Ferrari California T buying guide

Only one version is tracked here, so the choice comes down to specification. Octane Files says the options list separates one T from another more than model year does: carbon trim, seats, cameras and paint all vary. Brakes belong on that list too, because carbon-ceramics cost a good deal more to replace than steel.

The Handling Speciale arrived in 2016 as an option pack, priced at £5,568 in Britain. Front springs are 16 per cent stiffer and rears 19 per cent, and the magnetorheological dampers, gearbox and F1-Trac get revised settings. The exhaust is new, with reworked silencers, and the grille and diffuser are finished in grey. A plaque sits on the centre tunnel. Octane Files calls it a modest update of the same car, and recommends it to anyone who plans to drive hard.

The 70th Anniversary cars of 2017 are Tailor Made liveries, 70 of them across five models, with one California T per livery. They are a paint story, not a mechanical one.

To compare specifications side by side, browse the used California T listings and the market for every car on sale. If you are weighing a rival, our Porsche vs Ferrari comparison covers the other side.

The faults on record sit mostly in the electrics, the roof and the gearbox, with fuel pump and turbo plumbing wear alongside them.

Parking sensor failures

A single faulty parking sensor can shut down the entire parking system, and owners say it can keep the roof from working too. Octane Files calls it a known nuisance.

Hardtop mechanism faults

The roof is carried over from the first California, and it likes regular use and suffers from neglect. Carlyle puts repairs at $2,000 to $10,000 and says faults can appear at any mileage as the hydraulics and sensors age.

DCT clutch wear

Carlyle says clutch wear typically shows between 30,000 and 50,000 miles and costs $5,000 to $8,000. The gearbox is generally reliable, but hesitation, noise or a warning light should go to a specialist promptly.

Fuel pump and turbo plumbing

Wear in the high-pressure fuel pump and turbo plumbing appears from about 30,000 to 60,000 miles, according to Carlyle, at $1,500 to $4,000 to put right. Rough running and boost leaks are the early signs.

Gearbox oil leaks and bulletins

Ferrari has issued technical bulletins for the California T covering DCT malfunctions and oil leaks, and BumperScan lists them. Ask which, if any, were carried out on the car you are viewing.

Flat battery

Octane Files advises connecting a battery conditioner if the car will stand for weeks at a time. Ask the seller how the car has been stored.

Ferrari's seven-year maintenance programme came with the cars and transfers to a new owner. Octane Files says independent Ferrari specialists work on these routinely and bill well below main dealers.

Carlyle puts a 6,000-mile service at an independent shop at $900 to $1,800, and the 18,000-mile or 36-month service at $1,500 to $3,200. The 30,000-mile or 48-month service, at $2,000 to $4,000, is listed as covering plugs, a belt, coolant and a DCT service. Octane Files says the V8 has timing chains, so ask the shop what the belt line means.

Carlyle gives $10,000 to $16,000 for carbon-ceramic brake replacement, with steel far cheaper. Octane Files adds tires, roof repairs and sensor work as the car ages. Our Ferrari California T price guide and guide to how much a Ferrari costs cover buying prices.

Find a car with a complete service record, and take a Handling Speciale if you intend to drive hard. Octane Files rates the T the easier ownership proposition of the two Californias, and says the facelift made it a Ferrari people wanted to live with.

Insist on proof that the recalls were done, a gearbox check by a specialist, and a roof that works smoothly every time you cycle it.