Is it time for a Market Watch/For Sale thread ?

Why, do you think it is possible to rebuild and sell at a profit? I don't see it for a long time. But, that's good for those of us that are "in the market" and driving prices up isn't necessarily a good thing.

 

Hi Bretski. what do you think is happening or going to happen?
This is very interesting

 

We constantly have cars appearing. How could we organize the info to make better use of it?

Now there are multiple entries (which we have with each new car thread) in a linear timeline.

We could do this.
1) Have a new to market thread that is similar to what we have with this exception.
a) The tread title is "New to Market" or similar.
b) There would appear in a column form each new car discussed in that sub section.
c) Freshest comments appear at top as now.

2) After an appropriate time has passed, the car can be archived at a new thread created for each model.
a) This can be by serial number.
b) Easy peasy for existing registries to see updates.
C) No desire here to replace an existing registry. More like cooperate.

There are strengths there IMO.

The three negatives I ee are this.
1) The registries may feel their toes may be stepped on. And I bet they work pretty hard to provide a service.
2) This part of the forum could become dominated by this ordered process.
3) The fun of searching and finding a new thread may be diminished. And my eyes brighten each time we have new meat.


Logically continuing this process could attach or correlate new threads about a particular car.

I am contemplating doing some stuff on my 456. I contacted Rob about it. Even though we have seen some remarkable instances of members sharing their passion, and good work with us. I did not know if he would approve of this becoming something like but much better than carfox.

 

At one time I was active in 60's Chrysler restorations. I had one high performance car for each year from 1961 to 1971. The period considered as true high performance Mopar construction. All of my cars were restored before the internet and that required much communication between "true believers" in the sport. That is what made it enjoyable.
Several years later, the "Champagne and caviar " set decided that the cars I loved were their latest "investment opportunity" and they quickly drove prices into orbit, ruining the sport for the guy that wanted to fix his own car using his own skills, trained or acquired. The enablers that profited from this group of investors couldn't supply enough genuine cars so they made up bastardized variations that bear little resemblance to the original, the latest market tool for profit.
Every car I have owned has been a hands on learning experience. I don't see myself as an expediter shuffling projects from one sub contractor to the next. I want to learn what makes all phases of my cars "tick". I like this particular Ferrari because of the styling, level of luxury, and the exponential improvement in my skill set that I will need, to repair, maintain, and own a Ferrari.
The notion that tracking the price point would somehow make 400 series cars "better" is disingenuous at best. Any car I have owned has never been a commodity, it has been an experience that makes life enjoyable.

 

+1 is there a LIKE button here somewhere.

 

Good day Brett,

Personally I prefer to have a thread dedicated to a particular car. I say this, as I find it makes it easy to consolidate all the information and opinions on a particular car. Having a single thread listing cars for sale makes it difficult to see and read pertinent posts, as some respond days/weeks later and so the single-for-sale thread becomes very long and lacks continuity on a particular cars.

As it stands I typically post info and pics on cars that I find and do my best to ensure that the info is posted within any previous threads. If I find the car for sale, then I usually include this info as well along with any "marketing" info.

Cheers,

Sam

 

Sam, I think Brett was referring to a "sub-forum", similar to that which is the Vintage Section, which would include dedicated threads for each car. Sounds like a nice idea to me.

 

Yes, it would be great, someone on the list is already collecting the transactions so it would be great to see if we have reached bottom and it's time to load up!!

 

What do you think about the 308 GT4? Should I buy one now or will prices drop?

 

This sub-forum has always had a preoccupation with market value. It might be nice to put it all in one place but I suspect it will spill out as it does now and we will remain the red headed step children.

 

Pretty soon they'll all be a half million. Buy 'em by the bunch while you can. Heck, cars without engines will be bringing a quarter mil.

And I really wouldn't care. I'm in the belief that prices are too big a part of Ferrari in general. Yes, they're expensive. But I don't want to talk ad infinitum about it.

But I do like following the cars coming to market. My suggestion above would offer order to that in our forum here. So in that regard, I offered it as a solution to ordering info. Whats done with it (the info) is up to the viewers. Us.

And a wonderful thing about this community is that WE CAN offer each other help.

I also like problem solving. And my mind just never stops. It's like a puzzle to me that I can't stop doing. And the internet means that we can do so more efficiently if we are lucky enough. The hands on is best though, for that personal satisfaction, that finding the answer easier may not yield.

I would volunteer to help the guys with the registers. But no time. And don't have enough money now for that kind of charity. I believe we will get it together though. I am into open source. Everyone sharing in creating new solutions. And I love cooperation.

Consider for a moment, if the guys running the registers started working together. Perhaps with Rob and involving all us that love the cars. Protecting everyone's interests that they have worked on and built. While serving everyone's interests better. Interesting thought, huh?

That is what I am working on. And why I'm not fiddling on my 356GT4 2+2 more.

Will see her again this week. Try to get her out of the garage. Engine is fine. Not shifting. Afraid pressure plate may be sticking. Gotta get into it. Looking forward to it.

 

I think that prices for good GT4's has trended up in the past 2 years, in particular in Europre and the UK, but they arent expensive cars ( as the other "Dino" ), or in my opinion are likley to be.

General market observation:

What I have observed in the past few years when the market rises ( about a 3 year process.)

1 First there are plently of cars around for sale
2 Then the good ones "dissapear" from the market, no one notices.
3 Then a couple of (high) auction results become public, but they are dismissed as "one off''s results" and no one seems to take note.
4 The average cars drop from the market, no one really notices
5 A few more auction results become public, with even higher prices and the realisation sets in that a new baseline has been set. Everyone takes note.

Once the market decides a car is "hot", sellers decide to either withdraw their cars or raise their prices, and there are suddenly more buyers who want to "get in now" before the market jumps.

I would say 246 Dino's, 330s, 275's , 250GTE's are at stage 5 in this process - no more bargains to be had.

It appears the 308GTB Vetro's are at stage #3, and that 308GT4's and 4xx series cars are at stage #2. Mind you this is my opinion only, they may never get past where they are today.....

There are some good reasons to buy a car now:

1: Life is uncertain, every day you are getting older, so less time to enjoy a car, do it while you can.

2: These cars are close to the bottom of the depreciation curve, and are trending up, so depreciation is not the same worry as with a newer car

3: If prices rise, then you'll need to pay more for the same thing. If they fall, you will at least have had the use in the meantime. Can't really loose.

4: If you buy a good car ( that has no major needs), you will probably be able to sell it in a few years for not much less than you paid so the cost of owenrship is not that great. (I don't factor the cost of insurance, fuel etc as that is going to be much the same for any car.)


M

 

Where do you think these will end up down the road and which of the 308 GT4's will become more of value. I know the European cars are higher as their American counterparts but which American 308 GT4's will rise to popularity?
Does it make a difference if it's a 1975 or 1979? does it make a difference if it's a 75 series 1 or 2? etc.....

 

I think that this market watch/sale thread could easily be adapted to more cars.

And I accept that price is a market differentiator when it comes to Ferraris. So of some interest.

Should this thread ne moved to another section? Or a new thread started somewhere else?

I see a real abilty to serve the members better here. And I'm all about it.

 

So when should I jump on a 400i? I have seen one here in Toronto on autotrader but haven't went to see it yet as they're asking 35k.

 

Tracking the sale price of cars may be difficult to prove accurate. Obviously auction results, eBay, etc. report the actual sale price. However, how many private sales are going to reveal the true transaction figure? This is generally a confidential negotiation...or the seller reports high and buyer reports a low sale price.