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shin said:Quote:
Rossi said:Quote:
shin said:
The F430 is to F360 what the F355 is to F348, and the F355 (the revised F348) lasted for 5 years.
Yes of course, but who says it always has to be like this?
And who says it doesn't?
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Just like Ferrari constantly denying a new 'small' or 'cheap' Ferrari simply because the Dino will not be small or cheap, the same twisting of words could also apply to the F430's replacement/successor situation.
I could be wrong, but I could also be right, couldn't I..?
But I think my theory could explain why there has been two versions of when the F430's 'replacement' is coming. One version always mentions end 2008/early 2009 and the other always mentions end 2009/early 2010.
I believe 2008/2009 will see the Dino (new 8-cylinder model) and 2009/2010 will see the F142.
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shin said:Quote:
Rossi said:Quote:
shin said:
The F430 is to F360 what the F355 is to F348, and the F355 (the revised F348) lasted for 5 years.
Yes of course, but who says it always has to be like this?
And who says it doesn't?
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nberry said:
by moving the 430 replacement into a much higher price category it certainly will turn many prospective buyers away from Ferrari and toward the Gallardo or even Porsche (I bite my tongue) .
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shin said:
Simply because the new 'Dino' will not be named Dino, and it will not be a 'lesser' Ferrari in every sense. It will not be small like the original Dino, and it will not be cheap, only a fraction cheaper than today's F430.
Another thing. While the new front-engined Ferrari V8 will likely to have a folding hardtop (based on the cancelled Maserati Spider folding hardtop CC)
11.04.2007 10:51:33
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nberry said:
ALSO, the 430 Spider is the hottest car on the planet and Ferrari cannot make enough of them. They account for over 60% of the 430 sales if not more. Yet, Ferrari is going "dump" the Spider?
14.04.2007 06:13:50
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rosso nuvola said:
SOme people say that the Maserati "mules" are for a new spider CC , others say that the "mules" are for the new Ferrari F142 that will be also a CC.
I think it is very unlikely that they will use the new 4.7 from the 8C.
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nberry said:
You make some good and interesting points particularly regarding increasing production which translates to more profit for Ferrari. However, as a buyer of Ferrari's for many years the scenario you set out would be very troubling to me.
A Spider with a retractable hard top will be heavy and totally compromise the mid engine configuration and performance. The styling of the car will also have to be compromised. Elimination of the glass engine bay. The retractable top will not be a big seller especially if it is going to be price close to the 599 and have less performance.
A targa approach might work with the CGT as an example. Remove and store the top either in the boot or elsewhere. Having been in the CGT many times I can tell you the removing and storing the top is a pain. If I am not mistaken initially the CGT was topless but later given a top. Admittedly, that would not prevent me from buying the car.
More importantly, to dilute the brand (by introducing a cheaper Ferrari) while at its zenith would be irresponsible and in my opinion financial insanity. Short term profit while sacrificing long term stability.
Ferrari is not Porsche and will never be. Porsche has a much wider customer base at a much lower price point. As I wrote earlier the lower middle class and the high middle class can afford Porsche's. Neither one can afford a Ferrari.
Your prediction may be accurate. However, I sincerely hope it is not.
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nberry said:
Very interesting.
Nevertheless, I remained troubled by Ferrari going to the Porsche formula. In my opinion, the jury is still out as to whether ultimately the Porsche marque has been tainted to the point where customers turn away from it.
We should know hopefully by the end of the year.
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nberry said:
Very interesting.
Nevertheless, I remained troubled by Ferrari going to the Porsche formula. In my opinion, the jury is still out as to whether ultimately the Porsche marque has been tainted to the point where customers turn away from it.
We should know hopefully by the end of the year.
14.04.2007 17:12:33
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Crash said:Quote:
nberry said:
Very interesting.
Nevertheless, I remained troubled by Ferrari going to the Porsche formula. In my opinion, the jury is still out as to whether ultimately the Porsche marque has been tainted to the point where customers turn away from it.
We should know hopefully by the end of the year.
I don't know about the older generation, but my contemporaries, many of which are potential Porsche customers for the future, are very vocal in voicing their distaste for what Porsche is turning into. The Cayenne should only have been built as the S and the Turbo, without the bottom-dwelling, VW-powered 250-bhp brick. Same goes for the base Boxster and Cayman, as well as the 325-bhp Carrera. Just offer the S versions as the base versions and be done with it.
Then again, the Turbo still gets massive respect from everybody, so the brand is not seriously diluted yet, just in a minor identity crisis, for now.