What the F149 project MEANS-not "looks"

[wyo550]

Nuts with what the F149 looks like. Nobody knows! And so what? It's a car!
And we know that it's being designed (more importantly being partially BUILT) by Pininfarina and will certainly resemble a "baby 599". So what? We know it will also look like an F430...perhaps with a touch of the Maserati project car design that the F149 project began with! Yak Yak Yak. Just a bunch of chat. If the car is called the XYZ GT California, it'll be a sign of the "accessible" future of Ferrari! The GT California! Wow! Is that a Real Ferrari? Wow! A real mall car! You think you've seen too many 360's! Wait until the F149's saturate Miami and Moscow and Shanghai and Hong Kong and Singapore!

Nobody, anywhere, is discussing the Ferrari LINE of cars and the FUTURE of the manufacturer after car(s) like the F149 enter the growing market, worldwide. With the F149, Ferrari will be expanding its annual manufacturing from 6,000-to-10,000 cars! What do you think this will do to the secondary market OR the premiums on ALL existing Ferraris?

The only reason used Ferrari's like a 599 or F430 can command ANY premium today is that you have to wait 3-5 (or more) years to get one otherwise! With the F149, it's going to be more like (a) year in some markets!

And nobody, anywhere, is discussing the environmental impact and engine performance characteristics of the F149. Ferrari is apparently using the same (AUDI/BOSCH-derived) direct-injection system that's been in Audis for years now.

The F149 is the first of the FOURTH GENERATION of Ferrari cars!
1. Early Enzo years (1949-1980's)
2. Fiat/ funky(1980's- against Lamborghini, Aston, Porsche, etc)
3. Montezemolo/ Fiat (to present) from the 456 to the with over-engineered 599 GTB Hummer
4. Globalized manufacturer, with increased "accessible" production to address new global wealth centers in Asian land mass and environmentally correct (with direct injection to reduce emissions 45%) worldwide.

I plan to buy an F149 JUST to drive it for 5,000 miles and then sell it on the secondary market. Then I'll wait for a "high performance" version of the F149.
I want to experience the new performance capabilities and engine management/ 50 msec transaxle (or is it a front-mounted transmission?)
Then, if I like it, I'll get the upgraded "GT California SP" (sounds like a Mustang!) in three years. But I'm keeping my 1990's -second car of the third generation Ferrari- 550 (which I drive 10,000 miles every year). I'll use it for REAL driving and the F149 for lunch/ dinner dates (and the fast return trip to the dealer, so that I can get SOME premium- before all the Ferrari markets in the US are saturated with F149's...and before U.S. gas prices get to $6/ gallon. I estimate that retail gas prices in the US will increase 50 cents/ year for the immediate future. The F149's ability to manage the fuel to 8 cylinders, using only FOUR while cruising, is what the new generation of fuel management is all about.

I think any (third generation Ferrari) 12 cyl reseale car in the US will be a financial dog by 2012. But my 550 has already taken its biggest hit. I bought it in 2004 with 11,000 miles- three previous owners. It cost me $127,000; and I've now got $160,000 in it after four seasons! And if I sold it today, I'd get $80,000 if I was lucky (with 48,000 miles). The suckers were the ones who kept their 550's in the garage with 3,000 miles. Now, 10 years old, they might get HALF of their original investment- and they've never driven their cars!

My videos on Youtube are WYO550
Cheers
John

[wyo550]

And the looks!
It's the American Ferrari!

Everybody loves America!
Our foreign policy of manufacturing the American lifestyle, worldwide, at the lowest possible cost has made us friends in the developing world...everywhere!

And so, with the rising aspirations of a new, global bourgeoise (let alone criminal money class like in Russia) what better name to give the new Ferrari- than the MOST American name (evoking the past glory of the 250 California) GT CALIFORNIA!
(I can just hear the Beach Boys on TV commercials for the new Ferrari! WOW is that a real Ferrari! Looks like a Corvette! I LOVE IT!)

This is the first of the new generation Ferraris, with seamless shifting 7-speed, fuel efficiency and emissions (for those post-Olympic days in Beijing) and enough trunk space for luggage- even with the top down- for Mom and Dad (and for another $10,000 and two rear seats, little tykes in their licensed red caps and T-shirts). F-1 costs $300-500million/ year! Got to sell, sell , sell!

Yes, it's the all -American Ferrari! The CALIFORNIA! The uber-Mustang for the emerging classes, striving to be "little Americans" worldwide!

Yes, I'm on the list (I was happy to get off the 599 Hummer list. Who needs a car you can't use more than half the potential of on normal highways...and pay a third of a million for the numb pleasure?)

I'll keep my 550 for real driving (I do 10,000 miles a year in it and it aint depreciating any more). The GT-CA looks like it's sized to be a fun "day drive" car (for people who want the engine in the front and a nice stereo and "entertainment" screen to watch their DVD's on! That's why I want a Ferrari, to listen to the stereo and watch DVD's!

Ah, America!

[gamera291]

I happen to really like the California. Of course, I live in CA, but I swear I had nothing to do with naming the car I'm a big fan of the front engine, long nose style of GT cars like your 550 and the Aston Martin DB9, so the California really appeals to me. I know Ferrari is in the business of making money, so selling a few more cars will be good for them. I doubt this will hurt the market on other Ferraris. At least I hope not. Plus, they are going to have a hard time meeting the new EPA standards in the U.S. if they don't consider a higher volume, more fuel efficient car. So far, this seems like a decent move in the right direction.

I'm with you though. Buy it. Drive the piss out of it. Have fun. Besides, 450+hp and 0-60 in less than 4 seconds... sounds like fun to me. Check out the specs, if you haven't already.