Ferrari Service: Tale of the tape

One the most interesting quotes I've committed to memory is from legendary automotive journalist and editor David E. Davis who once said, "anyone, who is worth anything at all, should own a twelve cylinder car before they die. Because there is nothing else like it."

Davis would go on to claim, "it will take your breath away," though according to a recent article citing the actual service and repair costs of a modern Ferrari 550 Maranello, that isn't the only thing it will take away.

Everyone knows that owning a Ferrari (or any exotic sportscar) is expensive. Maybe not how expensive really, but certainly that it's more than your average family hauler. Go to any enthusiast site or forum and browse through the discussion boards and you will undoubtedly come across threads talking about service and repair costs and questions from aspiring owners regarding what life is really like once the automotive equivalent of the honeymoon is over.

The specific car in the article is a 1998 model, very much considered a modern Ferrari meaning that many of the less-desirable (read expensive) idiosyncrasies of ownership, which have come to define some of the very "essense," "mystique," or "personality" of the lauded Ferrari brand. In relative terms, when compared to some earlier 12-cylinder Ferrari's, the 550 is what most Tifosi would describe as "well sorted out."

How does well sorted out equate to over $65,000 in service and repair expenses for a 1998 car with only about 30,000 miles? Well, until you have driven a twelve cylinder Ferrari (or owned a late model one) you probably can't appreciate the "deal" this may be. Mind you, this doesn't include the costs covered by the warranty, nor the insurance to cover it, the petrol to fuel it, or the initial purchase price to buy it.

Whether or not this is a typical service bill and ownership cost for such a car really doesn't matter, if you have to ask you can't afford it, right? The thing is, windshield wiper reservoirs, hood pistons, and multiple oil leaks aren't things you would expect to find problems with on a car costing one tenth the Ferrari does, nevermmind the astronomical costs to fix/repair them. These are the same items the guys on the Porsche board love to read and gossip about.

At the end of the same David E. Davis interview, David happens to say, "Hemingway once said that pheasant-shooting was worth whatever you had to pay for it, I think that is true with Lamborghini (sportscar) driving."

I can only imagine.

To read the interesting, if somewhat un-nerving article on the service costs of the Ferrari, click here.

Comments

[dick t]

i have a problem on a 412 1987 abs light comming on have replaced all sensors but still comes on after about 10 yards there was a loose abs cone at rear fixed it but still the same could youj plz help thankyou

[Goody]

Expensive spares and maintenance are other parts of ferrari´s life

[Car Service]

Have to agree Goody, its one thing being able to afford a Ferrari, but its another thing being able to afford the repairs/maintainance!

[RamonGustav]

I think you are not quite right and you should still studying the matter.