Ferrari of Washington | Page 8 | FerrariChat

Ferrari of Washington

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic Region - USA (PA, DE, MD, DC, VA)' started by italiafan, Jan 3, 2012.

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  1. Piper

    Piper Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 6, 2010
    24,851
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Bob
    Oh my.
     
  2. Sausage Control

    Jan 1, 2013
    8
    FOW is far better than AmericanServiceCenter when they carried the marque.
     
  3. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,799
    Santa Fe, NM
    that's a pretty low standard. they were abysmal.
     
  4. MakDaddy

    MakDaddy Karting

    Aug 4, 2012
    69
    Maryland USA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Ask for Amir.
     
  5. st4rk

    st4rk Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Dec 7, 2011
    447
    When I purchased my 355 there I got a cool tour of the entire place. Hidden in the back was a 250gto and a 288gto. That was pretty amazing to see those two special cars in person. I actually had my 355 coolant flushed right next to the 250gto before I picked it up. It was only my 2nd time driving the 355 and was still getting used to the pedals/clutch, it was pretty nerve-wracking sliding in next to the 250, I had visions of my foot slipping off the cultch pedal and careening into it.
     
  6. Piper

    Piper Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 6, 2010
    24,851
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Bob
    I received the grand tour as well there when I bought my first Ferrari, a 360 spider. Philip Jones showed me every corner of the building, all the amazing cars, hung out with me. I've walked through with Franklyn several times since.
     
  7. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,799
    Santa Fe, NM
    Which 250GTO was that? The only real one that has ever been to FoW was s/n 3445 back when Charlie Arnott owned it - blue w/ yellow stripe.
     
  8. toggie

    toggie F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 30, 2003
    19,036
    Virginia
    Full Name:
    Toggie (Ron)
    #183 toggie, Jan 15, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yep, I saw the real one at an FOW Party in March 2004.
    Fuzzy pic I took of it here:
    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=137241087#post137241087

    The 250 GTO that was probably seen at FOW recently is the red replica/recreation.
    It is a very well done replica - one of what they call a "tribute car" - but still a replica.
    Beautiful car. I think it is based on a 330 GT.
    Even as a recreation, it is worth more than 2 or 3 times the price of my 458.
    Here's a pic of the red tribute car at FOW:
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    rampante550 likes this.
  9. Miner_31

    Miner_31 Formula Junior

    Jun 27, 2008
    376
    Summerfield, NC
    Full Name:
    Mike
  10. Rob in Potomac

    Rob in Potomac Formula Junior

    Mar 3, 2006
    454
    Potomac, MD
    Full Name:
    Robert
    I also remember walking through the shop and watching and speaking with Richard, especially when he was working on some older models. He would slowly explain to me what he was doing and why.

    Funny, same thing still happens, although now at Competizione.

    Rob
     
  11. st4rk

    st4rk Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Dec 7, 2011
    447
    Yes that was the red 250 I mentioned. I remember they mentioned it was a tribute or something, and a lot of the parts are from other 250s, or something like that, so it is practically a real 250 gto, if that makes any sense.
     
  12. Miner_31

    Miner_31 Formula Junior

    Jun 27, 2008
    376
    Summerfield, NC
    Full Name:
    Mike
    No disrespect, but saying "its practically a real GTO" is like saying a kit car Ferrari is "practically a Ferrari". If memory serves me right the car is based on a 250GTE 2+2, a far cry from a 250GTO. No disrespect to the car, but it is what it is... A tribute car GTE not a GTO.
     
  13. 360gtracer

    360gtracer Formula 3

    May 18, 2004
    1,022
    Folks I know who work(ed) there called it the "250 GT-Faux". Even they said it was a VERY WELL DONE replica. FWIW.

    gp
     
    rampante550 likes this.
  14. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
    3,778
    Idaho
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    Side note: I believe that 360GT was one of the cars Road and Track featured in a fantastic 360 vs 360 Challenge vs 360GT comparison about 10 years ago.
     
  15. 360gtracer

    360gtracer Formula 3

    May 18, 2004
    1,022
    Yes, it certainly was. And if memory serves, Cort Wagner - driver of the 360GT - was also the hot shoe who did the comparison driving. I believe (again, relying on an aging memory here...) that the comparison article was shot up at Mont Tremblant following one of our races there..... I'd have to go back and look to be sure, though.

    gp
     
  16. st4rk

    st4rk Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Dec 7, 2011
    447
    Oh ok. The guy showing it to me might have mentioned it was a GTE. But I was far too excited to get delivery of my 355 to pay attention to specifics.
     
  17. violetta

    violetta Rookie

    Jan 18, 2013
    11
    Stellar copy.
     
  18. toggie

    toggie F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 30, 2003
    19,036
    Virginia
    Full Name:
    Toggie (Ron)
    #193 toggie, Jan 18, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  19. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
    3,778
    Idaho
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    You are correct, sir. Great article that is worth a read. I was hoping R&T would do an update at some point with either the F430 or 458 but no go.
     
  20. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,799
    Santa Fe, NM
    #195 Bryanp, Jan 18, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    It was made from a Series 1 250 PF Coupe, s/n 1273. One of 353 PF Coupes made by Ferrari.

    A PF Coupe.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  21. wkumari

    wkumari Karting

    Jul 15, 2011
    169
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Warren
    Turns out, nope, not for life...

    I was the proud owner for an F430 Spider -- I loved the vehicle, but, due to the treatment and attitude of FoW I sold it and vowed to never again buy a Ferrari...

    The whole incident still makes me annoyed. To avoid reliving it I'll mainly be copying from a post I made on the Aston Martin Owner Club (AMOC) forum (so, some of the below explains things that Ferrari folk already know, like what an SD2 / SD3 is. For context: This was part of a thread where someone was trying to decide between a California and an Aston -- Aston folk were claiming all Ferrari owners are short, balding and wear gold chains...)

    --------------------------------

    I had an '08 Ferrari F430 Spider (that I bought used), and loved dearly (and while I am short and balding I do not own any gold chains, wear white open necked shirts, etc ).
    Was a wonderful machine, huge fun to drive, made a great sound and (to me at least!) was beautiful.


    Then I took it in to Ferrari of Washington for an oil-change / annual service.

    Anyway after they start they find some oil around the valve cover gasket, and so recommend that I get that changed.
    I go ahead (simple, cheap job (<$500), so why not?) -- once the valve covers are off they discover that there is a tiny bit of oil in the variator solenoid connectors, might as well get those replaced as have already paid the labor to get the valve covers off, only ~$720 each (x4!), etc.
    I figure "Hmm, OK... guess so....".

    Then they discover that the (combination) oil and water pump has a tiny bit of oil in the weep hole -- much dire warnings about if the oil pump is starting to seep oil it might suddenly fail catastrophically at which point the engine gets no oil, and seizes... This is (AFAIR) ~$6,000 job. Starting to get annoyed, this is now 3+ weeks and ~$9,000 but in a penny, in for....

    Fine, now everything is all done, only thing left to do is flush the F1 system.

    This is where the trouble really starts...

    They flush the F1 system, and then do the clutch relearn procedure. This involves hooking it up to an SD2 or SD3 (Ferrari computer thingie) and telling it to recalibrate.

    Runs, starts drawing a pretty graph -- and then aborts / fails...

    'twas all working fine when I took it in, but much explanations about "well, when we drain it sometimes the gunk built up around the clutch release bearing gasket loosens and then the bearing starts to leak, and the F1 system won't hold pressure. You'll have to replace the clutch bearing... This requires dropping the transmission, removing the clutch, most of the cost is labor, you might as well replace the clutch, it's only got 68% life left, etc..."

    As this point I'm really annoyed, but vehicle isn't drivable to take anywhere else, and anyway, they *are* the dealership, etc... so I agree and they go ahead....

    Their price for the clutch and flywheel was much much higher than Ricambi, and I wanted a Hill Engineering bearing (which they couldn't source), so I ended up purchasing the clutch and bearing from Ricambi (~$2,530) myself and delivering it to them...

    After they install the bearing and clutch and reassemble everything. I go along to watch...
    They hook up the SD3 and tell it to relearn... and it starts calibration... and then dies in *exactly* the same place. Much surprise, confusion, etc.

    Turns out that the F1 ECU unit had some issue (which they verify by "borrowing" an ECU from some other customers vehicle!) --- and there was nothing wrong with the bearing or gasket, the system hadn't been losing pressure, I hadn't needed to get the clutch changed, etc...

    They make a big production about how magnanimous they are, and aren't going to charge me for the ECU... but I still need to pay for the clutch replacement labor.

    Ended up costing me >$20,000 for everything... and I felt as though I had been taken advantage of / ripped of...
    Completely fell out of love with the vehicle - instead of having a huge grin every time I saw it I just felt violated... and so I sold it and bought an Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster instead.

    While this wasn't (IMO) an issue with the vehicle itself, but rather just a bad dealership I've sworn to never touch Ferrari again.

    --------

    Just to make the story even better, when FoW first presented me with the bill it was ~$23,000. I made grumpyface, and after much huffing and "well, we don't usually do this, but as a big favor we can give you a break on the labor" attitude they gave me something like $1,535 off... Then, a few week later I get an invoice claiming I sill owe $1,535. I go talk to them -- they apologize, bookkeeping error, billing cycle started before the discount was applied, we'll take care of it, etc.

    Then, 2 or 3 months later (after I had already sold the vehicle) I get another invoice (bizarrely enough, I think from directly from FNA) claiming that my account is past-due in the amount of $1,535 and that they will be sending it to a collections agency.... (FoW did eventually take care of this, but not before it appeared on my credit report -- yay!).

    So, I am really enjoying the Aston Martin, but am planning on sometime getting something with more excitement. If it were not for the treatment by FoW I would be considering a 458 Spider, instead I'll probably get a Murcielago Roadster or (if I can stretch the budget and get used to the odd back and instrument panel) eventually an Aventador...
     
  22. Zinger

    Zinger Formula 3

    Apr 11, 2009
    1,894
    Leesburg, Va
    Full Name:
    Ryan M

    When did this debacle occur?
     
  23. wkumari

    wkumari Karting

    Jul 15, 2011
    169
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Warren
    Can get exact dates, but around Feb / March of 2012...
     
  24. Zxgarage

    Zxgarage Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Jan 21, 2011
    638
    MD/ DC area
    Full Name:
    Zack
    I heard really bad things about FOW... I use Competizione great guys and close to my house... Anyway, the Dealer problem... I had problems with a Chevy dealer when getting a ZO6, and right now I have my Porsche Turbo that I send just to do regular maintenance into something like it... I receive a call about the battery need replacement , never had any problem myself, and next day... another call to replace the charcoal canister, quoted over $1100. What I want to say is... Doesn't matter the brand, they will all squeeze you. (few exceptions)
     
  25. Zinger

    Zinger Formula 3

    Apr 11, 2009
    1,894
    Leesburg, Va
    Full Name:
    Ryan M
    Agree, but the bill amount wkumari paid out is a bit extreme.

    I took my car to FOW for an annual service and did not have any issues with surprise charges or "other needed items", this was about 6 months ago.

    I did fork over the $4400 for the power normal coverage for 1 additional year on my 2008 F430 coupe.

    I will certainly get estimates and watch them closely when my car is being serviced. About 2 months ago I had a CEL light pop up on my F430. I pulled in FOW with no appt. and they looked at the car right away, fixed it at no charge.

    I have never had a reason to question or doubt FOW's service. I have heard the horror stories online about them which worries me, but, until they burn me I will continue to use them. Perhaps me purchasing the warranty has earned some "good will". Either way, they are decent people to me.
     

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