A few months of Ferrari ownership
Discussion
Hi all,
Long-time reader - first-time poster. I've had a good search and spent all morning reading appropriate threads, but still felt a new one was warranted.
I'm heading back to NZ around the end of the year and a thrash around Europe in a friend's 996 last year really put me into a want-fast-car-to-return-favour-and-enjoy-self mood. That, plus knowing that in NZ the enjoyment of the cars I covet here would be spoiled royally by either speed cameras or disapproving looks. Doing (visibly) well for yourself can be a bit of a downside in NZ, sadly. I'll likely end up with a tidy MX5 or the like for when I feel like a blat on the lovely NZ roads.
So, onto the actual reason for writing. My idea is to get a 355 or 360 for a few months as a dose to tide me over until I'm settled in NZ, and wondered if there were any things I should look out for in terms of what/when to buy and sell. The up-front cost isn't a major issue - my aim is to buy it, enjoy it sensibly (another European trip), then sell it again before I skip the country.
It's definitely a manual and probably a 355GTB I'm after, but I'd be well advised to try a 360 and a Spider first, so will do that when I get back to the UK in a couple of weeks.
I don't want to make too large a loss having owned it for a short period, so my understanding would be that - on top of all the standard things of good service history etc. - I should be on the look-out for:
- not too many owners
- timing when it comes to selling it (if it ends up a Spider bought at the start of summer and sold at the start of winter, for example)
- dealer/private
Anything else to bear in mind? Any tips or cars that people know of in the offing that would suit? The sound of the beast is something I'm really keen on, so may look into exhausts etc. if they're not already fitted. Unless the standard one gets me sufficiently excited, of course
Or is buying one just madness? Can long term rentals or clubs provide cars for such trips?
Thanks for any help, you lot.
Ben
Long-time reader - first-time poster. I've had a good search and spent all morning reading appropriate threads, but still felt a new one was warranted.
I'm heading back to NZ around the end of the year and a thrash around Europe in a friend's 996 last year really put me into a want-fast-car-to-return-favour-and-enjoy-self mood. That, plus knowing that in NZ the enjoyment of the cars I covet here would be spoiled royally by either speed cameras or disapproving looks. Doing (visibly) well for yourself can be a bit of a downside in NZ, sadly. I'll likely end up with a tidy MX5 or the like for when I feel like a blat on the lovely NZ roads.
So, onto the actual reason for writing. My idea is to get a 355 or 360 for a few months as a dose to tide me over until I'm settled in NZ, and wondered if there were any things I should look out for in terms of what/when to buy and sell. The up-front cost isn't a major issue - my aim is to buy it, enjoy it sensibly (another European trip), then sell it again before I skip the country.
It's definitely a manual and probably a 355GTB I'm after, but I'd be well advised to try a 360 and a Spider first, so will do that when I get back to the UK in a couple of weeks.
I don't want to make too large a loss having owned it for a short period, so my understanding would be that - on top of all the standard things of good service history etc. - I should be on the look-out for:
- not too many owners
- timing when it comes to selling it (if it ends up a Spider bought at the start of summer and sold at the start of winter, for example)
- dealer/private
Anything else to bear in mind? Any tips or cars that people know of in the offing that would suit? The sound of the beast is something I'm really keen on, so may look into exhausts etc. if they're not already fitted. Unless the standard one gets me sufficiently excited, of course
Or is buying one just madness? Can long term rentals or clubs provide cars for such trips?
Thanks for any help, you lot.
Ben
If you want a quick turnaround over a few months I personally wouldn't bother. Funny old market at the moment and if you end up *needing* to sell, you will more than likely have to take your trousers down no matter what you buy (unless you can leave it with someone on SoR and take your time selling it).
Have a search on Club Scuderia for buying tips on the cars you mention. There's a ton of info and advice there.
Touring Europe in a 355 is a superb way to spend a summer. I did 5k miles in mine without any issues (very far from it!).
I reckon the 355 will also be less likely to lose as much cash.
Have a search on Club Scuderia for buying tips on the cars you mention. There's a ton of info and advice there.
Touring Europe in a 355 is a superb way to spend a summer. I did 5k miles in mine without any issues (very far from it!).
I reckon the 355 will also be less likely to lose as much cash.
A little bit of taking my trousers down when it comes time to sell it is fine. Or I could always leave it with someone I trust until it does 
Feels like the 355 is the one more likely to hold its value at this stage, but that's only a hunch based on numbers produced and the love it seems to garner in most corners! I'm also inclined to think that spending a good whack up-front for a really tidy model is likely to help come resale time, but again, that's not based on anything other than a hunch (or perhaps the bit of me that tells me that I'd like a really tidy one even more!).
Feels like the 355 is the one more likely to hold its value at this stage, but that's only a hunch based on numbers produced and the love it seems to garner in most corners! I'm also inclined to think that spending a good whack up-front for a really tidy model is likely to help come resale time, but again, that's not based on anything other than a hunch (or perhaps the bit of me that tells me that I'd like a really tidy one even more!).
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