Unbiased advice (if that's possible)..

[v12v8]

Al, here are a few for you:

1. www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-202678/d1118c75.html - bit cheap for my liking

2. www.dennigcars.co.uk/used_ferrari.htm - the ones in Europe look OK

3. www.jamespaul.co.uk/j_bmw_framedef.html - not sure about silver

4. Now this looks good:
1994 FERRARI 348 Spider, 1994, Uk
Car, FFSH, 25000 Miles, Rosso, Crema hide, Multi CD, Tracker, Immobiliser, Crema Tonneau, Complete tool kit manuals, Carcoon Storage Bubble, genuine Car, including cam belt service. £39,950 . 0773 6664698.
Tel: [phone]
Distance: 147 miles (from Maidstone)

www.autotrader.co.uk/TOPMARQUES/

5. Autosave also have a car for sale - you could haggle this within budget: www.auto-saverltd.co.uk/_autosaver.htm

Nick

[burriana500]

v12v8 said:

Al, here are a few for you:

Thanks Nick.

You're right, No4 does indeed look good, it's the one I'm going to see on Sunday. However, No1 looks better - it's the same car only ten grand cheaper .. a mistake methinks though I've emailed him and told him I'll bring the cash down with me

I have also requested more info of the two european ones that Denning has. How difficult is it importing them?

And also the Autosave one looks decent if I can get the price down and it has a decent exhaust setup.

Cheers.
al

[burriana500]

Went to see a yellow one at Sant Agata. Very nice condition though the price was just a bit on the high side for a 35k miler, even after he put new tyres and a sports exhaust on it.

Has anyone bought a car from SA before? The owner, Amari seems a decent guy, in it for the pure love of the cars and he does has some very nice vehicles.

Any good reports, post em, any bad, off line please.

[v12v8]

Al, Dennig will help with the import side, I'm sure?

Biggest issue will be whether the car is "genuine". Not casting aspersions on Dennig, but rather checking out a used car in the UK (HPI etc) is easier than abroad.

Again, if its close by (Northern Europe) and the price is right (and all the history and pics stack up) my mate will come with you and have a look at the car. He will be able to tell whether it is worth buying.

When I bought my LHD, it was from a UK dealer and had been owned by 2 previous UK bods so no real concerns, plus everything checked out as regards mileage and use etc.

Nick

PS. Am I sounding desperate for you to bring a prancing horse on the 'Hoon?

[tony_996hasgone]

burriana500 said:

Has anyone bought a car from SA before? The owner, Amari seems a decent guy, in it for the pure love of the cars and he does has some very nice vehicles. Any good reports, post em, any bad, off line please.

Got my Diablo from Amari and only good things to say. I have had no problems with the car, so didn't have to call upon the warranty (which is an "off-the-shelf" one). However, pre and post purchase, Amari has always been really helpful. I would buy from him again.

[burriana500]

The mileage doesn't really trouble me, it's just that at 35k, after I have had the car for two years it will be over 50k... and that might put off a lot of potential buyers.

If I can find one with 20 or 25K miles, that gives me a much bigger margin of safety if and when I come to change it.

Edited to say:
Hi Tony - thanks for that. I would have probably had the car but for the mileage. He does seem a good guy. I shall also make sure I don't have to scoot off early at this year's Black Tie & Pie and miss the chance of a ride in your Diablo like I did last year


>> Edited by burriana500 on Monday 2nd August 12:25

[kenyon]

Al,

From Ferrarichat....

Okay, Here is my 2 cents worth on this subject. As many of you know, my 348 spider has over 100,000 miles. I purchased the car in California several years ago with just under 20,000 miles. I still remember the look on the guys face when I showed up and informed him I was going to drive it back to South Carolina. He honestly thought I was joking. He said "A Ferrari is not made to be driven that distance". I said why not? I had owned several Ferraris before this one, and I knew it would make the trip, I just loved picking this guys brain. At any rate, the car did excellent on the way back... I am in the automotive business, and have owned just about every car you can imigine. I stand behind the 348 100%. Even with all the miles on my car, it still runs as good, if not better, than it did with 20,000. The only time it has been at the Dealership is for typical service. To make a "longer" story short, you can't go wrong with a 348!!! Mine has been tested!!!!!!!

[tonyhopkins]

Verdi have a number of highish mileage, LHD 355 models for sale. Worth a look?

www.verdiferrari.biz/sales.asp

>> Edited by tonyhopkins on Thursday 5th August 11:19

[burriana500]

Nice one


Might have lost a tad in resale value mind you i wonder what the value is on a 100k miler 348?

[burriana500]

Thanks Tony - the one for £42,500 looks kind of interesting - though £2,500 over my max budget... and I do still worry about valve guides and con rods and manifolds that have been frequently mentioned re the early 355s.

i have emailed them anyway to see if they know of any 348s.

cheers.
al

[dazren]

Al although 2.5k over your budget, the red with black car at Verdis does look nice. I'd do what was necessary to find the extra money. That's just me though, I prefer the style of the 355 over the 348 and it has another 60bhp over the later built 348s.

DAZ

[burriana500]

dazren said:

I'd do what was necessary to find the extra money.

But you don't know what I'm having to do allready to find the original budget

Seriously - it's more mechanical worries on an early 355.

Can't do much about it at the moment anyway as I'm off to Spain tomorrow for 10 days. I'd certainly have a closer look if it's still available when I get back, although I do prefer the style of the 348.

Mind you, that extra 1000 revs on the 355 does have a certain appeal

[tonyhopkins]

Al,
how serious are you about buying one of Verdi's cars? I can have a word with Uncle Karl if you want? PM to discuss further....
Tony

[burriana500]

As serious as anywhere else Tony and, I would feel safer buying from somewhere that can supply a warranty.

It's purely about finding the right car. I just have worries about a very early 355 as I mentioned earlier, and I do like the look of the 348.

AND... I would ideally like to have one before EuroHoon at the end of September

Whether the right one will appear by then or not is anyone's guess.