Jul 17, 2010 5:50:47 PM
- cookie monster
- Senior
- Loc: US , United States
- Posts: 564, Gallery
- Registered on: Dec 8, 2005
Justifying my once impulsive buy on the California...
The california is a beautiful and amazing car. It has been desigend by Ferrari initially intended to be branded as a
Maserati. However, they made it too good, putting key featurers into it that they couldn't make it a Maserati anymore but instead it deserves the Ferrari logo.
The way I see it, it earned it's batch and if you look at the sales records, the California is one of the best selling and highly appreciated Ferraries ever. This is the car that to some extend assured the survival of Ferrari in the downturn as all other sales fell off a cliff. At least over here, there are 4/5 being delivered every month out of the 100 delivered and more.
It will be hailed in the future as a key vehicle in it's history. Something like the legendary Daytona, which in it's days was also considered not a real Ferrari. Now it is one of the most sought after versions.
The California has style, technology, performance and fully fits into the Ferrai portfolio. It is "the" technology driver for Ferrari (like the Mercedes S class for Mercedes, or the Porsche Turbo for Porsche) as it is the first to use the DCT gearbox that will be used in the future (see 458) in all Ferrari's. It is the first to use the direct injection technology. The first with a folding metal roof and the first with a multi link suspension.
Although my purchase was impulsive and emotional without even looking at the SLS and test driving the SLS or R8... I think it is the right choice.
I turn this around and ask myself the followings... which true super car is like it? Speed wise, the GTR and many others surpass the California... but if we want cheap speed, there are plenty around and you can always make a car goes fast by souping it up but as a package with good handling and all... none like California.
Split into three groups based on engineering/parts done by MASS market companies.
The Lamborghini? Engineering done by Audi.
The Bentley? Engineering done by VW
The Rolls Royce? Engineering done by BMW
The AMG? Engineering done by Mercedes
The Audi R8? Engineering done by Audi
The Astons? All use derived Jaguar engines and to some extend still Ford and Jag/Landrover parts. They will use Mercedes Engines in the future.
The Porsches? Has been using BMW/VW (body parts/stampings), VW (AC condition), Audi (Tiptronic) parts for many years and is now apart of VW. Don't even mention the Cayenne.
The Maserati's? Engineering done by Ferrai and Maserati
The McLaren? Engineering done by McLaren with Engine developed by Ricardo
The Ferrari's? Engineering done by Ferrari
So, the only people that should ever say anything about the California are people that own one, everyone else, basically buys cars that are with different pedigrees.
The California is built in Maranello. I don't think there's anymore I need to know...
Thanks for letting me share. I am waiting for it to come.