Ferrari virgin, wanting advice
Discussion
Hello chaps, and please excute my ignorance re Ferraris. I'm just into the 40% tax band and have been told that the best ferrari to go for would be a 328 GTS or GTB. Mainly I think due to the servicing costs.
The more info i can get the better really, if any of you kind chaps could voice your comments it would be appreciated.
cheers,
B35
The more info i can get the better really, if any of you kind chaps could voice your comments it would be appreciated.
cheers,
B35
Make sure you can stash away 2-3k cash each year to run it (good ball park for any Ferrari I think). If you end up not using it all after 5yrs (say), you'll have a nice little bit in the bank to help you upgrade.
Then on top of that, decide what you can afford to splash on the car.
Finally, be in a position that if something horrible happened to the car, you could afford to lose it.
That is not to say that you will. Just be prepared for that as a circumstance. Massive bills can happen on these cars if you're unlucky, and at the starter end of the range, you could get awfully close to the value of the car in repairs in a short time..
I think 308s start at about 17k, 328s a chunk higher.
Have a chat with Karl at Verdi's. He'll spare you some time to chat throuugh the options and may even have a car for you to look at. And if you decide to take the plunge, make sure you get it independently inspected. no matter how in love with it you become!
Not trying to put you off, but these are dream cars for most of us, and it'd be unpleasant if the dream were soured with blinkers
Then on top of that, decide what you can afford to splash on the car.
Finally, be in a position that if something horrible happened to the car, you could afford to lose it.
That is not to say that you will. Just be prepared for that as a circumstance. Massive bills can happen on these cars if you're unlucky, and at the starter end of the range, you could get awfully close to the value of the car in repairs in a short time..
I think 308s start at about 17k, 328s a chunk higher.
Have a chat with Karl at Verdi's. He'll spare you some time to chat throuugh the options and may even have a car for you to look at. And if you decide to take the plunge, make sure you get it independently inspected. no matter how in love with it you become!
Not trying to put you off, but these are dream cars for most of us, and it'd be unpleasant if the dream were soured with blinkers
bryan35 said:
I'm just into the 40% tax band
Don't consider having the car through your company as the tax would be crippling, unless I misunderstand you and you're just stating that you're earning c£35k.
I've had to take the Mas out otherwise I'd be paying £8k p.a. in tax (£160 a week
). yes. Just earn 35K.
probably quite poor by London standards!
Also considering a 428.
Basically before I part with the cash, is there anything on the lines of 'everyone knows that' that I'll get stung by once I own the thing.
Do police treat you different?, are they reliable?, is there a problem with it mechanically that needs addressing every year?
Do the tyres wear out after 15 miles?.
that sort of thing.
Is there anyone I should avoid buying a Ferrari from?
Is there anyone who does independent inspections?
worry, worry, worry!
probably quite poor by London standards!
Also considering a 428.
Basically before I part with the cash, is there anything on the lines of 'everyone knows that' that I'll get stung by once I own the thing.
Do police treat you different?, are they reliable?, is there a problem with it mechanically that needs addressing every year?
Do the tyres wear out after 15 miles?.
that sort of thing.
Is there anyone I should avoid buying a Ferrari from?
Is there anyone who does independent inspections?
worry, worry, worry!
Everyone's finances are different, but with rent, "entertainment" and all the other stuff to pay for, I know I couldn't afford to run a Ferrari when on that sort of salary without sleepless nights. I was running a quick Caterham, but that's in such a different league if things go wrong it's unreal...but fair play to you for going for it. And that said, if I hadn't spent quite so much on "entertainment", I could probably have been in one a while ago
428 is presumably a typo for 328...good choice - still think they're a lovely looking car.
The police haven't really treated me differently, though I have been stopped twice. Once in this country for no good reason (honest, no outcome except a 10min delay in my journey - thanks to the WPC's involved), once in Italy to be advised of the speed limit and to be relieved of 68.25Euros.
If you goon around in it, you'll attract a lot of adverse attention and get pulled big time. So drive sensibly and keep your eyes open and you'll be fine.
I believe they're pretty reliable but have no personal experience of the 3x8 series - I'm too big to fit (something for you to check!).
Bear in mind that these cars are now at least 14yrs old, and possible 25yrs olds depending on what you end up buying. Things can and will go wrong.
Check all electrical items on any Italian car, and if they don't work, even down to the littlest thing (eg interior light not coming on), make sure you know how much it'll cost to fix. You may not be bothered, but when you sell it on, someone will be.
The real reliability in Ferraris only really kicked in with the 355 as I understand it. But then these are 2-3x the initial price.
Tyres on the 355 don't wear through particularly quickly in my experience. I have well over 10k miles on my current set of Bridgestones and there's plenty of meat left. I would expect the 3x8 to be even gentler, but then it depends how you drive.
Tyres shouldn't be *that* expensive on the 3x8 though as they're not especially exotic size wise.
Not sure of anyone to avoid, but you most definitely must get one independently inspected.
If you're in the South (which I believe you are), pay a visit to Verdi's, who I rate very highly. If you're in the North, Nick Cartwright seems to know what he's about and has some lovely cars.
It sounds a bit like I'm trying to put you off and perhaps even piss on your fire. Not meant to be that way, but make sure you do a lot of homework looking at plenty of cars to minimise the risk of getting stung.
PS Insurance would be another thing. Cheaper than you'd think and probably available as a classic policy on the 3x8, but if you're under 30 you will likely have to hunt around...
Good look and congrats on the pay hike.
PPS Don't want to upset Pistonheads (still the best site!), but also check out www.ferrarichat.com. Lots of advice from lots of owners on there. And the majority are exceptionally down to earth.
428 is presumably a typo for 328...good choice - still think they're a lovely looking car.
The police haven't really treated me differently, though I have been stopped twice. Once in this country for no good reason (honest, no outcome except a 10min delay in my journey - thanks to the WPC's involved), once in Italy to be advised of the speed limit and to be relieved of 68.25Euros.
If you goon around in it, you'll attract a lot of adverse attention and get pulled big time. So drive sensibly and keep your eyes open and you'll be fine.
I believe they're pretty reliable but have no personal experience of the 3x8 series - I'm too big to fit (something for you to check!).
Bear in mind that these cars are now at least 14yrs old, and possible 25yrs olds depending on what you end up buying. Things can and will go wrong.
Check all electrical items on any Italian car, and if they don't work, even down to the littlest thing (eg interior light not coming on), make sure you know how much it'll cost to fix. You may not be bothered, but when you sell it on, someone will be.
The real reliability in Ferraris only really kicked in with the 355 as I understand it. But then these are 2-3x the initial price.
Tyres on the 355 don't wear through particularly quickly in my experience. I have well over 10k miles on my current set of Bridgestones and there's plenty of meat left. I would expect the 3x8 to be even gentler, but then it depends how you drive.
Tyres shouldn't be *that* expensive on the 3x8 though as they're not especially exotic size wise.
Not sure of anyone to avoid, but you most definitely must get one independently inspected.
If you're in the South (which I believe you are), pay a visit to Verdi's, who I rate very highly. If you're in the North, Nick Cartwright seems to know what he's about and has some lovely cars.
It sounds a bit like I'm trying to put you off and perhaps even piss on your fire. Not meant to be that way, but make sure you do a lot of homework looking at plenty of cars to minimise the risk of getting stung.
PS Insurance would be another thing. Cheaper than you'd think and probably available as a classic policy on the 3x8, but if you're under 30 you will likely have to hunt around...
Good look and congrats on the pay hike.
PPS Don't want to upset Pistonheads (still the best site!), but also check out www.ferrarichat.com. Lots of advice from lots of owners on there. And the majority are exceptionally down to earth.
Good man!
Though frankly the last time I paid that much for a beer, even in the North, was 1993 and it tasted like cat piss
I'm from Sheffield myself. Predominantly London based but living in Tokyo at the moment.
Have a chat with Nick Cartwright. He's Matlock based and seems to know his onions. Nice chap too. I'm sure he'll be able to source you a decent car.
All you have to do now is decide what your budget is.
Good luck.
Though frankly the last time I paid that much for a beer, even in the North, was 1993 and it tasted like cat piss
I'm from Sheffield myself. Predominantly London based but living in Tokyo at the moment.
Have a chat with Nick Cartwright. He's Matlock based and seems to know his onions. Nice chap too. I'm sure he'll be able to source you a decent car.
All you have to do now is decide what your budget is.
Good luck.
I did indeed have a very nice cup of tea at Nicks house. (if you can call it a house. Have you seen the size of it?)
I'm glad you mention Nick. I judged him to be a good chap and avoided speaking of him to see if anyone else had experience dealing with him.
Plenty of cars to choose from. The car I mentioned earlier was actually a 348. Does a 348 have a bit more headroom, I must admit the 328 tickled my head a bit and I had to stoop a bit as if in a toy car.
Nick has what looks like a nice 348 in stock at the moment and may pop down for a look. Any words of advice re. the 348's?
I'm glad you mention Nick. I judged him to be a good chap and avoided speaking of him to see if anyone else had experience dealing with him.
Plenty of cars to choose from. The car I mentioned earlier was actually a 348. Does a 348 have a bit more headroom, I must admit the 328 tickled my head a bit and I had to stoop a bit as if in a toy car.
Nick has what looks like a nice 348 in stock at the moment and may pop down for a look. Any words of advice re. the 348's?
At 6'4" and long of leg I couldn't fit in a 3x8 and drive it safely.
I was never a fan of the looks of the 348, so knocked my Ferrari dreams on the head until I heard that 355s were getting more accessible.
The 355 has tons of room in it, and I believe the cabin is much the same as the 348 in terms of dimensions, so I suspect you'll be OK.
I'm not a fan of the strakes side and rear on Ferraris, but I've heard that 348s are much underrated.
The 355 is to the 348 what the 328 was to the 308 (though some would argue the 308 is better looking in this instance). As a result the 355 is largely better sorted than a 348. But then they sell for a good bit more.
Have a good search on ferrarichat.com and you'll get shed loads of advice.
I've never bought anything from Nick, but did look at a car up at his place with someone else. He certainly has some collection of cars
Is it the 33k car on his site? Looks OK and you'll definitely find his cars well prepared. Prices do seem a little on the high side on his site, but I guess there's room to move.
Oh to have 180k free for the 250 GT Lusso - he had 2 there when I was there. Bloody lovely cars, though a GT SWB would top it
I was never a fan of the looks of the 348, so knocked my Ferrari dreams on the head until I heard that 355s were getting more accessible.
The 355 has tons of room in it, and I believe the cabin is much the same as the 348 in terms of dimensions, so I suspect you'll be OK.
I'm not a fan of the strakes side and rear on Ferraris, but I've heard that 348s are much underrated.
The 355 is to the 348 what the 328 was to the 308 (though some would argue the 308 is better looking in this instance). As a result the 355 is largely better sorted than a 348. But then they sell for a good bit more.
Have a good search on ferrarichat.com and you'll get shed loads of advice.
I've never bought anything from Nick, but did look at a car up at his place with someone else. He certainly has some collection of cars
Is it the 33k car on his site? Looks OK and you'll definitely find his cars well prepared. Prices do seem a little on the high side on his site, but I guess there's room to move.
Oh to have 180k free for the 250 GT Lusso - he had 2 there when I was there. Bloody lovely cars, though a GT SWB would top it
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