| Author | Message | ||
| Roy Kaller (Kaller)
New member Username: Kaller Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2003 |
Howdy Carlos, I was certainly sad to give up the 328, but the garage is full, and I've been searching for a vintage V12 (Daytona, 330GTC, etc.) for a couple of years as well. The 328GTS continues to represent an awsome value given its reliability, cost of ownership, and fun factor. | ||
| carlos (Carlos328)
New member Username: Carlos328 Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2003 |
Roy I have an 87 328 GTS. I love the 550 Maranello. I just could never sell my 328. Why didn't you keep both cars. | ||
| Roy Kaller (Kaller)
New member Username: Kaller Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2003 |
Just traded my 1989 328GTS for a 1999 550 Red/Black, red brake calipers, Daytona seats, leather package shelf, and carbon fiber trim package. This is the greatest car I have ever driven! I would like to thank all of the FerrarChat users that have posted information on TSB's and cost of ownership. If anybody is local to Phoenix, AZ, I'll see you at the Arizona Concorso held in Scottsdale on October 25th. We're supposed to have 50-60 cars in attendance. | ||
| Charles rich (Ccr2002)
New member Username: Ccr2002 Post Number: 24 Registered: 7-2002 |
I also was looking for a titanium/black 550 but then i saw a tit/sabbia (sand) 550 with blue dash and 250 quilted shelf and headliner and the look is amazing...i also have seen tit/sabbia with black headliner/shelf ina 575 that's awesome. Harris imports in slc has a beautiful blue/tan 550 2001 that's near new. give 'em a call. | ||
| mike550 (Mikeg)
Junior Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 143 Registered: 8-2003 |
Shark - red out of the question?    | ||
| Ze Shark (Ze_shark)
Junior Member Username: Ze_shark Post Number: 66 Registered: 7-2003 |
Same here, been looking for 6 months for a recent (2000-2002) titanium/black 550 with low mileage (12K mi max). The most difficult part is to find a car which is both in good condition (body, rims, leather and other interior parts) and with a clean servicing history, amazing to see how many owners don't bother doing yearly maintenance as the absolute minimum. Might have to settle for titanium/bordeaux in the end ... which I hope is near. I don't like the car in Argento N�rburgring, red out of question, and all other leather colors do not seem right to me with Titanium. Great car ... can't wait to find the one. | ||
| Dr. I. M. Ibrahim (Coachi)
Member Username: Coachi Post Number: 439 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have been searching for a 550 for quite some time. I may be signing on the dotted line in the next day or two..I will be glad to discuss this via email or phone with you. I know prices, where some cars are, condition, etc... I will try and post a thread after I hasve completed my pain in the neck "research". | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1680 Registered: 12-2001 |
I've had 2 550's and they are great cars. But, Doody makes a couple of points that are worth emphasizing: make sure the car you buy has been thoroughly fettled, and all recall and update items attended to (there are previous threads you can search here that recap the issues). The cost of having this done as a new buyer will far outweigh any premium you pay now, for the right car. I don't think there are any "steals" in ferrariland (certain f-50's excepted- sorry Bob), so the wide variation in price may be due to condition or to unrealistic expectations on the part of the seller. Ferrari owners and buyers generally don't like miles on the cars, so what may be a barely broken in vette at 20k miles is a ready for the scrap-heap hi mileage ferrari. For these reasons, buy from a reputable dealer who will give you back-up. And, have the car PPI'd by someone other than that dealer. Given the depressed prices for the Maranello (say 135k average, lower or higher depending on year and mileage), you might, if you plan on keeping it forever, do better to use home equity financing at the recent low rates, than a lease, even a "custom" lease of the type Putnam does.Figure out what the lease payments are, and then see if you can do something along the same lines with home finance. Compare the buyout at lease end and i'll bet you'll be in a better position with the home equity thing, after making the same monthly payments as the lease. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1927 Registered: 11-2001 |
ray - talk to putnam leasing and the other finance guys who advertise in the f-car rags. they do weirder things than your local bank that might help to get your payments lower with a balloon at the back end - but with equity instead of just rental. make sure you do a THOROUGH ppi on any car you're interested in - even if it is with an authorized dealer. it's money well spent. the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy on a ferrari ;-) doody. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1926 Registered: 11-2001 |
fwiw, i don't buy the benefit for ordering a new car thing. if you're an f-car owner any dealer take you damn seriously regardless of where you bought your f-car. i've bought two f-cars from two dealers and have not experienced any special treatment from either re: discussions of wait lists, etc. doody. | ||
| Will 575 (Willh)
Member Username: Willh Post Number: 287 Registered: 3-2003 |
My .02 about the 550, not worth much, what I really want to hear about is the racing - NE Division races? Still plan to race the Vette? Anyway, I personally prefer to buy from a dealer for several reasons - first, I believe that, if a major post purchase repair is needed, I might be able to persuade a dealer to share some of the pain. Second, though some may scoff, I trust the dealers more than I trust an unknown 3rd party (other than an enthusiast or car known to me). Finally, by purchasing from a dealer, I imagine that you have a better shot at ordering a car. This of course is all opinion, not really the hard experience you were seeking. Good luck, I'm sure you will find your answers here. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1924 Registered: 11-2001 |
I've decided on a 550 about a '99, as my next Ferrari smart move  I'll probably have to go the lease route to keep the payments managable well, less smart move. these cars are NOT inexpensive to maintain. if you're going to lease, you must get a car that's had every TSB gone through, every recall dealt with, and a wildly thorough major done. you should plan on it costing you $2K per year in maintenance over yoru three year lease. do NOT lease it up to the next major service - that'd be financially silly. Do modification such as exhaust "upgrades" affect the price, add or subtract? best case they're neutral. sometimes they're negatives. a tubi exhaust is generally considered a good thing by most buyers (i had mine removed), but doesn't per se command a premium. Will a dealer be more expensive than a private or non Ferrari dealer. Is the possible extra cost of a Ferrari dealer worth the difference? Jan. or Feb. pricing any better than waiting till springtime? seasonal timing depends on the part of the country you're in. you'll generally pay more at an authorized dealer. if you buy it and service it at that dealer, it can work out to be a better deal though, as they might "take care of you" a bit more and push with FNA on things as appropriate. but there are no guarantees. the best way to get a feel for pricing is to scour the net and make excel your friend. track for a few weeks to see what happens and you'll get a feel for it. personally, i find the resources that list asking prices not terribly useful, but some folks find them helpful. for gauging real pricing, focus on the FSBO listings - those tend to be more realistic. This is a life decision as this will probably be the last recreational car I will ever purchase then why are you leasing it? the most important thing is to be patient. decide what you want, what options, mileage, services done, etc. and just watch. remember, there are only about 1,000 550s in NA. if you want a '99, you're picking from 200 or so cars. make that 199, since mine isn't for sale ;-). if you don't have time to look, talk to martin http://www.4ferrari.com/ (board sponsor) and he can find you what you want! doody. | ||
| Ray Buchner (Ray98)
New member Username: Ray98 Post Number: 6 Registered: 9-2003 |
After much consternation I've decided on a 550 about a '99, as my next Ferrari purchase. I'll probably have to go the lease route to keep the payments managable. Looking for a red possibly silver base car with a little interior dress-up such as contrasting piping to add a bit of detail. Do modification such as exhaust "upgrades" affect the price, add or subtract? Pricing has been a problem as there seems to be no rhyme or reason to cost, a '99's pricing seems to vary from high 120's to mid 160's. Could someone suggest a figure that would be considered a "good" purchase price for a car with a condition as new and mileage below 10k. Will a dealer be more expensive than a private or non Ferrari dealer. Is the possible extra cost of a Ferrari dealer worth the difference? Jan. or Feb. pricing any better than waiting till springtime? Apologies for all the questions but I'd like to have some idea as to whats going on before getting into discusions with a seller. I've been driving and racing a Corvette for years, scca, and would finally like to have a car that is a Ferrari not one that is like a Ferrari. This is a life decision as this will probably be the last recreational car I will ever purchase. If you might want to give a F newbe a little guidance this old timer would certainly appreciate it. TIA Ray |