build quality and reliability?

I completely understand your thoughts. I too had these feelings prior to my first Ferrari. I have owned two. A California and now the F8. In comparison to some who will respond here I am a neophyte. I have had zero issues so far. I pulled the trigger because there is no car on the road with the allure, beauty, refinement and performance of a Ferrari. So far absolutely no regrets and a whole lotta smiles. Obviously you have been bit by the Ferrari bug. The only way to scratch that itch is to jump in. My bet is you won’t regret it. If you don’t you will always feel as though you missed out on the “dream car”.
If you want zero issues on an “exotic” buy a Porsche 911. They are just about perfect. (I know there is a debate about a 911 being an exotic but one helluva car)

 

Up until recently, I would agree that Porsches are generally bullet-proof.
However, my opinion changed with the 992 Turbo S I ordered last year:

1) Delivery Defects--Driver and passenger seats did not match, one was a sport seat, other was comfort seat. PCM system had to be reinstalled 2x. Epoxy on dash and seats that required refinishing leather. Factory PPF behind rear wheels peeled off.
2) Other Problems--Main cooling artery from front radiators to engine burst while driving, fully disabling the car. Complete battery failure 2 months after delivery. No US replacement stock.

I sold it after being stranded twice.

 

Sticky buttons and battery issues are solved relatively easy. You just have to re-do the buttons every couple years. AntiGravity or Braille LiIon batteries seem to solve battery issues. I can't speak to the other issues as I haven't researched them as much as I have 458 issues.

 

If you're looking for a hassle free ownership experience, Ferrari is not for you. These are low volume cars and Ferrari knows full well that the majority of owners will put up with QC issues because driving the cars is a blast. They all have quirks and if they're not driven a lot, they get even quirkier!

That being says, F-car ownership has been great (2011 California, 35K miles, 6.5 years), but there are almost always going to be issues - minor or major, knock on wood minor in our case!

How far are you from the closest service center or dealer?

T

 

I have driven a 2007 R8 V8, then a F430 simultaneosly with a 997.1 S. Sold them all and bought a factory new 488 and a 997.2 4S Convertible. I have no garage queens, did 70k KM on R8, 20KMS on F430, 40KMS on 488 so far ;-)
My Ferraris are bulletproof, not so the R8 (many problems, from build quality to 7K Euro problems with E gear. Even more problems with the Porsches. The thing is, IF the F car has a problem, its double or triple the price tag compared to the rest of the stable. However, with a power warranty you can limit the risk (even though its nonsense from an economic perspective - I know).

 

Ouch I have the same car. Absolutely no problems

 

You should not buy a Ferrari.

I currently own 2 Ferrari’s, and 2 Audi’s. (RS + S). They both fill different needs for me.

I expect and accept the imperfection that Ferrari has as part of that experience. Yes one of my cars has sticky buttons and the other expects constant battery charging.

But for me, those issues are worth it. The feeling I get when I drive my Ferrari’s far outweigh the issues. For you it appears it would not. I love owning and driving Ferrari’s. The Audi’s and Lamborghini/Audi’s are awesome, and they have the blessing of German engineering and quality, that will probably fit you better.

I actually think the fit and finish of my Ferrari’s are top notch, and the overall quality is excellent. But I also expect some silly issues.

Many current Ferrari owners might agree with me, others might not. I actually received a picture from Ferrari last Friday of my new car as it completed production and will soon head over to me. I am excited for this car, although it will have a few quirks that will not be acceptable to some.

Good luck with your choice.

 

You should probably just stop at that sentence above and buy a car made by Germans

I've had parts actually fall off my Ferraris while driving.

Ray

 

Agreed. Why spend your hard earned money on something you are questioning? If you are worried about small quirks then a low volume car manufacturer is not for you. Plenty of other cars to spend money on. The counter argument is there is a lot to be said about Ferraris. Many will argue that the quirks add to the enjoyment. You are driving a piece of history and that is like rolling artwork. Most people can look The little things but if you are looking for an S class fit and finish the car may not be for you.

 

You should stop reading car forums as a gauge of reliability.

For one, only people who have issues will post. People who have no issues, do not post (there's really no reason to, and posts that start off with "I love my car! It's absolutely perfect" are really conversation cul-de-sacs.). So right off the bat you get selection bias.

And two, every car has issues. Ignoring my advice from up above for one moment, try other car forums and they too are littered with problems. Owners who have spent either 50k or 500k on a car will just complain about the smallest things, from seats that are too hard (or soft) or seat belt harnesses that pinch the shoulder to more serious problems like UI glitches or transmission errors. These are mechanical creations, and as such, they are prone to mechanical (and electrical) issues.

That said, modern Ferrari's (beginning with the 458 and onward) are nothing like the Ferrari's that pre-date them, which had Italian build quality drama, to put it nicely, or Italian idiosyncratic and finicky craftsmanship, to put it more bluntly.

 

+1

 

I am a relative newbie to the Ferrari world (less than 2 years) with a 15 458 Italia and recently a 15 Speciale. Both ownership experiences have been great and no issues so far. I know several people that have had little issues but many understand that these things happen from time to time.

I have met some great people on this site as well as on FCA drives, car shows, etc. This is one of the best things about Ferrari ownership and outweighs any problems that I may have in the future IMO.

Best advice I can offer is to drive an example and see if you connect to the brand. I had an AMG on the way and I test drove a 458 and that was it. I only had my AMG for a month and when a good 458 appeared, I jumped at it without hesitation. If you get a chance to drive one and connect with the brand like I did, you have a great chance of having a great experience and maybe making some great new friends along the way.

 

8 years and 26k miles later, my 2010 458 has had a few relatively minor issues; its not a Camry. I average about $3500/yr in maintenance including tires. A new $2-300 battery every 2-3 years etc is the price of entry and not significant. My 991.2 GT3 is a better car for the track/street but it doesn't have the Ferrari mystique.
Its like having children. You can love them both, but they are a little different.
A good independant exotics mechanic goes a long way in controlling costs.

 

Whilst German reliability is well known, MB cars can have issues as well. I’ve owned many SonderKlasse Benzes in the last 35 years, with two or three usually in my car park.

Some have spent lots of time in the dealer repair shop for various issues. S- Class cars that are out of warranty with mechanical issues, are not for the faint of heart…

We still have a 2018 S560 4 Matic and it’s been superb, with only a few issues. I still love SK’s and accept that they will occasionally have issues like any other car.

My 2015 458 Italia (my first Ferrari) has also been superb thus far (I’ve owned it for 2.5 years) and it has 18k on the odometer thus far. I’ve put 10k of those miles on it myself and it has been excellent in every respect. No sticky buttons, no electrical/battery issues, no squeaky brakes, it’s been more reliable than my S560 4 Matic!

There is nothing like a Ferrari, it connects with you down to your DNA and it makes you feel more alive every time you drive it. Good luck to you!

Cheers!

 

I wouldn’t bet on German reliability. Or American. I’ve owned a bunch of Chevy’s, Cadillacs, Audi’s, Mercedes, etc. They stay leases as they are disposable.

My Italian cars are GREAT. F430 Spider, California T, F8, Quattroporte GTS.

 

I would spend some time at dealerships, FCA meetings, track days, C&C, etc and talk to actual Ferrari owners and take a look at theirs cars. Try to get some seat time in an Fcar as well. May have to test drive at a dealership or rent on on Turo or whatnot. A few minutes on an online forum is not going to be the education you need to make an informed decision.

 

You are not ready to own a Ferrari, stick with the reliable exotics made by Audi (R8) and Honda (NSX). Super reliable but no soul.

 

I’m the positive control in the group in that I’ve run my 458 very hard in the 4 years and 35,000 miles I’ve owned it. It’s been extremely reliable and nothing short of a rock star on the track. This car will remain in the stable, and the F8 spider awaits my pick up at the dealer in the next few days.

There’s a reason why lots of folks on this forum own multiple Ferraris, present company included.

 

Yes, but the "soul" will sometimes leave you stranded 100 miles from home with a dead battery ...

 

Well you would be buying second hand . At least you can go over the car with a fine toothcomb and see if there are any physical issues.

IMO get to drive on first as these 2 cars are very different i.e the F12 and 488 GTB. But im sure as soon as you do you will love them.