How many of you bought it without personally seeing it?
I bought my 308 sight unseen from an Fchatter. I only had a compression test done on it. I took a bit of a risk, but it worked out well. It's been a great car. I flew out to inspect my other Ferraris, and had a proper PPI done on them as well. -steve
Bought mine sight unseen from a respected FChatter/FCA chapter president. Looked at online pics and had a compression/PPI done - got the car exactly as described, with no surprises. The good thing about FChat is that it allows you to track a car's history through posts by the owner.
Purchased mine unseen, undriven, and untested from Fantasy Junction. The car is a one-owner '76 California car with one mechanic (no one else has ever touched except for Larry Buskirk) who worked on the car since new. Car needed a major when I got it, but I expected that. Fantastic after the service though. I put a deposit on it literally 10 minutes after it had rolled into their showroom.
I bought mine unseen and untested from an ad on ebay. However I did not part with a cash until I took it for a spin (and got it stuck in a gravel cul de sac). I figured it needed some work but after driving 400 miles to look at it wasn't going home empty handed. 3 years on still love it to bits.
Sight unseen. I did have my brother-in-law look at it, and an inspection from the mechanic. I knew what the car needed, and had it done before I picked it up. When I finally went to pick up the car, it was about what I expected. Drove it home from San Jose to orange county (about 6 hour drive). Dom
I just bought a gt4 unseen. I'm a little more comfortable knowing that I'm not alone in my lunacy. But most of you have had some connection to the car you bought or seller. Various relatives and PPIs. I'm counting on the reputation of the seller in my case. I'm still waiting for mine to show up; should be here this week. I hope I feel the same when it does. What's that Tom Petty line again...?
I just did this last week! Still haven't seen the car in person...hopefully will be here next week, and hopefully I won't be kicking myself in the a$$ for not seeing it first. I did see a LOT of detailed pictures, and talk in detail about the car with the previous owner, who has been very helpful. That being said, if I were spending more than the price of a used Accord on a Ferrari (which I didn't in this case), I would definately go look at it first before putting down a lot of money.
Saw it advertised on the newspaper called the owner drove 3 hrs. to look at the car and test drove it (very clean, ran smooth and strong, no leaks) owner showed me service history, invoice showed $13K paid, told him give me a week to think about it called him after one week and i said ok if you give me discount I'll buy it he laugh and said ok I'll take $500 off went back over there after two days paid him, handed me the key, signed papers, shook hands and drove it home It's been a year now and still drives the same.
I bought BOTH of mine sight unseen, except for pictures e-mailed to me. The 308 I just got lucky. I knew nothing about them, had never heard of having a PPI, and had never actually even seen a Ferrari in person. My 308, the day it was delivered, was the first Ferrari I ever saw, sat in or drove. How's that for blind luck? The Mondial I bought from an Fchatter who was honest about its tough condition and there were no big surprises. Birdman
I just bought my 308 sight unseen about six weeks ago even though I knew there were several things wrong with it. It's last two previous owners were Fchat members, and the price was good, so I felt pretty comfortable going the "buy cheap, and spend the money to fix it" route rather than the "buy expensive and hope the PPI etc. was thorough" one. Course it's STILL in the shop as I write this, but not because of anything I didn't know about before I bought it.
I bought my 79 308 GTS sight unseen off of E- Bay. I had never driven a Ferrari at all. When the car came I was not too happy but after sorting things out with help from this site it is now a great car. I doubt if I would ever buy a car that way again. I responded to ads for other 308' s that were offered locally, but they all sounded like if I were't a SERIOUS buyer they weren't interested in even wasting their time in showing me the car. Next time (if there is a next time) I would buy a car from someone on this site. For sure!! Live and learn... Mike
I have bought plenty of cars on a wish & a prayer. Always seems to come out okay. You just have to use common sense. My Mondial T I bought over the phone. Never saw it, or drove it. Then after committing I asked the dealership to have a lot hand drive it 6 hours over to me as part of the deal. They dealer guy hopped right in it, set the A/C on high - and was at my door in five hours ten minutes I said "thanks" pulled the car in the garage & he was gone.
I bought my car sight unseen, other than a PPI from a mechanic that I didnt know either. All in all I am VERY pleased with the car plus the few minor things that I found wrong with the car (that the PPI didnt find) the dealer has been gracious enough to pay for the repairs...
I'd be willing to bet that MOST older used Ferrari purchases are sight-unseen . Why ?, because there just aren't enough of them around locally. When I searched for my 308qv, there were NONE available locally. I found one in Houston(Ftalk member). I did talk to the mechanic that worked on and inspected the car(JRV) and the car had a large stack of maintenance records, so I felt fairly confident. Turns out , it is a great car.
Sight-unseen, and the car has been superb. In hindsight, though, I would go see the car if possible. I ended up having a front-bumper respray because it wasn't as pristine there as described. There were also a couple of minor bits that needed replacing. No big deal, but not everything shows up on photos.
I believe you'll be pleased with that car. Michael was seriously considering just keeping it. BTW: I saw mine on eBay. No books. No records. No history. But a good price. Gave a deposit and then flew to Medford, Oregon to see the car. It was "as expected", and I drove it home to Los Angeles without any problem. Within about a month, I'd successfully contacted all but the very first PO's (incl. Mike Cannillo), and had received copies of all recent maintenance going back a little over 5yrs, which included a $16K rebuild of the motor. The rebuild had less than 2000 miles on it. _____________________________________________ "I'd rather be lucky, than good" -Poker Player
I looked at two before I bought them and bought one sight unseen. That one I never saw until it got here. I had the PO bring it to Brian Crall (Rifledriver) and he did a full PPI and gave me a very detailed rundown. I trust him implicitly and went solely off of his feedback. It was everything he said it was and more.
I saw and drove the car first, but did make a deposit only having a glimmer of what I was getting myself into. I still have only a glimmer. On the other hand I took it in to work today and gave some ride and let me boss drive it and people were just as excited as I. My boss was literally hooting in the car he was having so much fun. I feel likewise and it still feels like a read bargain to me despite the maintenance costs to come.
My first Ferrari I purchased from Butch Hooper at Italian Design. I flew out and inspected the car and Butch gave me an honest, detailed run-down of the car and what was done to it. I was very pleased with that car and still kick myself to this day for having sold it. My current Ferrari I purchased sight unseen except for pictures and a PPI done by an independent inspector. I received the 5 page report from the inspector in the mail and it appears to be very thorough. I do not expect any surprises. Bob
Thanks for the encouraging words. Yes, Mike mentioned his first was 10314? that's yours right? This one must have passed me in transit to NY. It was here in LA 6 months ago. I know the place where it was last serviced. BTW, Here in LA there's a street some 30 miles from the ocean, called Saltair, but you got that beat with Oceanview, KS. How high up are you?
Thankfully I purchased from Ferrari of Denver who stood behind the car when a number of things turned about wrong with the car.
