| Author |
Message |
David Albright (Dalbright)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 6:08 pm: | |
Fantastic!!! I can't wait to get an education on importing cars. I was actually thinking about doing this a few years back....actually importing corvette's into Italy. I was still young then and didn't have any resources. This will certainly be interesting. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 5:10 pm: | |
I will be officially announcing Tom Schuesler as a new sponsor of FerrariChat.com here in a few days. Their website is...
http://www.ameristarcapitalwholesale.com/
He has many years experience locating cars and especially the very attractively priced European ones. Over the next several months we'll be educating users on the truth about the ins and outs of getting these cars from overseas. Check the website out and more information to follow soon. |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 5:07 pm: | |
I forgot to mention another valuable asset
Nick Scianna at [email protected] |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 4:49 pm: | |
In my chaotic scramble to get parts for my 360 and to find experienced Ferrari mechanics NOT attached to Ferrari dealerships two wonderful contacts were made which I pass along to all.
One is J Thomas Schuesler at [email protected].
The other Lyle Tanner at [email protected].
Both,knowledgeable,helpful and involved in the passion of Ferrari. |
www.ameristarcapitalwholesale.com (Ameristarcap)
| | Posted on Monday, July 09, 2001 - 7:40 pm: | |
This was taken from the "For Sale" section of the site, and addresses some concerns of owners of Euro Delivery Ferrari cars.
Dear David,
I honestly had no idea people around the country where having such a hard time with Euro delivery cars. I also had no idea that Dealers in other parts of the country have turned their backs on Ferrari owners who have chosen to spend their hard earned money as they see fit, and would have gladly purchased a US delivery car had any been available some time during the early part of the century.
Perhaps the reason I have, until now, had my head in the sand, so to speak, is that we are not seeing a negative Ferrari Dealer bias out here in Southern California. I mean I have had service and pre-purchase inspections done on Euro delivery Ferraris without a problem for my clients(the late model cars are once again nearly identical in most every way, particularly from an emmissions stand point which was never the case in the 1980's). I have been able to get photo copies of all recall notices on 355's from the Ferrari dealer. The recall repairs were minor and simple as the cars were later models, 1998 and 1999. But none the less, the information was available for the asking. Isn't there a law about that? That they have to make that information available? But to be honest, I never asked the dealer to handle the recall items because they were so minor, I had the recall items controlled by my own independent mechanic.
Further, I think it highly unfair and arrogant that they do not honor the warranty or recall on Euro delivery cars here in the U.S. these days. This isn't at all the situation that we all went through in the 1980's. Those B.S. stories about a Euro delivery car not being able to be analyzed at an American dealer because one computer speaks English and the other speaks Italian are absolutely preposterous!! I have had my customers Ferraris diagnosed after conversions on the special Ferrari diagnois equipment at the dealer, and everything worked according to plan, and we didn't need a translator either. I have the print out to prove it, should anyone care to have a faxed copy of it.
Now, would the Ferrari dealers desire to be helpful stop, had the cars been a 360? Would our local dealers be less helpful? If they are principled they should be just as helpful. But I haven't asked yet. Perhaps they wouldn't be so helpful, if these cars, that I speak of now, were all 355's, which are no longer in production. But if they were not helpful then it would really get to the crux of the issue. This is all about money! and pocket books!
I remember in the 1980's when dealers said that they would never sell, service, or supply parts for any of the BB's, or 400's, or Euro delivery 328's. Now-a-days, what do you sometimes find?
Right there on the Authorized by Ferrari of North American Dealer's show room floor, are these exact same cars that 15 years ago they swore to never touch! They are now for sale on the show room floor!! This is just about money and who gets it. The rest is just a smoke screen.
These 360's and 550's are built as close to a "World Car Standard" as any one could invision. For dealer and FNA to act this way is shameful!! Damn, if I were a manufacturer I would be proud to have such enthusiasm for my product, and welcome the additional business. So now, as they did in the 80's, dealers have turned there backs on additional parts and service business. Hell, they have no cars to sell, how are they going to stay in business! The US market only received 1024 cars last year, out of just over 4000 produced. Wow! Why won't they take the service and parts money?
When the dollar was weak in the early 90's and Europeans were coming to America to buy back European cars, as well as American Classics, and were bringing to Europe US delivery Ferraris, did the European Ferrari dealership go nuts like some of them are doing now? I think this whole politcal and financial mess could blow up in there faces.
As a matter of fact, a portion of the proceeds of every car we sell will go towards a war chest to fund a class action suit to force FNA to honor their commitment to Ferrari owners in the Americas, regarding warranty and recall matters.
Should anyone wish to join in and contribute to the trust fund that I have set up, it would be much appreciated.
I mean in the year 2001, there is no reason on a 360 or a 550 to have a voided warranty issue due to the fact that the car was originally delivered in some other country other than the USA. Should a warrantable brake problem on a Euro delivery car go unserviced? When the conversion of a Euro delivery car never touches the braking system during or after the conversion is complete? What about a failed valve cover gasket, it is never touched. To the best of my knowledge the only modification that is required to convert at 360 for EPA standards is the addition of a Ferrari Original Factory bolt on part, the airpump!
Why don't they honor the warranty as BMW does with its Z8; they provide a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty on the Euro delivery cars that find their way here to America. It is of particular concern of mine regarding recall items, if FNA is not honoring these recalls(many of them saftey related),I would say they are setting themselves up for one hell of a law suit some day! Now that memory serves me, one of the recall items on one of the Euro delivery 355 that I encountered(the same recall was made for the US Version too) was a possible puncture of the fuel cell due to the use of sheet metal screws that were too long in the passenger area of the car. Imagine the public relations and litigation nightmare Ferrari faces by refusing to correct this fuel cell punture problem, had one of these cars caught fire and someone been injured?
Sorry about rambling on so much, but there is a different and more truthful side to this story that needs to get out. But let me now and finally get to your point. Yes, we will do our best to help out on the Warranty and Recall wars, and supplying parts to clients has never been a problem. We are happy to assist everyone.
Service problems should disappear once the smoke screen blows away, and the truth about these cars finally comes to light. Until then, I am finding fine independent service centers for clients.
Sincerely,
J. Thomas Schuesler |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
| | Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2001 - 11:54 pm: | |
Thanks ameristarcap Ihave e mailed you directly. |
www.ameristarcapitalwholesale.com (Ameristarcap)
| | Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2001 - 12:47 pm: | |
Dear Doctor,
I would be happy to supply you with many Euro parts(and American Delivery car parts too, few parts vary on the cars) you might need for your 360, I have a direct connection to Italy for the parts and cars. Hell I should have connections, I have been doing this since 1978!
Provided they are not the nickle and dime stuff that you can find over here already, my company should be able to save you a tidy sum of money. Example: 355 Tubi exhaust $3200 delivered in LA. Our local dealer,when they can get it want $4300 for the same part.
Just let me know what your interested in. You might visit our website as an intro:www.ameristarcapitalwholesale.com
Sincerely,
Thomas
P.S. If anyone needs a new 360 Spider just let me know, I have three of them available at semi reasonable prices, all things considered. $259,000 Legal, licensed, key in hand(as the Italians like to say), out the door. |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
| | Posted on Friday, July 06, 2001 - 7:35 pm: | |
Thanks David.I wrote to one UK dealer who suggested I contact my local ferrari dealership!!!
Big help! This was after I explained my situation and how relatively impotent are local dealers with euro cars. Anyhow I am going to try 2 others that Jason (in UK) uses. |
David Albright (Dalbright)
| | Posted on Friday, July 06, 2001 - 2:40 pm: | |
Martin, here you'll be able to find a list of authorized dealers in the UK. Good luck
http://www.ferrari.co.uk/dealers/index.asp |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2001 - 4:49 pm: | |
Thanks David and Martin |
Martin (Miami348ts)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2001 - 9:03 am: | |
This is a guy I have ordered parts from:
Ferrari Weber
Bieberer Str. 213
63071 Offenbach (close to Frankfurt)
Phone: 01149-69-9854400
May need somebody that will be able to speak German.
Also check the international yellow pages online. Maybe you are better off with a british dealer for language problems. |
David Albright (Dalbright)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2001 - 7:30 am: | |
Hi Martin, I've posted this before, but here it is again. This is a link to all the Official Ferrari Dealerships throughout Italy. Not sure how good your Italian is or how well they speak English. Try to stick to major cities if you are looking for someone that speaks English. Good luck and let me know if you need some help translating.
http://194.244.11.210/web/asm/00ferrari/ferrari.html |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2001 - 6:35 pm: | |
I would appreciate anyone informing me (E mail address would be great) where in Europe I could buy the parts for the recalls that neither FNA or the German dealer i bought car from is willing to provide.Since the parts are so much cheaper in Europe thought this is best way to go. I have no interest in "shlepping" either myself or the car or any parts thereof to Germany(especially with a name of Weiner!) |
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