Californication!
I have a terrible confession to make: I have never aspired to own a Ferrari. (Blush.)
I have two reasons for making this statement: the owners of Ferraris and the actual cars. The owners who I have encountered have had all the elegance and panache of a strip club owner.
And the cars? Well, they’re fine for Sundays – when you want to impress the neighbourhood or some blonde bimbo (ever noticed how the grotty old guys behind the wheels of sports cars always have one?) But, with the rock-hard ride, they’re hardly ideal for everyday use. You tend to lose your fillings. And, after the 29th speed hump, possibly your mind.
And then I met the California. Everything changed. Suddenly I am in lust with a Ferrari.
I assume that this quite ridiculous infatuation (I dream about the stupid car) is because I spent time behind the wheel (it’s a grand place to be). And time listening to its ever-so-sweet V8 engine – which, incidentally, sends the car scampering to 100 km/h in a rather ludicrous 3,8 seconds. It sounds so good that I was tempted to record the exhaust and use it as my ring tone. But then I thought that this rather trashy move may place me in the strip club owner category…
But, of course, you would expect the car to be great to drive and easy on the ears. I mean, dah. It’s a Ferrari. It’s also better than the model that it replaces – it’s 30kg lighter and it boasts 30hp (22kW) more power – hence the “30” in its nomenclature. But what’s really surprising about the California is just how easy it is to drive. Obviously, with oodles of torque up for grabs, it accelerates rapidly and reaches its top speed of 312 km/h ever so fast – which could intimidate the novice driver. But then the car really clings to the road. It makes you feel as though you’re a Formula One driver … it instils huge self-confidence.
It’s easy to live with too. I didn’t blast over the speed humps but I didn’t trickle over them either. I was able to use the two rear seats for shopping bags (only midget amputees would want to sit there). And I could easily store my valuables in the boot. Often, once folded away, a hard-top occupies the entire boot. Not with the California! When folded down, the hard-top takes up only 100 of the 340 litres in the luggage compartment, meaning you still have a reasonable amount of space for all that designer gear that you simply had to buy.
Of course, at the price of the car, you will be a designer gear type of person. You won’t get too much change from R3 million. Although (cue the trumpets) that purchase price does include free maintenance for seven years. It’s practically a bargain!
Price: From R2 950 000 (as at August 2013)
Text: Charleen Clarke