355 - Good value?
Discussion
Whats the general concensus on this car I wonder?
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=26350&sc=DIS7&s=192
Not really sure exactly what Cat C means and what likely effect it would have on values and future resale but the car is the perfect colour / spec and looks tantalisingly affordable. All it needs is a Tubi & Challenge grille and it'd be perfect.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=26350&sc=DIS7&s=192
Not really sure exactly what Cat C means and what likely effect it would have on values and future resale but the car is the perfect colour / spec and looks tantalisingly affordable. All it needs is a Tubi & Challenge grille and it'd be perfect.
i think its overpriced against the rest of their stock. Cat C is accident damaged and then repaired. Dont have a problem with that myself but come resale time many other buyers will do. Cat D is lighter damage and not so bad to try and sell but people often quote figures of anywhere between 20% - 40% less in market value. My last TVR was accident repaired and I bought it at a good price, was a fantastic car and sold at a good price. No problem, but doing that with a £40k fezza wont be as easy IMHO. People that can afford £40k often dont want an accident repaired car.
I was told that you should expect to pay no more than 70% of the value if the car is a Cat C or Cat D. 80% if it is 'condition inspected' meaning an authorised inspector has checked the car over and found it to be as good as new.
It is a 95 car as well, 'straight' cars are only going for fractionally more.
It is a 95 car as well, 'straight' cars are only going for fractionally more.
trackdemon said:
Whats the general concensus on this car I wonder?
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=26350&sc=DIS7&s=192
Not really sure exactly what Cat C means and what likely effect it would have on values and future resale but the car is the perfect colour / spec and looks tantalisingly affordable. All it needs is a Tubi & Challenge grille and it'd be perfect.
so are you thinking of parting with the NSX?
nickster said:
so are you thinking of parting with the NSX?
Not really. I absolutely love the NSX, its just brilliant. BUT; 355's are cropping up at "affordable" prices from time to time and its pretty much my perfect car, the one I'd be happy to own for the rest of my life so I have to admit I'd look at the right car at the right price.
At the moment we have a '94 NSX in great condition, probably worth about £23-24k and an '02 Mini Cooper S worth circa £15 - add another 5-8k and we could swap our cars for a 355 & cheap diesel runabout (Focus TDi or suchlike). Tempting indeed.
>> Edited by trackdemon on Wednesday 21st July 13:17
Personally wouldn't go near an accident damaged Ferrari. You'll _have_ to sell it privately - few dealers would take it from you. Cat C tends to mean damaged chassis etc, would you want to rely on a rejigged chassis at 150mph? Not me....
As others have said - straight 355s are available from 37k upwards, why buy a bent one for more?
(and if I was you I'd keep the NSX - it's 90% of a 355 anyway, better off buying a caterham, trailer and a diesel hack instead!)
As others have said - straight 355s are available from 37k upwards, why buy a bent one for more?
(and if I was you I'd keep the NSX - it's 90% of a 355 anyway, better off buying a caterham, trailer and a diesel hack instead!)
mr_tony said:
Personally wouldn't go near an accident damaged Ferrari. You'll _have_ to sell it privately - few dealers would take it from you.
that why I am surprised verdi have got it for sale. You rarely see accident repaired at dealers. Someone once told me you cannot get car finance against a Cat C/D repaired and only a straight loan. Anyone know if thats true?
Steve,
Tend to agree with the general concensus and say stay away from anything that isn't 'right'. If you're going down the route of owning car like a Ferrari you really want to have peace of mind. It's not that far away in price from a clean example. wait a little longer and find the right one.
I do think that when you get your 355 you may get a little more enjoyment than an additional 10%.... but then I am somewhat biased.
£40k + is going to put you into some nice LHD 355's ??!
Tend to agree with the general concensus and say stay away from anything that isn't 'right'. If you're going down the route of owning car like a Ferrari you really want to have peace of mind. It's not that far away in price from a clean example. wait a little longer and find the right one.
I do think that when you get your 355 you may get a little more enjoyment than an additional 10%.... but then I am somewhat biased.
£40k + is going to put you into some nice LHD 355's ??!
Nutskie said:
I do think that when you get your 355 you may get a little more enjoyment than an additional 10%.... but then I am somewhat biased.
- Ok I'm just making the point that the 355 may cost 2x the nsx, but it's not (for me anyway) twice the car. NSX is seriously underrated in my book, they drive brilliantly - if only they had a little more power 
Thats pretty much what I thought - if I do get a 355 (and its more likely a year off anyway) I may very well import one from Germany - LHD doesn't bother me as its a toy anyway.
TBH I'm still in that stage with the NSX where I'm loving every minute of it. Having spent a fair bit of time behind the wheel of a 355 in the past I can confirm that the NSX probably is at least 90% the car with only 25% the running costs. The sport exhaust I'm running liberates a few extra horses/torques and I have too say that the only time I've found myself really wanting more grunt is beyond 130mph, ie not an everyday occurance.
TBH I'm still in that stage with the NSX where I'm loving every minute of it. Having spent a fair bit of time behind the wheel of a 355 in the past I can confirm that the NSX probably is at least 90% the car with only 25% the running costs. The sport exhaust I'm running liberates a few extra horses/torques and I have too say that the only time I've found myself really wanting more grunt is beyond 130mph, ie not an everyday occurance.
Nutskie said:
Stewe,
the NSX / 355 has always been an interesting comparison; and never having driven the NSX I can't really comment with any authority. Perhaps next time we're out we can run a little back to back ?!
Agreed. Originally compared to the 348 the NSX won just about every comparison test it faced, the 355 I think is a tougher battle but its probably closer than you'd think. The steering is probably the biggest difference but the overall balance and handling of the NSX is still fantastic, especially on the bumpy roads we drive - its so well damped for UK roads.
Back to back would be very interesting - pencil in August 1st for the next run!
I'd have no problem with a repaired Cat D as these cars tend to have only panel damage and are often "written off" because insurance companies can't be bothered to fix them if they can't use thier own body shops - so more exclusive cars will be written off with less damage than a Ford Focus.
There was a Maser discussed on this forum a while ago that was Cat D that only neede a new lower wishbone and front wheel ..... but had still been written off.
A vast number of cars with damage considerably worse than most Cat Ds are leagaly repaired and returned to the road and you will never know, as it is not documented and does not have to be - so if you go for a Cat D - at least you can have it thouroghly inspected.
Cat C is usually quite a bit more serious and almost always means the chassis has been "tweaked" so its considerably more of a risk
There was a Maser discussed on this forum a while ago that was Cat D that only neede a new lower wishbone and front wheel ..... but had still been written off.
A vast number of cars with damage considerably worse than most Cat Ds are leagaly repaired and returned to the road and you will never know, as it is not documented and does not have to be - so if you go for a Cat D - at least you can have it thouroghly inspected.
Cat C is usually quite a bit more serious and almost always means the chassis has been "tweaked" so its considerably more of a risk
The official description for Cat D reads something like "should be repaired" i.e. in all probability the dealer costs of repair exceed its market value but the car may be repaired safely. Cat C implies more severe damage was done.
Recently I saw a red rhd car for sale privately at about £37k that was described as damaged repaired - I do wonder whether this is the same car.
Can you really buy a rhd early 355 for £37k then? If so, kind of puts this one in the shade. But Verdi have a good reputation don't they, so I guess the car must have had a good rebuild.
I always worked on the rule of thumb that a damaged repaired car was worth 50-70% of its book (i.e. trade) value (assuming it was recorded of course)...
Recently I saw a red rhd car for sale privately at about £37k that was described as damaged repaired - I do wonder whether this is the same car.
Can you really buy a rhd early 355 for £37k then? If so, kind of puts this one in the shade. But Verdi have a good reputation don't they, so I guess the car must have had a good rebuild.
I always worked on the rule of thumb that a damaged repaired car was worth 50-70% of its book (i.e. trade) value (assuming it was recorded of course)...
Nice comment. Haven't mailed the other chaps yet, will get onto that later in the week...Too expensive - why did it go to Italy to be repaired ??? (I guess it must have been something major).
Check out www.mobile.de for your LHD's, although they're not cheaper than anything over here.
Rick
Check out www.mobile.de for your LHD's, although they're not cheaper than anything over here.
Rick
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