Buying a 550

Author
Discussion

AlvinSultana

Original Poster:

858 posts

148 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
So, I think I have decided I want one.

Am I quite mad ?

Not too many cars available at the moment, or is this normal ?

adamellisdj

409 posts

37 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
Absolutely love the rear. Hate the rest. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I say go for it. Life’s too short to have regrets.

21ATS

1,100 posts

71 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
It is not normal, I've been looking for a Maranello (either 550 or 575) for about 4 years. It just hasn't happened so far for a number of reasons.

There are currently very few for sale, some of those for sale have been for some time and right now asking prices are somewhat inflated.

Condition and service history is everything on one of these cars. Ferrari's are very mileage sensitive but now you're at 20+ years old, worry less about miles and find one that's been used and very well maintained.

Get yourself onto FChat, there are a lot of owners and it's a huge resource for information.

There are very few differences between the first and last years of the 550, unlike the 575 which went through a number of minor and not so minor changes through it's 4-5 year lifespan.

One of the best videos produced on this car is on the Harry's Garage YouTube channel, no doubt you've watched it already. Plus JayEmm recently bought one and he gives a no nonsence review of his ownership.

They are wonderful cars, I've never driven anything like it (I have only driven 575's though - three F1's and one manual). I will own one, hopefully sooner rather than later.



Edited by 21ATS on Thursday 1st April 21:53

Chris722

42 posts

136 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
I took mine out for the first time this year today and really enjoyed the drive. If I didn’t have one I would definitely buy one so no I don’t think you are mad!
What are you planning to do with etc? There are definitely faster cars out there but I love the analogue feel of the car.

F355GTS

3,721 posts

254 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
They're great cars, loved mine and only changed it for a 575 because I wanted an F1 box 👍👍

jackal

11,248 posts

281 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
be very careful right now

prices inflated and fabricated as suggested earlier .... in part because of covid boredom and lack of supply

Slades in particular have a number of examples, and they seem to be attempting to create their own pricing/market

all smoke and mirrors IMO and cars have not charged hands for those sorts of levels for a long time

just have a look at past collecting cars auctions to know what people are truly paying for them in the last 18 months or so

a 6 month in house warranty and protection from consumer rights shouldn't really cost a £40,000 premium !


21ATS

1,100 posts

71 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
quotequote all
Slades have 6 on offer presently, 3 x 550's and 3 x 575's.

All will likely be sale or return, and not one of them is remotely sensibly priced, hence they've not sold.

The Yellow "Rod Stewart" car has been for sale so long I've lost track of it. They all just move from dealer to dealer every so often.

AlvinSultana

Original Poster:

858 posts

148 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
quotequote all
The thought process is; I want to scratch the Ferrari itch, I want a manual V12 over the mid engine cars, I am not keen on the 456/612, and a 550 hits the budget perfectly.

Then I am pretty sure the interior will be crema or beige, I know TDF looks good on a 550 but I already have 2 blue cars.

As others have said there are some salty prices being asked for SOR cars. I see retail cars at £90 - 100k which to me look like they should be £75k, but as always the market will decide.

I once spent 2 years looking for an early 911, it paid off and I bought a fabulous car. This quest could easily take longer as there are fewer cars to choose from.

Thanks for all of your advice.

21ATS

1,100 posts

71 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
quotequote all
Join the queue biggrin

Manual transmission swaps for 575's are now a real thing. Realistically I'm leaning in that direction now.

Probably picking up a 575 F1 and living with it for a while knowing I can swap it to a manual should I really not like living with the F1 box.

cgt2

7,093 posts

187 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
quotequote all
21ATS said:
Join the queue biggrin

Manual transmission swaps for 575's are now a real thing. Realistically I'm leaning in that direction now.

Probably picking up a 575 F1 and living with it for a while knowing I can swap it to a manual should I really not like living with the F1 box.
Interesting that when I bought my manual 575 a decade ago all the Ferrari guys told me I was buying the wrong gearbox and that's why it was £10k cheaper than the equivalent F1!

21ATS

1,100 posts

71 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
quotequote all
cgt2 said:
Interesting that when I bought my manual 575 a decade ago all the Ferrari guys told me I was buying the wrong gearbox and that's why it was £10k cheaper than the equivalent F1!
Having driven both, it's not the driving bit that bothers me (i.e. when you're making progress). There's actually a reasonably good argument for the F1 over the manual in that specific area.

It's the parking, junctions, traffic, manouvering, beeping in reverse etc that I struggled with. I'd need to live with one for a while to figure out if it bothered me long term or if it was something I'd just get comfortable with.

I'm actually ok with that now there's a realistic option of swapping it to a manual if I find I really struggle with the F1 system.

Unlike the OP, this isn't an itch I'm scratching, this is life keeper for me.

Now the price point between a manual and F1 575 is so vast, buying a manual is not realistic for me. £188K for the silverstone car this weekend, which is just daft IMO. I guess it's why the 550 asking prices have all firmed up. However, like all things , they can ask what they like, it doesn't mean anyone is actually buying at those numbers.

Edited by 21ATS on Friday 2nd April 21:40

cgt2

7,093 posts

187 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
quotequote all
21ATS said:
Having driven both, it's not the driving bit that bothers me (i.e. when you're making progress). There's actually a reasonably good argument for the F1 over the manual in that specific area.

It's the parking, junctions, traffic, manouvering, beeping in reverse etc that I struggled with. I'd need to live with one for a while to figure out if it bothered me long term or if it was something I'd just get comfortable with.

I'm actually ok with that now there's a realistic option of swapping it to a manual if I find I really struggle with the F1 system.

Unlike the OP, this isn't an itch I'm scratching, this is life keeper for me.
Having owned both I would say the 550 ticked more boxes for me personally. I preferred the more retro cabin, Jaeger dials rather than generic Fiat/Alfa ones, no beeps when indicating. To drive I honestly could not tell the difference, at the age these cars are now maintenance and setup would outweigh any nominal horsepower advantage.

21ATS

1,100 posts

71 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
quotequote all
cgt2 said:
Having owned both I would say the 550 ticked more boxes for me personally. I preferred the more retro cabin, Jaeger dials rather than generic Fiat/Alfa ones, no beeps when indicating. To drive I honestly could not tell the difference, at the age these cars are now maintenance and setup would outweigh any nominal horsepower advantage.
I actually prefer the classic design of the 550. Quite honestly I'd be happy with either.

In the back of mind is the fact that a manual is also likely to be more easy to maintain long term than an ageing F1 system.

Nurburgsingh

5,104 posts

237 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
quotequote all


You should do it for the view alone... everything else is a bonus


A bloody big bonus !!!

bish_345

135 posts

69 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
quotequote all
jackal said:
be very careful right now

prices inflated and fabricated as suggested earlier .... in part because of covid boredom and lack of supply

Slades in particular have a number of examples, and they seem to be attempting to create their own pricing/market

all smoke and mirrors IMO and cars have not charged hands for those sorts of levels for a long time

just have a look at past collecting cars auctions to know what people are truly paying for them in the last 18 months or so

a 6 month in house warranty and protection from consumer rights shouldn't really cost a £40,000 premium !
As best I can tell, Collecting Cars have sold 5 RHD 550s. Including their 6% premium the prices were approximately 63k, 64k, 80k, 82k and 84k. The mileages were 55k,58k,46k,30k and 27k.
I see three cars in the PH classifieds at dealers (not Slades) who are asking 90-95k for 35k-27k mile cars. Basically a 10k mark up on the Collecting Car "private sale" prices for comparable cars. I don't find that particularly out of whack. Pity the previous owner of my current 550 (mileage in the teens) who paid, if I remember correctly from the file, at least 160k in the heady days of 2015 or so....

21ATS

1,100 posts

71 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
quotequote all
These are the numbers I have for the 550 results on Collecting cars.

Unhelpfully, sometimes the 6% is included in this number and sometimes it isn't. But these are the records I kept for prices and dates.

31/03/20 - 54,570 miles - £59,500 (£63,000 incl fees)

07/08/20 - 27,347 miles - £79,500 - not sure if this one is inclusive or not

24/09/20 - 58,300 miles - £60,000 - not sure if this one is inclusive or not - the Ex Hammond car.

16/10/20 - 46,048 miles - £76,000 - not sure if this one is inclusive or not

10/02/21 - 29,407 miles - £77,501 - not sure if this one is inclusive or not

3gadgriff

74 posts

170 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
quotequote all
Live for Today!

footsoldier

2,251 posts

191 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
quotequote all
21ATS said:
These are the numbers I have for the 550 results on Collecting cars.

Unhelpfully, sometimes the 6% is included in this number and sometimes it isn't. But these are the records I kept for prices and dates.

31/03/20 - 54,570 miles - £59,500 (£63,000 incl fees)

07/08/20 - 27,347 miles - £79,500 - not sure if this one is inclusive or not

24/09/20 - 58,300 miles - £60,000 - not sure if this one is inclusive or not - the Ex Hammond car.

16/10/20 - 46,048 miles - £76,000 - not sure if this one is inclusive or not

10/02/21 - 29,407 miles - £77,501 - not sure if this one is inclusive or not
https://collectingcars.com/?refinementList%5Bstage...


Edited by footsoldier on Saturday 3rd April 13:54

SL550M

589 posts

109 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
quotequote all
3gadgriff said:
Live for Today!
These 3 words above...spot on!

They might drop a bit in price, but they might not. If you buy one, you won’t care either way. My four-and-a-bit years of 550 ownership (I used it as my DD and covered 28000 miles) was the best motoring experience of my life. Better than my 599. Better than any of my various 911s. The 550 is sublime, it was reliable, and let’s be honest they look absolutely gorgeous. I must have had a recent bang on the head when I sold mine. It’s the only plausible explanation I have for such madness!

Buy one OP!

21ATS

1,100 posts

71 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
quotequote all
footsoldier said:
https://collectingcars.com/?refinementList%5Bstage...


Edited by footsoldier on Saturday 3rd April 13:54
Notice how some say "winning bid" and others "sale price".

Some they show the fees included, some they don't, there seems to be some latitude with the 6% fee.