Factory Tour - who's done this?

[rogerxp]

I'm off to Italy in 3 weeks time and just realised that I'll only be a 2 hour drive from Modena. Wondering whether to impose some bloke-time on proceedings and suggest the Factory Tour. I'm currently in battle with my Dealer, and even had Customer Care in Italy supporting my cause (twice!), so reckon I could bag complimentary tickets with a little bit of fishing.

Is it worth the effort or hiring a car for the day? How long would a tour take? Is there enough in Modena to persuade the wife/daughter to tag along? Anything else worth doing car related whilst there - I notice an Enzo Ferrari Museum a stones throw away according to Maps? Anything in Maranello worth looking at whilst on the doorstep - I can see another Ferrari Museum there!!

Any input appreciated for those who have been.

Cheers.

 

[doodlebug]

I went about 5 years ago. From memory, the tour has to be organised through a Maserati dealer, in my case Lancaster's in Colchester. There was no cost for tickets.

It was a bit disorganised when I arrived but a young chap in a nice suit walked me around the factory and showed me the various assembly and test areas. At the time, the factory was just an assembly and test facility with all the painting of the body panels the assembly of the engines being done at Ferrari just up the road.

The assembly line had GTs, Grancabrios and Quattroportes going around the monorail assembly line randomly together. Nearly everything was hand-assembled except for the fitting of the windscreen which was robotised. The engines for the Granturismos and Quattroportes were 'stored' outside under an open-sided shed.

The Alfa 8C and 4C were subsequently also assembled at the Modena, but I'm not sure if anything other than the GT is still made there.

There is a bit to see in Modena - there is the cathedral and a bit further out of town is the Panini Collection which is a fantastic tribute to Maserati. They also make excellent cheese and you can buy balsamic vinegar there as well.

While you are in the area, you might as well do the Ferrari museums and don't forget Lamborghini, Pagani and Ducati are also very close.

Bologna is nearby and it is a fantastic city. Plenty for your wife and daughter to do there.

I enjoyed it all very much,, so much so that I'm doing it again in September!

.

 

[rogerxp]

While you are in the area, you might as well do the Ferrari museums and don't forget Lamborghini, Pagani and Ducati are also very close.

Bologna is nearby and it is a fantastic city. Plenty for your wife and daughter to do there.

Great information; really appreciated. How long would you say the factor tour takes? Are we talking 1-2 hours? I'd love to do the Lambo tour out of those choices but not sure whether I'll be able to wangle that too unless we 'accidentally' end up in Bologna of course - shame it's not right next to Maserati like Ferrari is - rather oddly Ferrari's are a bit 'meh' to me (obviously wouldn't say no to one!). My boy would love a day of car indulgence - at age 7 he didn't mutter a single moan at Goodwood the other weekend even after 10+ hours there - but the ladies will start having hissy fits if I'm not careful LOL

 

[mike1]

Not sure you need to book via a dealer. I contacted the factory direct and have a confirmation for a visit in September.

 

[rogerxp]

Not sure you need to book via a dealer. I contacted the factory direct and have a confirmation for a visit in September.

The website does seem to indicate you can simply e-mail them. I'm not **** on the dealership if it was on fire so was hoping my new friend in Italy would sort it. Did you have to pay anything Mike or is it always FoC?

 

[rossyl]

The Ferrari Tour does a Owners Only tour. Organised through the dealer only, and you either pay for it or your dealership pays.

On recommendation from the Dealer, I did Ferrari instead of Maserati.

The Pagani factory was also marvelous.

 

[doodlebug]

At the time I had to book via the dealer, but I did the tour about 5 years ago so it's bound to have changed by now. The factory tour took about 2 hours and was free although that might have changed as well.

The Panini Museum really is excellent, you can check it out here: http://www.paninimotormuseum.it/

I also would really recommend going to Bologna, if only for the food. Your wife will love it!

 

[tasnam]

May 2017 -
I emailed the Maserati Factory for a tour the day prior - <> 24hrs and asked about a tour (not via a dealer as I was not an owner at the time) and the promptly replied around 8AM the next morning saying they were "sold out".

I did the Ferrari Museum - was nice but did blow me away. (walked up no tickets) -

I did Panini Museum - worth going for sure. Just show up. (walked up no tickets) Now one was present to collect any money. The cheese cooler is huge!

We walked into the Lambo factory asked about a tour...."Sorry we are sold out for the day"...."Please we drove all this way...blah, blah, blah"...."Ok if you come back at 1PM you can get in" (4 of us)......so sold out but walked up worked!
This factory tour was GREAT and they have maybe 20 Lambo's on display.

Funny this is, I wanted to buy a Maserati, I bought mine new from a dealer less than 2 months later!!!
To this day I kick myself for not "walking up" to the Maserati Factory and begging for a tour!

 

[rossyl]

The Ferrari Owners tour was excellent. You see them building engines, testing engines, putting the entire car together.

You also see the non-road legal cars all stored there (like FXX), as well as some old and legendary F1 cars.

It's quite the experience.

It is wholly different from the normal Ferrari Tour, when you sit in a bus, get driven round, don't go in the buildings and don't see much.

 

[Zep]

It is correct that you can book direct via the email on the website. They are hosting us on the TTP tour and this is how I have arranged this.

I was over there a few months ago and did the Lamborghini museum, which was a bit meh, and I prefer the Enzo Ferrari museum to the one in Maranello but they are both worth a visit.

As Rick says, the Panini museum is really worth the trip, it’s brilliant and you can buy some cheese while you are there!

 

[Doohickey]

the Panini museum is really worth the trip, it’s brilliant and you can buy some cheese while you are there!

Have we got time to squeeze this in while we are there?

 

[Zep]

Have we got time to squeeze this in while we are there?

Good shout. I’ll try.

 

[safrane]

Check your dates are not during their summer holiday shut down.

Also not much being built at the moment in Modena

 

[Contigo]

Do you want the email address to use for Maserati factory tour?

Use this one and make sure you send them a V5C showing proof of ownership etc.... Oh and If I were you i'd ditch it and go to the Pagani factory instead. AMAZING!!!!!

Email info@maserati.com and in the title put F.A.O Cristina Domenchini / Sara Pedrani

for Pagani

paganitour@modenatur.it

Oh and just to add I've done them all but Pagani is the winner. If you want to drive a Lambo whilst there over the road from the Lambo factory is a Lambo Cafe and in there you can hire by the half hour/hour.

 

[Arfa]

Have we got time to squeeze this in while we are there?

Here's a little something I did for a local car club meeting, courtesy of forum members, to whet your appetite.

 

[Andyk]

I've done Ferrari and Maserati.....I was lucky as my Father In Law was head of the Vehicle Recalls etc for UK and Europe so he got me into both. Ferrari was far more modern in approach to Maserti. Almost felt like the poor relation. Well worth a visit if you can get one though.

 

[Contigo]

There are two Ferrari visits, the Ferrari museum and factory tour and also Casa di Enzo in Downtown Modena not far from the Maserati factory. Both great to see. There is also another Lamborghini museum in Bologna along with the Ducati museum.

 

[alfatwo]

Whatever you do don't miss the Pagani factory museum/tour, Its just amazing!

Dave

 

[rogerxp]

A bit of a delayed response; apologies. Thank you to everyone for the input. I was lining up the visit to Maserati but they're closed now for Summer. Very annoying. I'll see how the jollies pan out, the ladies in the household were deeply unimpressed about being dragged across Italy as it was, but was happy to force the issue to see Maserati. Not sure I'll have the same success when I suggest going to see the other factories!!! I'll see though. A nice scenic route through to Modena takes 2 hours so might well head in that direction one day. Otherwise the seed is planted for a boys weekend in Modena another time

 

[safrane]

What will they be building in the factory now anyway?