550 at Elite Luxury in Alabama

Do you know about this 550? Checked through autocheck, seems to be ok, 5 owners. Wondered why this 550 is among other Japanese cars! Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

http://www.eliteluxuryautomotive.com/detail.php?id=20579

 

Doesn't look too bad but the photo's are not very detailed. There's damage to the leather on the driver's seat which is usually an indication of a fairly scuffy example. Terribly boring colour combination, IMHO, particularly interior.

BTW, judging by the reclining angle of the seat, either this was car was last driven by a person who scrapes his knuckles when walking upright, or by someone who should not be behind the wheel of a performance car. What a strange driving position.


Onno

 

Those exhaust pipes are sticking out way too far.

 

I do not mind the color. The car seems to be leaning to one side in the pictures. The seats are worn but that should not suprise anyone for a car with 30K miles on it. For 80K-that seems like a very good value.

 

I may pull a trigger on this one. Do you know any PPI in Alabama?

 

Personally, I wouldn't sweat the markings on the seat. That happens when people step into the seat and rub their butt against the bolsters instead of dropping in butt first. This can be easily fixed.

Where is what you should check

1. Wheel recall

2. Major service including timing belt. This should have been done by 2004.

3. Motor mounts.

4. Plenum hoses.

5. Leather stretching.

6. Sticky plastic.

7. On another thread, Chris Parr mentioned problems with the "isolator" gas pickup in the gas tank.

I would also would to see a complete service history and ownership trail. If they don't have it, this is an auction car. If so, you have to wonder why the last owner had to run it through the wholesale auction instead of retail.

Good luck. They are great cars.

Dale

 

Agree. Pics look good enough, but you really need to examine up close to really know. As bland as it appears in those pics, a solid example will look beautiful in person. Also agree that the tailpipes stick out too far. Could be very good or very bad, depending on what the mods are.

I resemble that remark

 

Thanks Dale.

How would you recommend to fix the leather marks damage? I do not want to go through the complicated process of Leatherique as metioned in this Forum.

 

Sorry, all I know how to do is to either live with it or open my checkbook.

Dale

 

8. Oil lines

9. Power steering lines

10. Transaxle cooler

11. A/C hoses under the belly panel

 

Sadly, I'm familar with the A/C hoses, but can you tell us more about the other ones?

Dale

 

On the last car (older with several owners rather than new like the first two) The oil lines needed to be replaced, as well as the PS lines. The PS fluid had actually leaked on to the upper A arm bushing and eaten it alive.

 

Car has been for sale for over 6 months. Spoke to seller different times; paintwork eventually disclosed to left rear (though this took more 'digging' for the answer than I'd have preferred). "Backed over something" is what I was told, but fairly evasive. Marks in leather are due to significant heft of most recent owner. Sorry, that's what it was. JAZZYO, you called that one correctly!

Being sold post rather nasty divorce; wife has broker representing car but husband was 'principal' owner, thus info erratic.

Exhaust weirdness was NOT verbalized to me; obtained records, called installer, apparently great difficulty ensued with install. Expensive, many trips to get right (IIRC, 3 reciepts, 3 trips) and only the "assumption" it ever got right, though photos now appear to have an even greater overhang/extension than I remember. (I originally called in July 2007) Service records spotty at best; 30k was, then wasn't, then was done. I dropped out at that point.

 

I figured that this car had stories.

That said, it still could be a good buy depending on what the buyer plans on doing with it. If buyer, for example, is thinking about trying to make money on the car, I'd stay away. If, however, the buyer budgets enough money to cover whatever needs fixing (e.g., $8k for a major service, $2k to fix whatever is wrong with the exhaust system, and so on) into his offer, gets the car fixed and puts another 30k miles on the car in five years, I'm guessing that he will probably be able to sell the car (if he wants) for close to a break even price.

Dale

 

12. Shock Actuators if equipped

 

Yes, I looked at this car for a bit early last fall for $74k and even at that did not pull the trigger as no service history is a biggy and a lot of conflicting or imcomplete info.

 

this first post should be a doozie ... after several PPI checks using the list above (thanks to all), several drives, plus talking to the owner in person, I as a noobie purchased the 550 for $73K. it will need tires soon, could use the driver's seat bolster re-covered in time, + the rubbers around the front light buckets could stand replacement. beyond that, everything else checks out, including the 30K major & the exhaust (even if some disaprove, it is sorted-out). for $20K saved over a comparable with great books, that leaves plenty of room for a couple majors and lot's of driving.

 

Enjoy! The Maranello is a very special car. It will be many, many years before many realize how special it is. Just think! You brought a V12 Ferrari for the price of a Corvette!

Dale

PS Oh, and BTW, think long and hard before you turn the traction control off and goose it.

 

Congrats on the new car Dixie!

 

Congrats!

On the traction control, I concur with Dr Who but have an additional remark: the traction control is fairly slow. If you step on the gas mid-corner on a wet or greasy road, even with ASR on, you better have quick reflexes or you'll be re-landscaping the yard of the poor fellow that lives there. Be careful - I've oversteered my 550 for 5,000kms now and it's a lot of fun but I still lost it recently in one corner where it was more slippery than expected. Thankfully there was no major drama, but 485bhp on the rear wheels is scary.


Onno

 

Probably 415/420 to the pavement. Still that is big power for sure! I have some friends w/ modded 928's (that costs big Ferrari level bucks) that are putting over 520 on the ground and they can be cruising on the freeway at 55 totally dry roads and leave LONG SMOKING BURN OUTS!!!! CRAZY!!!

 

thanks to both of you on the traction comment ... discovered this on 1st test drive over damp pavement. i take it there is no proportioning or adjustments available on the ASR ?

 

Man am I glad someone bought that car! It's presence in some proximity at what sounds like a good buy was haunting me. I'd offered your price soon after I spoke with the broker (very nice guy named Duane, insurance agent for the owner I believe) and was turned down. Glad you got it. I never saw that car, so much of my info was dreary over-speculation.

Look in your records on that exhuast - it's a fine piece, but I belive misunderstood at installation. Get that sorted and enjoy. Those seats CAN be pulled, restuffed at collapse, and made to stand up to humans of average weight again. Don't go crazy on that. Tires? Pfft. Wear those out, grab a set of PS2s or MANY people put Kuhmos (YES, ON FERRARIS. THE HORROR!) and have had excellent results. That car has enough miles you're not going to be ruining some museum piece.

Have fun with it. I'm in Montgomery, which make me and you about 20% of the Ferrari population in our state. JOIN FCHAT, read these posts, learn as you go, have a ball. If you ever get down this way, we can have a 24 cylinder show off; I cook the steaks, we both drink the beer. Enjoy.

 

thanks for points & the offer ... there is leather man here in Huntsville that reconstructed the bolsters on my former SC400 with perfection for a song, so that leaves the tires as you point out. am in MGM every other month or so on business & to see family -- will certainly take you up on the show-off offer !