| Author |
Message |
Ricky Nardis (Rickyn_f355)
Junior Member
Username: Rickyn_f355
Post Number: 119
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 2:32 pm: | |
I took a look at the ones in the nineties at Dupunt and the one from Denver has a nasty custom color combo so that might explain he relative �cheapness��I�d be skeptical of those cars that are asking in the $90Ks�it seems the bulk of the asking prices are well above $100K for the 71 cars that come up for a 98+99 search�.i cant remember what the topics I posted were entitled but I basically gave the long-short of my experience earlier in this thread |
Daniel de Fasson (Danieldefasson)
New member
Username: Danieldefasson
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 1:59 pm: | |
Ricky, The pricing in the mid $90s includes F dealers. You vcan find them on www.dupontregistry.com and mind you, these are their asking prices!
Great information on the headers. This is exactly what I am looking for.
I have searched for your �355 buying experience� but am not able to find it. Can you be more specific on the search criteria?
Tino, It�s a tough sell today but (if the market ever recovers) this might be a great time to buy. Your friend will not be happy to know that I saw a Titanium 99 F1 asking $99k with low miles at a F dealer�s website listed for the past 6 months.
Kenny, Can you post the link to the Forza article that Greg referred to?
Does anyone know where I can find information on the Palm Beach January meet? I hope to be there.
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Ricky Nardis (Rickyn_f355)
Junior Member
Username: Rickyn_f355
Post Number: 118
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 12:21 pm: | |
Also, not much you can do with the cracked header problem so I wouldn�t assign it a heavy weight in looking for a car�.any car with more than 5,000 miles, regardless of the year, is susceptible to headers cracking�the headers crack from heat so even if they have been replaced once there is no assurance that they wont crack again...it's not like the soft valves where the earlier parts had a manufacturing defect�.the replacement headers are the same as the originals� |
Tino (Bboxer)
Junior Member
Username: Bboxer
Post Number: 191
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 12:18 pm: | |
Charles, a while back I posted on behalf of a friend who wanted to upgrade from a 355BF1 to a 360. His yellow/black 98 355F1 was immaculate with only 7K miles on it. I understand after advertizing it in major dailies and magazines, he could not get the $105K he was asking for. The real world of real car sales is real different ! |
Ricky Nardis (Rickyn_f355)
Junior Member
Username: Rickyn_f355
Post Number: 117
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 12:16 pm: | |
Daniel,
Those offering prices you are getting I assume are from private owners. They seem to be on the low side if you compare them to what is listed at www.carbuyer.com which includes private and dealer sales. If you can get a clean 98 to 99 355s in the low nineties from an authorized dealer I�d day go for it! At carbuyer.com 98 to 99 355s start at asking prices of $99K and go all the way to $145K. Authorized dealers sell cars with a 90-day warranty that covers everything from bumper to bumper. Even though my car only had 15,000 miles when I bought it the dealership had completed the major 5 year service�It will be easier to find a 6 speed in the earlier models�
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Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member
Username: Owens84qv
Post Number: 578
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 11:51 am: | |
Daniel, there was a Forza issue sometime back with a 355 Buyers Guide. Kenny had it posted on his website, not sure if it is still there. This was a great article that gave a lot of insight on what to look for and what questions to ask...
By the way, I'm also in the information collection stage as I hope to be in the 355 market in a year or so...I perform searches continually for other 355 buyers guides. I'm trying to build a 3-ring binder full of literature. |
stephen r chong (Ethans_dad)
Junior Member
Username: Ethans_dad
Post Number: 142
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 8:52 am: | |
Daniel:
Keep an eye out on the cracked header issue. I'm not fortunate to be a 355 owner yet, but I do recall reading quite a few interesting threads on this potential service issue. You might check the archives for this.
Best of luck on the 355! I'm currently looking for one too. |
Daniel de Fasson (Danieldefasson)
New member
Username: Danieldefasson
Post Number: 2
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 7:49 am: | |
Thanks for the enthusiastic replies!
Ricky, I am going to the 355 search as you suggested. However, what is really interesting is the 3-month warrantee. Can you be more specific? What was excluded? Are these authorized dealer warranties standard in the F market?
While I wish for a �trouble free� car, I realize that a Ferraris have an inherent �attitude� when it comes to performance, sound and maintenance. Because this will not be my daily vehicle (I currently drive an 5 speed SLK AMG), I am not as concerned with the predicted $5K every 5K miles as I am with �not starting� or �other joys� when I do want to use the car (weekends, etc) and the �forever at the shop� that I experienced with the Maser-miserable-mobile that I owned. This is the reason that I am requesting information from experienced owners. I am hoping that you can let me know what is the reality versus the myth (specifics would be greatly appreciated).
Charles - I have received a number of offers coming to my email [email protected] (and seen on the web) with asking prices ranging from the high $80s to the mid $90s for 98 and 99 F355 Berlinetas (10k to 20k miles- that have recently had the 15K service). Some of the cars (even at F dealers), have been listed for many months with prices periodically dropping. I guess that this makes it �soft market�. Unfortunately, many of them are either F1s (not interested) or the wrong color combination. I am going to keep searching as it may the right time to buy.
Mark, I appreciate the offer. The car sounds like it is a real winner. Although I would love to see (and drive it), I think that my first venture into Fcars should be more basic (which is the reason for the coupe).
Kenny � thanks for turning me onto this site.
But I really need more input from 355 owners. I now know about cam belts, valves, catalytic converter and �Italian� (not the Bosch) computer module issues. It is easier to take the plunge (and keep from drowning), knowing the depth and temperature of the water�.
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Ricky Nardis (Rickyn_f355)
Junior Member
Username: Rickyn_f355
Post Number: 116
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 7:36 pm: | |
Daniel,
Do a search for 355 and you will see posts about my buying experience. Also, I hate to say this but ignore 80% of the posts on this board with respect to "fair market value". Oddly enough, the masses on the board think fair market value is the lowest price that a car sells for on ebay, which is ridiculous if you ask me. In September I bought a 95 F355 with 15,000 miles and I paid $91,000 from a local authorized dealer and got three months of warranty that i ended up using extensively. It sounds like you want to get in this car and drive it like a honda (trouble free)...i don't think this is the right car if that's what you want it for. I'm sure you can put alot of miles on it, but it will cost you in terms of general maint ($5,000+ every 5 yrs) plus other stuff that goes. I hear the 360s are much cheaper to maintain...I wanted a 95 because of the dual air intake and i was aware of the soft valve problem so i made sure that the car i bought had the valves replaced. I'd say take your time, look at www.carbuyer.com and see where cars are trading regionally. |
Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
Member
Username: Kennyh
Post Number: 472
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 4:02 pm: | |
Daniel, its good to see you made it!
By the way, it seems he is looking for Rossa Corsa/Tan... |
ELI (Titanium360)
Junior Member
Username: Titanium360
Post Number: 234
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 9:51 am: | |
Daniel:
I had a 97 F355 coupe with 17K miles which was sold for $95 April 2002. the car was a concours winner with Tubi and 10K stereo system with all services uptodate and performed by a ferrari dealer. the market has soften alot since then so the above number should give you an indication. good luck. |
Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Junior Member
Username: Airbarton
Post Number: 66
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 9:48 am: | |
Daniel, if Mark's car has been maintained by the guys @ Ferrari of Atlanta it is most likely in excellent condition, those guys are top notch. Mark, nice ride, if I had the cash I'd buy it! |
Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Junior Member
Username: Airbarton
Post Number: 65
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 9:40 am: | |
Daniel, I don't have a 355 but I know a good one will set you back about $90K. I look @ them @ my local dealer from time to time. They are selling the 6 speeds for around $110k and the F1's for about $135k so my guess is a private seller should be around $90k. I saw one @ a local car show for sale by the owner about 2 months ago with 20k miles on it for $100k. I have a 348 and from what I have been reading here the design of the 355 solved most of the problems that plagued the 348 like the shifter, electrical, etc. Good luck with the search! |
Mark Moon M.D. (Enzomoon)
New member
Username: Enzomoon
Post Number: 22
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 9:35 am: | |
Daniel:
I know you indicated you were interested in a 98 or 99. However, if you are interested I have a 1996 red/tan coupe with 14,700 miles, absolutely mint in every respect. I have done alot of very expensive modifications to the car including challenge grill, Tubi exhaust, replaced cats with test pipes, Autothority 355 chip which adds 30 hp and additional low end torque. The sound of the car versus original is night and day and the performance is on par with a 360. I suspect it is making nearly 420hp at this point. I also have K&N filters from Europe. The major service with belts was done at Ferrari of Atlanta 9/01 at 10,000 miles. I also have all of the original equipment including cats and original exhaust. The car is pristine in every way with only Zymol Ital and Concourse wax on the exterior and Imperial Leather care on the interior. I am a long time Tifosi and take great care with my cars. I selling it for $95,000 and the price is firm if you are interested. Ferrari of Atlanta has pertinent service history. The car is in Jacksonville where I live. My email address is mmoon @wayxcable.com.
Mark Moon |
Daniel de Fasson (Danieldefasson)
New member
Username: Danieldefasson
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 09, 2002 - 9:38 pm: | |
I am in Miami and in the market for my first Ferrari. My research has lead me to search out a 98 or 99 F355 coupe (under 10K miles). Having had a 'citrus' nightmare with a Maserati Biturbo a few years back, I am trying to avoid the smell of fresh lemons!!
Any advice on this model - good or bad?? Anyone know of any 'great 355s' to be bought? I understand the market is soft. What should I be looking to pay for a 'trouble' free vehicle? What does �trouble free� mean in a 355? Appreciate all input.
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