In Australia and indeed the world, Ferrari waiting lists are notoriously long. At one point the average wait time for a Ferrari 575M Maranello was as much as three years, as demand rapidly stripped out the brand’s relatively small production capacity. Whatever is a cashed up Ferrarista to do?

Well, you could just buy whatever’s available and drive that until your hot pink Ferrari 458 with the diamante-encrusted wheel arches and baby seal leather interior arrives. I mean, who cares about depreciation when you can lay down half a million on a factory fresh Ferrari? You’d be surprised how many Ferrari customers in Australia are doing this exact thing.

Edward Rowe, spokesman for Ferrari’s official Australia distributor, told the Brisbane Times:

“We had our first trade-in swaps on 458s barely four months after the car was bought. We actually have pre-owned 458s now because one set of customers literally ordered two cars — one with a very straightforward specification that would come straight down the production line as early as possible, and at the same time they ordered one with all the special spec they wanted. When that car turned up, they traded in the first one.”

Mr. Rowe is not concerned, however, as there are some very loyal followers of the Ferrari brand in the land down under:

“We have one owner who bought his first Ferrari in 1973, and I think he has bought about 15 since then and is yet to sell one. The very first Ferrari ever sold in Australia is still on the road in Melbourne, a (1950s-era) 212.”

Even though that 212 is probably not still in the hands of its original owner, it’s nice to see there are people in Australia who care so much for the Ferrari brand.

By Tristan Hankins