motor

irrational_i · 11-04-2005, 11:08 AM

Well there are a few things to think about when owning a ferrari.

Firstly the model is important. The 348 is not a good buy at all! F355 is mua much better sorted car.
Secondly 12 cylinders are MUCH more expensive to maintain.
If the parts are the same you are paying 150% of a V8 maintenance.
Also V12's are heavier, so expect much bigger fuel, brake and tyre bills.

Because maintenance is so expensive you shoudl ALWAYS buy the best maintained car. Paying a premium now is well worth it on the long run!

Furthermore if you buy a 2nd hand ferrari you are likely to never lose any money on the buying price. The older the Ferrari the more likely that the car appreciates in value.

Then common sense. An F355 may be "cheaper" to maintain, but buying a 328, saving you several thousand dollars, gives you a large margin to spend. In other words - NEVER extend yourself on buying price!
I would always suggest you must be able to spend 10% of the car's buying price each year on maintenance. That way you will be safe. Even if you service at a Ferrari dealer where the hourly rate is through the roof.

And then look and ask on ferrari forums. Listen to what owners have to say. They usually know. Things like 70's steel bodied 308s are likely to suffer from rust etc.
Or the F40 fuel bags or boxer carbs to name some really common issues.

Do not buy a Ferrari you do not want. Its stupid to buy a 400 series 4 seater just to own a Ferrari. They suck. a 308GT4 dino is cheap, but good, later mondial is bad.

If you love Ferrari and want to own one for that special experience around $50k-$75k I would recommend 328 low end or 512BB(better investment than testarossa). There is nothing like a Ferrari 12! Once you've driven a V8 and V12 back-back you will know what I mean. 8)

In my case I will stick with my Porsche until I can afford a 512BB. Then later upgrade to a 330/365 GTC. Maybe 10-15 years in the future.

Shinigami · 11-04-2005, 11:32 AM

The newer Ferrari's are also a lot more reliable. 360 and 550 are one of the best to get if you want relatively trouble free Ferrari's. Admittedly, they're not cheap, but with the Scaglietti, new Imola and 430 out (or coming out), the 360 and 550 will soon drop to the price level of the 355 and older models.

At that price, they're beginning to be a bargain (if one considers a $50-80k second hand car a bargain

)

jon_s · 11-04-2005, 12:01 PM

Further, it is worth getting a 'golden' Ferrari warranty. In this months EVO, Harry Metcalfe makes good use the warranty he got for his 550; it needs a new gearbox! :shock: I wounder how much that would have cost!

ae86_16v · 11-05-2005, 11:02 PM

Yes the F430 looks great. But unlike most Ferrari fanatics, I also like the 360's curvy lines

.

digo · 11-26-2005, 05:27 PM

tell me something, in the country that live that is israel there aro now dealers of ferrari because they dont export it to here... so if i am owning a ferrari in here, how can maintien it without a ferrari dealer?

sameerrao · 11-26-2005, 08:38 PM

IMO - Better than the Modena is the 550M - the best used Ferrari. It is really reliable for a Ferrari and is not that expensive to maintain - relative to the engine out for major service cars like the 348 and 355.

I think keeping in mind purchase and maintainance costs the best Ferrari is the F328 - I think you need to stash away USD 1-2K a year to take care of all the maintenance.

The F1 tranny is a potential maintenance nightmare once the car gets old.

cooperluke · 11-28-2005, 06:42 AM

Same happens with Porsche I guess... or with the M3 E30

I think that is cheaper to mantain a Porsche... and, has it is more reliable, it won't need so many non-mantainance parts.

And the M3 E30, is it so expensive?? Because of the parts?? It's only a 4 cil.

dingo · 11-28-2005, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas

Originally Posted by digo

tell me something, in the country that live that is israel there aro now dealers of ferrari because they dont export it to here... so if i am owning a ferrari in here, how can maintien it without a ferrari dealer?

You can send the car to a Ferrari specialist... in Italy??

or fly in your own mechanic. Thats what the guy with the Murcielago in Alice Springs does...

cooperluke · 11-28-2005, 10:59 AM

according to BMW standards

BMW standards are not very expensive...

My mom's VW Polo has more expensive maintenance than my dad's BMW.