Figured I might as well post this news since I bought the Cali T in spite of people telling me to get the 488. Well I really enjoyed the Cali T but it's time for it to go and me to step up the game to the next level.

I have been following the 488 and 488 spider market for two years now and finally there are 488s below MSRP and lot's of 488 Spiders offered. The latter are mostly $25-40k over MSRP and specs with tons of CF that I don't want and only inflate the price but do little for the car.

So just as I was about to give up on the 488 search and wasn't really interested in the Portofino, I decided to look at 2015 458 Spiders. I found three good ones not in Austin and sent my sales guy links to see if there is a way he could get one and take my Cali T in trade keeping the deal in house. I was told by my neighbor who is at the top of their list for allocations that he made the mistake of buying from Houston one time and Austin let him know they weren't happy. He did that because Houston had the car he wanted. He is swapping his 488 for a 488 spider that was delivered for someone else that can't take it. Of course he isn't losing much on his deal but he only puts 500 - 800 miles on the car before he gives it back for the next one.

So the next day my sales guy offers me an allocation on a 488 spider with a promise of delivery before the end of the year in response to my inquiries on the 458s. I am wondering if this is because Ferrari wants/needs to sell the new cars more than the used ones or if for some reason they just don't want to do the 458 from another dealer thing. Anyway, I demurred and then when I got closer on this deal, he offered to take just a $10k deposit. No thanks because I got this car with 105 miles on it for $10k over MSRP now and it's almost a perfect spec for me. It has Daytona leather full electric seats and the CF steering wheel, no other CF anywhere and no hifi stereo I won't listen to. It has the backup camera, proper stitching, shields and upgraded wheels.

Spec was $320k, my price was $330k and I took a small bath on the Cali T but not too bad. I got $175k trade from a $240k sticker on that one when it was new last year. The thing is, if I waited 6 months to get a spec $330k car (which is what I had done already), the Cali would drop some more because of the Portofino and time. So best to rip off the Cali depreciation bandaid now and get this car.

Anyway, I am 62 on May 17 so this is my birthday present. The deal is done, money wired Wednesday, papers sent yesterday and they are loading my car onto a truck either Monday or Tuesday. Should be here on Wednesday and I will get their car out of my garage and put mine in there.

I will post pics from the drive after it arrives.

 

Thanks Sam!

Hey, just FYI, I am planning on buying a 992 in two years so this is the waiting on the 992 car. This car should have the best of the Cali T and 991TTS I hope.

 

It's been a busy year. Congrats! I can't even imagine having that kind of money. As a fellow engineer, I would love to pick your brain about career opportunities when I retire from the Air Force in a few years.

- Patrick

 

Thanks. Be glad to talk about engineering possibilities but it's been 8 years since I retired so my experiences are getting more dated. As to the money for this car, it's like being Jed Clampett here.

 

Congrats. The 488 is phenomenal. I wish I was as disciplined as you. I always order highly spec'd cars and then take a beating.

 

 

Thanks. One thing I should admit is that I like the hunt for the right car and the right deal so this keeps me entertained more than spec'ing a car. This is the same way I bought my tts, I shopped around and got a good deal with what I mostly wanted in the car, the rest I could live with.


Thanks and I plan to!

 

Beautiful car. But I love the fact that Ferrari Dealers call their customers to voice their displeasure. I know what answer I would have given to a dealer in that circumstance.

 

Thanks! Yes, it's funny that the other Ferrari dealer I bought the car from wasn't telling me I should take the allocation! LOL!. He was telling me he didn't understand why someone would take delivery of a car, never drive it , then bring it back a couple of months later to order another one.

Here is another part of the Ferrari game that you don't hear much about. My neighbor who just took a 488 Spider that another customer couldn't take delivery of said the reason was that the ordering customer couldn't get rid of his Lusso that he ate to get the 488 spider allocation. He was taking too much of a bath to AFFORD the 488.

I should have guessed. I am going to try to enjoy it stock for a while but I was thinking along the lines of exhaust because I have heard a couple of good ones.

 

Congrats. That is the grail for sure.

 

Thanks and I hope to keep this one for at least two years. I don't know if I can get on a list to get a 992 TTS in 2018 but I will try.

 

Badd **** congrats William!

 

Thanks Adam, now some hairdresser or retired lady can buy my Cali T. It's going to Tampa so plenty of the latter there I am sure.

 

 

Thanks, it's on the truck and on it's way. Should be in my driveway tomorrow.