Nervously considering 599 ownership.

[6point2]

OP have you read this?

http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-buying-guid...

[cayman-black]

6point2 said:

They're epic, don't be nervous - buy on condition and check clutch and brake wear.

Before I purchased mine it only had 5,000miles, the previous owner stored it for 4 years and it wasn't serviced during this time. No big deal - major service, replaced the battery and tyres and off I went. In the last 12 months I have doubled the mileage and only niggle was replacing a headlight bulb.

Like you it is my first Ferrari and have to say I'm in love

5k miles not serviced , surely this should of been scrapped?
Good for you just shows that those that say it needs to be driven , garage queens have all the problems. Load of bks . I would have bought this car as well.

[bordseye]

Soleith said:

Many thanks for any advice on ownership you guys can give!

Edited by Soleith on Tuesday 1st November 09:13

Read your opening post and it read much as if I had written it albeit about an 8 cylinder car. So my advice isnt about the car but your mentality and peace of mind. To put it bluntly, your level of concern and the sort of issues that are concerning you will make ownership an uncomfortable experience. There are only two routes to a happy Ferrari ownership - either you have the sort of happy go lucky mentality that doesnt worry about things or you are rich enough that ownership losses dont matter too much.

I have a 430. Its a beautiful car and not a fault with it. And I could afford to write it off and not blink. But I am a worrier and I am not enjoying the ownership experience for that reason. So the car will be sold next year.

Analyse yourself. Are you pushing things too far?

[Soleith]

bordseye said:

Read your opening post and it read much as if I had written it albeit about an 8 cylinder car. So my advice isnt about the car but your mentality and peace of mind. To put it bluntly, your level of concern and the sort of issues that are concerning you will make ownership an uncomfortable experience. There are only two routes to a happy Ferrari ownership - either you have the sort of happy go lucky mentality that doesnt worry about things or you are rich enough that ownership losses dont matter too much.

I have a 430. Its a beautiful car and not a fault with it. And I could afford to write it off and not blink. But I am a worrier and I am not enjoying the ownership experience for that reason. So the car will be sold next year.

Analyse yourself. Are you pushing things too far?

Heh, it's an interesting comment and to be fair it's probably not far from the mark. I am a worrier, I've also always wanted a Ferrari so somehow I need to reconcile these two things and be happy with my decision one way or the other. Another part of me just says forget it and go buy a new 570S with full warranty for peace of mind rather than an older Ferrari for similar money.

Hoping to get something fun in time for next summer, got a good few months of squirming my way to a decision! Thanks for that though, definitely makes sense. I suspect at some point in time (maybe not the first superish car) I will still get a Ferrari just to have done it, but as I think about it, I may be a bit like you and not particularly enjoy the experience.

[TISPKJ]

Soleith said:

bordseye said:

Read your opening post and it read much as if I had written it albeit about an 8 cylinder car. So my advice isnt about the car but your mentality and peace of mind. To put it bluntly, your level of concern and the sort of issues that are concerning you will make ownership an uncomfortable experience. There are only two routes to a happy Ferrari ownership - either you have the sort of happy go lucky mentality that doesnt worry about things or you are rich enough that ownership losses dont matter too much.

I have a 430. Its a beautiful car and not a fault with it. And I could afford to write it off and not blink. But I am a worrier and I am not enjoying the ownership experience for that reason. So the car will be sold next year.

Analyse yourself. Are you pushing things too far?

Heh, it's an interesting comment and to be fair it's probably not far from the mark. I am a worrier, I've also always wanted a Ferrari so somehow I need to reconcile these two things and be happy with my decision one way or the other. Another part of me just says forget it and go buy a new 570S with full warranty for peace of mind rather than an older Ferrari for similar money.

Hoping to get something fun in time for next summer, got a good few months of squirming my way to a decision! Thanks for that though, definitely makes sense. I suspect at some point in time (maybe not the first superish car) I will still get a Ferrari just to have done it, but as I think about it, I may be a bit like you and not particularly enjoy the experience.

About 4 or so years back I bought my first Ferrari, had a few doubts about costs to service and run as I could afford the car but for anything Major that I couldn't fix myself it would have meant Barclaycard sponsorship.

I know I am forever plugging them and I have openly admitted I consider them friends as well but call Dave / Matt in sales and then speak with Roger the owner at The Ferrari Centre in kent, I spoke with him all those years back and found his advise and cost estimates to be very good, well worth a chat for peace of mind.

[bordseye]

TISPKJ said:

About 4 or so years back I bought my first Ferrari, had a few doubts about costs to service and run as I could afford the car but for anything Major that I couldn't fix myself it would have meant Barclaycard sponsorship.

We are all different. If I landed myself in the Barclycard position, I'd never sleep again! The OP needs to recognise his own personality and make his decision accordingly.

[TISPKJ]

bordseye said:

TISPKJ said:

About 4 or so years back I bought my first Ferrari, had a few doubts about costs to service and run as I could afford the car but for anything Major that I couldn't fix myself it would have meant Barclaycard sponsorship.

We are all different. If I landed myself in the Barclycard position, I'd never sleep again! The OP needs to recognise his own personality and make his decision accordingly.

Agree, I can fix most things myself or know someone that can.

However for peace of mind and comfort in knowing that they don't fall apart everytime you use them a call and or chat was well worth it.

Fairly sure after having several himself as a daily he will tell the OP that they are super reliable and not the nightmare a V12 could potentially be.

[baypond]

TISPKJ said:

bordseye said:

TISPKJ said:

About 4 or so years back I bought my first Ferrari, had a few doubts about costs to service and run as I could afford the car but for anything Major that I couldn't fix myself it would have meant Barclaycard sponsorship.

We are all different. If I landed myself in the Barclycard position, I'd never sleep again! The OP needs to recognise his own personality and make his decision accordingly.

Agree, I can fix most things myself or know someone that can.

However for peace of mind and comfort in knowing that they don't fall apart everytime you use them a call and or chat was well worth it.

Fairly sure after having several himself as a daily he will tell the OP that they are super reliable and not the nightmare a V12 could potentially be.

The longer I have owned Ferraris, the more I have realised that the engine is something you don't need to worry about. General car faults are generally very well known and replacement costs for wear and tear can be budgeted for depending on the model.

[TISPKJ]

Think the only bad thing I have seen about 599's is the ball joints and fuel consumption 😊

[baypond]

TISPKJ said:

Think the only bad thing I have seen about 599's is the ball joints and fuel consumption ??

I managed to get as much as 4 pmg on a long run

[F355GTS]

TISPKJ said:

Think the only bad thing I have seen about 599's is the ball joints and fuel consumption ??

They're pretty robust but leaking dampers is a common issue and general suspension wear

[fitzmoresco]

Had my 599 for over four years. Been pretty bulletproof so far. Engine warning lights on display always been temperamental sensors and nothing fundamental. Servicing by Roger and his team at TFC runs about £2k a year. No belts simplifies things. One front shock leaked and they only come in pairs which fitted are far end of £5k. Luckily Roger paired me up with another customer. Stone chip on front screen repaired under insurance was £5k 🙈

Overall the car has been simply sensational. It is not my first Ferrari but by far and a way the absolute best

[F355GTS]

I read over on Ferrarichat that Eurospares now have an OEM solution for the shocks at around 1/3 of the price

[fitzmoresco]

Had my 599 for over four years. Been pretty bulletproof so far. Engine warning lights on display always been temperamental sensors and nothing fundamental. Servicing by Roger and his team at TFC runs about £2k a year. No belts simplifies things. One front shock leaked and they only come in pairs which fitted are far end of £5k. Luckily Roger paired me up with another customer. Stone chip on front screen repaired under insurance was £5k 🙈

Overall the car has been simply sensational. It is not my first Ferrari but by far and a way the absolute best

[fitzmoresco]

Had my 599 for over four years. Been pretty bulletproof so far. Engine warning lights on display always been temperamental sensors and nothing fundamental. Servicing by Roger and his team at TFC runs about £2k a year. No belts simplifies things. One front shock leaked and they only come in pairs which fitted are far end of £5k. Luckily Roger paired me up with another customer. Stone chip on front screen repaired under insurance was £5k 🙈

Overall the car has been simply sensational. It is not my first Ferrari but by far and a way the absolute best

[fitzmoresco]

Had my 599 for over four years. Been pretty bulletproof so far. Engine warning lights on display always been temperamental sensors and nothing fundamental. Servicing by Roger and his team at TFC runs about £2k a year. No belts simplifies things. One front shock leaked and they only come in pairs which fitted are far end of £5k. Luckily Roger paired me up with another customer. Stone chip on front screen repaired under insurance was £5k 🙈

Overall the car has been simply sensational. It is not my first Ferrari but by far and a way the absolute best

[MDL111]

Soleith said:

bordseye said:

Read your opening post and it read much as if I had written it albeit about an 8 cylinder car. So my advice isnt about the car but your mentality and peace of mind. To put it bluntly, your level of concern and the sort of issues that are concerning you will make ownership an uncomfortable experience. There are only two routes to a happy Ferrari ownership - either you have the sort of happy go lucky mentality that doesnt worry about things or you are rich enough that ownership losses dont matter too much.

I have a 430. Its a beautiful car and not a fault with it. And I could afford to write it off and not blink. But I am a worrier and I am not enjoying the ownership experience for that reason. So the car will be sold next year.

Analyse yourself. Are you pushing things too far?

Heh, it's an interesting comment and to be fair it's probably not far from the mark. I am a worrier, I've also always wanted a Ferrari so somehow I need to reconcile these two things and be happy with my decision one way or the other. Another part of me just says forget it and go buy a new 570S with full warranty for peace of mind rather than an older Ferrari for similar money.

Hoping to get something fun in time for next summer, got a good few months of squirming my way to a decision! Thanks for that though, definitely makes sense. I suspect at some point in time (maybe not the first superish car) I will still get a Ferrari just to have done it, but as I think about it, I may be a bit like you and not particularly enjoy the experience.

I am not sure a McLaren will do if you really want a Ferrari, and even more so if your heart is set on a V12 from Ferrari. You can get an extended warranty up to 12 years old, you can get the ceramics refurbished - imo there is no reason to worry / be concerned. Ferrari has been building cars for a while and they have been getting (a lot) better at it over the last decade and a half (at least if reliability and build quality are the main factor)....

[fitzmoresco]

Had cheap refurb on my previous Ferrari shocks. No ready solution on the magneto puppies soninterested that there might now be an alternative to OEM

[Soleith]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Made a massive turnaround and decided to go with the original car I was considering, just got a new Maserati GranTurismo Sport. Not really comparable I know but practicality and nervousness won the day, I love it and very happy. Will likely get a Fezza when the kids are a bit older/off and buy one new instead of used.

[simonr100]

That looks lovely!
Just remember that that will depreciate very very quickly......Enjoy it, they sound amazing.