California T or F430

[NRG1976]

So really fancy scratching that Ferrari itch and plan on doing about 3500 miles a year in it. Ideally looking for a model which is cheapest on running cost and most straightforward to sell privately as I only keep most cars for about 18 months, Trying to stick to a max £80k budget, would love your views on my questions…

In general terms:

1. Would the California T likely be more reliable than the F430 and cheaper to run ?
2. Would the California be easier to resell privately than a F430? (assume both cars being red and auto)?
3. Should I hold out for the handling pack on California T ?

Thanks


ETA: was thinking of going for this one
https://www.warfordcarsltd.co.uk/details/used-car-...

[NRG1976]

Thanks so much for the responses, definitely food for thought.

Unfortunately the car I wanted, which I had linked in my OP, seems to have been advertised and then sold within a day or so

https://www.warfordcarsltd.co.uk/details/used-car-...


If the gearbox sensor does go on the California, rather than £17k on a new gearbox, can the existing one not just be fixed? That alone will swing the car I go for one way or the other.

My wife wants a McLaren, but I don’t want to buy something privately where it is only either a dealer or Thorney (far away) alone that can work on them, as if things go wrong I can see the bills become huge even for minor things.

Edited by NRG1976 on Thursday 13th June 12:54

[NRG1976]

HIS LM said:

Your wife is correct (they always are) get a McLaren, don't forget V Engineering depending where you are ?

And for context I have owned a Cali and 430 and now a multiple Mac owner

Edited by HIS LM on Thursday 13th June 18:10

Near Birmingham

[NRG1976]

Thanks, I’m close to buying one from a dealer.

The biggest selling point they are giving me is that it comes with a 2 year approved warranty.

Do dealers prep the car properly, i.e. would I need to worry about ceramic discs being overly worn etc? Can I just buy blind and get the car delivered (as it’s a distance away)?

Also will that Ferrari approved warranty mean I can have 2 years worry free motoring, I was worried about the big costs such as gearbox or engine failures?

When I spoke to the salesperson I explicitly asked about the gearbox given the sensor failure issues and they said any issue with the gearbox they would sort under warranty or goodwill ?

[NRG1976]

This is the car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...

[NRG1976]

Thanks, all I can find is this, i will speak to the dealer tomorrow to see if there is any document. I assume a sensor failure wouldn’t be “normal wear” ?


A Ferrari Approved has the advantage of a Ferrari warranty up to 24 months in Europe, USA, Middle East & China and 12 months in the rest of the world. This warranty covers the cost of numerous spare parts and cost of work of the principal repair works.

Excluded are parts included in ordinary assistance, such as tyres, brake pads and disks, or parts, which have to be exchanged due to normal wear. A Ferrari Approved has an unlimited mileage warranty of two years. The warranty covers the costs of defects and reparations, including spare parts and repair works. Furthermore it is guaranteed that works will be carried out by Ferrari technicians exclusively using original spare parts.

Edited by NRG1976 on Saturday 22 June 21:32

[NRG1976]

Thanks for all the responses, really appreciated.

70% worn front discs on 30k miles on the cali I linked sounds like it’s had a hard life? Factor in the cost of a replacements (c£6.5k+) and might as well put the extra money in and get a lower mileage example?

[NRG1976]

Trev450 said:

NRG1976 said:

Thanks for all the responses, really appreciated.

70% worn front discs on 30k miles on the cali I linked sounds like it’s had a hard life? Factor in the cost of a replacements (c£6.5k+) and might as well put the extra money in and get a lower mileage example?

70 percent wear in 30k miles is indeed excessive. Have you asked them if they are prepared to replace them?

They won’t, the best they can do is replace them at cost, but not sure how much cheaper that would make it?

I was willing to pay for the car there and then if they could replace them for free before purchase, but they have a business to run and fully understand why they couldn’t do that…perhaps explains the price of the car…

I suspect it will sell to someone who thinks dealer plus warranty means no major running cost over the next 24 mths.

[NRG1976]

Trev450 said:

NRG1976 said:

Trev450 said:

NRG1976 said:

Thanks for all the responses, really appreciated.

70% worn front discs on 30k miles on the cali I linked sounds like it’s had a hard life? Factor in the cost of a replacements (c£6.5k+) and might as well put the extra money in and get a lower mileage example?

70 percent wear in 30k miles is indeed excessive. Have you asked them if they are prepared to replace them?

They won’t, the best they can do is replace them at cost, but not sure how much cheaper that would make it?

I was willing to pay for the car there and then if they could replace them for free before purchase, but they have a business to run and fully understand why they couldn’t do that…perhaps explains the price of the car…

I suspect it will sell to someone who thinks dealer plus warranty means no major running cost over the next 24 mths.

Best to walk then. Maybe for the best as that extent of wear would point towards it being driven pretty hard.

Agreed.

I know it’s man maths but I’m starting to think I’d be better off putting some extra cash in and buying a 458/488!

[NRG1976]

I’m going to give this one a miss, just sounds like it has had a hard life, it may well not have but my spider senses are normally right (there were a few other things too that spiked my thoughts like kerbed alloys, condition of a few of the buttons). I’m sure whoever buys it will be happy though, I’m just overly particular so not a normal customer I suspect! Dealership was great btw, wouldn’t hesitate to buy from them.

Overall I’m not overly fussed if it’s a dealer car or not as whilst they have a warranty it is not water tight and by consequence you get locked into the network for all work.

[NRG1976]

Boleros said:

willy wombat said:

Just my ten pence worth but, referring to earlier posts, I would never ever under any circumstances commit to spending that much money on a car without physically seeing it first (yes I know people do on auction sites but that’s up to them). As well as any obvious issues it just gives you a feel as to how the car has been looked after. A return drive of a few hundred miles plus a hotel night is nothing compared to how you might feel having dropped £80k on a car that doesn’t feel “right “.

You might be surprised to learn that quite a lot of Ferraris are bought in exactly this way. I was having a chat with a sales bloke and he said that many times they don’t even bother to advertise a car because they know someone who is looking for a particular model. They’ll call him up, tell them what they’ve got and if it’s right they’ll buy it without looking at it.

Most of the cars I’ve purchased have been unseen in the flesh, only exceptions to this are when I’m buying privately, but even then I will often leave a sizeable deposit. All comes down to recourse available with dealers and trust with private sellers.

[NRG1976]

willy wombat said:

Maybe I’m just pedantic but the last two Ferraris I bought were brand new spec’d by me and ordered for a 1st January delivery. In both cases the dealer was delivering to my house about 30th December but in both cases I drove to the dealerships (140 mile round trip) before they were delivered to inspect them. One I was happy with, the other I got them to change a seat cover that was creased. It’s just so much easier to get a dealer to do something if the car is still at their premises.

I think that is fair enough, if you can carve out the time why not? Makes the whole buying experience more fun and less transactional too.