Possible joining the Ferrari Fold. Help!!!!!

[simond001]

Morning Chaps,

I have been offered a F355 GTS (absolutly mint) by my boss, (will effect my income by about £800 per month).

Question is. What will it cost to run. I currently have a Cerbera, which is cheap as chips to maintain. I believe I will do between 3 and 5,000 miles per the first couple of years.

Any ideas before my heart yes yes and my bank manager disowns me??

[456mgt]

This has been asked a couple of times before Simon, so I'm sure a search through the archives of this forum will give you the answer. Recall that it is somewhere around £2-3K a year. Used to be that you would live in fear of the cambelt change, but the cost of doing these has come down quite dramatically of late. Give Ajay @ Scuderia Systems a call before you part with your hard-earned. Better still, get him to drive it for you, and he'll tell you if it's a good one; there's more variation between them than you would credit. Don't care if it is mint, may still need (expensive) stuff doing on it.

Roof on the GTS will 'squeak like a cock' to quote Manu, unless you grease the seals every few weeks.

Oh, and unless you're getting it at a sensational price I'd give a lot of thought to buying a car from a friend or someone you work with (for). If anything goes wrong, it will strain that relationship. IMO of course.

Have fun


Kev

[simond001]

456, I understand your sentiments regarding buying from a friend. My only solace is that he also has a F40, 996 Turbo, and diablo. (Is changing them all this year so selling exisitng cars).

£3k or so i can happily live with.

Just got to find insurance now!!!

[nevpugh308]

Yeah, Ferrari parts and servicing costs have come down quite a lot recently, which is good.

[nevpugh308]

456mgt said:

Roof on the GTS will 'squeak like a cock' to quote Manu, unless you grease the seals every few weeks.

Kev,

Any idea what you're supposed to "grease" the seals with ? Mine squeaks (not that it's on much) but I dunno what to use. I'm sure it's not supposed to be bearing grease or something ....

[ferrari355gtb]

Have just bought a 355 GTB recently (3 weeks ago), and struggled a little with insurance. Ended up using Heritage (FOC) for 5000 miles per annum. Allows track days and my no claims on another car (a little run around).

Go for it - its once in a lifetime.

[F355GTS]

Nev
Use any silicon based lubricant, btw most of the squeaking is not the seals but hte levers rubbing on the sun visors!, a couple of foam stickers on the levers and problem went away, no squeaks in 2.5 years!!!!

Simon

go for it, assuming you have no major problems you should get away with an average of £1,100 a year for servicing

[SIR MP]

Simon,

Don't let the fact that it's your boss selling the car, cloud your judgement.
If the price is right and you want it, go for it.
Good Luck.
Cheers
Mark

[pdavison]

Mark,

Just wondered how you found the Mondial (sorry to hijack the thread) as I always thought this would end up being my first route to Ferrari ownership?

[ninja_eli]

Basically, what 456MGT said... and also, if its a pre 96 car bear in mind they may have problems with valves. They are however, the nicer car to drive than the later ones. Watch out also for the rust on the butresses

Regarding insurance, there is a thread here listing all the specialists. Privilege are generally very competitive once you are 25 but still under 30.

[simond001]

I appreciate the help chaps. Insurance appears to be about £1500 pa, which isnt that much more than the Cerb.

I think that I am going to go for it. The dream of having a Ferrari is way to close to pass on mere technicalities!!!!

p.s. For sale. 5 bed house, quick sale required to pay for new clutch and main service

[manu]

simond001 said:

I think that I am going to go for it.

This is good.

[murph7355]

Good lad.

I very much doubt you'll regret it. The smile you get every time you see such an awesome looking car in your garage is worth the entry price alone. The noise through tunnels makes it a bargain.