Black Challenge Stradale on Ebay ...

I have seen and driven it ...

Despite the "story" it's a beautiful car. If anyone wants a detailed opinion feel free to PM me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-360-Stradale-2004-Challenge-Stradale-with-4350-miles_W0QQitemZ130113360735QQihZ003QQcategoryZ84156QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Interesting and FWIW - - - - carfax shows no accident damage........

 

Don't always trust CarFax. They sometimes make BIG Mistakes too. I've heard of ugly stories where cars were wrecked really bad and fixed back up but it never showed up on CarFax. Get a buyers inspection. always have a bodyshop look at a car. Usually they can tell if any work has been done.

 

Unless there was a police report filed, you won't find accident details on carfax.

 

Jeffrey, I think you need to give the full disclosure up front - that it is your friend's car. Without revealing that information, the premise of your post is a bit misleading. Until I PMed you, I was under the impression that you were an enthusiast in the area who knew the car and not the owner, who could give a completely unbiased opinion.

Don't get me wrong - I am fine with your post by itself and would not have made this reply were it not for one comment. There is a comment from the seller in the auction that seems suspicious to me:
"I only have it advertised on ebay and have noticed its link posted on several forums."

If you posted it for your friend, and he is saying he "noticed" it on a forum, how can I trust that your friend isn't putting a spin on other aspects of the car and its history? Or did he truly not know that you were the one who posted the link?

I wish him luck in the sale, but I will no longer bid on the car.

-Tom

For the record, I was already bidding on that car before this thread was created. I made this post not to ruin the thread, but to be informative to other potential bidders that I don't feel comfortable with this auction, and that I decided to stop bidding. These are just my personal impressions and conclusions. It is quite possible that I am far too picky of a buyer. Well, I know I am. Any guesses on the final selling price?

 

FWIW... I also got an email from the seller and it seemed a bit "off"... I will likely be staying away from the car as well.

 

I have no idea about the car but the add seems to disclose all the work done to it. In my opinion it seems somewhat truthful. Get the car inspected and then you know for sure. I have seen a lot of people hid this stuff.

 

I don't think there's anything wrong with posting up a friend's car thats for sale on ebay, no matter how you spin it. However, if there are issues with the car that you know of, you should come clean (and I have no idea if this is the case about this car), but otherwise, I think all is good.

The car looks very sweet, and I like the interior.

 

Tom - Why is my post misleading if I asked people to PM me for details? Part of the DETAILS is what I disclosed to you in the very first sentence of my reply to you. I think it went something like this ... "This car belongs to a business associate friend of mine." Second ... by your own admission you're a picky buyer. So why may I ask ... are you even bothering?

For the record ... I am an enthusiast, do know the car, and happen to know the owner. That does not preclude the fact that I am still able to describe the car to an interested party. Whether you might think my description or impression might be biased because of a friendship is secondary to the fact that any sane or right minded buyer would have the car thoroughly inspected anyway. Everyone has a different opinion about what is considered "clean" or "perfect" and the only way to buy a car like this is to look at it yourself and have it inspected.

 

........And after all that ranting you'd ask Jeffrey for more information?

Well gee whiz, why would you believe him even if he was nice enough to tell you?

 

For the record: Stugots sent me Jeffrey's write-up on this car. It looked as though he put some thought and time into doing it correctly. He gave a fair assessment of the car with no bias about the pricing, the condition or the fact that a business associate of his is the seller. He offered his opinion of the repair facility and so on......

Jeffery is a stand up guy for taking the time to help an associate, IMO. Tom(atl)...You should thank him!

 

Thanks Dave! Appreciate the vote of confidence. Tom's entitled to his opinion. Fortunately, not everyone has a suspicious nature and some people are actually taking the time to ask the right questions, review the situation, and give the matter its due attention before jumping to conclusions.

 

Depending on the reserve, someone will probably get a good deal on a beautiful car.

 

Are there picstures available of the damage mentioned in the ebay ad?

 

That's a funny implication. I wasn't ranting, and I have nothing against Jeffrey. I was trying to do potential bidders a service of letting them know information that I wish I had known before my first bid, and explaining why I would no longer bid.

You are entitled to judge my personality and express your opinion, but I am entitled to my opinion too - that I won't bid on mystery repaired Ferraris with unknown history from suspicious sellers on eBay. And that helping out the Ferrari community isn't a bad thing to do. That is just MY OPINION. I put enough disclaimers on my original post that I should not need to further defend myself for trying to help out other potential bidders.

I am admittedly very picky and suspicious of odd scenarios. Is that bad? Should a Ferrari buyer should be criticized for that? Several adjectives come to my mind for someone who wouldn't be as picky as me in this situation.

I did thank him by PM, and I also think he is a nice guy. Thanks again for the information Jeffrey. I do appreciate it.

That question wasn't addressed to Jeffrey. That was addressed to people viewing this thread on the forum.
I'd like to see what the 360/430 crowd thinks this CS will sell for in the end. Any guesses?
And for comparison, what would it have sold for (final price), if undamaged?

 

I saw it 2 weeks ago, for the life of me I wouldn't have known there was any story to this car. It's stunning, don't let miscommunication interfere.
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Great looking car - The black with a stripe looks nice.

 

So being as it was repainted two questions: Did it originally have a CS stripe, and is it possible to get a OEM stripe from Ferrari or do you have to create your own? It is a good looking car in pictures!

 

You can get the stripe from Ferrari. OR You can get it made from another aftermarket place. Do a search on FerrariChat. There is a company out of Vancover BC that makes them. I got one for my CS and it looks great. Much cheaper too that the dealer.

 

+1

 

This entire scenario is very curious and getting curiouser and curiouser by the moment. I know this car and would definately not bid on it on e-bay. Though I must say that e-bay is the perfect place to sell a car with questions. The most important question is this; what exactly was the damage to the car? There is only one way to settle it. Where are the before pictures of the damage. That must be a reasonable request for anyone but an e-bay buyer. If there are no before pictures available then why not?Additionally, no it did not have factory stripe and yes you can add one but you have to ask yourself if it would be the same in the long run as the one the factory put on the car.

 

I'd be a lot more concerned about the repair, rather than the actual damage. A complete pre purchase inspection, which would including checking the dimensions of the car, i.e., was the frame damaged, and perhaps removal of the interior panels of the doors, etc., to verify that the pieces had been replaced.

As for the color and the stripe, who cares, if you like the car, and intend to drive it, then enjoy. If you are buying for investment, then perhaps you shouldn't touch this car (or any other Ferrari other than a 50s, 60s, or 70s model).

Art

 

I just wish the dern car was any other color than black. I'd be feeding you all stories about the bent frame while secretly talking to the bank...

 

respray! ;-)

 

True. However, you'll have to jump through quite alot of hoops to make that happen. 1. Dealer must furnish FNA with the VIN. that indicates the car in question was originally equipped with the stripe. 2. Pictures via the dealer showing damage that would require a new stripe.