When Buying: Full Service Before or After Purchase?

If you were buying a perfectly running flawless Ferrari w/ 20k miles due for a 5yr service would you:
1. prefer to have it done by current owner by his mechanic or
2. by your mechanic after the sale? Case in point is a 1989 328GTS.
The sale price would naturally reflect service cost. If done before purchase is there any grantee to new owner other than a service record on paper from an out-of-town shop? Thanks.

 

I'd prefer to have it done by my mechanic. Second choice would be your mechanic, assuming your mechanic is someone well known for excellent Ferrari service. My experience has been that ALL older Ferraris, no matter who cared for them, need work.

Not a fan of cars serviced in anticipation of a sale. Good luck!

 

When I bought my 328 it was (over)due for the big service.

I worked the service in as part of the deal. I would buy the car and contribute $1,000 above the "no service" negotiated price towards the service to be done at a shop of my approval.

 

The way I look at it, the mechanic is only one part of the equation, the financial constraints placed on him by the owner are a bigger factor. So personally, I rather get a car and have the best mechanics do the work with an open wallet on my dime. When buying a car freshly serviced, my fear as a buyer would be that the seller has an incentive to invest as little as possible in the service because he is selling. In fact, when I bought my Mondial it was freshly serviced. I had my mechanic do another major early, just to clean the slate!


So I rather buy your car in exceptional condition and pay a little less and do the major myself to avoid those niggling fears that can keep me up at night.

 

We bought our Mondial with a fresh major service from Shelton Ferrari in Florida. This is a perfect scenario as we can assume all service bulletins were addressed and the job was done correctly with OEM parts. The full accounting shows what was inspected and what was replaced. For example the clutch was noted as good but the throw-out bearing was rebuilt.

However, I remember when in High School, we did a timing belt and head gasket on a friends Honda. The job didn't go exactly by the book..he sold the car a week later with a fresh belt.

Dave

 

Have it done by your own mechanic the person who will be servicing your car in the future that way you can discuss what is needed to be done right away and options for what can maybe wait till a little further down the line. I just bought a Mondial and had a fresh service done before I started driving it so that like Joe Zaff posted I'm starting with a fresh slate.

 

After. So you know what you got.

 

I'd prefer to know someone kept up with service at a reputable place that I could call and get some 411 on the car. Baring that I'd want them to take car of the service at a reputable shop to prevent any owies. Lastly, if the deal was good enough I'd have my guy do it once he inspected the car in the first place, if possible.

 

I would prefer to purchase at a discount and have the service perfomed by someone I know and trust.

 

Exactly...and what other items will/may need attention soon.

 

With a car even 5 years old you just never know. Let alone 20. But being that all risks are the same wouldn't you want to take them on a Ferrari & have & hold a legend?

 

Of course, if you *happen* to have the car near one of the <ahem> well-recognized experts before you take possession, you might be tempted to have them take care of a few little things: Injectors for instance. Just while it's there you understand...

 

When thinking recently about selling my 308, I asked the owner of Norwood Perf the same question...I had a complete major including belts done four years and 5000 miles ago, after I got the car home to Dallas.

He advised against doing anything beyond a cleanup and detail, as the condition of the car and records of meticulous care while in my ownership would speak for themselves. He also added that new owners most often prefer their own shop for initial work.