Used 2017 Ferrari California Base for sale 

The 2017 Ferrari California is one of the most luxurious and exotic sports roadsters that you can buy today. The ‘T’ in the title stands for ‘turbocharged’ which means that this two-door roadster is powered by a 3.9L twin-turbo V8 motor. The crafted exterior shows its Pininfarina DNA which flows along the bodywork to give it a class-leading appeal. The car starts from $203.723 without options, and with all the modern tech-packed the sticker price could easily come over $300,000. 

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The Ferrari California T comes loaded with all sorts of bells and whistles as standard in the only trim that is offered by Ferrari. Although, customers can choose from a wide variety of customizable options from Ferrari

The California T is available in only one engine option - a 3.9-liter twin-turbo engine producing a very competent 553 horsepower and 557lb-ft of torque. The engine has been tuned in such a way the turbocharger power is restricted at low and highway speeds but once the pedal touches the floor, the car moves and it moves quickly. 

Ferrari has also managed to contain any power delay, i.e turbo lag. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox makes sure of lightning-fast gear shifts. The gear shifts are seamless which makes the California T a very smooth highway cruiser as well.

All the cars in this group cost roughly the same but offer different powertrains. The AMG offers a twin-turbo 6-liter V12 and the Aston Martin offers a different version of the same engine. The McLaren comes with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8. The Mercedes produces a mind-blowing 621hp and 738lb-ft of torque. But, the Mercedes also costs the most and the huge V12 also means that it is not exactly economical.

2017 Ferrari California Acceleration Performance

The 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 is capable of launching the car to 60mph in 3.3 seconds which is really fast considering it is the Baby Ferrari. The team in Maranello has left no stone unturned when it comes to making the California T fast.

The California T is quicker to 60MPH than the V12 Mercedes and Aston Martin, which can be mainly due to their weight. McLaren has a league of its own when it comes to accelerating from a standstill and the 570s Spider is no exception. It blasts off the line and reaches 60 in 3 seconds flat. The Mclaren 570s and the Aston Martin Vantage V12 have the highest top speed which is electronically limited to almost 205 mph. 

2017 Ferrari California Braking Performance

The California T is equipped with 15.4-inch brakes in the front and 14.2-inch in the rear. Ferrari also offers Carbon Ceramics on the California T as an option. The brakes do feel solid and make the driver feel confident even at high speeds. The new California also gets sophisticated electronics that offer tremendous braking support which improves the braking performance. 

The brakes on the California T are not the best but they do manage to bring the car to a halt from 60MPH in 111ft. Again, McLaren sets the standard as the 570s spider does 60-0MPH in 95ft which is very very good. This can also be credited to McLaren's super lightweight when compared to the competition.

2017 Ferrari California Ride and Handling

The 2017 Ferrari California T has stiffer suspensions when compared to its predecessor California. This helps the car around corners as it makes it feel more planted and stable around corners. Even with the stiffened suspension setup, the Ferrari feels comfortable on highways and it is good enough for cruising.

The steering is also sharper when compared to the old California but Ferrari manages to maintain the ease of driving. The California T is still easy to drive and feels comfortable enough for highway journeys which were originally California's strong point.

The 2017 California T has a total range of 330 miles in the city and 474 miles on the highway. The twin-turbo setup manages 16MPG in city driving and 23MPG on the highway which is better when compared to previous California's 13MPG for the city and 19MPG on the highway.

When compared to rivals, the California T manages a better fuel economy than the Mercedes and the Aston Martin which also has an AMG sourced engine. This can be blamed on the fact that the Ferrari and McLaren have a 3.9 and 3.8-liter engine respectively whereas the Mercedes and Aston Martin are powered by a 6-liter V12 engine. The Aston Martin's naturally aspirated V12 engine gives the least fuel economy out of this bunch. The McLaren managed the best economy numbers mainly due to it's lightweight.

The California T can seat up to four passengers. The seats are also wider than previous California and offer more support during corners. The rear seats offer very little room and can only be used to seat children or extra luggage.

Most of the buttons have been moved to the steering wheel. So, they are easy to reach and very simple to use. The Manettino wheel on the steering which is used to change the driving mode also looks very cool. The LED shift lights on the steering wheel are also a cool paid option.

Only the Ferrari provides the practicality of 4 seats in this group. The Mercedes comes with a softer suspension setup but does not feel as sporty as the Ferrari. The Prancing Horse also offers a good amount of room to its front-seat passengers. The McLaren also offers a good and comfortable ride but it is harder to get in and out of when compared to rivals. The California T's interior is a mix of both luxury and sporty feeling. Some of its features include 

• Manual wind blocker
• Power bucket seats
• Valet function
• Dual-zone climate control
• Steering mounted controls
• Illuminated locking glove box
• Full leather headliner
• Leather seat trim
• Power tilt/telescopic steering wheel column
• Power rear windows
• Hard-top power-retractable roof

2017 Ferrari California Infotainment System

The California T has an upgraded infotainment system when compared to previous California but it still feels dated when compared to the infotainment systems provided by Mercedes and McLaren. The screen is not as responsive to use as the ones offered by the rivals. Aston Martin uses Mercedes's previous generation infotainment system which is ages behind modern technology. The new California Convertble's screen is sharp and bright but the system suffers from lag. Some of the infotainment features in the 2017 Ferrari California are:

• LCD Screen
• Navigation
• Bluetooth
• Voice-activated controls
• 7 speaker audio system
• Audio streaming

2017 Ferrari California Cargo space

The California T offers 12 cubic feet of space with the top up and 8.5 cubic feet with the roof down. The foldable metal roof definitely takes up space in the trunk. The Ferrari also offers a luggage pass-through which makes it possible to carry a set of golf clubs. The rear seats can also be used to carry luggage as they cannot be used to carry adults.

When compared to rivals, the Ferrari provides the most cargo space and can easily carry at least an extra bag over its rivals. The SL65 ranks second when it comes to cargo space.

The California T isn't the largest car out there but it isn't the smallest either. At 3813 lbs, it is not light. The McLaren is the lightest of the group at 3287 lbs due to its carbon fiber monocoque chassis.

In terms of exterior dimensions, the Ferrari has the highest roofline and it is also the longest. Even at 3813 lbs, the California T feels easy to drive and controllable at all times. Once the roof has been folded down into the trunk, the rear feels a little heavy but it isn't anything that cannot be controlled. Some of the exterior features in the2017 Ferrari California are:

• Dual stainless steel exhaust with chrome tailpipe finish
• 19-inch wheels
• 20-inch wheels (optional)
• Black side window trim
• Power heated side mirrors
• Rain sensing wipers
• Lip spoiler
• Automatic roll-over protection
• Automatic bi-xenon headlights
• Hardtop power-retractable roof

The Ferrari California T has not been crash-tested by the IIHS or the NHTSA so, no crash data exists. The Ferrari California comes with quite a few safety equipment and systems as standard -

• Dual front-mounted airbags
• Anti-lock braking system
• Electronic stability control
• Active anti-roll control
• Electronic brake distribution
• Parking sensors

Ferrari California T Vs Mercedes AMG SL65

The AMG is powered by a huge 6-liter V12 engine which clearly impacts the fuel economy. The California T offers a much better fuel economy when compared to the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 65. The Ferrari is also easy to drive and the steering also feels easy to handle.

The 6-liter AMG V12 produces more power than the Ferrari but the weight of the car impacts the performance. Mercedes's COMAND system is better and more advanced than Ferrari's infotainment system but the Ferrari is a better package overall and a better driver's car.

Ferrari California T Vs McLaren 570s Spider

McLaren has set the standard for performance in recent times and the 570s Spider sets the bar very high. It can sprint to 60MPH in 3 seconds flat which is very impressive. Even in terms of braking, the McLaren 570S Spider just needs 95ft to come to a complete stop from 60MPH.

The lightweight carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and the twin-turbo setup also means that the McLaren also returns a good fuel economy for this segment. McLaren also provides an advanced infotainment system with the latest technology.

Ferrari California T Vs Aston Martin Vantage V12 S Roadster

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage offers a version of the same 6-liter V12 in the SL65. The Aston has a naturally aspirated version of the same which means that the fuel economy is even worse.

The infotainment system is also clearly dated as it is the previous generation of Mercedes's COMAND. The gear shifts are also not smooth when compared to the Ferrari. The V12 S just feels like an unnecessary barge on the road.

The Ferrari California T is the most comfortable diverse car in the group and can be considered a beginner's guide into supercars. It is a comfortable highway cruiser but at the same time, with the push of a button - it can deliver a performance worthy enough of the Prancing Horse badge. It can run smoothly at low RPMs but as you dive deeper into the throttle, the output from the turbos increase and the California T just keeps on going and going. 

The McLaren does offer better performance but it cannot match the Ferrari in terms of luxury and comfort. The Mercedes and Aston Martin can match the Ferrari in terms of luxury and comfort but they cannot match it in performance and practicality. Plus, the Baby Ferrari California T comes with a Ferrari badge, and yes, you can buy it in red.