino bit.
Sounds like a Cali would suit your circumstances though.
I also believe they are 55 k cheaper for a reason.
Mike

[markiii]

It's a proper Ferrari but for me the looks are fine but it was a bit of a numb steer.

At 175k it was a no chance

At 60k I'm sure you could fix the things you don't like

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Its a Ferrari.
Parts of the reason behind the lower value is that they were such a great seller and most have got more miles on than an equivalent 458, and of course whilst still very fast cars they are more of an allrounder than sports car.
If you like them, get one.

[ANOpax]

The reason it was pasted with the ‘not a real Ferrari’ badge was because of the Maserati link and the fact that it was the marque’s first front engine V8 car. Added to that, it was their first folding tin top roof car as well.

The implications of the front V8 and folding roof for packaging, handling and looks meant that it was a big step away from what people had come to expect.

The experience is not as hard core as the mid engine V8s but as a result the car is much more useable every day. Think of it as closer to GT than sports car and you won’t go wrong.

When the 286 and GT4s first came out, even Enzo himself kept them separate from the ‘real’ Ferraris because they only had V6 or V8 engines - hence the Dino brand. How times change...

[Tuscan Wil]

I see where you are coming from. It is a Ferrari, as it says on the tin with the right badges on it. Whether it is a geniue Ferrari, only you can tell as it depends on how do yourself define a Ferrari? Some old schools will even tell you that a proper Ferrari has to be V12. So there you go.

Personally, I want a mid engine V8 2 seats Ferrari due to my bring up watching Magnum

[Joe5y]

ANOpax said:

The reason it was pasted with the ‘not a real Ferrari’ badge was because of the Maserati link and the fact that it was the marque’s first front engine V8 car. Added to that, it was their first folding tin top roof car as well.

For me this is the main point. I can't see past the Maserati GT connection and to me this is a much prettier car, a car that I would have over the Cali.

[anonymous-user]

A stunning looking car, my favourite Ferrari for looks.

[markiii]

Joe5y said:

For me this is the main point. I can't see past the Maserati GT connection and to me this is a much prettier car, a car that I would have over the Cali.

fair point, i think the maser does it better for less money

[willy wombat]

I had a Cali between 2010 and 2012. I loved it and only sold it because I was buying a 458 spider. In 2011 we drove it to Monza for the Italian GP. As we had Paddock Club parking we drove in and out right through Monza Park and while doing so got loads of compliments from Ferrari fans and there must have been over 1,000 photos taken of the car. As such the Tifosi clearly thought it was a real Ferrari and that should be good enough for anyone.

[cgt2]

Certainly is to drive.

Looks wise it's a very pretty car in profile but the T improved on the original front end and the Portofino to my eyes is even better.

[sparta6]

Yes.
While not being F430 hardcore, the roof down benefit and space for your ski kit is ideal for a GT.

[456mgt]

laeumh said:

But there seems to be a lot of negative sentiment to these, particularly some You Tube reviews it's not a real Ferrari etc. Etc.

Just when you thought you'd read every bit of crap on the internet, along comes this. Though I don't pay any attention to these wky' influencer' dweebs which is possibly why I've missed it.

It most certainly is a real one, and a good one at that. Ferrari have come on a country mile since some of the crap they put out in years past, but there's absolutely no reason to be apologetic about this offering. Make up your own mind, it's your life, your money.

[67Dino]

Not sure genuine Ferrari fans would ever say ‘not a real Ferrari’. People who say this probably think that Ferraris were always powerful mid-engined V8s. Whereas those of us who love the brand know that the 250 California was front engined, the Dino had a V6 engine, and the 308 had less horsepower than a modern Golf, and yet they were all definitely Ferrari’s.

Like lots of Cali owners, I think it’s an astonishing car. It’s very, very fast if you drive it hard, yet it’s a comfortable coupe that converts to a soft top. Personally I love the shape, especially as a coupe. Definitely 100% a Ferrari, and people who say otherwise literally don’t know what they are talking about.

On the other hand, if you were to ask about the Purosangue...

[Speculatore]

Went from a Jag XKR to a Manual DB9 to Continental GT Speed to a 2012 California (30). Wish I had done it years ago...

[laeumh]

Thanks all, great feedback much appreciated. This brings in the next issue of a test drive. I did actually view a Cali in Feb at Maranello but they wouldn't test drive unless I paid a deposit which is just dumb - it was me and my wife, prearranged viewing and we're the wrong side of 50 so hardly just out for a test drive. TBH at that point a good salesperson (she was female) could have probably hooked us in to a sale with a test drive and bit of banter but there we are....

Anyway, thanks again, sounds like I should start (again) the wife persuasion process as she loves my current Boxster Spyder.... stay safe

[jakesmith]

To me it's like a Boxster in that, the tarnish it gets from idiots in no way reflects on it as a car or its herritage.
If you can afford one and want one then buy one. If you prefer the 458 and can afford that get that. But don't buy the 458 for other people that's a waste of money. I would fully expect it to cost every bit as much as a 458 to run though. How much more is the T than the first one? The T has substantially more torque.

[Roof down]

laeumh said:

Thanks all, great feedback much appreciated. This brings in the next issue of a test drive. I did actually view a Cali in Feb at Maranello but they wouldn't test drive unless I paid a deposit which is just dumb - it was me and my wife, prearranged viewing and we're the wrong side of 50 so hardly just out for a test drive. TBH at that point a good salesperson (she was female) could have probably hooked us in to a sale with a test drive and bit of banter but there we are....

Anyway, thanks again, sounds like I should start (again) the wife persuasion process as she loves my current Boxster Spyder.... stay safe

Goodness this makes me mad, stupid ignorant salespeople who are the wrong side of 50 (younger)in as much as they have not learned how to evaluate people,

Arrogance also comes to mind

[jakesmith]

Roof down said:

laeumh said:

Thanks all, great feedback much appreciated. This brings in the next issue of a test drive. I did actually view a Cali in Feb at Maranello but they wouldn't test drive unless I paid a deposit which is just dumb - it was me and my wife, prearranged viewing and we're the wrong side of 50 so hardly just out for a test drive. TBH at that point a good salesperson (she was female) could have probably hooked us in to a sale with a test drive and bit of banter but there we are....

Anyway, thanks again, sounds like I should start (again) the wife persuasion process as she loves my current Boxster Spyder.... stay safe

Goodness this makes me mad, stupid ignorant salespeople who are the wrong side of 50 (younger)in as much as they have not learned how to evaluate people,

Arrogance also comes to mind

Find another dealer / complain to the DP that is not on