355 Hunt still on.. anyone know this one ?
Discussion
hi again.. armed with all your useful advise my 355 hunt still continues...
a couple of weeks ago drove over a 100 miles to see one... and half way through as my wife was playing with the owners cute 5 year old son... he lets on to the fact that when daddy bought the car.. he put it in a ditch and the car "broke" but daddy fixed / painted it very nicely . This was followed by him walking over and pointing out exactly where it "broke"... car had freshly painted front bumper AND *front wings*. I made a polite excuse and left fearing the well being of the sweet kid.. if I said any more...
Now.. i've seen another one on www.autotrader.co.uk .... red 355 gts LHD for just under 32K. Does anyone know this car ?? (please do a national search on 355's of over 30K and it will appear on the first page amongst the first 5 cars.) owner has had it for 4 years and imported it himself from germany. does this money sound right.. or is it cheap ? it says the car has got rear wheel spacers ?? what are these ?.. I would need to do 400 mile (!) round trip to see this car... so if you guys can shed some light on it... it may save me a lot of time / effort...
cheers.
a couple of weeks ago drove over a 100 miles to see one... and half way through as my wife was playing with the owners cute 5 year old son... he lets on to the fact that when daddy bought the car.. he put it in a ditch and the car "broke" but daddy fixed / painted it very nicely . This was followed by him walking over and pointing out exactly where it "broke"... car had freshly painted front bumper AND *front wings*. I made a polite excuse and left fearing the well being of the sweet kid.. if I said any more...
Now.. i've seen another one on www.autotrader.co.uk .... red 355 gts LHD for just under 32K. Does anyone know this car ?? (please do a national search on 355's of over 30K and it will appear on the first page amongst the first 5 cars.) owner has had it for 4 years and imported it himself from germany. does this money sound right.. or is it cheap ? it says the car has got rear wheel spacers ?? what are these ?.. I would need to do 400 mile (!) round trip to see this car... so if you guys can shed some light on it... it may save me a lot of time / effort...
cheers.
First things first, spacers are put on the wheels to increase the track. Aesthetics only to make the wheels fill the arches more. I'm personally not a fan of these things - mm changes in the suspension area can affect a car's handling/cause things to wear. I have zero proof that these cause any issues whatsoever, but if spacers were a good idea, why did the factory not fit them? But as mentioned, I know a lot of people using them with no apparent ill effects.
Don't know the car in question. 32k seems ball park or just under for a LHD car if it's any good.
Where in the country are you based? You and your other half are going to get brassed off travelling mega miles on your search, and private sellers are not going to be 100% straight over the phone if a car's got a story - they want you to see it and fall in love (as you probably will).
I think you need to visit somewhere that has a few cars (right colour etc or not) so you can have a go in several, kick the tyres and get a feel for what constitutes a good car. You'll then know the sort of thing to ask vendors over the phone and perhaps be able to get them to take some photos for you before you hit the road...
Lucky break on the other car, though did the car look OK generally? I would guess a number of these have had knocks through their life. They'll nearly all have been painted at the front (if only for stone chips). The key is if it's been fixed properly. And independent inspection should give a view. You then have a big bargaining chip perhaps...
Don't know the car in question. 32k seems ball park or just under for a LHD car if it's any good.
Where in the country are you based? You and your other half are going to get brassed off travelling mega miles on your search, and private sellers are not going to be 100% straight over the phone if a car's got a story - they want you to see it and fall in love (as you probably will).
I think you need to visit somewhere that has a few cars (right colour etc or not) so you can have a go in several, kick the tyres and get a feel for what constitutes a good car. You'll then know the sort of thing to ask vendors over the phone and perhaps be able to get them to take some photos for you before you hit the road...
Lucky break on the other car, though did the car look OK generally? I would guess a number of these have had knocks through their life. They'll nearly all have been painted at the front (if only for stone chips). The key is if it's been fixed properly. And independent inspection should give a view. You then have a big bargaining chip perhaps...
Cheers ...
I am based in Central London...just near the Fulham / Chelsea border...
I have been to Verdi's and KHPC and seen several to get a feel for the cars... but none of the dealers seem to have the right kind.. ideally the car would be .. RED berlinetta manual (LHD is ok) .. later model 97 onwards... (will consider GTS).. if any good ones around in the 35K region... i'll be a happy chappie...
I am based in Central London...just near the Fulham / Chelsea border...
I have been to Verdi's and KHPC and seen several to get a feel for the cars... but none of the dealers seem to have the right kind.. ideally the car would be .. RED berlinetta manual (LHD is ok) .. later model 97 onwards... (will consider GTS).. if any good ones around in the 35K region... i'll be a happy chappie...
regarding that other car... I didn't want to spend money on an inspection.. given that i knew it had been in a ditch.. and there may have been stuff "bent" underneath... the interior wasn't A1.. scuffs / nicks / etc on the leather... not really that bad.. but for an asking price of 38K for a 45000 mile car..... hmmmm....(wasn't willing to budge much on price ..)
this is a good, honest car. owner is known to many of us on fcars. You'll need to register to view
www.fcars.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5878
www.fcars.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5878
Think you're going to be looking at at least 40k for a good RHD at the moment. So if 35k's your ceiling, LHD will be the way to go.
If you weren't comfy with the other car, definitely worth passing on it.
The black one at KHPC looks quite tidy. As does the RHD one they have (but it's 42k).
Be patient as these are still relatively rare cars
The difficulty with them coming down to the price that they're now at is that it's generating a lot of demand. So the prices for good cars are firming up or even rising slightly.
The car Tony linked to is a good one. And as he says, the owner's known.
If you weren't comfy with the other car, definitely worth passing on it.
The black one at KHPC looks quite tidy. As does the RHD one they have (but it's 42k).
Be patient as these are still relatively rare cars
The difficulty with them coming down to the price that they're now at is that it's generating a lot of demand. So the prices for good cars are firming up or even rising slightly. The car Tony linked to is a good one. And as he says, the owner's known.
tony h said:
this is a good, honest car. owner is known to many of us on fcars. You'll need to register to view
www.fcars.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5878
www.fcars.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5878
Well woth speaking to Ian (the owner) of that car - its in great conditioan and local to you. He may also have some movement in price - email me if you would like his number.
thanks for the lead guys !.. i've contacted Ian... plan to meet up this Sat and see the car. :-)
i have seen both the cars that murph mentions at khpc.. I started a thread regarding the black one earlier..
see: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=277881&f=63&h=0
its been hanging around for a while now... The other RHD one IMO is too expensive for an early 95 car with 40K+ miles on it... the condition is good.. but not *that* good so as to command 42K... spoke to the owner.. as the same car is on autotrader as well.. advertised for 38K... i would prefer a slighly later one.. 5.2..
lets say "hypothetically" that Ian's car is "perfect" and that he wants 40K for it. As suggested by tony_h.. if I wait till autumn / winter... whats the likelihood of a similar car being available for a cheaper price ? how much difference ? .. or is it just a question of selection rather than price....
i have seen both the cars that murph mentions at khpc.. I started a thread regarding the black one earlier..
see: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=277881&f=63&h=0
its been hanging around for a while now... The other RHD one IMO is too expensive for an early 95 car with 40K+ miles on it... the condition is good.. but not *that* good so as to command 42K... spoke to the owner.. as the same car is on autotrader as well.. advertised for 38K... i would prefer a slighly later one.. 5.2..
lets say "hypothetically" that Ian's car is "perfect" and that he wants 40K for it. As suggested by tony_h.. if I wait till autumn / winter... whats the likelihood of a similar car being available for a cheaper price ? how much difference ? .. or is it just a question of selection rather than price....
Seth,
to give you some idea of 355 prices, i traded my '96 , 2 owner from new 355 spider for the CS recently. PX price was £42.5k . This has been 1st year in 5 of 355 ownership that prices haven't gone down in real terms. There are relatively few decent 355s about TBH and demand for cars around £40-£45k is outstripping supply.I would suggest prices will be couple of K lower coming into autumn/winter.
Hope this helps
to give you some idea of 355 prices, i traded my '96 , 2 owner from new 355 spider for the CS recently. PX price was £42.5k . This has been 1st year in 5 of 355 ownership that prices haven't gone down in real terms. There are relatively few decent 355s about TBH and demand for cars around £40-£45k is outstripping supply.I would suggest prices will be couple of K lower coming into autumn/winter.
Hope this helps
And note that the Spider Tony sold is *much* more seasonally sensitive than the GTBs you're looking at.
Good RHD GTBs in a saleable spec will rarely be seen for less than 38k or so for the next 12mths at least IMO. The cars really are very good, and I think the people buying them now are buying them because they really want one. I suspect many current owners won't be trading "up" to the 360/430.
The other thing is that you'll have had a summer using it. Are you intending to sell quickly? If not, don't worry about it.
Good RHD GTBs in a saleable spec will rarely be seen for less than 38k or so for the next 12mths at least IMO. The cars really are very good, and I think the people buying them now are buying them because they really want one. I suspect many current owners won't be trading "up" to the 360/430.
The other thing is that you'll have had a summer using it. Are you intending to sell quickly? If not, don't worry about it.
murph7355 said:
Polarbert said:
Ah, I suppose the B is what Berlinetta stands for.
I'd love a GTS when I get a bit older.
Grigio Titanio with Bordeaux leather and manual gearbox. Don't know how many of them are around though.
I'd love a GTS when I get a bit older.
Grigio Titanio with Bordeaux leather and manual gearbox.
Don't know how many of them are around though.Not very many at all I would think. Probably single figures.
Ah shite. Thats one car I was hoping to own when I was older. Well if I get enough money saved. Need a job first.
I know there were around 100 GTS' brought to England.
Suppose I could always settle for a spider. Or a Coupe. I just thought the colour was so beautiful on that car when I saw it.
i agree regarding the seasonal nature of the Spider prices...
I intend to keep the car for 2 years at least... and if it doesn't prove to be a "bottomless money pit" and if.. as time goes on they become more of a "classic/collectors car" and hence relatively depreciation proof.. then I'll keep it for a *long* time.... but not sure about this.. as it seems they are still depreciating... (??)
I intend to keep the car for 2 years at least... and if it doesn't prove to be a "bottomless money pit" and if.. as time goes on they become more of a "classic/collectors car" and hence relatively depreciation proof.. then I'll keep it for a *long* time.... but not sure about this.. as it seems they are still depreciating... (??)
I recently sold my 355 berlinetta tdf blue/tan 97 on a R plate with 30k
for £43k.After losing my shirt on previous cars i was determined to
replace it with something that i could enjoy and sell it on for similar
money.I have just bought a 95 355 spyder LHD 49k(miles) tdf blue (dont
like red)for £35k.What a bargain LHD models are.Originally i was
aprehensive about LHD but after 1 hour you are used to driving on the
other side.A RHD model would have been at least £10k more.
My advice is if you want to get more value for money go LHD-i cant see
a good 355 going for under £30k for some years.
for £43k.After losing my shirt on previous cars i was determined to
replace it with something that i could enjoy and sell it on for similar
money.I have just bought a 95 355 spyder LHD 49k(miles) tdf blue (dont
like red)for £35k.What a bargain LHD models are.Originally i was
aprehensive about LHD but after 1 hour you are used to driving on the
other side.A RHD model would have been at least £10k more.
My advice is if you want to get more value for money go LHD-i cant see
a good 355 going for under £30k for some years.
slick355 said:
.. as it seems they are still depreciating... (??)
Inevitably, but then what isn't. And how much will you lose in comparison on humdrum kit?
The key is to *buy* at the right price.
To my mind, a RHD GTB in a good colour (red, black, blue, yellow (maybe)) between 38-43k is going to lose little. Could even go a bit higher than this.
But start spunking 50+ on one, or god forbid 60+ and you're going to lose some wedge.
My tip on cars of this vintage - forget main dealers. The cars are not necessarily better looked after and you will be paying a (big) premium that you simply will not recoup (no one will buy it privately at a premium, and the dealers will laugh at you when you take it back to them to buy off you).
As for RHD/LHD, until we change the side of the road we drive on, RHD will always command a premium. Personally I wouldn't entertain a LHD car, but I know many who accept the compromise.
To me, however, you're not really "saving" money as at best the cars will track the value of their RHD counterparts (so your outlay is less, but you'll still lose the same amount). At worst, you'll find it harder to shift a LHD car as your market is substantially less and you're competing against more cars (not just ones already here). As the cars get older, and RHD become cheaper, the LHD ones *must* get cheaper also.
You pay your money....
Hi all....
Thanks so much for all your help / advice so far... after several months of looking ./ gathering information / viewing cars... Ian's car (as mentioned earlier in the thread) became mine last Saturday.
but being a bit swamped with work haven't managed to do much 
yet. Feel like doing 
all day !!
Thanks again you all.... hope to meet up with all you at one of the meets.
Thanks so much for all your help / advice so far... after several months of looking ./ gathering information / viewing cars... Ian's car (as mentioned earlier in the thread) became mine last Saturday.
but being a bit swamped with work haven't managed to do much yet. Feel like doing all day !! Thanks again you all.... hope to meet up with all you at one of the meets.
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