Are 355's selling?
Discussion
red_slr said:
I also worry that come 20-30 years down the line that the car may be genuinely collectable but RHD may not be so desirable as the rest of the world is LHD... and although the RHD market will probably be strong in the UK by which time prices may well be higher on LHD? Perhaps. Maybe....
That's a really good point and one that makes perfect sense.... Although I have a RHD car, that's one really good reason to buy LHD if you're happy to be in for the long haul.red_slr said:
They are accelerating faster than the rest of the market that's for sure. If this carries on they will be more expensive than a nearly new 458 by next spring.
I see there is a 50k miles coupe up for over £100k - manual RHD.
I also worry that come 20-30 years down the line that the car may be genuinely collectable but RHD may not be so desirable as the rest of the world is LHD... and although the RHD market will probably be strong in the UK by which time prices may well be higher on LHD? Perhaps. Maybe....
I see there is a 50k miles coupe up for over £100k - manual RHD.
I also worry that come 20-30 years down the line that the car may be genuinely collectable but RHD may not be so desirable as the rest of the world is LHD... and although the RHD market will probably be strong in the UK by which time prices may well be higher on LHD? Perhaps. Maybe....
Ferraris and the like are roughly built in accordance of the ratio of demand LHD/RHD and i do need to say that RHD is not just for the UK as you need to included Japan and Australia and South Africa ( big market for Ferrari incidentally) and other minor markets.
One would think that at any one time LHD would have higher values as there is a bigger demand but in reality the smaller number of RHD cars on the market at any one time means less choice and less competition so the prices have traditionally been higher helped by other factors ( restrictions on the import of LHD cars to Australia for instance).
Over a long period of time ( last 50 years) this has been consistently the case ( there are a few anomalies or short period turn arounds depending on a particular country/s economy) which does not mean it will continue but one would think so. This is especially the case for rare low number built cars as they seem to pop up for sale once in a while and rarely in RHD ( roughly 10% of most important cars) and buyers know they have to buy at the asking price or wait a long time in the hope another one comes up for sale and perhaps at a even higher price.
Having been in this position I speak from experience.
I may need to say here that i am not against LHD and have often considered one in GT form for continental trips ( which never seem to get past the "one day i am going to do it" it stage) but they are simply more difficult to sell in the UK for obvious reasons and although a particular car may be cheaper in Europe when you factor in all the cost and hassle and the dreaded paperwork and stress, never mind flying out to see it when its a misrepresented dog ( our continental friends seem less acquainted with the truth sometimes) I think its hardly worth it and certainly not worth the extra hassle of driving it here as much as u can adapt to sitting on the wrong side ( and yes i have owned LHD cars in the past)
In short a LHD car registered in the uk at a discount price i feel is a good deal but dont expect the tables to turn and to sell it at a premium.
orangeLP400 said:
...i do need to say that RHD is not just for the UK as you need to included Japan and Australia and South Africa ( big market for Ferrari incidentally) and other minor markets...
Just to point out that Ferrari supply LHD cars to Japan. The UK is by far the largest RHD market for Ferrari (roughly 10% of production). Although a third of the world drives on the left, they add up to a lot less than a third of Ferrari's worldwide production.Jonathan
Over time the spread between RHD/LHD narrows to nearly zero. They become so valuable that the cost of transportation from LHD to RHD countries as a percent of cost become nearly irrelevant.
A couple of years ago I bought, in Germany, a 550M & a 360CS - both LHD. At the time RHD equivalents were 60% more expensive. Now RHD are 30% more expensive.
A couple of years ago I bought, in Germany, a 550M & a 360CS - both LHD. At the time RHD equivalents were 60% more expensive. Now RHD are 30% more expensive.
birdcage said:
Having a RHD car is more practical and more valuable in the UK of course but these cars were designed as LHD and the 'special' Ferraris Enzo, F50,F40, 288 GTO are only available in LHD and that doesn't dampen values...
I suspect it doesn't dampen values because there is no alternative but LHD. I bet you a years wage though that if there was RHD they would be at a significant premium in this country!jtremlett said:
orangeLP400 said:
...i do need to say that RHD is not just for the UK as you need to included Japan and Australia and South Africa ( big market for Ferrari incidentally) and other minor markets...
Just to point out that Ferrari supply LHD cars to Japan. The UK is by far the largest RHD market for Ferrari (roughly 10% of production). Although a third of the world drives on the left, they add up to a lot less than a third of Ferrari's worldwide production.Jonathan
FalconWood said:
jtremlett said:
orangeLP400 said:
...i do need to say that RHD is not just for the UK as you need to included Japan and Australia and South Africa ( big market for Ferrari incidentally) and other minor markets...
Just to point out that Ferrari supply LHD cars to Japan. The UK is by far the largest RHD market for Ferrari (roughly 10% of production). Although a third of the world drives on the left, they add up to a lot less than a third of Ferrari's worldwide production.Jonathan
red_duke said:
I keep hearing that but never any explanation of what gets compromised in a RHD car.
In LHD the battery is on the opposite side of the car to the driver for weight distribution. And in the 550 the gearstick is closer to the driver, over to the left rather than central. Can't think of much else...W111AAM said:
I was surprised at how many LHD cars there are for sale? Why is this? People buying them as the £/Euro rate is good and hoping to make a few quid this end?
Bubble in the UK market not mirrored abroad. Result of lots of cash floating around here and not many good areas for "investment". The bubble will burst as they have done in the past with classic cars and bikes but the question is whenAfter all, why would you pay as much for a 355 as a good 430?
priley said:
In LHD the battery is on the opposite side of the car to the driver for weight distribution. And in the 550 the gearstick is closer to the driver, over to the left rather than central. Can't think of much else...
The biggest thing is the front wheel arch offsetting the pedals I would have thought?bordseye said:
Bubble in the UK market not mirrored abroad. Result of lots of cash floating around here and not many good areas for "investment". The bubble will burst as they have done in the past with classic cars and bikes but the question is when
After all, why would you pay as much for a 355 as a good 430?
Why can you not say the same about any old v new car? For instance why would you pay the same for a 993 turbo as a 991 turbo?After all, why would you pay as much for a 355 as a good 430?
priley said:
In LHD the battery is on the opposite side of the car to the driver for weight distribution. And in the 550 the gearstick is closer to the driver, over to the left rather than central. Can't think of much else...
Nice try but the battery is on the left in my RHD F430 and it's an F1 gearbox so no gearstick.bryn_p said:
The biggest thing is the front wheel arch offsetting the pedals I would have thought?
There's a front wheel arch on both sides so a pedal offset is evident in both LHD & RHD I would have thought.red_duke said:
priley said:
In LHD the battery is on the opposite side of the car to the driver for weight distribution. And in the 550 the gearstick is closer to the driver, over to the left rather than central. Can't think of much else...
Nice try but the battery is on the left in my RHD F430 and it's an F1 gearbox so no gearstick.The battery is on the right on both my RHD 355 and LHD 550. Perhaps it's something that they've addressed more recently?
bordseye said:
Bubble in the UK market not mirrored abroad.
Sorry, simply not true. Prices of certain models may have risen faster here but look at European and US websites to see this is an international phenomena. As with any market prices will eventually stop rising but that does not mean there will be a price crash. In fact, for example, F40 and Dino prices are now 10% lower than 9 months. At the same time 550 and 355 are up c.20%. Similarly certain Ford prices are on the up, but certain Porsche have dropped.
All we know for sure is that nobody knows for sure.
red_duke said:
bryn_p said:
The biggest thing is the front wheel arch offsetting the pedals I would have thought?
There's a front wheel arch on both sides so a pedal offset is evident in both LHD & RHD I would have thought.Almost sold one of my 355s a couple of years ago, glad I didn't now, however it will be going when I'm back in the country as I'll need to buy something much more boring - a house - and the attraction of a potential profit on what was essentially a toy is just too strong. Given that I'll be a seller, prices have much further to rise...
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