California a poor man's Ferrari?
- Thread starter Ryan81
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McLaren
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They are indeed the cheapest, but the California still runs around $200,000, with the GTB at $245,000.
The Speciales and GTOs are severely limited in comparison as well. F12s are the top of the line model starting around $320,000; very easy to peak out at $350-360,000+.
Of course, add in your options and a Ferrari these days will retail you around $225-230,000 to begin with. The Poor Man's Ferrari doesn't really seem to exist anymore with a price tag in that range, & I don't think any other manufacturer has captured the heart of a Ferrari in a cheaper car these days.
The Speciales and GTOs are severely limited in comparison as well. F12s are the top of the line model starting around $320,000; very easy to peak out at $350-360,000+.
Of course, add in your options and a Ferrari these days will retail you around $225-230,000 to begin with. The Poor Man's Ferrari doesn't really seem to exist anymore with a price tag in that range, & I don't think any other manufacturer has captured the heart of a Ferrari in a cheaper car these days.
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- M_Hocking
- Sp3edst3r
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- That_sneaky_azN
Not at all.
If anything a poor man's Ferrari would be a Fiat.
If anything a poor man's Ferrari would be a Fiat.
- 398
- Melbourne, Straya
- M_Hocking
- Sp3edst3r
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- 5,065
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- That_sneaky_azN
If you put it that way, sure.
I would say something like a Fiat Coupe or Barchetta would also qualify.
McLaren
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Well, it technically has Ferrari in the name, so I guess there is a poor man's Ferrari after all.
- 2,794
Not at all - the California caters for a different market than the 488 or the F12. Besides, there's only about $100k difference in price between a California and a 488.
It's a bit like the Cayman vs. 911 debate. People with no idea about cars will tell you that the Cayman is just a poor man's 911...
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- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
The California isn't so much the poor man's Ferrari - even if it is their entry-level model. It's designed to be a more usable Ferrari. Easier than a 458/488 to get in and out of. Friendlier or more familiar handling traits when pushed compared to the usual mid-engined 'small' Ferraris. A couple of 911-sized rear seats and a rear trunk/boot that just give it a bit more flexibility. It's designed to appeal to a different market to the 458/488, not just to folks with slightly shallower pockets.
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- mustafur
The Tributo Ferrari is a Bloody expensive Fiat 500 though.
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- LT
The same is about 911. Good at making money. Special? Not. Except various limited editions and it's still quite questionable. I see nothing wrong that california sells well. It's keeping ferrari alive. It's like boxer, 924 and so on... but not so miserable.
- 27,203
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Different circumstances.
The 911 has always been an all-round sports car that didn't need to be flashy to be good. And it is still very, very good. It's also good at being a Porsche, largely because it's the archetypal Porsche and every other car the company makes needs to in some way reflect the engineering ethos that has created the 911.
The California is a perfectly acceptable sports car. It's fast, it handles pretty well, it has lots of Ferrari badges everywhere and it makes a silly noise if you put it in the right mode. But blank off those badges and you could pretty much be in anything (and in general, you could be in something that costs a great deal less than what Ferrari charges for one).
In fact, I'd go as far as to say you don't have to go too far up the Porsche 911 food chain before you have a car that feels considerably more special than a California. (For avoidance of doubt, I've driven the 911 in Carrera S, 4S Targa, Turbo, Turbo S and R forms, and I've driven the Cali T in Handling Speciale spec).
The Cali is exceedingly good at making money though, to the point that Ferrari is building so many it's had to dedicate production space to it on the V12 production line, as well as the V8 one.
- 2,794
Perhaps true of the original California, but most reputable motoring journalists would disagree with you when it comes to the California T. Have you actually driven a California?
Here's a few examples:
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- HamiltonMP427
- 23,887
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
Not only that, but they'll work with other, more experienced journalists who'll I'm sure share their knowledge and views away from the published, and often to an extent commercially biased written word.
That's not to take away Chris Harrises excellent opinions - especially given the trouble he's had in the past with the dancing donkey's press and publicity department.
- 2,794
Noted. And in that case, I am jealous that they get to drive all these cars and (presumably) get paid for it!
I do think that Chris Harris is the best motoring journalist in the world though. I was worried that his reviews would be "dumbed down" too much when he joined Top Gear, but he's still doing a killer job.
Some of his older Driver's Republic and CH on Cars stuff is just pure gold though.
