TampabayNSXR its jerks like that service guy who scares the living daylights out of future Ferrari owners. First of at the 15,000 mile mark the service consists of checking timing belts, draining and putting new fluids, and stuff like that. Like I said take it to the dealer and they will gouge your eyes out. All this can be done by a competent mechanic, heck you can even do it yourself, and it will cost under $500. This service manager does not know his ass from his head, because since 1994, Ferrari has been using hydraulic lifters, which means you NEVER adjust valves. Another thing the major service at 30,000 which does require the engine to come out of the car, is not a necessary one. If you go by the owners manual and even the factory they claim you should change your belts at 52,500 miles. People just change them at 30,000 for piece of mind. Rather spend $3000 for a timing belt change than $25,000 for an engine rebuild.
Tom Larkins, the Testarossa was their real first attempt at an everyday car. For me they have succeeded. But the first car that everyone acknowledges as the first Ferrari everyday car was the 355. Which up to now has proven to be very reliable, not just for me but for many owners. The 360 is even more reliable, but like I said, I am not big fan of the shape. Ferrari, IMO, is starting to lose their sex appeal, letting aerodynamics design the shape for them. Like I am going to drive 180mph anyday soon.
Carguy, since I use my car on a regular basis I do not have one drop of oil on the floor. What happens when a car sits, is the gaskets dry out and crack thus causing oil leaks. The same goes for the electronics. In what condition did you buy the car? Did it have these problems before, or did they just start on you? I think you way overpaid for the service, in which they should have took care of all of these problems. To service my TR witht the engine and everything out it costs me $3000. And thats because I don't take it to a dealer. I never trust those guys anyway. They never do everything they're supposed to and what they do, they do it halfassed. My friend took his TR to one of the top dealerships in Connecticut (according to Ferrari experts) to get his service done. All in all they charged him $11,000. When he got the car back it was leaking oil out of the distributors and they did not even clean up the engine. Anyway oil was getting into the cap and causing the car to run like shit. So in fact he got the car back in worse condition than the way he gave it. He takes it back and complains. They tell him that his distributor caps are shot. These are very expensive and they hardly ever go bad. They replace the caps, which were supposed to be included in the service. No charge there. He gets the car back with the same results. After he called again I got on the phone and told those a**holes to give me the gasket and I will do it my self. Upon taking out the distributor caps I see that it is cracked and old. We go up there and show them and they tried to deny everything. Once my friend threatened with legal action they gave us 2 new caps and the gaskets. Within 10 minutes I did the job and the car ran like new. These so called specialists (which I think they find on the street and hire them) could not put a gasket the right way TWICE, and all it took was 10 minutes. And they lied about the things they replaced. This is what happens at alot of dealerships, even Acura, which is why I will NEVER EVER bring my car to dealer. You find yourself a competent mechanic and he will treat you like royalty if intends to keep you as a customer. You will never see this at a dealership.
Sorry for my rambling
