Item: Ferrari California T
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

As with all Ferraris, if you’re worried about buying and running costs, you should probably be looking elsewhere. The California T is eye-wateringly expensive to buy with cash or finance, but that’s part and parcel of Ferrari ownership. Paying for its insurance, road tax, tyres, fuel and servicing require equally deep pockets.

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Relatively speaking, Ferrari's <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/california/sports/review/n17198">turbocharging of the California’s engine</a> has at least made its fuel economy better than elsewhere in its range, and the standard 78-litre fuel tank means you won’t have to stop every ten minutes on your jaunts to southern France.

We don’t have an reliability data for the California T, but at least Ferrari recognises that it might get a little old replacing its hugely expensive parts should they go wrong, no matter how wealthy you are. It therefore offers the chance to extended the California’s warranty up to a maximum of ten years.

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Let’s be clear; the California T might be the least agile Ferrari, but it’s still hugely fast. The engine is a twin-turbocharged 552bhp V8, which has been used since 2012, and it gives the California a 0-62mph acceleration of just 3.6sec, plus a 196mph top speed, which puts it in the top echelon of performance cars. It's certainly faster than an SL 63, but still someway behind the ballistic 911 Turbo S.

For around £5000 more, Ferrari will add its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/california/sports/review/n17198">Handling Speciale (HS) package</a>. Its quicker gearchanges are just about detectable — either in manual paddle-shift or automatic mode — to anyone who’s driven a standard California. They’re still very smooth, though, even with the steering wheel-mounted driving mode switch (which Ferrari calls a manettino) set to the more urgent Sport mode.

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However, it’s in corners that you notice a difference between the California T HS and its sibling. The stiffer suspension and re-rated dampers give the car a flatter cornering stance and a very accurate corner entry. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2016-mercedes-amg-sl-63-review/n14246">It'll certainly out-corner an SL</a>.

Since it first appeared in 2009, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/california/sports/review/n17198">the California</a> has become well known for light but quick-geared steering that's notably easy to use around town.

The ride comfort may not please everyone. It’s less composed than the standard car in any of the three driving modes, though not so bad as to allow the car to crash into ruts. It’s definitely more sports car than grand tourer. The loud exhaust note sounds great when you’re in the mood, but on motorways it can set up a drone that won’t please every owner.

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In some ways, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/california/sports/review/n17198">the Ferrari California T</a> attractives a bit of unfair negativity. Sure, it isn’t the most agile car Ferrari makes, but that’s because it’s primarily designed to carry two people long distances in comfort at high speeds. It certainly has no problems with the latter, because its twin-turbo V8 propels it to 62mph in just 3.6sec from a standstill.

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For many, this speed, the fact that it looks the part and sounds like a Ferrari will be enough, but it all comes at a price. Its £150,000 price tag puts the California up against performance open-tops such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2016-mercedes-amg-sl-63-review/n14246">Mercedes-AMG SL 63</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2016-porsche-911-turbo-cabriolet-review/n14009">Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet</a>.

For those who want more agility, Ferrari will add its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/california/sports/review/n17198">Handling Speciale pack</a>, which stiffens the suspension and quickens the gearbox among other enhancements. It certainly works, but given that the California T is more suited to cruising, we’d go without it.

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The California's strengths are low-set seats with a high-sided cockpit that encourages you to drive roof-down a lot of the time. The driving position is especially good, with the wheel (on which most frequently used switches are mounted) positioned unusually high in front of the driver.

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That layout makes the car feel very good over longer distances, and the cabin is quite well protected from wind buffeting, even at higher speeds. The doors are big, too, so access is easy.

Thankfully, the California's infotainment system now features Apple CarPlay functionality, improving it no end. There's still a fairly unresponsive, low-resolution screen to put up with, but at least Apple's interface is far easier to read and use on the move.

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Sports

One of the world’s most famous brands and an integral part of the Formula 1 grid since the first championship in 1950, Ferrari fully lives up to its exalted reputation, producing some of the best sports cars money can buy.

Its entry-level model (although that term hardly seems appropriate) is the Portofino convertible, which is powered by a twin-turbo V8 and capable of blasting from 0-62mph in 3.5sec.

Then further up the range you find the mid-engined 488s, in coupé and Spider forms, and two GT cars: the GTC4 Lusso and the appropriately named 812 Superfast, a V12 monster that can hit 211mph.

FERRARI

CALIFORNIA

The Ferrari California T is a capable fast long distance cruiser, albeit not as agile as other prancing horses, but now a turbocharged engine means better economy

Both <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ferrari/california/sports/review/n17198">the California T Handling Speciale</a> and the standard car are identical inside, apart from the former's HS badge. It’s a very comfortable interior that’s spacious (at least for the front two passengers) and lined with top quality leather, albeit without seeming quite as luxurious as a Bentley or a top-end Mercedes-Benz. The rear seats are next to useless, really, but are handy for bags and jackets.

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Behind the seats is a 340-litre boot with the roof in place and its space divider tucked upward. It’s not a bad space, proving fairly easily accessible and a certainly big enough for one large suitcase or multiple smaller and softer bags. However, roof and divider down, that space is reduced to a less practical 241 litres.

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The Ferrari California T is a capable fast long distance cruiser, albeit not as agile as other prancing horses, but now a turbocharged engine means better economy.

What we're looking for:<ul><li>Wind-in-the-hair excitement</li> <li>Roof that’s quick and easy to raise and lower</li> <li>Comfortable seating for four adults</li> <li>Sufficient practicality for everyday use</li> <li>Little wind buffeting</li> <li>Quietness, whether the roof is up or down</li> <li>Minimal shaking and shimmying over bumps</li></ul>

Despite the British weather, UK car buyers are among the biggest enthusiasts for wind-in-your-hair motoring, so convertibles have always been surprisingly popular here. It’s best to be able to react to the fickle climate, though, so we’re after a roof that opens (and closes) slickly and quickly and good top-down cruising refinement.

There are precious few bespoke drop-tops these days, so your choice of models is generally limited to soft-top&nbsp;versions of existing models. Mini will sell you a drop-top version of its style-focused hatchback, if you’re after a bit of flair. The Audi A5&nbsp;Cabriolet, meanwhile, brings all of the benefits of the regular A5&nbsp;– refined engines and a beautifully finished interior. Alternatively, the much more expensive Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is one of the most luxurious convertibles on sale.

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Ferrari California T review

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Read review covering Ferrari California T boot space, size and dimensions, front and rear seat comfort by the expert What Car? test team.

Both the California T Handling Speciale and the standard car are identical inside, apart from the former's HS badge. It’s a very comfortable interior that’s spacious (at least for the front two passengers) and lined with top quality leather, albeit without seeming quite as luxurious as a Bentley or a top-end Mercedes-Benz. The rear seats are next to useless, really, but are handy for bags and jackets.,,Behind the seats is a 340-litre boot with the roof in place and its space divider tucked upward. It’s not a bad space, proving fairly easily accessible and a certainly big enough for one large suitcase or multiple smaller and softer bags. However, roof and divider down, that space is reduced to a less practical 241 litres. 

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