http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/2313686584.html Price is the best I've seen. But it reads like it's had a LOT of deferred maintenance. What say the worthies of this great site?
Pricing is borderline, I bet there is a story too. Also, you will be spending between $7000 and $13000 right off the bat for a major, "while you are in there's" and "gotcha's". However, that is not a bad thing if the car is in good shape. First step PPI, second step plan for those maintenance costs before driving it. You also want to makes sure it comes with the history or you may find yourself with an even larger bill. If this is your first Ferrari, take you time and know what to look for. Just my .02 --Mike
Run the VIN - My guess is it has been wrecked or has some title issues. If it has been wrecked make sure you let the folks doing the PPI know to include that in the inspection and make sure the repairs were done properly - preferably, find out who did the repairs, contact them and get a list of what was done and take that to the PPI. $39.9K can become $59.9K really quickly not to mention the Advil and Jack Daniels to ease the frustration and wash the bad Ferrari taste out of your mouth. As already stated, add $7-13K on for a major, seals etc. It says "new valve guides" but make sure they didn't just replace problematic valve guides with new problematic valve guides and actually corrected the problem. It also says "Tubi" but don't assume that addressed the cats and exhaust manifolds - could just be a Tubi silencer and the cats/manifolds still need to be addressed. Pretty car and the 95's are the ones to have (although they are all awesome!) but be careful. Cheers and good luck!
That one as been for sale at that price for a long time as well as this one in LA http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ctd/2319167860.html
Wow! I saw that car when I was searching back in the middle of last year. $35k cash would easily take that home at this point.
I spoke to the owner 7 months ago. I offered 35, with no take. He is a really nice guy and honest. The only thing that concerns me about the car is that not all the valves guides were done, he just did the ones that needed fixing. Don't ask why he did this, but as I understood the conversation, thats what was told to me.
Ding ding ding! We have a winner!! Yes, run the VIN through Carfax. This car has been discussed on the Forum before. I believe that it has a prior salvage history and there was some claim to the vehicle being owned by a famous musician. There's a slight chance I have this car confused with another, and if so, I apologize in advance to the Seller. However, I'm pretty sure I'm right. Proceed with caution if you are serious about purchasing.
Are you talking about the one in Portland or LA? The one in Portland I have seen listed in CL for at least a year now. Exactly the color combo/year/trans that I want, but $35k is most likely where he is going to find a buyer. It would have me thinking at $35k.
My '95 6-speed berlinetta is somewhat similar. 33xxx miles; belts done at 24xxx but 5 years ago, so some folks feel that they are due. Some prior paint work but no salvage title issues. No loose valve guides nor sticky controls; a great driver but not a show car. I was asking $44k, then $42k. The best offer i've had is $36k, so maybe I need to lower my sights a bit.
Be patient if you can my friend. 95's (especially Bs) are on the rise slightly and as we all know one that has been driven regularly and maintained is a hackuva lot better than some 2k mile garage queen with dry seals and belts. Hang in there and you should be able to get your 42-44K when the right (read: smart) buyer comes along. Cheers
As a (somewhat) potential buyer I have to say that the biggest deturent to a car like yours is the needing a major aspect. For the new Ferrari buyer the engine out major is not just a money issue. It's a unknown amount of money issue, a time issue, a WTF else am I gonna find when I am in there issue, and a "if he hasen't done a major in 5 years, what else wasen't done?" issue. I understand where you are coming from but it is a REALLY tough market for 348/355's right now. In time you might get a better offer than $36k, but by that time your $36k today could be worth more than your offer then.
Gotta say I sit on the other side of the church. I'd much prefer to buy a car pre-major for several reasons. It'll show all the leaks. It'll give a good idea of the condition of the motor with a leak-down. It'll show how it's been maintained pre-major. I can do as much or as little as I want to do to the car, including driving it for a while before I do the major (myself). WHO does the major won't be an issue, nor will exactly what was done or what needed to be done that wasn't. I can decide the quality of materials used-gold kit? Helms hoses? carbon clutch? hill bearings? 36k for a 355? Yeah baby-all I need is another $36k.
I'm with you bud. If I could hide a $36K purchase from my wife, I'd buy this! I aleady own one phantom car too many!
I think we're being a little too harsh on the car. I don't think it looked too bad assuming there is no salvage title. I too would prefer to buy a car pre service so I know exactly what I got after the service was complete. If I were in the market I'd be looking pretty hard at this car. Like Luke said, get the PPI done including the leak down. Greg just did this recently where he found a very solid car, got the PPI so he knew what he was getting into, had the major done and now has a great 355. He's done some very nice mods so I would put that near the top of the stack for good cars right now. This particular car looks like it's priced right to me. If the PPI checked out I would pull the trigger. Worst case is the PPI uncovers something and then you have grounds for negotiation.
Depends. I had an very thorough major done that was $16K but $6K of that was parts (headers, new cats, hoses, motor mounts, etc.) The thing I couldn't tell in the ad was if the headers needed to be done. If the headers and cats are OK then I would think $12K is a very solid number if not slightly high. If it needs headers and such then it is too low.
You are forgetting all the other parts (guides, valve seals, machining, gaskets mainly) if you have to pull the heads to get at the valve guides.
Hell, for $36k it would be a great buy. I'm sure that is what they guy who offered him that was thinking ) He said that is the offer he turned down though. He is holding out in the 40's.....
