The Swiss Thread | Page 63 | FerrariChat

The Swiss Thread

Discussion in 'Europe' started by Pav, Aug 29, 2011.

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  1. Keiiro

    Keiiro Rookie

    Aug 30, 2017
    8
    Grüezi all, I'm new to the forum, to CH and to the world of Ferrari,

    I'm very close to pull the trigger on a beautiful 2009 California with 25k on the clock.

    The car in question is a beautiful Azzuro California/Crema, 2+Bench, No Scudetti, with yellow calipers & tacho and carbon drivers package. It is currently sold by Foitek in Altendorf and will come with Power Warranty. Asking price is within retail market value.
    Apparently it had some issue with the roof getting stuck, no leaks/breaks though, and roof needed repainting. Cosmetically it needs some love and care.

    Would appreciate very much any thoughts/recommendation from you guys. If someone happens to know the exact car, it would be also great to hear from you.

    When it comes to value, what do you guys think in terms specs, seasonal timing, and with the fact that the Portofino is just around the corner? Just thinking if I would like to sell it a couple of years down the line.

    Having never experienced the other seasons here, the other thing in my mind is if the Cali is a good leisure drive in autumn, winter, spring? What about going to ski with it?

    Many thanks!
     
  2. Shinigami

    Shinigami Formula Junior
    Owner

    Aug 2, 2005
    465
    Gland Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Heikki
    Hi Keiiro

    I don't know the car and I'm sure those in the California forum can comment much better on your other questions.

    Having said that, this being a RWD car, you will want good winter tires mounted latest by November, and kept until March at the earliest. This of course depends on altitude, down in the plains where I live (300m above sea level), I find up to 10 days a year where the roads can be treacherous with summer tires, and as I have multiple cars, I just keep the others garaged if the roads are not cleared out and temperatures are below 0 (even if there's no ice on the ground).

    I don't know if you have space to fit skis in a California, but you can always rent them once up a mountain :)

    I go skiing myself with my 4WD Audi, and to be honest, I haven't required any chains (I do mount snow tires) when going to places like Les Gets, Flaine, etc (in the French speaking part). The roads there have typically been cleared and safe, and it pays to just keep an eye out on the weather predictions so you don't end up in a blizzard while driving up or down... I do not know much about the weather in the German speaking part of CH, so perhaps others can help you with that. Some of the mountain paths recommend chains after a certain point, so doesn't hurt to check if the California can easily mount them.

    Forgot to add. Summer tires in my R170 Mercedes SLK (Brabus modified) in winter made it undriveable. Summer tires in my R171 SLK 55 AMG, was a different story, it actually held itself quite well when I got caught out in a blizzard once. I would expect the technology in the California to be good enough with winter tires to keep you safe and sound. 4WD as a safe drive is sometimes a myth, tires make a huge difference, studded and chains even more so.
     
  3. Elsi

    Elsi Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2010
    1,630
    Zürich (Switzerland)
    Full Name:
    Markus
    Hi Keiiro

    I cannot comment on that specific California but Foitek Altendorf has a great reputation.

    It you want to drive this car in winter, winter tires are an absolute requirement. I often drive my 575M during winter but I don’t think that it is a good idea to take a Ferrari RWD car for skiing. Personally, I would not do it and I am one of the hard core winter Ferrari drivers :)

    Enjoy your (hopefully soon) new car

    Markus

    PS: If you want to come for some drives with other f-car drivers, see here: Ferrari Driver Club

    Our next tour is on September, 16th and on September, 30th we are going to Lignières for a driving course.

    Let me know if you want to join us
     
  4. Keiiro

    Keiiro Rookie

    Aug 30, 2017
    8
    Many thanks for the great feedback gentlemen!
    I think I'd be quite keen to drive a Ferrari in Winter, and sounds like it would work.

    Regarding the mentioned car, I did some due diligence and although really beautiful spec, I ended up not buying since it had extensive paintwork done to it and a cracked diffuser. I really liked the dealer however, very friendly and accommodating.

    One thing I found very surprising is that all dealers I spoke to had never before heard about a pre-purchase inspection (PPI). Is it called any different here? To me it felt like its not common practice or something...

    Tried to do one at official Ferrari dealer in Zürich, rather poor experience. They just lifted the car and walked me around it. Didn't to manage to get any report, code readings or trust for that matter. In the end it was useful since, when lifted, I was able to spot all the paintwork done to the car (without the help of a specialist).

    So looks like I'm still out in the hunt for a first Ferrari and would appreciate very much any recommendations both for cars and proven places where to do a proper PPI.

    I'd say the ones I'm more interested are the 2+Bench California (nice spec 2+2 is good too) and the FF. But I'm open for suggestions and would appreciate them very much!

    Elsi/Markus, thank you very much for the invite but it looks like I wont have a car by then yet, but I would really love to join once I have one.

    Thank you very much!
     
  5. Elsi

    Elsi Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2010
    1,630
    Zürich (Switzerland)
    Full Name:
    Markus
    Keiiro

    In CH it is rather uncommon to do a PPI and I guess many of the dealers don’t even know this term.

    Usually, if you buy a car from an official dealer, you don’t do a PPI because you can expect to buy a good car. And if not, you expect the dealer to fix it. If you want to be on the save side buy a car with Ferrari Power Warranty and make sure that the costs for it are part of the deal. So you can be quite sure you have a good car because Power Warranty needs an inspection by an official dealer. And if something fails there is the warranty.

    If you buy the car from a private party or from a non-official dealer, I would recommend to do a PPI. But I guess most official dealers won’t do PPIs for such cars… Maybe you have to ask an independent mechanic for that. I know a very good mechanic with huge Ferrari experience but he is located in the “Ostschweiz” (Romanshorn). Oh, and if you don’t buy the car from an official dealer with Power Warranty, make sure the car has another warranty such as “quality one” or so. Often these warranties are even better than Power Warranty and the coverage is better.

    Usually, autoscout24.ch has listed all cars in CH. So you just need to watch there und wait until the right car pops up.

    Hope this helps.

    Markus

    PS: Let me know when you have bought a F-car so you can join us on one of our tours.

    Oh, and another word: If you are not an experience driver of RWD cars, I would not start to drive such a thing in winter on streets covered with snow… Better to start in easier conditions.
     
  6. Federico368

    Federico368 Karting

    Aug 26, 2011
    71
    Hello everyone, I've barely posted in this forum but I've been part of the community for a long time.
    I am now writing this message because we are organizing an amazing event on November 3rd and I hope that some of You can join us.
    We managed to reserve the Monza racetrack for the day for our private supercar event , if anyone is interested send me a PM and we will talk there.
    Federico
     
  7. alberto

    alberto Formula 3

    Aug 25, 2001
    2,395
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    Will be in Switzerland for a few days soon. Any car related events/shows coming up that would be worth visiting? Any good vintage car dealers that might be worth visiting?
     
  8. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
    The brand new building of official Ferrari dealer and Officina Ferrari Classiche Niki Hasler AG in Basel, Switzerland, is about to be finished and will soon be open, in about six weeks the 25 employees will move in. The new facility has six levels including several massive underground car parks for almost 100 Ferraris, plus a special car elevator with a built-in turning table.

    Marcel Massini

    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    of2worlds likes this.
  9. omd78

    omd78 F1 World Champ

    Dec 26, 2005
    13,137
    Breda, Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Martin
    Wow!

    Gr. Martin
     
  10. Shinigami

    Shinigami Formula Junior
    Owner

    Aug 2, 2005
    465
    Gland Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Heikki
    Looks good :)

    Of course the only time I'll be going to Basel in the near future, is just two weeks from now, meaning it won't be open for business when I'm there...
     
  11. Pav

    Pav Formula 3
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 18, 2006
    2,159
    Warsaw, Poland
    Full Name:
    Michal
    The silver/grey was de rigeur!
     
  12. Simon

    Simon Moderator
    Moderator Owner

    Aug 29, 2003
    6,750
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Simon
    Lovely. Thanks for posting Marcel
     
  13. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
  14. JuLiTrO

    JuLiTrO Formula Junior

    Nov 2, 2017
    383
    Full Name:
    Julio Saiz
    F12KID likes this.
  15. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
    Hi.
    Ferraris are females, so it's a she.
    What's her chassis number?

    Marcel Massini
     
  16. JuLiTrO

    JuLiTrO Formula Junior

    Nov 2, 2017
    383
    Full Name:
    Julio Saiz
    ;) It actually felt like 'she' after our first 200KM together

    Chassis number: 22669
     
  17. F12KID

    F12KID F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Nov 27, 2013
    2,574
    Lol x 12
     
  18. omd78

    omd78 F1 World Champ

    Dec 26, 2005
    13,137
    Breda, Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Martin
    Congratulations!
    Gr. Martin
     
  19. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
  20. mdoc3

    mdoc3 Karting
    Owner

    Jun 12, 2014
    120
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Martin
  21. F12KID

    F12KID F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Nov 27, 2013
    2,574
    I’m betting that the 23y.o was probably have a “blast” in more than one way and did annoy those around, legal or not......it is a bit obnoxious to drive through the dead centre of ZH (or any city) with your engine/exhaust screaming yet the limit is 50kph but mostly 30kph......and I certainly love a loud/open exhaust especially on an F-car :)
     
  22. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
  23. JuLiTrO

    JuLiTrO Formula Junior

    Nov 2, 2017
    383
    Full Name:
    Julio Saiz
  24. 100badboy100

    100badboy100 Formula Junior
    Owner

    Sep 15, 2016
    825
    Devon- U.K.
    Full Name:
    Michael
    F12KID and JuLiTrO like this.

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