So You Have $100k to Spend....

No... I think what ferraripete meant is that at $100K you get an acceptable Boxer that you can then spend money on over time to restore on a rolling basis. I.e., it may have a shrunken dash cover, upholstery damage, mismatched paint, minor dings/scrapes, leaks, etc., but it will start and run when you turn the key and slow down when you use the brake pedal.

 

I think you make some great points, the 355 is not a car for the mechanically challenged, especially regarding the electronics.

However, for someone who has a good working understanding of modern fuel injection systems, it is far less scary. If I could not do my own maintanance on the vehicle I would have probably gone running from it, but I do believe much of the nightmare can be resolved with preemptive work that addresses the shortcomings left in place by the factory. I also believe that avoiding the F1 is a key step in finding reliability in the 355 series. The F1 is clearly a clutch eater.

Thanks for your input, I recant suggesting that the general public could reliably own and operate the 355, I agree that a fair amount of specialized knowledge is key to being able to troubleshoot this car.

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Id say the 575. It is an amazing car and the most well built compared to a 355 or other older models. Yes it is run by a belt, but get a proper PPI done and make sure the belt service is up to date, and you wont have to worry about it for 5 years. Also, I think they have plataued in terms of depreciation.

I just looked on cars.com and a few certified examples are priced at around $110. You can probably get them for less.

575 for sure.

 

the 3.6 turbo is a better choice than the 993 if you were to ask me. i also own a 930 turbo so i may be partial to rear wheel drive turbo posches!

a black 3.6 will do you well!!!!!

 

I think this is a good suggestion. If you want something more classic, then a vetroresina 308 would be my pick, which are seriously appreciating in value. But I love my 550, and I loved my brother's 328GTS.

Many here have suggested 'driver' Boxers. I could not disagree more with those people. Boxers are a nightmare if they are not properly sorted. Boxers are expensive to maintain but not all that valuable. Consequently, far too many have been bought by people that can't really afford them, and these cars dominate the market. The lower end of the price range is $100k and these cars will without a shadow of a doubt cost you to put right. A complete restoration, top to bottom is 150k Euro. An engine rebuild is 25k Euro. It is not unheard of to need 50k Euro just to get the mechanical state sorted. And one thing is for sure, in Europe it is impossible to buy a decent Boxer for $100k - 120k.

Since the OP is going for his first Ferrari, I would advise him to stay well away from Boxers in the price range he's given. Buy something that is in fabulous condition (like a 550, 3x8, TR), and enjoy it properly. You can always buy the wreck to restore later, at least then you can drown your sorrows by going for a drive in your nice one. I know from experience!

Have fun deciding,

and MAKE SURE you test drive several types of Ferrari, and several examples, to make sure you buy the right model, and the right car.

Good luck!


Onno

 

Good choice -- but $100K might be a little shy. I've been shopping around for classic 911s and the market has just gone crazy -- even a poorly running 911T can run $120K with original paint.

 

Lots of good and interesting ideas here.

The thought I would amplify however, is that this would be the OP's *first* ferrari.

To me, there is lost of potential for maint/upkeep surprises with these cars. Yes, there are cars with no surprises (thus the use of the word "surprises").

With that in mind, together with the typical fact that owning these cars can be addictive...I would suggest *starting* your Ferrari journey with a 360 or 550 at the ~$100k entry price point. You can purchase a beautiful example of either for well less than $100k and that leaves plenty of $$ left over...if you want to spend a bit more money, then you can go with the newer version of either (575 or 430). Prices are easy to find on cars.com or any other site...550's should be $75k range, 575s closer to $100k. 360 coupe $80k range and 430 coupe (model year 2005) can be $125k range.

Test drive them and get the one that excites you the most.

Then, you will likely discover, you may want to change to another Ferrari after some period of time...rumor has it that can happen!

If you get a (very) well sorted/maintained 360 or 550 you *should* have a relatively uneventful ownership maint experiece to set your Ferrari journey off on the right foot.

Remember, buying a car is not a permanent decision...you can always trade one and get something else to enjoy...

If it were me, I would get the 360 or 550 over the 430 or 575...not because I prefer one over the other, but just because its your first ferrari...and the idea of leaving the "upgraded" model for a later time makes sense to me...

 

If money were no object the 360 is a better car than a 250GTO in almost all aspects.
In reality which one would you rather own ?
I think of the Boxer in the same terms.

 

I hear ya. I actually think you misunderstood me (likely me not being clear!). I don't think faster/handles better objective measurements describe some sort of "better" scale. If I thought that I would have traded my CS on a Scud last month. In fact, I expect I will own some classic (or near-classic or whatever the Boxer's are considered by the tifosi these days) Ferrari's eventually. Ownership experience is certainly defined by much more than pure measured speed or modern comfort features in my mind too!

I was soley trying to make the case to the OP to consider *only if the car appeals to him* a relatively more easy to maintain Ferrari as his first one. I think the 550 and 360 and their subsequent 430 and 575 are as good as it gets in that regard for his price range. That's all I was really trying to say. To complete the thought, he could get a Boxer "later". I fully intend to someday...

 

I have a euro 308 GTS, a 1990 Lotus SE, and an 88 Carrera. All paid for cash in the last 3 months for right at $50,000.

With your money i would add a 930 Turbo, a very nice carb 308 GTB (1976 only). Perhaps a sorted Testarossa, or 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo. Keep them for 5 years, and sell them off gradually, enjoying them the whole time.

I plan to buy more cars. its way better than " the market ".
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I think a 550 or 360 would be the best choice. Both can be had for less than 120k so you will have some room for maint or upgrades. They both seem to be reliable and not too expensive to maintain. I don't own either so I cant say first hand that the maint is low or easy to manage. The owners and the forums of the respective cars will dictate that.

 

Best post of the thread. I would add that the real and perceived mechanical and maintenance issues surrounding Testarossas and 348/355 will keep their pricing depressed compared to other Ferraris. The 308/328 and manual 360's look like the best long-term buys among modern (FI) cars from an initial purchase price, appreciation/depreciation and maintenance cost perspective.

I get a kick out of the 430 buyers claiming their cars are huge upgrades over the 360. That is what 328 owners used to say about 308's 20 years ago, but now both are considered old and slow.

 

I don't think you can rightly claim the advance of the 328 over the 308 is similar to the 430 over the 360. For one thing, if the 328 had the same leap of horsepower that the 430 had over the 360, it should have had 312 bhp, not 270. Those 42 extra horses would have made a difference. And I'm not even talking gearbox, E-diff, ceramic brakes and all the other upgrades that make a 430 feel very different to a 360 as well as much faster around any track.

As someone with no V8 horse in this race but having driven all 4 models, I can confidently say the 430 was a much bigger technological leap than the 328.


Onno

 

I think you're right. I was quoted ~$90K for a 911S coupe, car-plus-restoration, in 2009. I was recently offered a "deal" on one of the best restored 911E Targas around, and it was well over the $100K mark. Well preserved original ones can be even more.

European sports cars prior to '74 seem red hot. Post '74, pretty stagnant in general.

While not a sports car per se, the Merc 280 SL feels like the next rising star at the moment. Incredible build quality, classic style, and the best ones are still just shy of $100K. It's on my list... after a bigger garage.

If you want old and slow, try a 246, or a Merc 300 SL, or 356 Carrera -- all of which sell for multiples of a 360/F430. Collectors generally don't care about 0-60. Compare the 246 to the Boxer and that says it all.

The 328 was a thorough upgrade over the 308 -- engine, brakes, cooling (lousy on late 308s), wheels/tires, electrical, etc. At the time it was retired (1989), few of us realized that it was the last simple, robust Ferrari. A lot of us who can afford the newer, faster, computerized stuff gravitate back to the 328 anyway. The 308 will be in demand because it was the original design, but the 328 is almost Porsche-like in being a dependable, quality package -- almost like a 308 mated with a Boxster/Cayman. Even the targa roof is simple and will last decades longer than the expensive and fickle power folding tops of the 355 (especially)/360/F430/458.

 

old and slow must mean the race is not won always by the swiftest...those old and slow cars have certainly moved into the collector car royalty status, particularly with the carrera and gullwing!!!!!

 

+1

As far as the MB, are you talking about the pagoda cars? They're absolutely beautiful cars when you see one on the road.

 

I agree with your view but the hp leap of the F430 over the 360 is 83 bhp!!!

 

I thought you would never own another Lotus Esprit again, I fancy one of those too.

 

An older model F430?

 

yea, well ......... .

I had 2 Jalpas and wont own another. i wanted a BRG esprit, and this one was at an auction cheap. Figured i would give them 1 more try!

Sorting it out to be a fun driver.

 

Scratch up a little more, get a nice CS and enjoy the rest of your life

 

Yes, tremendous presence.

For $100K, I'd be tempted by this: http://www.autosportdesigns.com/Sales/Salesphotos.aspx?ID=2218

 

Considering your Jalpa experience, would you try a Countach? Also, are all Jalpas targas?