When you bought your Ferrari....

My first Mondial (83 Qv Coupe) I had a good look at before I bought it. I bought my 84 Mondial Cabriolet sight unseen off eBay from a seller in California (I am in Singapore) and my third Mondial (85 Qv Coupe) sight unseen from a single photograph in a UK advertisement. Of course I am now quite comfortable with buying cars without seeing them. If you know what it's worth and what you want to do with the car I see no problem with that.

Relax

 

I bought my Mondial T Cab sight unseen from Naples Motorsports in FL. The car was exactly as Todd had described. I also spoke to the mechanics at F-1 who worked on it last. The mechanics were very frank an honest. I had the work that was needed (30k major) done before delivery. So far not an issue
has come up.

I am very happy with my purchase and would go back to them again.

 

I did not buy mine sight unseen. Was tempted, but the PO was very willing to hold the car pending me being able to fly to California to see it. We had emailed quite a while on it and it took a bit for me to get out to Cali.
I met the car and the owner in CA at the PPI where I got to see it on a lift. We did a walk around and after the carbs were adjusted it was just a matter of agreeing to the final price. It was an excellent experience. (Thanks again, Joe!!!)

 

I bought my 85 308 sight unseen off line from an E-Bay add and from a dealer that I now know has a terrible reputation. I did drive to St Louis to trailer the car home and was convinced at first sight the car was for me and any issues I would sort out. I never even drove the car, the salesman drove the car on the trailer and when I got home the wife drove it off!

Issues, yes a few, I always wanted a 308 and wanted to learn everything about the car and do as much of the work myself.

And now I agree with others here, the Daniel Schmitt & Co in St Louis is a terrible dealer to purchase from

 

Mondial T seen, but that's how I ran into it

456 GT unseen: rep dealer and fchatter's car...in shop now for motor mounts and 'stuff' after four months..not a big deal, some minor seat issues, but expected anyway.

 

My father bought his first Ferrari sight unseen over the phone back in 1988. Now when we talk about it we laugh at how crazy(stupid) that was. Great car too, still has it today.

 

<laughing> Great story.

Get a PPI, multipule inspections, test drives, etc. Its still a gamble.
Glad it worked out.

 

I think it really pays -- unless you're really mechanically savvy/experienced with these cars -- to stick to the known, reputable dealers the first time out.

I met a 355 buyer when I was out at FoD looking at a 328 (that I ended up passing on), and the dealer was very cooperative with tidying up some post-purchase issues on the car he had bought. We had lunch together and he told me what he had paid - pretty much low retail, definitely not a 'steal'. But ultimately he got his money's worth.

 

bought my 85 308qv unseen from ebay. the photos didn't show the actual condition of the body very well. my son in law drove the car from jersey to my friend's shop in balto. and i flew in from fl. to work on it. when i first saw it i was a liitle disillusioned but not put off as the price i paid was reasonable per the condition. the car belonged to a mechanic so all the important stuff was good, just the body was rough. two months later it rolled out of the shop rust free with new paint. so far i'm still happy and having done most of the work myself i've bonded with the car in a way only those who do their own work can.

 

I couldn't bring myself to buy sight unseen. I pulled an empty trailer four hours to go look at my car fully ready to pull it home empty. I ended up with a car on it though. After seeing somethings that were not easily seen in the photos, I did renegotiate the price, otherwise I would have gone home empty. Had I bought it sight unseen I would not have been happy.

 

Frank,

You're welcome! Yes, #10314 is my car.

I used to work for a couple who lived just of Saltair. They live in Montecitio now. But it's not 30 miles from the ocean. More like 5 miles. It's in Brentwood, and goes above Sunset. In fact, I know a couple of folks who live up that way.

Kansas.... ? hmmm... Oh yes, Kansas! That's right! Um, <pause> high. Yes, very very high. I live very high up in the mountains of Kansas. And I can see a long way too!

PS: Let me know when your car gets here I'd like to come see it. Or you can come over and see the progress on mine if you like...

 

I had made a deal for my car based on internet photos and talking to a machanic that knew the car, but it was contingent on me being able to fit in the car when I got there. I had never been in a 328 and frankly didn't know if I could wedge myself in there.

I fit fine, signed the papers, and drove it away -- the very first time I'd ever driven a Ferrari!

 

I have a theory that most guys when they buy a Ferrari are so excited about it that unless the engine explodes, they will just say "oh well" and have it fixed or fix it.

"Yeah, I got this car sight unseen and it showed up in completely the wrong color and missing a door, but jeez, this car is just so cool, who cares??"

I got my 308 and IMMEDIATELY dropped $4k into it that I didn't expect. I was like, "Well honey, I knew it would need some money at some point, right?"




Birdman

 

And it doesn't stop with just the car... then there's the stuff for the garage... new tools, buffers, waxes, washes, special towels, posters, flags, special tools, tools that just look cool, and tools you'll never need.

Then there's the clothing; hats, shirts, boxer shorts, and driving shoes.

Then there's the accessories for your desk at work...

Then the "other" stuff you never knew you needed - but can't live without (like Rossa level subscription on F-chat)...

yup.... like I told Birdman today... every dollar that goes out of my house these days has a Ferrari symbol stamped on it!

 

...and that worked for you ?

 

Bought my 89 328, three years ago. Spotted the car on ebay and called Wilhoit Enterprises and had a PPI done. Car was sent via enclosed trailer and boy did my tonque drop when I saw her. No issues to date.

 

Yep, i have done the same thing. Was particularly looking for a 308GTB glass, dry sump. RHD. Found one in the UK at a reputable dealer. Many pictures and questions later I sent another dealer to check it out and give me a report. Seemed OK. Most likley will re-do the suspension bushes etc when I get it.
Yep, I don't have it yet. It left on the slow boat from the UK about 4 weeks ago and I have another 2 weeks to wait. Damn it's been along time. Can't wait for that moment of opening up the container to see it for the first time.
It will be a great day. If anything that long wait and added expectation adds to the experience on the first day. You will hear about it when it arrives.

 

This would be a good poll question. I'd like to know the percentage of buyers that buy Ferraris without seeing them in person. I bought my Ferrari out of state, without going to see it.

 

steve,did you do a ppi,if so I think that would be like being there,only your paying someone to see it first,then you

 

Just a nice picture on a web site. Then a PPI with compression test. And then I took the plunge. I did a major on it right away and never looked back. Happy as a lark since then...Now if that snow could melt four months earlier...

 

Guys, First time Ferrari owner here. I found a 83 308 gts QV on ebay listed by rocky mountain eurosport in Denver . The pictures and write up looked great and a line by line item check listed the car in excellent condition, so I called them and sure enough they assured me this was a gem. Carfax came back clean,Agreed price was $28k, So I sent them a $5k deposit to hold the car until I could pick it up and ended the auction, Two weeks later we took our suburban and trailer from Montana to Denver (15 hours) to pickup my first ferrari. (My family owned a body shop and even though I didn't know much about Ferrari I wasn't stupid ) At first sight the black 308 looked good, (at 30 feet) but once I started looking close heres how it went-- front nose damage,half the nose had been cut off and replaced, both front wheels were bent, and I mean BENT! like 3/8 of an inch, one headlight would go up and the other would come up half way and kick to the side about a 1/2 inch, rust in lower door skins and behind the rear door pillars wires hanging down from under the dash,carpet was really worn, shoddy complete repaint (even though they told me in our phone conversations it was original paint) one latch missing from the roof panel and oh yes, I was told they had maintence records for the last five years they could not produce once I was there, along with said tool kit and jack, then the guy tells me he'll get the keys, I said "dont even bother" and told them that they misrepresented the car and now I want my deposit back at which point he told me he could have sold this car to a television anchor woman but held it for me and then said he would never sell me another f***ing car again!! really hurt my feelings! at this point he cut me a check and returned the deposit, I think he could sense after driving 15 hours it wouldn't take much for me to start choking him! Ended up purchasing an 84 308 GTB from a private party one month later and could not be happier!

 

Most I ever drove to see a car was 7 hrs (one way), only to be dissapointed.

Thus I can feel about half your pain....

Unless a buyer can get another person they trust to view the car (not just a ferrari)...don't waste the time. More often than not someone elses' notion of "perfect" is usually far from yours.

IMO, it's a must to see the car in person pre purchase.

 

I drove 7 hrs in each direction on the same day. I went expecting very little and was pleasantly surprised [they are a reputable parts supplier]. It took a day or two to recover from the drive but feel good about leaving the deposit and hope to drive it home soon. I do recommend [at the very least] looking/test driving the car and if possible put it thru it's paces. This will bring out any weakness in the car. Just remember...even if it is carefully inspected...anything can happen, there are still no guarantees!

BTW...it is still not "officaily" mine but I do feel the car found me

 

Hmmm, I'm actually very surprised how many others have bought sight-unseen. I thought it was something only nutty girls did...

Interesting also that most of the stories have turned out happy. It would be interesting to compare with those who bought supposedly 'perfect' recommended cars and end up not-so-happy.