The Revolutionary 2009 Ferrari California!!

CraigMakDaddy · #1 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 03:59 AM

Well here it is the new and extremely contriversial Ferrari California. This is different from any other Ferrari in a number of ways. The biggest difference is the price tag! It will have a sticker of around $150,000 - $200,000 which makes it the cheapest car Ferrari has ever produced. It is also a front engined V8. This makes it Ferrari's first car that is not mid engined. This means it is Ferrari's most "normal" car they have ever created. It will also be a convertible with a folding hard top. Ferrari expects to sale about 3x more of this car than any other model they have ever created. Mainly due to the massive price discount. I am pretty impressed with this new car and new price. Ferrari seems to be going in a new direction, trying to get some higher volume sales. I know, not a BMW but it's some pretty interesting news for car enthusiasts. I for one am impressed. If BMW doesn't come out with some sort of super car in the near future I think this is going to be it for my next auto desire. I predict it will be a huge blow to Porsche sales because of its price range. I mean why buy a Porsche when you can get a Ferrari???

polizei144 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 07:33 AM

the maranello & daytona were front engines also. im sure there are other non-midengines that's just the ones off the top of my head. i don't like that it's so cheap. it seems to be taking away from ferrari's exclusiveness.

AlpinweissM3 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 08:04 AM

Going to have to agree with Jeremy Clarkson on this one, it is Ugly. I don't see it really affecting Porsche Sales because it is still significantly more expensive than all other Porsche models except Carrera GT, GT2, GT3 RS. Plus I have no doubt that those three cars would run circles around the Ferrari no problem. To me this car is going to be kind of like what the boxter was for Porsche, a poor mans car. Now every yuppie who in the past who couldn't afford a F430 will be buying one of these bragging about how they own a Ferrari.

Josh · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 02:58 PM

James · #5 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 07:48 PM

Reminds me of a Corvette.

pacman77 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-15-2009, 05:17 PM

now that is a hot car and not having the mid engine gives more room inside not exactly a family car but at that price still a fancy sports car I would like to see Ferrari bring out a 4 seater.

RacerJames666 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 10:22 AM

@pacman
They did: Ferrari 612 Scaglietti - Supercars.net

driftnut · #8 (**permalink**) 11-24-2009, 09:04 AM

thats nice!

DIONESE · #9 (**permalink**) 12-12-2009, 08:41 PM

Hey Ferrari has been making front engine vehicles for ever. Case in Point: Ferrari like Porsche was born to race, 1951 "Thin Wall Special" 375 F.1 12 cylinder V60 degree 380 HP 7000 RPM. It was also really ugly. My cousin had a 1953 Berlinetta I think, front engine with a tiny V12. Years ago I had a borrow Dino for the summer,(generous Father in Law). Some would say it was a Fiat with a dancing horse Emblem. It was fun cheap and got the looks with its bright yellow paint. I live just outside of Toronto which apparently has more Ferrari per capita than any other city. The 430 is a very common site in the summer. Oddly enough the owners of the Ferrari Dealers own a major BMW Dealer here also.

RacerJames666 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-13-2009, 04:13 PM

Toronto?! Never woulda guessed that.
Im glad ferrari did eventually sort out the "ugly" issues:

DIONESE · #11 (**permalink**) 12-26-2009, 02:13 PM

Toronto is easy to understand. When Toronto was only 4 million pop the Italian population was over 300,000. Now Greater Toronto known as the GTA has over 1 million Italians. What do hard working Italian Boys want when the succeed , a Fiat!
Any way the Italians built Toronto and continue to develop other businesses, which allow them to own these prancers. Check the Ferrari stats and "Hog Town"( Toronto) is on the very top.

DIONESE · #12 (**permalink**) 12-26-2009, 02:18 PM

All those who did not know check out the photo from Racer James. the whole field looks like front engine machines. I think you will find Ferrari actually has more front engine models than rear, not sure tho

AlpinweissM3 · #13 (**permalink**) 12-27-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIONESE

All those who did not know check out the photo from Racer James. the whole field looks like front engine machines. I think you will find Ferrari actually has more front engine models than rear, not sure tho

I think your right most classic F-cars are front engine. I have no problem with where the engine is. The car is just down right ugly and a poor mans Ferrari at that. Give me a F430 over this any day of the week.

RacerJames666 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-28-2009, 01:07 PM

Yessssss sir! They is much purdy alright, although the DBS we had that day sounded MUUUUUCH better.
Note my poor old deceased m3 behind and left of me

God I miss my M3 so...

DIONESE · #15 (**permalink**) 12-28-2009, 01:53 PM

Well I guess we can quick picking on Ferrari now. I think most of us agree this new Prancer is butt ugly, not unlike the the new seven. Many found the Z4 wanting, I loved it and owned one for a while. BMW is like a religion to me, in that I believe with out any real proof sometimes and you will find the same nuts in the Ferrari lovers group. Of all the engines I have ever worked on I have found the Ferrari to be the most fickle. Odd metric threads like 13.5m, studs protruding beyond need, weak valve springs, and the most annoying inaccessibility to critical parts, without tearing apart a half of the car. Mind you when you tear down the engine and see the care a precision each part receives they are not unlike BMW. I look back at the Corvette Engines I have worked on like my 1991, they are crude. The Viper/Corvette club President lives at the end of my street so I pulled up to his driveway about two years ago with my M3 to chat. It slayed me that the biggest mod the Viper guys were doing to compete with the smaller engined Corvettes was to line hone their intakes and exhaust. I believe if Chevy and Dodge took a page from European manufacturing this Ferrari would not exist. I think it may flop with true car lover but succeed with the status seeker. I also believe many BMW owners are of the same making. Why else would a Seven be worth less than a 318 in five years if it were not for a fall of status not owning the newest model. One of the reasons I like this forum is that most of the contributors seem to be true car nuts not status seekers. Sure there is the odd unlikely new modifier whom paints the car Pepto Pink and straps a big wing which will slow the car down, but that is expected from the younger owners. In short its the young participants whom will lead the way in Mods not us old dodgy folks set in our ways, and picking on what might be Ferrari only ugly street car. Finally $175,000 USD ain't cheap, it is an over priced Z8, another questionable design with a sedans motor.