Ok Final Time for Advice on F430 Choice

Ok, so here are the FOUR cars in the entire country that I am seriously considering purchasing one of in the next 5 days...Yes, I know it is all a personal decision, etc., yada, yada, but I really would love to hear from anyone that wants to chime in!
My favorite colors are Black or Silverstone, but I could live with pure silver (argento nurinberg, sp?) All of these cars are at dealers.

1. 05' Silver/Blk Spider, 8500 mi. power seats, but not daytonas. I think I can get it for $125k+$1500 for enclosed shipping.

2. 05' Silverstone/Blk Spider, 17,500mi, power daytonas. $125k (the dealer jacked it up from his initial quasi offer of $122k which i am still pissed about).

3. 07' Silverstone Coupe with tan daytonas, non-powered seats, 32,000mi. $108k+shipping, and needs about $2k in fixing leather on driver seat and maybe front lower bumper respray

4. 06' Blk/Blk Coupe 24,000mi, powered daytonas, and carbon fiber rear grill...needs new back tires, clutch at 50%, otherwise up to date, $115k

what do you guys think/like? suggestions, comments (especially whether any of the 3yrs is worse or better for performance, reliability, etc.) Thank you!

 

You want good advice?

Buy the one you want regardless of price. You don't buy these everyday. It's not a game to find the cheapest or best deal out there.

It's about finding the right car for you that you'll love and enjoy in whatever lifestyle you want to use it.

Only you can figure that out. We have no stake in your ownership. Listening to a bunch of guys who aren't putting their own money were there mouth is sounds like asking them to pick you a wife.

 

I like the wife analogy...funny you say that, I often tell her she is much like a Ferrari, really pretty, everyone loves her, but the freakin maintenance costs are OUTRAGEOUS!

 

personally, and it is a personal decision.. I would go for the Black/black car.. but that's just me... the 2k on the leather could go to the clutch if needed.. plus I think the simpler color schemes are easier to sell in the future.. red ext./black int, silver/black, black on black..

when I was hunting for Bella, I originally wanted a silver/ black car.. but would have settled for black/black.. my only must have was a fixer upper that I could manage at a price that was great. my wife told me explicitly "no red!".... well "Bella" is a red/black 5 speed coupe in my garage that I... we... adore. She wasn't exactly what I sought.. but I couldn't be happier.

best of luck with the decision! Your heart will guide you down the right path.

 

btw, if it was me.. I wouldn't touch the car that the dealer raised the price.. on principle alone.

 

#1 sounds like the best deal but you never know until you actually see them. Plane ticket? There is a big advantage to being able to see for yourself.

Dave

 

#1 is my choice. I like the low miles and the silver color. There's nothing better than driving on PCH with the top down

 

Have to go with # 1also. Hard to compare coupes with spiders. Don't settle . There are a lot of cars for sale.

 

You seem to have a very wide range of cars you are looking at. Coupes, spiders, different colors both interior and exterior, wide range of years. I think you should sit back, not get anxious, figure out exactly what you want, and find the car the meets all your requirements. It doesn't seem to me you are thinking this one through. It seems you just have some money burning a hole in your pocket....a very big pocket at that!

 

Do you want a convertible again ? If I lived near you I would - Silverstone/red at F0BH

 

I have wanted a Ferrari since I was 6yrs old. I have been looking for an F430 for 3 weeks, after realizing that I wanted newer technology and interior, etc..than the F360's I had been looking at for 3months prior to that. Let's just say my budget of $80k somehow skyrocketed to get the F430 w/out an increase in income...i do see a $40k more for the 430 as worth it for me. It is hard to say that anyone purchasing a ferrari, who is not really weathly, will be doing it out of at least 65% emotion, and thus hard not to get one sooner rather than later...

 

All true but the hunt is fun in and of itself. Don't shortchange it.

Dave

 

Of course, we can't see the conditions of these cars. Based on the information provided, I would shy away from 3 because of the repairs needed and the higher milage. Unless you're traveling to see the 1st car, buying sight unseen is little risky. I would probably go with the 2nd car. Just my 2 cents.

1. 05' Silver/Blk Spider, 8500 mi. power seats, but not daytonas. I think I can get it for $125k+$1500 for enclosed shipping.

2. 05' Silverstone/Blk Spider, 17,500mi, power daytonas. $125k (the dealer jacked it up from his initial quasi offer of $122k which i am still pissed about).

3. 07' Silverstone Coupe with tan daytonas, non-powered seats, 32,000mi. $108k+shipping, and needs about $2k in fixing leather on driver seat and maybe front lower bumper respray

4. 06' Blk/Blk Coupe 24,000mi, powered daytonas, and carbon fiber rear grill...needs new back tires, clutch at 50%, otherwise up to date, $115k

 

120-130 k for a 430 spider is an absolute steal!!! New AMG Mercedes and Porsche 4Scabs and turbos go for this much or more!!!! I paid $190k for a 2002 360 spider in 2004, and I thought i was getting a deal as they were going for close to $300k 2 years eariler. So get what you want , you will enjoy it. You are buying a car at almost 50% of its orginal value, which until recently was unheard of in a newer model Ferrari.......

 

In the end you must decide for yourself, but if I was picking a car off that list it would definitely be #1. Between the lower miles for that year and the color combo and the price it's by far the best deal you've given us. Buy the car with your heart, you can always sell it if you have to. And a great deal of depreciation has already come out of the silver/black spider. I don't see you losing to much future value unless you rack up many, many more miles.

 

I would go for #1. I was in the market for a coupe then found everything i wanted but in a spider so I bought that.
Now I am glad I did. It's great and i've never been a conv. person.

 

I vote for #1 and a personal inspection of it.

 

Imo, none of them seem that particularly compelling to me.

As someone else put it, you don't buy a car like this every day or evry year. Spend the time and keep looking. There's one out there with your name on it.

In my case, one caught my eye. But I kept looking. And then came back to this one. Yes, it had my name on it.

 

Well said alcc.

If he must buy one, #1 would be my choice too given the story attached to #2. No matter which car listed or not listed that he chooses, I would not buy one without seeing it in person and driving it regardless if it is from a Ferrari dealer and you have an independent PPI done.

Is #1 eligible for any of the mid to top tier Ferrari power warranties? 2005 should be?

 

Yes, 2005 eligible for Power warranty.

 

Dittto alcc....they all four sound like "children of the corn to me. High mileage and something needing fixed...wait for the right one...there has got to be more stuff out there than these four...plus I don't think any of them come close to the right price IMHO.

 

Meaning you think they are priced too high? To me, they are the best "deals" i have seen in massive daily searching. I really don't mind buying a car with 17,500mi. Unfortunately, I do not have the money to buy a 5k mi. car, etc. BTW, IMO, i give $1 of depreciation to every mile on the car. Anyone else agree with that? I know there is a limit...i think after 30k mi., the cars start deeply depreciating at 2x that rate...

Thanks for all the input. It is really appreciated. And I rarely seek advice...

 

YES...compare your cars to this car which sold for $137K. Compare value and condition for another $10K or 10K miles in your world.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-FE...t_33518wt_1167

Good Luck on your decision

 

Honestly, I just don't think going by "best deal" is the way to go with these cars. There's likely no such thing. Even if there is, what's the chance you hit upon it?

Not likely to get perfect combo of color, options, mileage, history and price. One of those has to give. Easiest, unfortunately, is price.

I cannot believe these 4 are the only ones out there that fit your "spec." So many good cars out there, especially in in ur neck of the wood -- CA/AZ. Did you check Ferrari authorized (CPO) site?

 

I cannot believe these 4 are the only ones out there that fit your "spec." So many good cars out there, especially in in ur neck of the wood -- CA/AZ. Did you check Ferrari authorized (CPO) site?[/QUOTE]

Your right, I should restate that, they are the 4 I would purchase in my price range...there are certainly several cars out there that I would love to own, but all are $15k-$25k more than I have to spend. And I really do not want to wait another yr. to buy one. When you get into the $125k for a 5yr old used car, you then start to ponder about buying a condo in palm springs instead, or a downpayment on another rental property, etc, etc...So I need to keep it at or under $125k. Honestly 2months ago, my budget was $80k. I did some extra legal work on the weekends, and thus raised it to $105k...and well now i am looking at $125k cars...but that is it...
thanks again...