I am going to be buying my first Ferrari 360. There is a big price spread between the (pre-owned) Modena's and Spider's. What will I be gaining or losing by buying a Modena besides top down enjoyment. Thanks for your time. PS (Looking for a fair deal on a black 6 speed)
For the street IMHO you can't beat the spider. The engine sound and open top experience are hard to beat are magnified in the spider. Very cool. I am prejudiced because I have a spider and didn't even consider the Modena. My advice, drive them both and see what stirs you more. Either way, you can't go wrong! Enjoy the journey and hunt for the perfect car.
Spiders are definitely the way to go if you're deciding between a coupe and a spider. With the top down, spiders are a 10 in looks in my book. *They're both Modenas by the way.
Based on my reading of the many frecent threads on the subject of 360 auction and market prices now, the actual transaction costs revealed by some generout F-Chat posters and other published sources, below in round numbers is my take on what the present market is now for no-story, North American, clean and up to date serviced cars: 2001 Avg miles 10K-15K $150K Low miles <10K 155-165K 2002 Avg miles 8K- 10K $160K Low miles 7-9K 170-175K 2003 Avg miles 6K- 8K $175K Low miles <6K 180K-190K 2004 Avg miles 3K- 6K $190K Low miles <3K 195K-200K 2005 Avg miles 2K- 3K $200K Low miles <1K 205K-215K Note: Allow +/- $5K for options, color preferences, 6sp vs F1, warranty factors. Most 2003's and all earlier cars are off warranty but a few have extended warranties. Most Ferrari dealers carry only very low mileage examples. There seem to be few Avg miles samples on the market, as people who actually drive their 360s love their cars and do not turn them over so frequently. Another curiosity of the market is, especially for the many very low mileage car on the market, the relatively bunching of prices at the top. In terms of MSRP, the low mileage best cars of all model years are still selling at about the same and almost 100 % of MSRP (remember there were steady increases in MSRP from year to year and two increases within the 2004 model year alone). So the difference between a 2003 off warranty at say 190K and a practically new 2005 with two or three years left on the warranty at 215K is 25K or a bit over 10% of the latter cost. Is 10% really a stretch for someone who can afford these cars?. Probably not and this factor will keep the 2005s high as long as the F430 spider is in short supply and going for 300K resale.
For me I'd get the coupe. I love the convertible experience don't get me wrong but I tend to prefer a more secluded intimate driving atmosphere.
I would probably go for the spider. I love driving without a roof. I know there was a super low mileage euro spider for sale here in Florida last year asking $135k. there are always good deals in the winter. Get your money ready and wait until the deal comes along. Then jump quick! Good luck. BT
There are many factors involved in this decision, of course. Me personally, I wanted to keep the level of "flashiness/showiness" down a bit, so I shied away from a red convertible. With the money I saved buying the Modena I can buy a pickup truck for fishing trips. I personally prefer the looks of the coupe. I think the modena is very slightly faster because it's lighter (surprisingly.) The spider would be "funner" though, I bet . Good luck...can't go wrong either way, you lucky devil!
Two questions, How important is the stiffness of the car, and how much fishbowl effect do you want? The first being pretty self explanatory, coupe are stiffer than spiders. The second, people already stare at a Ferrari, but in my experience, even more at the spider. You also have no privacy well everyone stares, you are very much on display.
What I learned from having a spider; -- your head is 100% on display, all the time, not a moment of privacy to sip a coffee, read a paper; not so in a coupe where you can enjoy some privacy -- you will tend NOT to take the spider out if there's a threat of rain on the horizon because a spider = have the top down; no such problem for a coupe -- a spider + a flash rain storm = a failed outing; not so for a coupe -- spiders are easy to slash into and that will affect your willingness to leave it around; less so for a coupe -- watch the sun dry and crack the leather upholstry over time; not so for a coupe -- get ready for leaks; had water running down my left arm in storms; not so a coupe -- structural rigidity in a spider IS an issue, squeaking sounds emerge; far less in a coupe -- a spider is heavier and therefore slower -- a spider isn't a serious ferrari track machine in the tradition of ferrari; a coupe is the real thing. But guess what: you get to pay $50K more for the priviledge of owning a coup and experiencing all the things I've listed. Whatever your utilities, I wish you much enjoyment!
And with all that, the Spider is still the way to go! Nothing compares to cruising down the road with the top down, wind blowing in your face....A coupe is nice, very nice; it just doesn't compare to a Spider.
Tangibly, the Spider would hold it's value very well upon resale. Intangibly, how do you put a price on the sensations you get from driving with the top down. If you're a very serious driver, no doubt the coupe is the way to go. If you want to have fun, definitely the Spider, hands down!
Good luck getting the car King, just remember, you can't go wrong either way! I would get the Spider.
