First time 360 buyer – looking for advice.
Discussion
Hi All
I’m looking to move into Ferrari ownership for the first time towards the end of the year/early next year – so the proper research period begins.
As prices tend to be quite varied and purely looking at the classifieds doesn’t really show true condition, I have a few questions for any owners or previous owners… Ideally from those that have owned them used, not new…
1) What ballpark figure should I be paying for a manual example?
I’d like Rosso Corsa and Crema (boring, I know but it is my first Ferrari!) which I assume adds a premium. I am not bothered about mileage if the condition is right.
2) Is the manual really worth the premium over the F1? The car would be used specifically for drives – not necessarily for touring in.
3) What are the key things to look for when buying one of these? Any specific things to check that are easy to see without a full inspection?
4) What is the general reliability like? Any essential preventative maintenance mods that should be done or should have always been done?
5) What are the general servicing costs and is main dealer essential or are there some specific specialists I should use instead?
6) The plan is to have a £10k slush fund from day 1, in case bills are thrown at me, with the idea to add £500 to it each month thereafter. Is this sufficient? (Obviously, it depends if I buy a lemon or not, but generally speaking?)
7) I’d like one with the Challenge Grille but if a good example didn’t have this, can I retrofit it easily?
8) I am happy for Coupe or Spyder, but if I had a Spyder, is the roof reliable/robust or should it be avoided?
9) Any other things I need to know or be aware of?
10) Any other models I should be looking at for the same price bracket? (I’d love a 355 but seem to be more expensive and possibly more expensive to run)
11) Lastly, are there any recommended resources/buyer guides?
Many thanks for your time.
I’m looking to move into Ferrari ownership for the first time towards the end of the year/early next year – so the proper research period begins.
As prices tend to be quite varied and purely looking at the classifieds doesn’t really show true condition, I have a few questions for any owners or previous owners… Ideally from those that have owned them used, not new…
1) What ballpark figure should I be paying for a manual example?
I’d like Rosso Corsa and Crema (boring, I know but it is my first Ferrari!) which I assume adds a premium. I am not bothered about mileage if the condition is right.
2) Is the manual really worth the premium over the F1? The car would be used specifically for drives – not necessarily for touring in.
3) What are the key things to look for when buying one of these? Any specific things to check that are easy to see without a full inspection?
4) What is the general reliability like? Any essential preventative maintenance mods that should be done or should have always been done?
5) What are the general servicing costs and is main dealer essential or are there some specific specialists I should use instead?
6) The plan is to have a £10k slush fund from day 1, in case bills are thrown at me, with the idea to add £500 to it each month thereafter. Is this sufficient? (Obviously, it depends if I buy a lemon or not, but generally speaking?)
7) I’d like one with the Challenge Grille but if a good example didn’t have this, can I retrofit it easily?
8) I am happy for Coupe or Spyder, but if I had a Spyder, is the roof reliable/robust or should it be avoided?
9) Any other things I need to know or be aware of?
10) Any other models I should be looking at for the same price bracket? (I’d love a 355 but seem to be more expensive and possibly more expensive to run)
11) Lastly, are there any recommended resources/buyer guides?
Many thanks for your time.
johnnyreggae and V8FGO many thanks for pointing me in the right direction to good buyers guides and forums.
Gibbo205 many thanks for your lengthy reply (and good luck, in your search, too)...
I was expecting to be paying nearer the £70k mark for one but you've put my mind at rest that those in the £50-70k bracket are good cars. I'd written them off in my mind assuming they'd all be dogs - although appreciate some still will be.
For the sake of £5k, I'd rather move into a manual but seeing the current trend of there being £10-15k premiums over the F1 is rather off-putting. Will it be the better drive? Sure. Will it be £15k better? I'm not so sure.
I'm happy to buy an example with 30-50k miles on it, anything more than that becomes a bit more worrying, and I don't like the idea of a high number of owners although may not be able to avoid that. I'm not buying the car as an investment - happy to take a financial hit on it during ownership and want I car that isn't so nice I'm afraid to use it.
I've seen the Azzuro California Blue manual example you mentioned for 28k on the clock up for £60k - it seems cheap compared to other listings. I'd strongly consider an example in this colour, it looks ace. Although I did think the seats looked especially worn for the low mileage and was worried the car may have been clocked. It also only has 13 stamps which I didn't like.
Though an F1, I am liking the look of this Rosso Corsa F1:
https://bicestersportscars.co.uk/car-sales/2005-fe...
The advert is short but does imply quite a good history file with recent clutch, belts, and major service which is all very appealing.
I could get a £60k car now. I'd need to save for another 9 or so months to get a £70k car - but who knows where values will be by then.
While they have been cheaper in the past, I still reckon a 360 is a bit of a bargain at the moment in comparison to the marque's other models.
davek_964 said:
I owned my 360 coupe for about 7 years I think - 2013 to 2020. I think I put about 20k miles on it in that time.
Really appreciate your response, thank you - I will, of course, go in with my eyes wide open but it's nice to know that in principle, I'll have enough money set aside for the sort of issues that may crop up. Gibbo205 many thanks for your lengthy reply (and good luck, in your search, too)...
I was expecting to be paying nearer the £70k mark for one but you've put my mind at rest that those in the £50-70k bracket are good cars. I'd written them off in my mind assuming they'd all be dogs - although appreciate some still will be.
For the sake of £5k, I'd rather move into a manual but seeing the current trend of there being £10-15k premiums over the F1 is rather off-putting. Will it be the better drive? Sure. Will it be £15k better? I'm not so sure.
I'm happy to buy an example with 30-50k miles on it, anything more than that becomes a bit more worrying, and I don't like the idea of a high number of owners although may not be able to avoid that. I'm not buying the car as an investment - happy to take a financial hit on it during ownership and want I car that isn't so nice I'm afraid to use it.
I've seen the Azzuro California Blue manual example you mentioned for 28k on the clock up for £60k - it seems cheap compared to other listings. I'd strongly consider an example in this colour, it looks ace. Although I did think the seats looked especially worn for the low mileage and was worried the car may have been clocked. It also only has 13 stamps which I didn't like.
Though an F1, I am liking the look of this Rosso Corsa F1:
https://bicestersportscars.co.uk/car-sales/2005-fe...
The advert is short but does imply quite a good history file with recent clutch, belts, and major service which is all very appealing.
I could get a £60k car now. I'd need to save for another 9 or so months to get a £70k car - but who knows where values will be by then.
While they have been cheaper in the past, I still reckon a 360 is a bit of a bargain at the moment in comparison to the marque's other models.
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