Ferrari Certified 101-Point Inspection vs. PPI

The 101 point gets you a bunch of checked boxes no matter what, unless you buy the additional warranty. In my opinion it doesn't get you much unless you have an established relationship.

A good PPI costs more but may be a little less biased.

 

+1

 

+2

Forget the "checked boxes" ... it's a joke (personal experience speaking). Get
your PPI from an INDEPENDENT F-wrench who really truly knows the model car
you're looking at and has no bias or association with the seller.

Ask me how I know, or just search back on my user name to March/April 2008

Ignore this advice and you'll possibly pay through the nose to "check those boxes"
after you buy the car.

Jedi

 

True, an independent PPI has nothing to gain or lose whether you buy the car or not.

 

Ooh, 101 is a big number, must be good, right?

When some of those boxes are as simple as "wiper blades" and "washer fluid" and "parking lights"... do you really need to pay someone to check those boxes? How much value does that add to your inspection?

Go with a PPI, and let your mechanic know exactly what you want inspected... that way you don't waste money on superfluous checks.

 

Agree 100%. However, keep in mind that PPI is just a generic term for a Pre Purchase Inspection. It is not some sort of brand name, it does not have any recognized and accepted standard fir what is checked and what is not. There is no formal checklist for this.

Best advice is to talk to the mechanic doing the inspection, discuss what areas you are most interested in, see what advice they have about the particular model, agree on a level of rhoroughness and documentation that you will be happy with and let him or her take it from there.

 

Im most cases WE are the independant inspector for purchases. We use the 101 point sheet for PPI's along with a handwritten form.

We have techs that are experienced in the classiche cars through the current model line up. This includes all the F-Super cars.

We cant be lumped in with everyones bad experiences. Not fair.

 

Don't ask me how I know

 

Where, in Texas, the USA, the World?

Rather a broad statement to make!

 

could you please share the 101 point sheet here ?
O would like to see it .
Or by PM.

thank you in advance
Ivo

 

I don't think there was any intent here to say 'all dealers are bad, only talk to independants', though a post or two may have come across that way. And of course it is not fair to lump everyone together because of a few bad experiences.

I think the point to raise here is one of communication. Whoever performs the inspection, make sure you clearly communicate your expectations up front. Your idea of what may be 'normal' for a PPI may not match someone else's. If you thought you were going to get a specific deliverable and didn't - let's say a compression and a leakdown test - without confirming with the mechanic whether that is part of their 'normal' procedure...

That's when people start posting about finding a lawyer etc., etc., etc.....

 

PPI is the way to go.

Here is an example PPI checklist you could use (just add your relevant car inf into the list and use what you can or care about)
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Is a compression test and/or leakdown part of a PPI?

 

Yes; a PPI consists of compression and leakdown tests, among other things. I think compression and leakdown are the most important part of the mechanical inspection.

 

Yes/could be. I've spoken to different mechanics on different makes. I've heard some say "compression test will be a waste of your money, that's not a problem with these cars."

The place that did my PPI charged extra for the compression test on my car, and I'm not entirely convinced that they did one. There are some things they should have found if they had done one.

 

I defer to an experience I had almost two years ago, where I was working for a broker who was representing a 360 F1 Spider. The local mechanic said it drove better than any 360 F1 Spider he had in his shop (it was there for reverse lever repair). When PPI time came, he discovered the car needed a valve job ($12-15K).

Unless you're buying new from the factory, I think it's insane to buy a Ferrari without first commissioning a PPI (that includes a compression and leakdown test).

 

So I see a car at the local dealer, can't realy have them do a PPI? Howdo I find a reputable indy mechanic, I live in Atlanta and I have had so many storeis on thh same indy shops, they are great ,theya re not great that don't know sh--.....this is NOT a Ford obviously, I need to find someone who knows Ferrari's and is not a dealer tech............dogdoc

 

I see you must have partied Saturday night!

Looks like you had a great time......

 

actually I am wearing two braces, one on each hand when I type, too many surgery days and headed for carpal tunnel surgery soon...I am too old to party at this hour friend!dogdoc

 

You have my apology....I tried to make a funny.

 

Very good and well respected techs have stated on this board on numerous occasions the difficulties with the PPI. First, as already mentioned here, there is no standard as to what it includes (compression and leakdown may be on your list, but it sure isn't done every time). Then, it is a used car - does the inspector take on some responsibility that the car has nothing wrong with it or will not have an issue in short order? That has become a real problem too. I believe Rifledriver simple stopped doing PPIs because of the time invested (no one wanted to pay $1000 for a PPI) and the implied responsibility.

To me, the best PPI is personal knowledge. If a big problem like a valve job is a big issue, then you need to become aware of it and know how to look for it yourself. Looking for it yourself may be taking it to a trusted mechanic and have them do a compression and leakdown, or it may be putting a spot of oil on the filter of a 355 and taking it for a drive to look for header insulation. But I think you are nuts if you just blindly turn the car over to someone else and let them tell you what they think.

A used car is a used car. You get it for a fraction of what the new car cost. And then you assume responsibility. IMO, If you want it perfect, you buy it new yourself.

 

T
Ll

 

Well look at it this way. If you purchase a Power Normal or Power train warrantee it will not cover everything that is on that 101 point list. If something is not functional on that list but is not covered by warrantee what liability does the dealer have vis a vis Ferrari?

Answer: none.

I think that I'm about to find out tomorrow about something that was neglected on the 101 point "inspection" but isn't covered under the warrantee.