How many BAD 355's out there?

I could be wrong but I suspect values will go up over time because there are so many in poor shape which will cause the great ones to be worth that much more. I'm already shocked at how many parts are available on eBay these days clearly from cars that are being parted out.

Your points are well founded. I regularly question my sanity for the amount of money I spend maintaining my car and if things went south financially I would definitely put things off since it isn't my daily driver.

 

You called it!

Ask me how many "little" airplanes are stuck in hangars? They are all still waiting on fuel and insurance to decrease to pre 2001 levels!!!! Then they say " I do an owner assisted annual inspection (FAA required inspection) every year to save money".
Yeah, you read that correct, just what you need, your Dentist fixing his own airplane to save money....Happens ALL the time!!!!


The reality is that their are a TON of broken 355's...I know what it takes financially to keep one tip top...I'm willing to bet you, Helms and Brian as well as many other guys on here do too.....I believe the good cars will soon float to the top and command a higher dollar value....I remember when the little 246 Dino was cheap and that wasn't horribly long ago!


NEWS FLASH:
By the way my Speedline "challenge" wheels that they don't make any more....Well, they hit a whopping $2500 USD on ebay.....What does that tell ya? How many posts have been on here about someone wanting those wheels?????

End of story...Do the math

 

+1

 

Don't you figure that most of the "bad" 355s showed their warts prior to 2008 while people still had money (or at least thought they did )? Once the notorious items (valve guides, headers, cylinder linings, etc.) are fixed, if done properly, they're fixed for good. Beyond those issues, what's a F355 GTB or GTS gonna need? A major and fluid changes - that's about it. (Notice I left out Spiders and F1s...)

So, buy a Berlinetta or GTS manual 6-speed that's already been sorted out and you should have yourself a great, great Ferrari.

I completely agree with the Dino comparison. Then again, what do I care if the values go up...I got a real gem and mine will never be for sale.

 

I think like anything else, the maintenance (or lack thereof) is accounted for in the price.

I'm glad I got a good one. I bought it with the headers/major completed and had to fix a leaking heater core hose when it was delivered. Other than that the car runs and drives absolutely perfect, has no measurable oil consumption, no other problems and just sounds fantastic.

Not sure what the future will bring for values but I opted to pay a premium for my car even though I'm perfectly capable of bringing a neglected car back from the dead. I believe there are others that feel the same.

 

Well Efixer,

That is a dangerous question which can start a 355 wholly war. I have no skin in this game so I'm an outsider looking in. There are just too darn many good cars out there to buy to take chances on a bad 355. I think the bottom end of the market will sell fine as people buy their first 355 ferrari and sell it after the first repair bill. Good 355's are as much as a cheaper some say better definately faster 360 jelly bean. We all know to buy as new a ferrari as we can buy because ferrari always improves technology. How can anyone compare 355 to 360 aero as an example. Everything in the 360 is better except perhaps the styling. The 355 market will suffer. Those of known pedigree will sell at a good price among those who are in the know but that market is small. I can fix anything including a plane but personally a 355 would have to be very cheap if I was going to buy one. There is a 355 spy in L.A. that has not sold in 6 months at $45k. There is a guy locally with a good car at $55k that has not sold for over 2 years when the original ask was $65k at the peak of the 2008 end of year crissis. Owners need to realize as 360's get closer to $60k the 355 must come down. You don't get extra for a fancy radio or headers that work or valve guides that are not trashed. Those are expected in the marketplace. Everyday the 355 looses panashe and value. Plastic toaster base model vettes with 430hp can kill a 355 in every way except looks and ferrari label. The only model that can compete is the 360 and its days are numbered.

 

As long as you guys keep watching the boobtube, the economy will always be bad. I met a guy the other day who owns a factory and he told me that not long ago he was asked why he was still doing so well when the economy is in the dumps. His answer was that he chooses not to participate in the recession. As long as you guys keep talking about and believing it then it will be true.....for you anyway. If you think negatively then you will always be in the recession or whatever else brings you down. Think positve and you will attract the things you want. Many of you will be thinking right about now that this guy has lost his marbles but believe me when I tell you that things in this world are soon going to change and that change will come about when more and more people begin to think in the POSITIVE. Unfortunately those who have much wealth dont want you to think that way because they are greedy and have a vested interest in the general population being negative. That is why we see mostly negative crap on the news and violence in movies. Stop watching the news and violent movies and you will see how much your world changes in less than a year. Now how does this apply to your F-car. Thats very simple because when you think positively your car runs better and without many problems. So get out and drive your 355 and enjoy every minute and when you park it and get out, look up at the skyline and actually soak in how great it looks and what an amazing world we live in. Dont hate those that screw you over, just forget about them because hate will only bring negative things to you. In the last few generation we have forgot what life is really supposed to be about and we live to work instead of working to live. Think back to when you were a kid and try and remember how much negative stuff there was in your life. There wasnt much was there and thats becasue we have been trained to think negatively. Sickness is also brought on becasue of negative thinking. Never think that your getting sick, just think about feeling well......always be positive. Hey jetfixer......want to sell your wheels? Think positive and you will sell them.

 

Had a coolant leak, came up during a rally with my daughter. My wife's first comment: get rid of the car. I thought about it. I could have fixed the leak with the engine in and traded the car, no problem. 2.5 years since last major, why do it now?

Decided that I wanted to keep the car but wanted it to be right. Tom at Sport Auto is doing the major now. Very glad I did. He has found several issues that will not be that big a deal to handle now, but could have been catastrophic if left alone, certainly for another 2 years. I have a feeling this happens more often than not. Is it going to cost a bundle? Probably. But not much more than sales tax on a car that could offer me the same enjoyment.

 

I disagree with the above. I for one never considered a 360, and still wouldn't. A car with a recent major/headers/guides is going to bring more money than a car that needs those items.

Power is fun but it doesn't mean everything. I sold my 1000hp twin turbo 07 Z06 and bought a 355 GTS for example.

 

+1

The bad economy has had "some" good side effects...It has done a FABULOUS job of flushing the toilet with problematic customers, that were financially marginal to begin with...

One thing you find now is that the guys spending money are solid as a rock.


I "positively" know those darn wheels are going to sit on that shelf until someone mans up...

 

Here's my harebrained prediction:

There will be lots of bad cars in the next few years.

The pre-430 era cars will go through a period where many are bought, ruined, non-maintained or abused. At the price points they are hitting, they become obtainable toys for people but not necessarily invenstments worthy of major maintenance costs or high dollar repairs. Bought and sold, over and over. Driving prices down to become a self-perpetuating cycle.

Think about it much like muscle cars in the late 70's early 80's when you could pick up an old Shelby Mustang for a song.

This will thin the herd over the next 5-10 years, then we will see uptick due to rarity and novelty. Parts will be stockpiled from breakers, and we'll see a period of interest in restoring the cars to classic glory, then they will become collectors items and price will vary wildly based on originality etc, but I predict few will be found for sale outside of dealers and auctions.

Regardless of your thoughts on the 80s/90s era car performance and styling, they are iconic Ferraris that will always have a place in the history of the brand.

 

The complement of that question is likely to be answered more easily.....

I haven't seen a really "good" one in quite a while.......and, formerly good ones are "defecting" every day

 

No need to guess.....it already does IMHO......never thought I'd see 355's for sale at 1/3 to 1/4 of what they could bring back in 2001..........it's the new entry level Ferrari IMHO, for the unwary.

I had one in my inventory back in 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed it for 6 months........but today it probably is realistically worth 1/2 or less of what it was then.......due to the aforementioned design flaws and economy.

The upper limit for 'great ones" is going to be defined by how cheap the 360 eventually gets........and they are getting down there to the point where they are touching the higher end of 355 prices now. Personally I am not scared by the future $$ operating costs of a higher mileage 6 speed 360 (I had one)....but would not touch an equivalent F-1 car with a 3 meter piece of spaghetti. When the prices intersect, I'd cross the 355 off the list and buy a 360.

FWIW you are always better off to buy a bad car and having a known expert fix it right, than taking a chance on reading a work order and hoping it is for real, and that the job was done right. In times like this, there is a lot of fraud out there.

Denial of reality and hubris fills volumes of history books.........just ask anyone who has tried Amway how well this theory works......heh.

 

Why/how is that a certainty?

As a comparison, 993TT values far exceed 996TT values even though the 996 is the "newer, better" car.

Much like the 993/996 the 355 design is often held in higher regard than a 360.

 

More nouveau rich poseurs (and generally uneducated or non-enthusiast buyers) buy F-cars than Porsches overall, and their new car production target market is trending that way........and that segment usually wants the newest looking bang for the buck example they can get. My take anyways........been wrong before.....who knows.

 

Uhhh.....geewhiz, Gerry ---- no offense to you personally, but that may be the most naive thing I've heard anyone say in quite a while

It's actually quite the opposite ---- It's the sociopathic slime-balls in Washington (some of whom, hold VERY high-ranking positions who are blathering the "everything is turning around wonderfully" propaganda BS. And, to accept that as the reality is, let's just say.....uhhhh "very patriotic" of one ????

But, then again, as someone once said, "What the Amercan public does not know, is what makes them the American public".

 

It is true, though that some folks are indeed doing very well in this present economy.

A friend of mine is in the business of "repossession of personal property resulting from credit default". And, he is having the best 2 years of his career --- can hardly keep up with the increase in business demand

 

I *positively* know as I look at the beautiful sky, that yes, change indeed is coming...It is called.......November 2010....


Honestly some of the folks on here need a couple of doses of Glenn Beck. He comes on at 5 EST in case you lost your remote...

 

I think the people who can afford to keep 355s in tip top are buying newer model Ferrari's. Seriously, 355s, unless an owner can maintain the thing are the pits. I still love them dearly though.

 

+1

I know ALL about this...I have a nickname.. "Dog the Lear hunter"

Been great for my biz! Enough said

 

Well, if my choice is between watching another "speech" from Obama or watching an "editorial" from Glenn Beck -----

I'll choose something more intellectually significant ---- like reruns of "My Name is Earl" - LOL