| Author | Message | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 139 Registered: 4-2001 |
A lot of people do tamper with the odometer but also remember that an equal number have several cars and do not drive their EXOTICS very regularly. Hence the low mileage Ferraris and in many cases multiple previous owners. I wanted to drive my car as often as possible but find that I am averaging a maximum of 3000 kms. per year even though I try to drive the car at least 3 times a week. | ||
| Owen Rothwell (Rothchops)
New member Username: Rothchops Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2002 |
In response to Mr Gaults message you do not need to travel around in someones car with them to get a good idea of whether or not a cars mileage is genuine. When you know a car as well as we know most of customers cars the question never arises as I am sure most of the people who post to this site will understand. A huge number of our customers buy their Ferraris with every intention of using them regularly but due to the very nature of being able to afford one in most cases simply do not have the time. Average mileage on a 355 is 3-5k per year so although the car Mr Blankson has taken an interest in is low mileage it is by no means unheard of. We quite regularly get offered sub 5,000 mile 328s and having viewed these cars myself there is no question that these are genuine, you can just tell when they have barely been driven. If Mr Gault really believes that 75% of Ferraris are clocked then that means that we are currently carrying 40 odd cars where we are knowingly misadvertising them. Do remember that we categorically guarantee mileage under our excellent Formula Ferrari warranty scheme and I would hope that the vast majority of readers of this site will know that we are a long standing and highly reputable dealership. Jim E, thanks for your words of wisdom! The car that Mr Blankson likes the look of has been owned from new by a very good customer of ours who we have known for some long time and it is truly a fine example of a well loved Ferrari. Does everyone really think that this chap will have clocked his car for the sake of a few quid? | ||
| Robert Jude Klein (Rjklein4470)
Junior Member Username: Rjklein4470 Post Number: 91 Registered: 3-2002 |
Ferrari is not alone in this issue, People have dissconected 911 odometers for years. In fact there is a web site that will show you how to remote a switch so you can turn and turn off the odometer. Up untill the 996 you could pull the odometer out of the dash. I know this becasue I had silver faces installed in a 993 TT I had. I asked the guy who was doing the work what prevented people from unhooking it. I was expecting him to say something like the computer will continue to count miles even if the odometer is unhooked. He told me that most people unhook them, and that is why so many 911 drivers get so many tickets. | ||
| William Blankson (Wwwwbc2cabcom)
New member Username: Wwwwbc2cabcom Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2002 |
Owen Rothwell - I believe we are indeed talking about the the same Yellow F355 Spider F1 Maranello Sales Ltd have for sale. I have been eying this particular car for a while now, 2 months or so and it is exactly what I want...1 previous owner, low mileage, supplied & services by MSL. Price is as expected. This particular car really fits the bill hence my research into F355 to learn more from driver owners. Your statement goes a long way to counter against the myths posted on this board and that is re-assuring indeed. I might take you up on your offer. The stigma statement does still unnerve me though! I will be in touch. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 442 Registered: 7-2001 |
This whole thread drives me nuts. Everyone here always says don't buy a car without service records. I've never seen a service record that didn't show mileage. It seems to me that those records should be a pretty good indicator of the mileage of the car just by what is being serviced. If the car your buying went through 2 water pumps in 800 miles, that might indicate an odometer problem. But a Ferrari is seldom a daily driver (unless you're Martin) so low mileage should be expected. If you're buying from a dealer that has serviced the car from day one, what the hell are you worried about? If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Go buy a p-car. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 418 Registered: 10-2001 |
Seems to me this whole issue is a commercial for buying a car with a service history. If you have a stack of services with the mileage only a couple hundred more over a period of years you need to be suspicious. How many clutches and new tires did the car get with only 500 additional miles?? So cars with few/no records and low miles instantly would wave a red flag with me. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2095 Registered: 5-2001 |
I don't understand why you all trash this guy for his way of selling this car. The car is pure SEX and seperates the boys from men. What is wrong with that? He is right that most odometers get disconnected. Now where was that magnetic thing in the 348 Chris?  This debate is the whole reason why I do not think that low mileage cars should be getting so much attention. A 308 20 years old with only 15K Miles, year right! There is maybe 30 in the world. I know Magoo you have one! If people would spend more time looking at the quality of the interior and the upkeep of a car this would all make less of an issue. My wife came up with a very simple thing. If the car interior is abused (smoke holes, etc)the car is abused mechanically as well. If the interior is kept up the car was well cared for. | ||
| HEATH VAUGHN (Heath)
Junior Member Username: Heath Post Number: 142 Registered: 2-2001 |
I to average 5000 miles per year on my Ferrari. I also am a used car Dealer and can asure you that 99% of dealers do not want to go to jail for something so stupid as messing with the speedo. Back in 1980 an Old gentelman I always called Grandfather Car told me "Their is an ass for every seat" Why Cheat someone will always come by sooner or later and buy. | ||
| Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Intermediate Member Username: Irfgt Post Number: 1406 Registered: 2-2001 |
In all respect to Mr. Rothwells position, I am sure he is an honest used car salesman and I am sure he rides along with all owners of cars that he sells to verify the correct mileage. Don't all salespersons do that? I do believe that the 50% figure is probably not very representative of the number of people who tamper with their speedometers though. It is probably in the 75% area. Again I ask, Why would anyone in their right mind buy a car that costs so much and not drive it and show it off and then want to get rid of it? I put 5000 miles on my car per YEAR without even trying. | ||
| Owen Rothwell (Rothchops)
New member Username: Rothchops Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2002 |
I work for Maranello Sales and I find your comments surprising. Many Ferraris do very few miles in their lifetime although the average is on the increase with the 360. A 99 car with only 5,000 miles is not uncommon (see www.maranellosales.com/sales/ferrari.asp) and all of our cars are fully warranted and the mileage guaranteed. As most of our used cars have been supplied and serviced by us from new we also have a good idea of the history of any given car such as tyre and clutch replacement and other mileage related items. To say that 'half of 355 owners are criminals' seems a wholly unfair statement to make. Also, when disconnecting a speedo on a 355 the ABS light will come on (and in the case of the F1 the F1 warning light will come on too)as the ECU needs to know the speed of the car. Clocked Ferraris in our experience are extremely rare and very easy to spot and I resent the implication that we, as one of the oldest and largest dealers in the world, would be party to such underhand (and illegal) practices. I would like to extend an invitation to Mr Blankson to come down here and view our cars. A Porsche is no comparison! We would be more than happy to reassure him of our mileage claims and take his Porsche in part exchange ;-) | ||
| William Blankson (Wwwwbc2cabcom)
New member Username: Wwwwbc2cabcom Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2002 |
interesting about Italian cars being easy to disconnect the spedometer. As a Porsche C2 Cab owner, I was considering buying either F355 or F360 Spider. I am leaning towards the F355 as, IMO, it is more a Ferrari than the F360 - maybe time may tell. Stories about speedos being tampered with scares me. I have found a '99 F355 Spider from main UK Ferrari dealer, Maranello Sales Ltd, and it has 5k on the clock. It is plausble that the previous owner could have disconnected the speedo without the dealer being aware - how awful and unethical! I think I would just upgrade to another Porsche. Pity really - I liked the F355 but not the stigma 'all Italian cars are easy to disconnect the speedos!' Thx to all anyway...! | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Junior Member Username: Modman Post Number: 214 Registered: 11-2001 |
On the 99 Diablo it is electronically ran with no cable and uses a digital screen. And the computer keeps records of hours used. I'm definately staying away from obvious low mile cars if possible and try to buy new in the future. | ||
| Cmparrf40 (Cmparrf40)
Member Username: Cmparrf40 Post Number: 256 Registered: 3-2002 |
348's are so easy, open the hatch, look for the magnetic pickup at the back of engine, pull the plug, less than 5 seconds and you will not get dirty or leave any evidence. Low milage 348? maybe, maybe not! Saw a mechanic at a Ferrari shop do this for a customer! | ||
| nick m........ (Nickm)
Junior Member Username: Nickm Post Number: 77 Registered: 8-2001 |
I Have also heard the same thing with Diablo owners. I have a friend that works with them and he says, try to "wiggle" the odometer gauge and you will find that they are often loose and just happen to have super low milage. hmmmmm. (he also talks to the owners) | ||
| Robert Jude Klein (Rjklein4470)
Junior Member Username: Rjklein4470 Post Number: 89 Registered: 3-2002 |
Some where on this list I heard that the cpu on the 360 makes the car not run if disconnected. Is this ture, my car had very low miles when I bought it. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 938 Registered: 6-2001 |
He says pure sex because you are probably getting screwed up the ass by buying this car or something. | ||
| Andrew (Mrrou)
Member Username: Mrrou Post Number: 316 Registered: 3-2002 |
have there been cases of fcars in authorized dealerships with the miles being tampered with? | ||
| Andrew (Mrrou)
Member Username: Mrrou Post Number: 315 Registered: 3-2002 |
brittney spears isnt a virgin..at least she wasnt after i was through with her *grins* | ||
| NGSVDO (Azspider)
Junior Member Username: Azspider Post Number: 55 Registered: 6-2001 |
You can always get screwed on these deals but if the car has at least been serviced regularly by a Ferarri dealer that knows the car, there is a better chance that wont happen. But it won't prevent it. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Junior Member Username: Doody Post Number: 193 Registered: 11-2001 |
"PURE SEX!" y'know, i have one of these cars. i drive it a lot. i really enjoy it. i've had sex too - yeah, even geeks like me get breaks - once or twice ;-) it's a really nice car, but if i had to choose between going for a drive and having sex, well, it's just a car. very amusing - i hadn't seen that one, tim. doody! | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Junior Member Username: Doody Post Number: 192 Registered: 11-2001 |
frank - if such a seller marks the "not actual mileage" box on the title transfer they can do whatever they like, but otherwise that is a crime in most states, isn't it? thank g-d for carfax - it ain't perfect, but at least it's some sort of history. all the more reason to make sure you've got a full service history on a car. doody. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 933 Registered: 6-2001 |
I remember seeing this car listed a while ago, maybe 6 months. I like this one "THE REAL DEAL SEPARATES MEN FROM BOYS!" And this one too "SOME CAN TALK THE TALK BUT THIS CAR SURE CAN HELP YOU WALK THE TALK" I think he messed that one up. confusing "the inside is as nice as the outside. PURE SEX!" | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Member Username: Benjet Post Number: 614 Registered: 1-2001 |
She's on Virgin Records, ain't she? LOL I really have no idea just couldn't resist that one. -Ben | ||
| Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Intermediate Member Username: Irfgt Post Number: 1397 Registered: 2-2001 |
Do you mean you guys have actually been believing that people would actually spend the money for a Ferrari, that is supposed to be the greatest driving car in the world and not drive it? You probably believe Brittany Spears is still a Virgin too. | ||
| Mitchell L. Davidson (Jussumfastgi)
Junior Member Username: Jussumfastgi Post Number: 82 Registered: 4-2002 |
So this moron was telling the truth? lol! | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 902 Registered: 9-2001 |
I too have known of people driving their Ferraris for years with the speedometer disconnected. I saw one guy at a FCA event that had an index card taped to his dash with the 5th gear RPMs for 35mph, 45mph, 55mph and 65mph so he could look at his tach and know how fast he was going. Someone bought that car which showed 11,000 miles for years. Of course he hooked the speedometer back up before he sold it. Italian cars are one of the easiest to disconnect the speedo on | ||
| Marcus Mayeux (Mmayeux73)
Junior Member Username: Mmayeux73 Post Number: 189 Registered: 4-2002 |
How do you go about making sure what the true miles are? Get a mechanic to run tests or what? | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1592 Registered: 12-2000 |
exactly why I don't get too caught up in "low mile" cars, not only that they may not be accurate, but also mechanical risks associated with some low mileage cars. Either way, having "low miles" isn't something to be too concerned with. | ||
| David Albright (Dalbright)
Member Username: Dalbright Post Number: 329 Registered: 2-2001 |
When I bought my car, the head mechanic was telling me that a lot of owners do it and that it's super easy! | ||
| billy zissis (89tr)
Junior Member Username: 89tr Post Number: 182 Registered: 4-2001 |
I have actually met a few owners who do indeed disconnect their odometers. They even showed me. Me, personally, am going to keep my cars and would love to see how many miles I can put on them. There's an 87 tr with exactly 32,137 miles for the last four years and two people with 355 that have over 20,000 miles on a car showing 3,400 miles. As well as 308 with their odometers not working for the last 5 yeARS. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Junior Member Username: Doody Post Number: 191 Registered: 11-2001 |
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1829467171&r=0&t=0 this guy is selling a 1995 355 Berlinetta with 44,000 miles on it for $83K. he is convinced that the 355s you see with 5,000 miles and the like are in fact cars that have had their odometers tampered with. in fact, he's certain that half of all 355 owners tamper with their odometer! "my money is on more than half the guys that own these cars drive them around with the odometer shut off BOTTOM LINE!" oh dear. doody. |