Buying a 550

[nudgerwilliams]

I'm negotiating on this car at the moment:

https://www.slades-garage.co.uk/vehicle/ferrari-55...

I'm doing all the usual checks. Just wanted to ask if anyone knows of any reason why I shouldn't buy it. Thinking of that 360 on CC last week which the PH hive mind saved someone getting a nasty surprise on!

Thanks

David

[nudgerwilliams]

jtremlett said:

The original poster says he's negotiating on the car not that he's looking to pay the full asking price and has also posted some recent auction results on the other 550 thread, so probably has some idea what he's doing!

I believe it is 2 owners and I think the original owner kept it until 2014, having bought it new from Maranello's. I'm not entirely sure but I think Slades may have sold it then.

I don't have very much history on it but I know of no reason not to purchase it. I think you will find service history with the first owner was by Maranello's and recently with Bob Houghton.

Slades have had it listed for sale since the end of August, always at the same price.

Thanks - your info tallies with what I have found out about the car also

[nudgerwilliams]

john_1983 said:

Same spec as mine, although I've got black carpets. Perfect spec for a 550 in my biased eyes, subtle exterior with bordeaux - black interiors just don't suit these IMO.

Looks a great example, all the tell-tale interior signs of wear look great for the mileage (seat bolster, passenger airbag leather shrinkage, stickiness etc) - and I say that as someone who doesn't care about mileage as mine has more than double that.

I've seen plenty with (allegedly) lower mileage that show their age far more. Agreed with the above it's too expensive, but it looks to be about the best you could buy and still use; i.e. not ridiculously low mileage.

As you have one I thought you'd be telling me price looks like a bargain :-)

[nudgerwilliams]

21ATS said:

If I could go back to 1998 and spec one of these new this would be it.

https://www.nickcartwright.com/car_sales/550-maran...

What an asking price.

The reality is though, if I owned this car I'd probably be asking that kind of money too when I came to sell it. FInd me another, that spec, that condition.

I'm looking at it every day and doing the man maths on what the cars I currently own have depreciated over the last 5 years compared to this.

The man maths is starting to make sense.

Agree that is a beautiful looking thing

[nudgerwilliams]

Thanks for all the comments. A few loose ends to tie up, but basically a deal done. Once I've got it will look forward to sharing impressions and experiences - my first Ferrari and a bucket list thing for me. Hopefully COVID situation next year will enable me to do the things I have in mind for it.

David

[nudgerwilliams]

21ATS said:

nudgerwilliams said:

Thanks for all the comments. A few loose ends to tie up, but basically a deal done. Once I've got it will look forward to sharing impressions and experiences - my first Ferrari and a bucket list thing for me. Hopefully COVID situation next year will enable me to do the things I have in mind for it.

David

Nice. Were Slades receptive to a negotiation or was it more a take it or leave it approach?

The former - but you'll understand me not wanting to share details - not least because not all finalised yet.

[nudgerwilliams]

john_1983 said:

Well done OP, looks a fabulous car and as I said, a lovely balance between looking almost brand new but not too little miles to either worry about value, or things breaking through lack of use.

I've no interest in what you paid, that's your business only, but I would be interested to know how much a dealer like Slades would move to get a deal done - I'm always drawn to their stock as they only seem to deal in nice examples.

I'll drop you a PM

[nudgerwilliams]

21ATS said:

nudgerwilliams said:

I'll drop you a PM

I'm also very interested if you don't mind sending a PM.

Your account doesn't permit PMs

[nudgerwilliams]

Quick update on this from me. Have now driven the car and have decided not to buy it. It's not an issue with that car (it's better than the other one I tried) or Slade's, just that a 550 is too much GT and not enough sports car for my taste.

I've previously tried a 360 and didn't connect with that either. Given my nice car "squeezes" have been fairly hard core Porsches (currently a Cayman GT4 and prior to that a 964RS), I suspect the Ferrari for me is one I can't afford - a 360 Scud or 430 Strad.

So I'm going to leave the Ferrari itch unscratched for now and see how badly it comes back. Will now check out my Lotus itch, which at least will be cheaper to satisfy!

Thanks for advice and guidance.

David

[nudgerwilliams]

idealstandard said:

Grab a V12V, might satisfy your long legged sports craving

Funny you should say that; I am finding myself browsing the Aston dealers.

[nudgerwilliams]

MDL111 said:

I think a 550 with a fresh sports suspension, some Cup 2, bucket seats and a lighter exhaust would feel very different to a standard (and possibly still on original suspension) car.

I always wanted to build one and put it on a weight loss program (have an excel list somewhere I think) similar to the 550LM project from c 15 years ago (I am not sure if they completed more than 1 car, which I think resides in the Netherlands). I think that would be awesome.

Edit: and a fresh geo with some more aggressive settings

That would be a lovely project to do. I could barely afford a stock 550 though; buying one, modding it and making it drive better but be worth less is definitely beyond my means :-)

[nudgerwilliams]

21ATS said:

The V12's really are GT cars, which is exactly what I like. I've reached an age where comfort now trumps lap times.

My neighbour owns a 458, a 996 GT3Rs and a V8 Vantage. The only car I ever see him drive is the 458 and these really aren't a million miles away from what you bid on the 550 at Slades.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10882800?c...

458 could be what I'm after, but the problem is I started off thinking I can scratch the Ferrari itch spending 60-70k on a nice, manual 360. When I tried one of those and found it didn't float my boat, I then talked myself into thinking I could afford 100k on a 550. If I now try and persuade myself to get a 458 then I'm looking at about twice where I started from, and for me right now that's just too much.

So I'll park the Ferrari thing for now, and see if the itch returns badly enough in the future to look at some other options.

[nudgerwilliams]

seawise said:

you can always borrow my verde zeltweg 575 (complete with st F1 box) if you and the misses want to do a roadtrip - these cars are for using. especially if it stops you from buying a ghastly Lotus....

Thanks mate - might take you up on that - off to try something ghastly tomorrow :-)

[nudgerwilliams]

MarkM3Evoplus said:

What Lotus? I have an Exige v6s. Driven lots of cars, Ferrari's, Astons, GTRs, but as a fun drivers car, the Lotus sh&Ys all over them!

Elise Sport 220. Collecting it on Saturday :-)

Really like the way it goes down the road. Gorgeous steering, and rides really well as it's so light. Fab gear shift (it's a 2019 car with the exposed linkage) which feels rather like the Ferrari manuals coincidentally. Very different experience from conventional sports cars (my GT4 included), so a nice addition to the garage. And something I can comfortably afford rather than the stretch a 550 was going to be.