was just about to buy a beautiful 328, but ...

...cannot justify the expense because it is not a necessary item in my life ... have any of you agnonized over this ? This car is the right car at the right price. PPI checked out very well and price is great, I just can't find the guts to buy a non necessary item. need some encouragement here, the car is still available

 

Go with your gut, but remember this: life is short and there's no luggage rack on a coffin.

 

GTB MAN, every day that goes by is one closer to death. Is that enough encouoragement? If you can afford to buy it and it was a dream, live it before its too late. Thats my 2 cents.

 

You are not the only one having these thoughts before a purchase. The good thing about this kind of car is that you can always sell it and get the money back (atleast in Europe), so why not go for it and see if it´s worth it?
I didn´t change my mind for a second, instead I asked myself why I didn´t do this earlier :-D

 

Ok Tillman who owns that line????? Moretti has that as a signature. Did he steal that from you mate, bloody Queenslanders.

 

After a minute of ownership you'll wonder why you waited so long. I went through the same mental games when I bought my first 308 and can say from experience you won't regret it.

 

Have you worked hard to earn this treat ?

If you deny yourself this where do you stop ?

A mobile phone is a luxury item as is a watch - do you honestly have nothing that could be called 'designer' ?

There are loads of reasons not to buy this type of car but frankly this website is not about letting you hear them - even so many go through that initial guilt

JFDI

 

Just something I heard from my granddad, don't know where it originated. I'll give Moretti credit if he wants, but I'm pretty sure he's not my granddad

Did you ever get your ride running?

 

Hoping to get it back on the road this year.

 

I believe that hesitation could also mean its not the car for You. I hesitated at several cars and rationalized that they were too expensive. Then the 86 GTB I purchased popped up and I didn't even blink at spending much more than I planned because it was really exactly what I wanted.

 

Given your reservations, my advice would depend upon your age. If you're younger, you can wait until your attitude about money changes, because these cars will cost more money, than you're used to, in upkeep . If your older, 55+ (sorry, but that's "older"), go for it.

 

The very brightest days of my life are the days I drive my 308. The exileration, the feeling that I'm part of something really really good, the amazement as I look at the steering wheel with the prancing horse and realize WOW... I'm driving a Ferrari!!! We are surrounded with joyless appliances including cars produced today. I don't think that should be what life is all about. Go for it - it will change your life!

 

Your handle is GTBMan. You did a PPI on a 328. The car is good. Buy it!

 

Well said! although I own/have owned some POS cars and I have always been able to smile while driving them. Life is what you make of it. Of course, when driving a Ferrari. . . .

Dave

 

I was concerned about the price too on the car I bought three years ago, last year was tough to keep it for I had no work for awhile,and sold it last Aug and got more than I bought it for,but not what I put into it but I'm glad I had for two years and can't wait to save for anpother one.........go get that car and enjoy your life

 

I'm 46, not getting any younger, and have been thinking about buying one for 10 YEARS

 

To appeal to your rational side i.e. expense, I find that the highest costs of car ownership are depreciation and upkeep. The former is minimal (if not negligible) with 3x8 ownership even in this economy; the latter is one of the lowest (if not the lowest) among F cars. This time might be the "golden age" to get one.

As long as you are not negatively affecting your family's lifestyle/standard of living, I think you have your answer...

 

Buy it now.
By next year, or very shortly thereafter, you'll be to old and feeble to get in and out of it.

 

Try to figure out your downside to own and drive it for a while and then sell if it doesn't suit you. 10K maybe at the outside? Is it worth it to you to find out? I think everyone is nervous about the first one. If, on the other hand, you are stretching your finances to buy it in the first place, you should probably pass.

Dave

 

"I'm 46, not getting any younger, and have been thinking about buying one for 10 YEARS"

You're a kid - don't worry about it - you have plenty of time to buy one or wait. I'm 64 next month; bought my 328 in '08 at 62 and had been thinking about buying one since 1986.

Heck, accleration-wise it's the slowest car I have owned since the late 60's and top end wise, it's a good step down from my previous car - '99 Porsche 911.

However... it's the most enjoyable car I've ever owned!

And don't think that somehow your interest or ability to enjoy fast cars/bikes will automatically fade away and you won't be able to do it when you get to be X age. When we left NY in '06 (age 60) I was regularly tracking both my Porsche and my Ducati 996 at Lime Rock. I sold them both when we left NY but I'm looking hard at a Ducati 1198 at the moment...

So don't rush to buy one at 46 thinking that if you don't do it now you never will. If you really are not ready financially or whatever...there's plenty of time. Though, of course, we could get hit by lightning tomorrow...

 

What he said. The downside is nothing near as bad as it is for any showroom new car.

 

So, if you don't pull the trigger, send us the link so someone else on FC can jump on it.

 

gtbman......

If you don't like it afterwards, or still feel guilty about it later on, you're not going to get financially killed when reselling it. Ergo, there is now no reason for not buying it.

It's a 328, so they are almost, if not, very close to or at the bottom of their depreciation curve I think........now I know if you were thinking about buying a new 6 figure Mercedes, a new Ferrari or a new Porsche you'd have a valid point......as you'd take a bath when disposing of the car.........but with a 328 you will not.

FWIW......a new Chevy SUV can cost as much as the 328 if you fully load it up.

I turn 50 next year.....and am at the age where some of my friends have died before their time........as have friends of my friends. If you can buy it without financially screwing up the balance of your life from an economic standpoint, go and do it. I just got back from holidays last month and found out that someone I worked with for years who is a good friend was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigs) a few months ago and he is now in a wheelchair, has a feeding tube, and might live for 6 more months. He's 45 and was just fine 6 months ago. Think about that........is making yourself happy for all of your hard work not "necessary" in your life ?

 

These cars are nearly fully depreciated, I bought my 308 for 25k, drove it for 3 years and sold it for 25k. What a deal!

Remember you can always sell it and you will get most, if not all, your money back.

 

If it is a passion, Ferrari, that is, then you must indulge it. Otherwise, you will always long for it and wonder what could've been. When you are truly old and on your final days, how will you feel knowing that you did not engage in life to the fullest because you were too tied up in being so practical? Please understand, I have been where you are, as have many on this site, so I don't discount your feelings/concerns. Think of it this way...buy the car and if it doesn't "float your boat", you can always sell it. Even with say a 10K loss, you can consider it has a 10K Ferrari vacation. BUT...the liklihood is that you are going to love the car and wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Sounds like you found YOUR car to boot ;-)