Does exclusivity really matter that much to Ferrari enthusiasts?

"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob) 02/10/2014 at 16:08 • Filed to: None

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You know, how they limited production to 349 F50's, 399 Enzos, and 499 LasFerraris, and cutting overall production in general. However, Ferrari made over 1300 F40's, and people like /want the F40 more than its successors even though Ferrari made more F40's than the other three combined!

Would anybody other than Montezemolo actually care if they made, say 2000 The Ferraris?

Lamborghini is even more "exclusive" than Ferrari, yet two drastic increases in production haven't hurt their image at all! (Chrysler ramped up Countach production so much that the last 5 years account for 2/3 of total production, and of course when VW bought Lambo and sells a rebadged Audi R8)

timateo81 > dogisbadob 02/10/2014 at 16:11

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If they made 6 billion F40s I'd still want one.

If they made 6 billion Countachs I'd still want one.

So there.

Brian Silvestro > dogisbadob 02/10/2014 at 16:14

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Ferrari owners want people to know that they're rich enough and they're exclusive enough/have enough connections to have one of their cars.

Dsscats > timateo81 02/10/2014 at 16:15

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YEEESSS! THIS RIGHT HERE! We love these cars because of what they are. They are spectacular cars, not because they are limited production.

Saf1 > dogisbadob 02/10/2014 at 16:17

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I'm not sure if I[m mixing 2 things up but I read that eg 349 were made because they were confident they could sell atleast 350, ie always slightly less than what they can sell. This ensures max income while still teasing all the rich people who just weren't rich in the right way/enough - which brings me to my next point, for some of the more prestigious Ferraris you need to have owned X number of Ferraris before (and apparently Mondials don't help here :P), so by making these many numbers they are also ensuring that there are enough Ferraris for their big Ferrari customers to accrue enough Ferraris to get that LaFerrari :)

dogisbadob > Saf1 02/10/2014 at 16:22

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Yeah, I've heard that before, Enzo's philosophy "make one less than the market will bear" or something like that

Party-vi > dogisbadob 02/10/2014 at 16:24

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Limiting production ensures that every investment banker with a Ferrari collection will automatically buy one just to have it. These aren't enthusiasts in the same sense like you and I are enthusiasts. That, and these cars are being treated as investments rather than vehicles now. I think the F40 is so popular because the people who lusted after it in the '80s are now able to afford them (just like Muscle cars were popular with the baby boomers), and their abundance means people are trying to buy them up as quickly as possible.

Here are some recentish auction prices:

1990 F40, 2,900 miles: $1,155,000

1995 F50, 230 miles: $1,650,000

2003 Enzo, 9,000 miles: $1,320,000

Looking at just the prices, a moderately-used Enzo is apparently more desirable than a fresh-ish F40, but none can match the investment potential of a 230-mile F50.

Saf1 > dogisbadob 02/10/2014 at 16:25

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First post was the greatest tangent I've ever seen. Relevant information whilst completely ignoring your question ;D (My take: Ferrari make this many because they can while still maintaining some semblance of exclusivity. The makers who really do production in single and double digits, I bet you most would be making this many of each model in a heartbeat if not for the fact they struggle to move handfuls sometimes. Ferrari have a really enviable position in that regard in the supercar world)

dogisbadob > Party-vi 02/10/2014 at 16:26

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Yeah, but the value of a lower-mileage Enzo (say, under 1k or perhaps 2k) would likely be closer to 1.6M.

Also, the Enzo is fugly

911e46z06 > dogisbadob 02/10/2014 at 16:28

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I think back in the day exclusivity was a by-product of low production capacity. Now the issue is image. I don't think the buyers would care in the short term, but the theory is that if you started seeing as many Californias as you see SLs or 6ers, or as many 458s as 911s, the general public would stop viewing a Ferrari as something special, which would be bad for the brand.

Also, the fewer you sell, the more you can sell them for. And high margins are nice when you're actively trying to produce low volumes.

Party-vi > dogisbadob 02/10/2014 at 16:29

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On a scale of beauty, I'd have the following:

1. F40

2. Enzo

10. F50

dogisbadob > Party-vi 02/10/2014 at 16:42

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Wow really? I actually like the F50 more than I should; it always seemed to be the best impression of racecar for the street to me.

Party-vi > dogisbadob 02/10/2014 at 16:43

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It's just too damn ugly.

Manuél Ferrari > Party-vi 02/10/2014 at 22:13

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yeah the front end of the F50 kills it for me

Manuél Ferrari > Brian Silvestro 02/10/2014 at 22:15

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True BUT people are still buying them even though they are way less exclusive than they used to be.

Ferrari not only makes more cars a year than they used to, the cars are also more reliable so you see them out on the street more. They may self combust now and then but they are still more reliable when they're not on fire than they used to be in the past.

I think the people who must have exclusivity have already moved on from Ferrari. If you're crazy rich and want exclusivity you buy a Veyron or a Pagani

Brian Silvestro > Manuél Ferrari 02/10/2014 at 22:16

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In the case of Pagani/Veyrons, you have to be really rich. But I do agree, Ferraris are wildly popular nowadays. And being handmade, they're probably great cars.

Manuél Ferrari > Brian Silvestro 02/10/2014 at 22:21

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True you have to be really rich to get those cars. But I just guessed that only the really rich get offended if they see another person on the road with the same car as them once a month.

Honey I'm trading in the Ferrari.

Why?

Because that neighbor that owns the chain of 99 cent stores just bought the same car.

So?

I can't be seen as someone who is on the same level as a cheap trinket and household goods pusher. I went to Yale dammit.

Brian Silvestro > Manuél Ferrari 02/10/2014 at 22:23

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It's sad but true that's exactly what happens.

"Who does that peasant think he is?! I'll show him. Honey, I need to sell the summer home."

*Goes to Pagani dealer*

Manuél Ferrari > Brian Silvestro 02/10/2014 at 22:27

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Edit:

*Gets Pagani's personal cell phone number from his investment advisor and calls him up to personally show him a car*

Brian Silvestro > Manuél Ferrari 02/10/2014 at 22:28

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Hahaha yes