New or Used Ferrari?

Hi. New versus used is a completely personal decision. Some people want a car that reflects a very specific spec. Others desire to obtain a vehicle within a very specific price range. Generally speaking, purchasing most used F-cars is a better financial decision because of the depreciation curve (especially if they still have warranty or included maintenance remaining). It is always possible to find used F-cars that present themselves as "new" due to be well maintained. Conversely, the excitment of spec'ing a F-car and waiting for it to arrive is a unique experience that bonds one to their vehicle in a special way!

 

Congratulations on having such a fun dilemma. I think the more important questions you need to decide are when do you want your car and what kind of car do you want. Ferrari has sold out orders for the next two years and the last two orderable cars were (and might still be) the Roma (front-engine V8 turbo coupe) and 296GTS (mid-engine V6 turbo, hybrid, convertible). Rumors of a Roma Spider early next year. If your interests are mid-engine V8 or front-engine V12 you will have to look at the pre-owned market. Look at your interests in the car and the time frame that you want the car and that will steer between new and pre-owned

I've done both: pre-owned 458 Spider (I missed the ordering window, but it was the car I wanted), new Portofino M (16 months from order to delivery, worth the wait).

 

I think the best advice for most people is start with a pre-owned Ferrari. You should be fairly well protected in terms of the financial side, which does matter, and the cars are fairly well known, issues, etc. Get it, drive it, see what you think. If you love it, maybe consider what comes next.

 

I think the ordering process varies significantly between different dealers. The process at San Diego Ferrari was great. We paid a $10k fully refundable deposit when we submitted the order. I've heard other dealers require a second deposit after the build starts, but we did not have to do that and were told we could walk away from the car right up until delivery and get the refund back (although they asked us to let us know as early as possible). Once the car was loaded on the truck the dealer got the invoice and we did the paperwork via docusign and wired them the final MSRP.

27 March 2021 -- ordered, built initial spec, and paid $10k deposit
23 February 2022 -- received allocation from the factory, confirmed final spec
16 March 2022 -- received VIN in MyFerrari app (production started)
1 June 2022 -- received first production photo (frame in white) in MyFerrari app
8 June 2022 -- received second production photo (painted frame) in MyFerrari app
11 June 2022 -- received third production photo (completed car) in MyFerrari app / confirmed with dealer car had left Maranello
20 August 2022 -- confirmed at Port of New Jersey, waiting for customs
29 August 2022 -- on a truck headed to San Diego, dealer received invoice with final MSRP, wired full payment
7 Sep 2022 -- arrived at dealer (prep, PPF)
23 Sep 2022 -- took delivery: 1 year, 5 months, 3 weeks, 6 days from ordering to delivery

My recommendation would be to shop used ones right now and see if there is something you like. I'm not sure if Ferrari is taking orders for anything at the moment (maybe the 296GTS), but I'm guessing the Roma Spider will be available in February. If you find something you like buy it now and then put an order in for whatever car comes out that you like. You get the best of both options.

 

I would buy a used car with a pre-purchase inspection from a qualified (marque) specialist mechanic. Make sure the PPI is written on company letterhead. The shop performing the work must explain everything to you and discuss line by line the positive and negative attributes about the car. Previous mechanical records of performed service is a plus.

In addition it is in your interest to research the older cars reliability or lack of. In other words some models are known to cost more to properly service and source spare parts.

If you want a new car it may help to find what the second hand value of the car currently brings on the used car market.

With a used car exterior and interior colors and options should be well down your list of personal requirements to satisfy your needs.

 

Good advice.

Also, you'll want to determine which model/type you'd prefer. Ferrari now offers everything from grand tourers to sports cars (hybrid and pure ICE) to an SUV. My opinion is that the cars got overly complicated after about 1990, but if you have a warranty and the free 7-year servicing then the new ones might be right for you.

 

To get a car immediately, you have to go for a used car. Ordering a new car typically implies a long delay, and you may also be denied the car you want as long as the dealer manages a demand that's higher than supply.
If you consider getting a new Ferrari in the future, buying a CPO car from a Ferrari dealer is also a good way to enter in a relationship that will make this nex purchase easier.

 

Above poster is saying what I was thinking… if this is your first Ferrari, will a dealer even give you an allocation for one without owning a used one? This is why Jay Leno never bought one because the politics in Ferrari are over top.

 

'Sold out' is a dealer game that applies especially in US - if your dealer says you can order a Purosangue in Sweden and you want a Ferrari SUV in a couple of year's time then order one.....

 

This is off topic but do you actually find the Roma of 296 more attractive than a 488 or F12? The edges and lines are getting too smoothed out for my taste and round. The 488 is so much more aggressive. Why buy new at all unless you find these models that much more attractive.

 

I have had several Ferrari, mostly bought from independent vendors, but I believe buying a CPO 599 from the official dealer was what helped me getting one of the earliest 488 (I got it in September 2015, with my own spec which was not even overloaded with options).

 

I would get the nicest one you like and can afford that is for sale at your dealer today and drive it home.

 

This exactly.

 

I think what @WashingtonFerrari61 was saying was not that Romas and 296s were unattractive- and what one person finds "attractive" is different than the next- but the point (I think) is IF you look at a F12, 812 and Roma side-by-side / or same with a 488, F8 and 296 and say "oh my God I MUST have the Roma" then order a Roma and enjoy the experience of specing and waiting and being the first owner- but do it for the passion and not just because the Roma is "newer" - any/all of those cars are phenomenally well-built, insanely fast, all the tech you need and more and all can be driven daily with relatively reasonable maintenance costs *by Ferrari standards-

So buy what makes your heart pound and what you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about- regardless of new or CPO pre-owned.

Cheers

 

I think the Roma is the most attractive modern Ferrari by a long shot. The iPad-looking interior, though, is going to look dated and probably a huge expense to replace later.


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Not a chance, the 296 is way better. The Roma is like the California of todays era and looks like a giant jelly bean on wheels.. Anyone saying they need the newest tech in a Ferrari is silly when the German automakers will always be better. I would take a 2019+ R8 interior over any new Ferrari interior made to date. People can say what they want but this very discussion about the direction of Ferrari designs has been a topic of discussion before. The poster above the attached me totally gets what I was trying to say. I love Ferrari with all my heart and I still stand behind saying the 360/430/458/488/F12 are the best modern Ferrari’s to date that are relatively affordable. To me the 812 super fast owns all of those listed and I would take that before any of those but the price of it is just too much for me unfortunately. My mind just can’t comprehend buying a 296 or Roma over a 488 or F12 because of tech only…

 

I flippin LOVE the Roma- except for front grille- The gadget interior is still better than a McLaren but agree it does match the incredible class of the car-

 

Aesthetics are subjective. I love old used cars like the 250 GT SWB, 365 GTB/4, DB4 GT and 550 Spyder. The newer cars lost the art of the curve, IMHO, so I don’t dwell on the differences. The Roma is classically gorgeous, to my eyes. It leaves behind the Huaracan/488/C8 Corvette/Every McLaren school of angry robot styling. But again, obviously these cars all sell, so others like them.

My point about the Roma is that Ferrari are absolutely playing the latest tech game. Its instrumentation is all state of the art 2022 video displays. Much better than the state of the art 1984 video displays in the C4 Corvette, but only until the next advance in displays. All disposable. Compared to the gauges and switches in a 246 or 365 GTB/4, it’s Apple instead of Veglia.




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It is ridiculously beautiful. There’s a grey one parked out front at Ferrari of Rancho Mirage and it’s perhaps the only MY2022 car that seriously tempts me.

If Ferrari offered a “classic instrumentation” option, my 401k would be in serious peril.



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