When movie star Keanu Reeves turned 40 recently, he was heard saying, ‘Here comes 40. I’m feeling my age and I’ve ordered the Ferrari. I’m going to get the whole mid-life crisis package.’
Were he living in KwaZulu-Natal, he would have dialled the number of Viglietti Motors in Meridian Drive, Umhlanga – Durban’s only boutique Ferrari dealer. After all, as sales manager Jeremy Eccles will tell you, not only are they glorious, droolworthy machines, they also, believe it or not, are low risk, come with a seven-year maintenance plan, as well as a three-year warranty, and a range of standard features (think carpets, Bluetooth streaming, car cover and battery charger, navigation, bi-xenon headlights, retractable rollbar on models such as the California and 458 Spider, 19-inch painted alloy wheels, and so on), which would cost the earth if you were buying any other car.
Ferrari does not restrict its clients from participating in track days. Said Eccles: “The only thing we won’t include in the warranty is brake pads, discs and tyres, but for the rest, we expect you to go out there and let it rip. That’s the nature of the car; that’s why you bought it. We don’t hold that against you.”
Oh, and lest we forget, Viglietti also offers full service and technical facilities on the premises. What more could you want!
Those wanting to customise their Ferrari can choose from a range of interior finishes and colours, and “build” their vehicles to their particular specs on two large screens.
“It’s all about what I call the grin factor,” Eccles adds. “Driving – and owning – a Ferrari is incomparable. It doesn’t matter if you have a model that’s 20 years old, or a brand new F12, it will still turn heads wherever you go.”
The prancing horse Ferrari badge is the most iconic in the world, and synonymous with Enzo Ferrari, who founded Scuderia Ferrari back in 1929. While the Formula One track is where the logo first became famous, the luxury cars now emerging from the stable are possibly the world’s most desirable machines.
Viglietti offers a range of cars with an average spec, costing from R3.167-million for the California 30, a V8 retractable hardtop, to R5.3-million for the exquisite F12 Berlinetta. And no, they don’t just come in the trademark Rosso Corsa red: there’s white, yellow, graphite and green, among others.
Hugely popular at the moment is the California, “your everyday, entry-level car,” said Eccles. “Ridiculously easy to drive and park, and it’s versatile, too: a convertible coupe with a boot into which you can fit a golf bag.”
There’s also the highest-performance and fastest four-seater in the world, the magnificent FF. Or you can buy a “pre-loved” Ferrari from Viglietti, but these seem to be snapped up pretty quickly. Eccles added that anyone wanting a brand new two-seater F12 would have to wait until next year, as they’ve all been pre-allocated already.
In the meantime, however, get to Viglietti today if you’re keen to experience “the grin factor”.
Viglietti Motors, 20 Meridian Drive, Umhlanga, is open Mondays to Fridays from 7.30am until 5pm, and on Saturdays from 9am until 1pm
031 584 1960 or 083 459 9043
www.ferrari.co.za