| Author | Message | ||
| Jason (Jason)
New member Username: Jason Post Number: 31 Registered: 11-2001 |
Here are the lap times on both the Nürburgring and Hockenheim: http://www.track-challenge.com/comparison1d.asp?Car1=16&Car2=17 The 550 had the edge on the Nürburgring due to it's longer straights where the horsepower advantage comes into play and the 360 had the faster time at Hockenheim, a tighter track where the 360s handling advantage comes into play. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2394 Registered: 5-2001 |
A 1999 F550 with 9.000 Miles for $150K at the dealer? I would not think that they would offer that unless the car is beaten. If a Euro 550 is $110,000 I would buy that in a heartbeat over a 360, sorry 360 owners. Heck I can convince my wife to drive that car. She loves the BArchetta (of course $400K, she picks the nice stuff  ) | ||
| Tenney (Tenney)
Junior Member Username: Tenney Post Number: 182 Registered: 2-2001 |
When the 348 was launched, there was still a fair-sized wait list for the TR. Additionally, Porsche was showing pretty well performance-wise in the small sportscar category at the time. Ferrari may have wanted to show they meant business with their 328 successor. Currently, the 360 remains wait-listed. For the past few ears, a 550 order was accepted pretty much once it was written. Not to deny the validity of the factory times (what color ink was used for official documentation?), but they do seem to make sense from a marketing standpoint, as well. Performance gap 550 v 360 is small enough that the faster times would likely go to the faster driver, IMO. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 300 Registered: 11-2001 |
i'm not saying that the numbers are not true. all i implied was that tooting the horn of the $215K flagship over its $140K little brother might not be a bad business decision in the abstract. i hear you on the 348. the TR though was an aging vehicle at the time (1985 -vs- 1990 for the 348), and in fact the 512TR replaced it quickly after the 348 introduction. of course the 360 and 550 are separated by three years - which is real time too. i think there are risks attendant in shipping a car that costs 35% less and performs better. though the markets for the two cars are different (though that's a relative term at this level!). if ferrari's profit margin is identical on the cars then i guess it doesn't matter (and i've heard that it is - something like net $10K per car). doody. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1061 Registered: 9-2001 |
Doody, the times from the test track speak for themself. If you will recall, when the 348 first came out Ferrari bragged that it beat the TR around their test track. So if the 360 was faster than the 550, why wouldn't they admit that ? | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
Member Username: Willis360 Post Number: 787 Registered: 8-2001 |
In the straights, the 550 would reel in the 360 easily. But that advantage would probably be lost in the twisties. Which car is winning more races currently? The 550 racers are pretty fast but the 360's are winning (Grand Am, FIA N-GT, and various other non-Challenge venues). Sorry, getting a bit off topic here... | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 296 Registered: 11-2001 |
frank - though so some degree we'd expect them to say that, right? it may or may not be true, and i'm sure the difference is not huge one way or the other, but ferrari wouldn't sell the 360 as a "550 outperformer". doody. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1060 Registered: 9-2001 |
Per Ferrari the 550 is faster around their test track than the 360. | ||
| Tenney (Tenney)
Junior Member Username: Tenney Post Number: 181 Registered: 2-2001 |
Would suggest that it's the lower weight and associated nimble nature that might give the 360 a cornering edge over a 550 (as opposed to lower power). Suspect this advantage to be most noticable in tighter, more technical sections. Additionally, have seen out-of-warranty US 550's w/ less than 10k miles asking 150k (at authorized dealership, no less). And so possibly a US 550 w/19k might be a 140k sale at best (on a good day. These cars are way mileage-sensitive on resale). Estimate on Kuwait car w/19k would be 100-120k, IMO. While I agree that as far as the car itself is concerned, it's pretty much a wash between US/euro, the marketplace doesn't reflect this. | ||
| Nunja Bitness (Jaxfl)
Junior Member Username: Jaxfl Post Number: 101 Registered: 11-2001 |
Noodleman, Given that a person can buy a one year older US 550 Maranello with similar miles and complete service history from a auth. Ferrari dealer for $125,000 I'd say that your Euro is probably worth $118,000+. Keep in mind that the deal I'm comparing it to is one of the best I've seen. You may very well be able to sell your car for up to $140,000 if the buyer hasn't thouroughly researched his/ her other options. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1055 Registered: 9-2001 |
Martin, per Ron at FOA the 550 is less expensive to service than the 360 as the engine does not have to be removed for a major service. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2380 Registered: 5-2001 |
Touch choice they are so different cars. You really need BOTH 550 maintenance is higher due to 12cyl. 360 is great handling car, more modern, more Jap looking  550 has loads of HP 360 has less but great handling control in corners with the less HP. Euro, who cares. Get the savings if you can. The Kuwait car should fetch about 10K less as a Euro than a US. Warranty is over anyways. High miles for a 1999, great because you drive the car. $ 140K- $150K I would say. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1054 Registered: 9-2001 |
A euro-spec car only matters during the warranty period. After that, they're the same as a U.S.-spec car. | ||
| Frank Richard Noodleman (R_noodle)
New member Username: R_noodle Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2002 |
I have a one owner 1999 550 Maranello Euro originally delivered in Kuwait. It has 19.5K, Tubi, CD, light blue metallic paint, white leather seats, blue dash and 3M chip guard on the front clip and side mirrors. The car is cosmetically and mechanically close to perfect and can be licensed / smogged in California where I live. Any idea what it is realistically worth in the marketplace? | ||
| Nunja Bitness (Jaxfl)
Junior Member Username: Jaxfl Post Number: 91 Registered: 11-2001 |
Ben, Thanks for the info. What color was it? Did it seem to be in good shape? | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Member Username: Benjet Post Number: 692 Registered: 1-2001 |
I was recently offered a '98 - 550 (USA car) by a auth F dealer (it was on the lot) for $125k asking price. This car had the warranty items and updates done but had high miles (IIRC - more than 30k maybe?). Figured they wouldn't budge too far on the price but me thinks they would have taken $120k. I'm just not ready to make the move yet. -Ben P.S. Those #s are not typos | ||
| Jeffrey Robbins (Teachdna)
Junior Member Username: Teachdna Post Number: 51 Registered: 9-2001 |
If it's Canadian, no problem. You'll need to get the instrument pod switched out but that's all as it remains an FNA car. Ask for the VIN# and that will tell you. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Junior Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 234 Registered: 1-2002 |
It is a Euro or a Canadian model--you can tell from the turn signal repeater light just aft of the "gills". | ||
| Jason (Jason)
New member Username: Jason Post Number: 30 Registered: 11-2001 |
I saw this '98 550 in the current issue of Autoweek for $128k. Now 1 of 2 things may turn out to be true, it could be a Euro model or could have some damage history.  | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 283 Registered: 11-2001 |
nunja - i wasn't really considering euros in my maths, so that'd be a factor. euro or otherwise, $117K asking for a 550 seems awfully low. doody. | ||
| Nunja Bitness (Jaxfl)
Junior Member Username: Jaxfl Post Number: 86 Registered: 11-2001 |
Mr. Doody, I meant to mention in my last post that I've seen several Euro 360 manual trans. coupes in the $134-$139K range. Do you really think it would be that hard to come by one for $120K in the next 6 months? | ||
| Nunja Bitness (Jaxfl)
Junior Member Username: Jaxfl Post Number: 85 Registered: 11-2001 |
Thanks for the feedback. Did any forum members look into buying a yellow 97 Euro 550 w/ 28,000 miles that was listed for sale at around $117,000? It seemed to stay on the market for a while. Could the "high" mileage and Euro status be the only issues to bring a 550 down to that price range? | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 282 Registered: 11-2001 |
my guess is you've got a 2-3 year wait before we see 360 coupes in that space. relatively speaking, the 355s held their value in that proportion for probably five years or so (?). i wouldn't expect any radically different behavior. 97 550s are coming down. i saw one listed at 129, but i assume there's a story behind it. consider a 355. you can pick up a stellar berinetta for less than your budget, enjoy it for a couple years, then flip it into the 360 when the prices come down. good luck. | ||
| Nunja Bitness (Jaxfl)
Junior Member Username: Jaxfl Post Number: 84 Registered: 11-2001 |
Hi all. It looks like my Ferrari budget will be about $120,000. I really would like a 360 manual trans. coupe. If the 97 550's have dropped in price below the 99 360's for any reason I'd also consider them. Is there anyway to get a 360 in decent shape for around $120,000? If not, how long do you think it would it be before they drop to that price range? |