Hi all - thinking of a California again. Any pointers?

[silverback mike]

Hi all - as above really. I’ve sold my 997 and whilst happy with my DB9 volante, I fancy selling to combine to scratch my itch. I know they aren’t for everyone but I like them.

The Aston is the later one with sportpack and actually is a great handling GT and assume the California also.

Interested to hear owners views if possible. Thanks in advance

[DeejRC]

Mike - isn’t a DB9V the Aston version of a Cali, but with a V12? Aren’t you effectively replacing like with like?

[675DMW]

hi - dont post much but this caught my eye as I m currently considering exactly the same move

I have a 2009 DB9V which is probably worth around £35k. The exact equivalent California would be around £65k from a dealer.

TBH I m struggling to justify the 80% plus price difference, particularly as it would likely involve selling my Lotus Elise 220 Sport to make up the difference

I know little about the California,and clearly need to learn more, but on the face of it am I missing something?

Dave

[SpunkyGlory]

675DMW said:

hi - dont post much but this caught my eye as I m currently considering exactly the same move

I have a 2009 DB9V which is probably worth around £35k. The exact equivalent California would be around £65k from a dealer.

TBH I m struggling to justify the 80% plus price difference, particularly as it would likely involve selling my Lotus Elise 220 Sport to make up the difference

I know little about the California,and clearly need to learn more, but on the face of it am I missing something?

Dave

If you do decided to sell your DB9V, send me some details Dave. I could be interested.

[cgt2]

Main thing to check is the gearbox. Well documented issue. There are three sensors in the box that will fail at some point. Ferrari used to sell a repair kit but no more. Main dealers recommend a new gearbox.. £££££££

Even a repair by a good specialist can cost up to £10k, discuss with Geoff Shiltech who has done a few.

Other thing to watch is the rear suspension. Again Ferrari will only sell the whole unit, not just the bushes independently. Around £4k each side.

Whatever car you get make sure you have a solid warranty that covers the above issues.

Dare I say it a DB9 is probably a more reliable car.

[silverback mike]

675DMW said:

hi - dont post much but this caught my eye as I m currently considering exactly the same move

I have a 2009 DB9V which is probably worth around £35k. The exact equivalent California would be around £65k from a dealer.

TBH I m struggling to justify the 80% plus price difference, particularly as it would likely involve selling my Lotus Elise 220 Sport to make up the difference

I know little about the California,and clearly need to learn more, but on the face of it am I missing something?

Dave

My thoughts also Dave. Guess I need to drive one. As you said I’d maybe struggle to justify the extra especially as the DB9 goes fantastically.

[silverback mike]

Thanks all for the inputs

[ANOpax]

cgt2 said:

Main thing to check is the gearbox. Well documented issue. There are three sensors in the box that will fail at some point. Ferrari used to sell a repair kit but no more. Main dealers recommend a new gearbox.. £££££££

Point of order.

Having recently had a gearbox sensor replaced by Ferrari, the above statement is patently untrue.

Sensor replacement can be done by Ferrari for around £8-10k.

And if you want to see for yourself, here are the
gearbox overhaul kits

Edited by ANOpax on Saturday 10th June 22:00

[ANOpax]

silverback mike said:

My thoughts also Dave. Guess I need to drive one. As you said I’d maybe struggle to justify the extra especially as the DB9 goes fantastically.

The Cali and DB9V are not substitutes. Despite Ferrari calling the Cali a GT, it is anything but. It suffers from poor NVH control and is not confidence inspiring at speed. As a result, it’s tiring to drive over long distances. However, you’ll find it much sportier than the DB9V so if you want something with better handling and more of an edge to it then the Cali will fit the bill.

[cgt2]

ANOpax said:

Point of order.

Having recently had a gearbox sensor replaced by Ferrari, the above statement is patently untrue.

Sensor replacement can be done by Ferrari for around £8-10k.

And if you want to see for yourself, here are the
gearbox overhaul kits

Edited by ANOpax on Saturday 10th June 22:00

By a main dealer? I was told as recently as last week that Ferrari will not supply the repair kits any more and are only offering the option of a new box.

[ANOpax]

cgt2 said:

By a main dealer? I was told as recently as last week that Ferrari will not supply the repair kits any more and are only offering the option of a new box.

By a main dealer. Admittedly, more than a week ago so perhaps something has changed since then.

It’s not clear why Ferrari would choose to do this as it will crucify the value of anything with a DCT in it and probably force owners to look to other solutions such as independent repair using MB repair kits.

[cgt2]

ANOpax said:

By a main dealer. Admittedly, more than a week ago so perhaps something has changed since then.

It’s not clear why Ferrari would choose to do this as it will crucify the value of anything with a DCT in it and probably force owners to look to other solutions such as independent repair using MB repair kits.

There is a specialist offering the service for Ferrari, DCT Scuderia.

But that's what I was told last week. As you say not good when other manufacturers with essentially the same transmission do offer the repair option.

[4rephill]

ANOpax said:

cgt2 said:

By a main dealer? I was told as recently as last week that Ferrari will not supply the repair kits any more and are only offering the option of a new box.

By a main dealer. Admittedly, more than a week ago so perhaps something has changed since then.

It’s not clear why Ferrari would choose to do this as it will crucify the value of anything with a DCT in it and probably force owners to look to other solutions such as independent repair using MB repair kits.

Could it be that Ferrari have discovered that the issue with the sensors will simply reoccur at sometime due to the design of the gearbox, and the replacement gearboxes have been re-engineered to remove the cause of the failure?

[murphyaj]

I was in a very similar position to this 2 years ago, I had owned a DB9V for 2.5 years and wanted to tick the "own a Ferrari" box on the life checklist. I assumed for a long time that would mean a California. When I eventually went to try one I was slightly underwhelmed. Not because it's a bad car, it's actually a cracking car which I would highly recommend, but it just didn't have that leap in the wow factor that I was looking for when spending more than twice as much as my DB9.

I'd sold the Aston for £30k and was about to spend £70k on a car with a similar brief, it wasn't good enough to be impressed, I needed to be blown away and I wasn't. As others have said, they are different cars; both are front engined, semi-automatic, convertible high performance GT cars, but they approach it from different angles. The Aston is a GT car first and a sports car second, the Ferrari is a sports car first and a GT car second, and that really came through for me. However it still wasn't different enough to justify so much more money.

In the end I went the whole hog and got an F430, which had the wow factor I was looking for. This is just my experience though, and I don't want to sound like I am down on the Cali, it is a great car which I am sure I would have thoroughly enjoyed. If you are sure you want a Ferrari but absolutely have to have a convertible with back seats, or just couldn't live with a supercar, then give it a go.

[mrpseudonym]

OP again not the response you are looking for but I am with @murphyaj
I am sure the california is a great car, but even you say “they are not for everyone” (BTW if you can hear yourself saying that to anyone you talk to about the car then maybe that should make you pause..) I was similarly looking for something after/alongside my DB9, and started looking at the ferrari 360, then 430, finally ending up with a 488. If you are buying a ferrari, go mid-engined, if you want a GT keep the Aston

Edited by mrpseudonym on Wednesday 14th June 04:46

Edited by mrpseudonym on Wednesday 14th June 04:46

[Spleen]

FWIW I took a Cali T for a test drive and couldn’t wait to get back into my F430 Spider, so much more of an event.

[jayxx83]

I absolutely love mine and had it for just over a year now.

Looked at all sorts of Ferrari but wanted one I could use with a young family. The kids love it and it’s such a special event to get in and drive even when using regularly.

I went for a 2014 model with the HS package and it feels very dialled into the road especially on sport mode and it performs very very well. The dampers filter out all the road imperfections but let you feel connected with the road through the seat and steering. Amazing feeling.

This is before you get to the cracks, pops etc on upshifts and downshifts. A real animal when on it but so refined and relaxed in comfort.

I don’t know much about Astons and have only ever been in a V8 Vantage once as a passenger (sounded lovely) so can’t give a comparison.

For me though I have like most, loved Ferrari from being 5-6 years old so had to have one. You definately won’t be disappointed.

[silverback mike]

murphyaj said:

I was in a very similar position to this 2 years ago, I had owned a DB9V for 2.5 years and wanted to tick the "own a Ferrari" box on the life checklist. I assumed for a long time that would mean a California. When I eventually went to try one I was slightly underwhelmed. Not because it's a bad car, it's actually a cracking car which I would highly recommend, but it just didn't have that leap in the wow factor that I was looking for when spending more than twice as much as my DB9.

I'd sold the Aston for £30k and was about to spend £70k on a car with a similar brief, it wasn't good enough to be impressed, I needed to be blown away and I wasn't. As others have said, they are different cars; both are front engined, semi-automatic, convertible high performance GT cars, but they approach it from different angles. The Aston is a GT car first and a sports car second, the Ferrari is a sports car first and a GT car second, and that really came through for me. However it still wasn't different enough to justify so much more money.

In the end I went the whole hog and got an F430, which had the wow factor I was looking for. This is just my experience though, and I don't want to sound like I am down on the Cali, it is a great car which I am sure I would have thoroughly enjoyed. If you are sure you want a Ferrari but absolutely have to have a convertible with back seats, or just couldn't live with a supercar, then give it a go.

Thank you - and a similar thought I’m now having. My DB9 has the later sport pack so quite a taught thing but reading your input makes me think of a 430….(grown up kids …. Grand children that can be carried in the dog carrier)
I’ve always liked the 430.

[silverback mike]

Spleen said:

FWIW I took a Cali T for a test drive and couldn’t wait to get back into my F430 Spider, so much more of an event.

Double vote for the 430 spider

[Kyodo]

cgt2 said:

By a main dealer? I was told as recently as last week that Ferrari will not supply the repair kits any more and are only offering the option of a new box.

I was told by the tech's at the Maranello service department in Egham that they now carry out DCT repairs. I also know of three reputable Indies that carry out the sensor repair along with the full gearbox 'refresh'. It was something I looked into when buying our early California. We went into our purchase armed with this knowledge and planned that if the issue occurs for us, we'd have the cash to cover it (although hopefully we'll never need to!).