A Ferrari on the cheap- for real?
Discussion
The July issue of Classic & Sports Car is a case in point "The top ten £10,000- £20,000 Ferraris". These guys are basically saying that you can pick up a reasonably decent car for repmobile money, then run it for executive car level servicing costs. I've read several articles like this over the last year, and while I'd like to believe it, I can't. I'd quite fancy running a Mondial as a daily driver.
What do you reckon- can it be done (ie. probability >75%) and has anybody actually done it?
What do you reckon- can it be done (ie. probability >75%) and has anybody actually done it?
The 308 / 328 series aren't too bad from a maintanence point of view, partially because the transverse engine doesn't have to come out to do the cambelts. Maybe I was lucky but the services on my cars always came in at about 1k to 1.5k, which what I was expecting. To be fair I was only using them a bit at weekends so major things weren't really wearing out much. So to an extent what you loose on the servicing you gain back in reduced depreciation.
I think the big problem with the earlier cars is rust, my 308 was a horror and the 328 was only a bit better. Also, little things will tend to drive you mad, like heaters, rain leaks, second gear just not playing ball etc, etc.
Overall though, I was pleased with both the cars I owned.
I think the big problem with the earlier cars is rust, my 308 was a horror and the 328 was only a bit better. Also, little things will tend to drive you mad, like heaters, rain leaks, second gear just not playing ball etc, etc.
Overall though, I was pleased with both the cars I owned.
I'm skeptical....
For example you could pick up a 412i for around £16K now but I've seen too many horror stories about £4k yearly service bills.
If I was to go for a 308/328 I would look at the over £25K range just too make sure I wasn't getting anything too tired. It only takes one big thing to go wrong with one of these older Ferraris (which are far less service friendly by design than the newer ones)and then people like me start crying...
For example you could pick up a 412i for around £16K now but I've seen too many horror stories about £4k yearly service bills.
If I was to go for a 308/328 I would look at the over £25K range just too make sure I wasn't getting anything too tired. It only takes one big thing to go wrong with one of these older Ferraris (which are far less service friendly by design than the newer ones)and then people like me start crying...
Doug's point is the kicker actually- while you could choose a good one, and Doug's cars sounded good, you will still be fighting rust. And to my mind that pretty much rules out using it all the time in a country that salts the roads in winter.
Apart from rust, the costs of ownership as I understand it from friends, and people I've talked to, is a function of whether you choose a 'good' or 'bad' car. Low mileage is not the virtue it appears unless all the mechanical perishables have been recently replaced since many of the problems I hear about are from these expiring, either all at once (=ouch) or in series (= niggles & occasional ouch). I suspect the profile of a good car is one that it is in good structural nick (rust dealt with, somebody has spent money caring for it etc) and has either had a recent rebuild and/or has >30K miles on it.
Apart from rust, the costs of ownership as I understand it from friends, and people I've talked to, is a function of whether you choose a 'good' or 'bad' car. Low mileage is not the virtue it appears unless all the mechanical perishables have been recently replaced since many of the problems I hear about are from these expiring, either all at once (=ouch) or in series (= niggles & occasional ouch). I suspect the profile of a good car is one that it is in good structural nick (rust dealt with, somebody has spent money caring for it etc) and has either had a recent rebuild and/or has >30K miles on it.
I seem to have just bought this car in Singapore:
www.red-headed.com/ferrarilist/ow09008.htm
In the UK it should be around the 15-20k mark but here it cost me about GBP35k.
The choice was that or a Lamborghini Urraco P250S.
The fun of living in the tropics.
Odd colour combination though. Originally the car was gold. It now has red carpets so I think a bare metal respray to red is in order.
>> Edited by zertec on Sunday 14th July 02:32
www.red-headed.com/ferrarilist/ow09008.htm
In the UK it should be around the 15-20k mark but here it cost me about GBP35k.
The choice was that or a Lamborghini Urraco P250S.
The fun of living in the tropics.
Odd colour combination though. Originally the car was gold. It now has red carpets so I think a bare metal respray to red is in order.
>> Edited by zertec on Sunday 14th July 02:32
Nice looking car Clive. Works very well in yellow but take your point about the unusual colour scheme; magnolia hide and rosso or burgundy carpets? The easisest fix is the exterior colour I agree, though it doesn't need to be bare metal unless you have rot. And I presume the price premium originates from some tax on luxury goods? Whatever, you will recoup when you sell unless the system that inflates car prices changes in the meantime
Good luck!
Kevin
Good luck!
Kevin
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