| Author |
Message |
cbruce
| | Posted on Monday, December 11, 2000 - 9:18 pm: | |
John
Be sure the TR had its 7500 mile check up. Its an engine puling, $3500+ maintanence stop, another one at 15,000 miles. The cars are great but some of the check ups are extensive and expensive. Ive been a porsche owner for over 15 years, ferraris for about 3. BIG difference in the cost of maintanence.
Thanks to the nasdaq, my current ferrari is the best investmentment i made this year. Good Luck
cbruce |
john
| | Posted on Monday, December 11, 2000 - 4:04 pm: | |
I'm looking at a 91 TR tommorrow in NY. It's got 10k miles and asking is $74k. It's a pretty good price but like everyone, I'm scared of the repair bills. I've been a Porsche owner for the past 6 years. Any advice will be appreciated... |
cbruce
| | Posted on Thursday, December 07, 2000 - 8:32 pm: | |
Caribe
Glad to see you checked out Symbolic. Im suprised they didnt push a Lotus on you, they like their Lotus.
75,000 for a high mile spyder is a little high, but not terrible. Check out FML (Ferrari Market Letter) the most classifieds on Ferraris anywhere.
cbruce |
Caribe
| | Posted on Thursday, December 07, 2000 - 12:38 am: | |
Symbolic Motors is selling a 1994 348 spyder with 40000 mi. which otherwise appears to be in excellent conditions. They are asking $75000.00 for it. Is this the right asking for a car of such high mileage? |
CraigFL
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 06, 2000 - 6:57 am: | |
Actually Ferrari is required to issue recalls in the US-- most are safety related in some way. There are usually a lot of "unofficial" recalls/repairs that are non safety related items that dealers repair with or without informing their customers. Something like an undersized alternator probably wouldn't fall under the "safety" catagory.
Below is an example of a 348 recall and two of the many websites you can check out for recalls.
*************************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 80-98
OCTOBER 1998 Contact: Tim Hurd
Tel. No. (202) 366-9550
Ferrari North America, Inc.
Models: Ferrari 348 Years: 1994-1995
Number Involved: 556
Dates of Manufacture: October 1992 - June 1994
Defect: The automatic seat belt slider can become jammed when the slider tape separates from the take-up reel, illuminating the seat belt warning light. Should such a condition occur, the belt must be positioned and fastened manually by connecting the belt to the fixed anchor point. The occupant may not realize that the seat belt can be operated manually, and may not use the restraint system, increasing the risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the complete passive restraint seat belt system. Owner notification began during November 1998. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ferrari at 1-201-816-2600.
[NHTSA Recall No. 98V250/Ferrari Recall No. 164
NHTSA said manufacturers are required to mail a recall notice to all purchasers, owners and dealers when a safety defect or noncompliance with Federal safety standards is found. The agency urges owners to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting their dealers to schedule the repair work. Not all vehicles of a particular make and model may be subject to the recall.
**************************************************
www.safetyalerts.com
www.theautochannel.com |
Chrispy in Chicago
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2000 - 9:50 pm: | |
Ferrari doesn't issue 'recalls' - too 'bourgeois'.
They are called 'updates'- and the mfg. never pays for them.
Get the Nippon alternator - it was recommended
as the best fix to the tiny Bosch ones used.
( or so I've heard )
Chrispy in Chicago |
Caribe
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2000 - 12:25 am: | |
This problem with the Alternator been undersized for the car requirements(348), doesn't it sound that it warranted a recall?, and was there ever a recall from Ferrari to fix this problem?
Along those lines, what is the best way to find out if there were important recalls for the 348?
Caribe |
cbruce
| | Posted on Monday, December 04, 2000 - 10:39 pm: | |
Caribe
There is a dealership in Beverly Hills as well as San Diego called Symbollic Motors. I have had good experience with these guys, to date. They have a collection of Ferraris that is mouth watering. Orange county also has a Ferrari dealership that I heard good thins about.
The 348 alternator problem is very common and will cause a multitude of problems if not replaced. Very simply, it is undersized. Replacement is expensive because its the entire wireing harness and rebuilds are short lived.
Its a factory replacement, any dealer will know which one it is. Good luck
cbruce |
Caribe
| | Posted on Monday, December 04, 2000 - 9:47 pm: | |
Gentlemen, thanks so much for the information. I live in the Los Angeles area. Does anybody know a good reputable dealer in this area that I can use to get prospective cars inspected?
CBruce, I also read about the alternator issue on some 348s from the expensivecar.com web site. Do you know which alternator should be installed to correct the problem?, and how common is this problem in the 348?
I also read some issues regarding problems with ECUs. Any experience with those?
Thanks,
Caribe |
Jerry
| | Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2000 - 11:22 am: | |
For those in North Texas, or anywhere for that matter, here is a link to an article about Dr. yes (Bob Norwood) that you might find interesting. You gotta love this kind of passion and craftsmanship. These guys will find a way to make it go faster, no matter what it is!
http://needforspeed.thegamers.net/shifters/f50/press.html |
cbruce
| | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2000 - 11:58 am: | |
Rob Lay
Very good idea. Viewing comments on a dealer would be priceless. It would make our horror stories, theirs !
cbruce |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2000 - 11:42 am: | |
Peter, I have to agree about "wet". Although I heard it from experts, it made me a little nervous. It was on a 308 I was looking at, I ended up with a 328 and this car doesn't leak at all. The oil or other fluids haven't budged after 500 miles.
Cbruce, I had someone suggest that I develop a systematic way to track good and bad dealers on this website. It will take a little time to develop making sure I do a good job with it. You'll be able to view dealers by Country/State/City and add your good/bad comments. I'll shoot for early next year. |
cbruce
| | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2000 - 11:27 am: | |
Caribe
I own a 348 and went thru exactly what your going thru. The first and foremost tip I would offer, and this may be generalizing too much, but stay away from south Florida Dealers!!
During my quest for the perfect 348 I traveled across the country viewing and driving 348s. The worst stories come out of Florida. Many dishonest dealers selling painted, glued and wrecked cars behind smoke and mirrors.
I like the message I just read about taking it to a Ferrari dealer and paying for an inspection. Dont be scared off by some negative comments on the 348. It always comes from non 348 ownners, sad but true.
The car does need an updated alternator ($3000) but thats it. Without it, you can indure many electical problems, hense all the hipe.
If your a Ferrari enthusiast, and you want alot more power and handling than the 328 and you cant affor a 355 yet, the 348 is the only way to go (my opinion).
I am ecstatic with my 91 348. Good Luck
Cbruce |
Peter
| | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2000 - 1:09 am: | |
So Rob, you're the guy from ExpensiveCar who likes their engines wet. I'd have to disagree with that statement. When two parts of an engine meet, their surfaces are not perfectly flat. A gasket is used to make up for this uneveness. This also allows sealing for the high pressures generated by the oiling, cooling, etc, systems. My friend's Bugatti T35 does not use gaskets because the surfaces are machined to 1/10000th of an inch (it is why he's spent 12+ years restoring it and its still only 95% complete). The oil is also delivered directly to the bearings via sprayers, which keeps pressures down. If manufacturers wanted oil to squirt out the sides of the engine, there wouldn't be any gaskets on engines. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2000 - 10:01 pm: | |
When I shopped for a Ferrari this summer I would take the car into Bob Norwood's Performance of Dallas and for $100 they would take several hours to check the car over. I'm no expert, but the things I learned for a quick glance over were...
1) Look at the gaps between body panels and make sure they are even. If not, it may have been in a wreck.
2) Look for paint overspray anywhere on the car for repaint jobs.
3) Don't worry too much about fluids on the ground. Ferraris are "wet" cars and that's part of it.
4) Most Ferraris have worn corners on the drivers left side drivers support. Many Ferrari's are re-dyed to cover for this.
5) Although buyers tend to pay premiums for low mileage cars, some of those cars can run you into problems. It's easy to disconnect the odometer wire on Ferraris. Then, would you want a Ferrari that sits months on end without being driven. I think healthy Ferraris will have about 3k miles per year.
6) Check the tires. I looked at a 308 that listed only 17k miles, put had worn hard tires. It would take 30k at least to wear tires like that.
7) Look at service records to see scheduled maintenance. Cars with a perfect service history and documentation go for a premium. However, mine only had the book stamps and I was able to call all the service dealers up and get actual receipts from original service. A little work and research pays off.
8) As far as the 348 goes, I'm "new school" and like the 348 design. However, the market is giving 348's a beating because of controversial design and the heavy problematic electronics. In USA it seems average early year 348s go for around 55k.
I'll add more down the road if I think about it.
Good Luck,
Rob |
Caribe
| | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2000 - 6:52 pm: | |
Hi. I am interested in purchasing a 348. Does anybody have experience using "Ferrari experts" to check the car out for you? or is there a way to save the money and check out a car before purchase that can best tell you the real story with the car? (Mechanical condition specially). |
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