Looked at a 97 Spyder, Flabbergasted!

I'm sure it's been discussed to death, but I feel like the belt service interval recommendations are very conservative. This is probably good because major engine repair/replacement is so expensive in our cars, but I still feel like at 5 years (even sitting) you're probably a ways away from actually snapping the belt. For the record I will be following a rule of 30k/5yrs on my 348 just to be safe (and because I beat on my car a lot) but I have heard of so many cases where cars with way more time that that were beat on and never blew up. Now in this case it's a no-brainer to change the belt, but I sometimes feel like people worry too much if the belts are just barely past the 4 or 5 year mark...

 

An original owner here only recently had his first belt change done, and he related that the mechanic said the cam belt looked great (not that you can tell much from looking). As long as the car is still running there are zero long term effects from not having done the belt change. I'm a huge advocate of preventative maintenance and believe it's better to perform a major every 5 years than to take the risk, but not doing so is not the end of the world. I'd be far more interested in the overall condition of the car, although you have to wonder how careful the owner is about other maintenance if he truly didn't know that the cam belt needs regular replacement.

 

Ditto. My car is almost at 6 years (but only about 3k miles) since its last belt change. I confess to being a little leery, but it doesn't stop me from driving the car until I can take the time to perform the major. Overall, the car gets (and has always gotten) very careful maintenance, but, like you, I tend to think that the suggested interval is conservative (albeit prudent, given the potential consequences).

 

The lack of recent major is not an issue. Just factor that into purchase price. I personally would rather have it that way buying the car so you get to take it where you want to have it done and possibly do other elective things on it while the engine is out. (Detailing, cats, whatever)

These cars don't get mileage so those tires are old but have a lot of tread left on them. This guy may not be even aware of the fact that the tires should be replaced on account of age.

Without more specifics as to the other issues you say are present, based on the two you mentioned I wouldn't sell it for 48k either.

 

Think of it this way. If you bought the car, had a major done and replaced the tires, you'd have a 1997 Ferrari 355GTS with a fresh major and new tires.

And when you decide to sell, you could say the last major was in 2016 and the tires were replaced at that time.

 

+1

When it comes to selling, the only t belt service that matters is the most recent service.

 

I wouldn't be concerned about this car.
Take it to your mechanic....have a ppi performed and negotiate the price bearing in mind the service that the car requires.

 

This thread provokes a thought.

Concerns are so high and thus perceived value about whether or not a belt service has been done.

If this concern is so high and such tremendous value differentials on a very affordable part (it's the labour and extras that get done that cost during these services) then why isn't everyone ensuring that the belts that are being installed are date coded just like the tires.

Even at a dealership parts can lay around for a long time.

Just saying.

 

Kinda like sushi. Go to the place that sells a lot so everything is fresh I buy my sushi...errrr... belts from Ricambi

 

I think it has been posted elsewhere on the board, that in order to meet regulations a timing belt has to be able to last 100,000 miles?

 

Not everyone is a Ferrari Dork, good for him for driving the car like a car and not caring.

Lots of F cars are like this, every shop has tons of stories of the TR that has never had belts and has 100K on the clock, or the 348 with 80K miles and has never had a major.

I wonder if a 95 355 that has 50K miles on it and has never had a major is healthier then a 95 355 with 7.5K miles on her and 7 majors?

 

FYI The belts are dated for time of mfg.

 

By golly, you must have been thoroughly flabbergasted, sir!

 

OMG

 

I don't think that anyone is saying that it's advisable to run belts that long, but the engine is still running so as long as the belt doesn't break before it is changed no long term damage will have been done. The fact that the belts have not been changed is not a reason to avoid the car in and of itself, but it does call into question how well the car has been maintained overall. Still, if the rest of the car is in good shape and all it needs is new tires and a major service, there is a chance that it could be a very good deal indeed. The only way to know for sure is to have a thorough PPI performed by someone very familiar with the weak points of a 355 Spider.

 

3 years, 5 years, whatever. Usually the water pump or PS pump dies long before the belts are the problem

When you get that quote for a major include a rebuild for both of those items.

Like DrBob says, I would prefer to buy a car as you just described provided the price was correct. That way I can direct and implement the services that are required and make damn sure they are up to my standards. Not the standards of someone trying to unload it with a "fresh major".

Tires = $1100 (for Conti's anyway). Major + Other Crap = $9000 ish.

Whats a zero time spider worth this week? Take that price and lop off $11,000 and move on.

 

What are you, nutz?! Just what would this guy take? $50K? For a 355 Spider? If it passes a PPI and doesn't have too many issues, go for it. Now if it's an F1 car or has header issues or maybe even valve guides, then I could see running for the hills. But you should give it a chance if you are remotely interested.

 

You can do it!! Go for it!!

 

Run for the hills if it's F1 ? WTF. Absurd.

 

On second thought, do run if it's a 1997 F1, since they didn't come out until 98.

 

The Spyder you get for $65K to $75K will still have issues you'll want to correct.

If the car "speaks" to you, make an offer contingent upon a PPI. If it doesn't keep looking until you find "the one".