Review
/5
- Pros:
- Pace and handling with optional Handling Speciale pack
- Soundtrack
- Usability
- Cons:
- Price
- Awkward rear proportions
- Gimmicky sat-nav and rear seats
pictured: Ferrari California cabriolet 2009 2 door
reviewed by Carbuyer
"The Ferrari California is named after a series of gorgeous convertibles from the 1950s and 60s."
At a glance
- The greenest
- 4.3 V8 2dr
£152,086 - The cheapest
- 4.3 V8 2dr
£152,086 - The fastest
- 4.3 V8 2dr
£152,086 - Top of the range
- 4.3 V8 2dr
£152,086
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Keen to compete with the Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible, Mercedes-Benz SL63 and Aston Martin DB9 Volante, the Ferrari California is designed to attract a wider range of buyers to the brand and as a result, masquerades as three cars in one- a cabriolet, a long distance tourer and a sports car. Available with a new, seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission and steering wheel mounted shift paddles, the California remains very much a red-blooded sports car but with a less aggressive nature. It's suitable for everyday use and is as happy cruising along American boulevards as it is stretching it's legs across Europe. The revised 2012 model features a front-mounted version of the F430's 4.3-litre V8 producing 483bhp and 505Nm of torque, enough to propel the California from 0-62mph in less than 4.0 seconds and onto a top speed of 194mph. Make no mistake, although considerable effort has been made to remove many of the compromises required to own a Ferrari, this is still a Ferrari, and a very accomplished one at that.
Drive
Fast, slow, bumpy or smooth, the California drives superbly
Fitted with Ferrari's adjustable manettino switch, drivers can change the way the California responds to driver inputs and road conditions by automatically adjusting the throttle, suspension and traction control settings. The seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is one of the best of it's type making the California very easy to drive, suited to queuing in traffic or rapidly cog-swapping between ratios on a favourite backroad. The cleverest part of the Ferrari California however is it's ability to be a quiet, comfortable long distance cruiser one minute and a hard-edged loud performance car the next. The transformation requires only a quick flick of a switch. Overall, it's a fantastic achievement. The optional Handling Speciale pack is new for 2012, providing the California with quicker steering and slightly stiffer suspension for a more precise driving experience.
Comfort
As comfortable as convertible/sports/GT cars get
For an added sense of drama and exhilarating engine noise, removing the roof is effortless and with the air diffuser in place the cabin is relatively draft free. At some engine speeds however, there are noticeable levels of engine vibrations in the cabin. Interior quality levels are very high, the seats are very comfortable with lots of adjustment, trimmed in very supple leather.
Reliability
Powerful ceramic brakes are fitted as standard
Modern Ferrari's are beautifully made and prove very reliable if well looked after. No major issues have been reported. Multiple air bags are fitted as standard and roll-over hoops will deploy in 190ms should the car begin to turn over. Stopping distances are very impressive thanks to the standard fitment of carbon ceramic brakes, which provide huge stopping power and are fully resistant from fade.
Practicality
Strictly a two seater in reality
Although not as practical as the four-seater Ferrari FF, the California is much more user-friendly than previous Ferraris, offering a folding luggage area that links to the 340 litre boot. The cabin is spacious, airy and well appointed, all controls falling close to hand. The sat-nav system however is tricky to use and is far from intuitive- disappointing in a car costing this much. Also, if specifying the optional rear 2+2 seats instead of the luggage shelf, accept that only small children are catered for as legroom is non-existant. The electronically folding roof takes just 14 seconds to stow in the boot but it can only be operated whilst staionary and takes up 100 litres of valuable boot space.
Value for money
The cheapest Ferrari available
Very few cars costing around £150,000 can be seen as good value, especially when the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is over £20,000 less. The California is the cheapest Ferrari available however and comes as standard with the staggeringly good carbon ceramic brakes.
Running costs
Wealthy owners rarely worry about such trivial matters
Emissions of 270g/km fall into the highest road tax bracket of £460 per year and a combined fuel economy of around 25mpg will see owners suffering double the fuel bills compared to a large family saloon. Servicing intervals are also shorter and more expensive than average. This is of little importance however as very few buyers enter Ferrari ownership with worries of running costs.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
