| Author | Message | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 243 Registered: 4-2003 |
Robert, good point. Long term owners are not working on these Micro-Thin Margins. I watch the market for entertainment but I am not interested in knowing what I can sell it for on any given day. I will rebuild, repaint, restore that car until they do not make parts for it anymore! | ||
| David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Junior Member Username: Racerdj Post Number: 188 Registered: 1-2003 |
Nice car Robert- I like the way the Shields set off your 355. Good color combo | ||
| Leonardo Abatangelo (Leo)
New member Username: Leo Post Number: 7 Registered: 2-2001 |
I would never go chrome. Its to labor intensive to keep clean. After a while the chrome starts to pit and you have to rechrome them. Unless you go with Hawk Dustless brake pads...still its a Pain. | ||
| Robert Callahan (Rcallahan)
Junior Member Username: Rcallahan Post Number: 202 Registered: 7-2002 |
mark, i bought my '99 355 manual in August for $125,000. It was in perfect condition with 15,000 miles. I thought it was a good deal. Could I sell it now for 125? I don't think so. But so what? I what to keep this car forever! Bob | ||
| David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Junior Member Username: Racerdj Post Number: 186 Registered: 1-2003 |
The wheels actually look better in person than they do in the picture. | ||
| David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Junior Member Username: Racerdj Post Number: 185 Registered: 1-2003 |
Purchased in the Chicago area, picture in the Indy area. Chrome wheels.  | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 241 Registered: 4-2003 |
His first clue should have been those chrome rims. Yuck. | ||
| David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Junior Member Username: Racerdj Post Number: 184 Registered: 1-2003 |
To give a year ago snapshop of an actual 355 Spider 6 speed deal, a friend bought a 6k car red/black for $125k (Chicago Area.  | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1370 Registered: 10-2002 |
IMHO it is MUCH less expensive to pay up for a car in excellent condition than to fix up one that sells for less. In addition the 3 month warrantee F dealers give on used cars enables one to make sure everything is in order. | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 240 Registered: 4-2003 |
That is my exact point. Everyone has a different citeria as to their decision making. Purchasing from an FNA Dealer is no panacea, but it is also not common place for FNA Dealers to purchase cars from an auction. Those cars are the ones that generally do not have the service records from day one. Is it a better more reliable car?? I do not know. I do know that there are a lot people that share Leo's view regarding previous owners, records, etc, etc., and paying "extra" for personal piece of mind. Just my .02 | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1085 Registered: 11-2001 |
hear hear, jeff_m. clearly there are a variety of folks on this board well-educated in the marketplace. while the numbers are the numbers, the question of value is obviously something that's clearly all over the map. let's never forget that the price of any vehicle is exactly what the market will bear - no more no less. and pinning "the market" down is, well, a mystery for the ages - otherwise an awful lot of folks wouldn't have jobs, would they ;-) mark - it's worth what you think it's worth. pay what you feel comfortable paying, and know that sometimes you do get exactly what you pay for. doody. | ||
| Leonardo Abatangelo (Leo)
New member Username: Leo Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2001 |
You might call me a bit eccentric but little things turn me off. If I am going to spend the going rate for an F355 I would rather pay a bit more to a fanatic who took meticulous care of it. Believe me they are out there. Presently I have 5 cars in my stable. Eventually I will find the right F355. I would settle for a Berlinetta if it was the right car.Then comes the question, should I leave it in Highland beach Fl or take it up here to NY. | ||
| Jeff (Jeff_m)
Junior Member Username: Jeff_m Post Number: 135 Registered: 9-2002 |
Its funny how everyone thinks the "other" F car model that they don't have can be had for nothing. In recent threads 348's are 39k, testarossas should be mid 40's and the exception of coarse is the 360 spider which people feel should sell over 230. I think its pretty safe to say that some peoples idea of a good value is completely different than others. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 4698 Registered: 5-2001 |
Leo, as for quality of work, hey there is no arguing here. If you do it do it right. I could not agree more. As for our roads....we have shabby roads. There is debrit on I95 every day hitting cars and hurting people. Construction debrit and sand from our famous sand pits out west do a beating on a car. The Stongard was mainly from the fact that the lower spoiler got cracked getting in and out of parking lots. As I said a common occurance. I would pay more attention to overall condition of a car than if the front bumper has been repainted. As I said they all have. As for service history, all that counts is if you can show what was done on the car from the last major service on. If they can not produce the papers, discount it by $ 4,000 for the service and actually have it done yourself. It is that simple. All the rest does not matter a bit. As for recalls you can call up a Ferrari dealer and find out if a recall was done on the car or not and they will tell you where and when and at what dealer. You may end up with a car that has a full history shows recent belt service from a Ferrari dealer and all that was done was the belts and the car will still jump the belt because the pullies have not been replaced or the upgrade for the oil pump has not been made, things like that. And yes, I am talking experience here because I have seen it from reputable F-dealers. | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 239 Registered: 4-2003 |
That is the funny thing about any market: It is what buyers recognize as value. Once a value is percieved (ie, service records, limited # of previous owners, not ran through the auction, etc), then the subjective question becomes: how many $s do you pay for that. As evidenced here there is a specific market segment that place value on the above mentioned items, and is therefore willing pay "extra". Right, wrong, or indifferent, that is actually a defined market segment. Talk to 3 different people and they will list 3 different reasons as to what is important to them (value) when buying a used car. The one at naples probably sold at 110K. (I tried for a month to buy that car for less than 110K and were at rock bottom.) | ||
| Leonardo Abatangelo (Leo)
New member Username: Leo Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2001 |
I am surprised to hear even with stoneguard. I see many cars up here in NYC with stoneguard and the bumpers look fine. I happen to have sotneguard on my m3. Florida cars should be clean with the roads you guys have. I cant see how bumpers are repainted so many times. With regards to repaints, I saw some poor examples of Repaints and Believe me I dont see many perfect repaints every day. If your going to repaint do it right. As for my experience, GTS's were hard to find. especially 1995 editions, so I gave up. I searched hundreds of South florida dealers and found nothing. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 4691 Registered: 5-2001 |
well if you know the car Leo you would know that the front bumper gets hosed with pebbles and therefore ALL 355 and 348 and 360 bumpers are being repainted all the time. I had to repaint mine 3 times on my 348 while driving 21,000 Miles. And yes, I had Stongard on it. The 348 has a particular problem with ground clearance and therefore you mess up your lower skirt all the time. That is no accident. You may of course just find the perfect car in the new car lot, like your M3. If you are looking for a nice 355 Spider you will have to deal with the fact that the front bumpers are ALL repainted if the car has 10 Miles on it. My 355 Spider had 4,200 Miles and needed the bumper done! | ||
| Leonardo Abatangelo (Leo)
New member Username: Leo Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2001 |
When the person said "never been in an accident" and you notice the bumper and door was resprayed. I saw hundreds like that even in some Dealers in South Florida area one was a FNA dealer. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 4688 Registered: 5-2001 |
You guys are too concerned with history. Nice to have it but not worth $10K more to pay just to have a few sheets of paper stating that an oil change was done in 1999. Rather save the $10K especially if you plan on keeping the car. What is a cleanest history anyway? | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 4686 Registered: 5-2001 |
I highly doubt that they sold the car for $ 115K. Mark, the answer to your question is: Low 100s is the number. 4K is just a sad example of somebody not driving his car. Happens every day though. | ||
| Leonardo Abatangelo (Leo)
New member Username: Leo Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2001 |
I have the same problem. Iwas searching for the "right F355 GTS red with tan about a year ago but could not find one with the cleanest history. I was dieing for an F355. Unfortunately I did not find the right car and bought a 02 imola red M3 cabrio with hard top. I have owned BMW's for a while and //M's are superb examples of a practical car with Ferrari like numbers. Although I own many different cars, the F355 would complete my collection. I am hoping because of the price drops the right one will surface. | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 238 Registered: 4-2003 |
Frank, that was exactly my point. I purchased from a FNA Dealer to obtain a clean, no stories, unmolested example knowing that I will keep the car forever. I mean literally forever. It may not be an F-50, but I love this car for the sound, the lines, its civil user friendly nature, and its go kart type handeling. I did not buy a car from a FNA Dealer to live my dream for 6 months and then try to resell for my purchase price as a private seller. By the way: Naples Motor sport in Florida just sold a 1998 black/tan Spider. It was listed a 118K then they dropped it to 115K and it sold. Naplesmotorsports Let us know when you get that Diablo. Post some pics of course. | ||
| Frank K Lipinski (Kaz)
Member Username: Kaz Post Number: 295 Registered: 11-2002 |
Well Said, P. Thomas - I bought a 97 last year for $115. One owner car sold and serviced by same dealer. Fresh 30K service, new manifolds, etc etc. Also got a one year factory warranty. During my search I saw many "smoking deals" and spent over $2K in PPI on cars that did not pan out. Drive her about every day and runs like a swiss watch. I think 105-110 is a good base for a pristine spider. I also think there is a growing following (cult)for the 355's. I could have bought a 360, but prefer the lines of the 355. It's civil and reliable enough to drive daily, has go-cart handling and is the last modern F Car that sounds like a Ferrari with stock exhaust. Drop the top down and she takes your breath away. IMHO the 355 is similar to the P-Turbos where there is a following for the 96TT - yes there are newer, more technologically advanced cars, but something about that year/model.. I see the 355 as a very desirable model and think many here would agree. Right now I'm looking for a Diablo and this 355 is a keeper that I will not let go. 105-110K if all books, records, pass PPI, fresh 30K and no stories... Sorry, did not mean to go OT - too much coffee!  | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 237 Registered: 4-2003 |
Henry, the question of making money, losing money, or breaking even is a long time debate on this site and on some people's minds everyday. Frankly, I personally do not care if the car is worth 50K 1 year later on resale beause I figure it as a cost of owning the car and the enjoyment it brings is worth every penny. The price break out of the 30K service, tires, Tubi, etc. was demonstrative of common retail costs and additions that one would have to make when comparing two homogenous products. Therefore, one could do a paired analysis. Due to the time interval, a 1999 355 even with 6K on the clock is due for an engine out 30K service. So if someone spends 110K on the car today, within the next calendar year they will have another 6K in to it. An oil line leaked in the first month and I still really do not mind the cost of the car or the maintaince. I shared my personal monetary figures as a baseline for someone else to peg of off, not represented as a "smoking deal" as to which I can turn and breakeven, or drive for free for a year. I went into this venture as a priceless experience and put this toy in the same catagory as my boat. It is going to cost a fair amount of money on the purchase, resale and maintaince. In most , and certainly this market segment, assets lose value. Anyone that buys a modern "common" F-Car that think it even stands a nominal chance of appreciating or holding its value is a bit off track. Where did you get the idea that I even intended on breaking even?? | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 693 Registered: 8-2001 |
Sorry Thomas......I disagree. The service ($6K value), new tires, and new clutch are all normal maintanence items, and should not add to the cost of the car........these should be replaced as needed. As far as the Tubi exhaust, it doesn't add any value to the car; it just sells the car faster. Your base is $110. Try to sell the car now, and you will loose money. | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 236 Registered: 4-2003 |
I just bought a 1998 red/tan spider 6 speed, from FOD, with the dealer doing the 30K service (6K value), 4 new tires ($700 value), Tubi exhaust ($3,500 value), new clutch ($1,100 value) for $110K. So my net or "base" was $98,700. F-1 transmissions generally get another 5-10K in price. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1681 Registered: 6-2001 |
From what I've seen 105 to 110, assuming that everything else is very good. I'd ask Bob Callahan, he just bought a 99, same color combo, and so the price should be comparable. Art | ||
| Mark S G Murphy (Msgm1)
New member Username: Msgm1 Post Number: 22 Registered: 2-2003 |
What would be a good price on a 1999 F355 F1 spider red/ tan with 4k miles, from and independant dealer? | ||
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