Now I want a Ferrari!

After my disappointment a few years back with the California Ferrari that I drove, I wanted to drive the more popular model so I drove a nice 2004 Ferrari 360 Spider today. Wow! Great amazing fun race car and while not as fast as the 430 and new 458 it put miles of smiles on my face. So now I'm looking for either a 360 or 430 since I'm seeing 430 below 100k now and they are quite a bit faster with better F1 transmission than in the 360. I'm seeing prices between 60-100k on this 360 and dealer wanted too much for the 360 that I drove today. Plus since I don't have a garage, I really don't want a convertible right now. One thing on the 360 that was tricky was getting the auto button off to let me really open up the car fast.

 

Others may disagree, but I say if you don't have a garage you shouldn't get a Ferrari. I'm not particularly into that "Ferrari care-taker BS", but I do believe that if you're spending $70K plus on a nice car, you should keep it nice. I don't even park my beater Fiat outside.

Get a garage and THEN get a Ferrari.

Or, said another way, even if you don't like your wife all that much anymore, buy her some flowers from time to time anyway.

 

430's are under 100K??

 

Do not buy a sub 100K 430.... if such an animal exists.

 

Believe it or not. I have seen quite a few uncovered Ferrari's parked outside. I am in California though. There is one a couple of blocks from me with it's red indoor cover on under a carport.

If i didn't have a garage, I'd make the wife sleep outside and the car in the house next to me...You have to have priorities, right? lol j/k

 

Agree on having a proper garage for a Ferrari. I'm looking to buy real estate this year then my Ferrari. Maybe both at same time as houses are cheaper outside Bay Area.

 

Sub $100K F430s are out there. And they are everything you'd expect them to be. One which seems to be gone now was a flood damage salvage from FL. I hope the dealership selling it finally realized that the car really needed to be parted out (as sad as that is to say, sometimes it's the best answer).

 

True but it was only few years ago that 430 were selling 150+ and 360 over 100k.
It's a great time to buy a Ferrari or high end exotic. I'd love to put both a Ferrari AND a Bentley CGT or AM DB9 in my new garage once I buy a home this year. It won't get me women but it will put miles of smiles on my face. Dogs and puppies are *cute* which dumb young attractive women want but I do like dogs so all good.

 

USA the land of the free, well almost you guys have it so easy. 430's in OZ are still at $200k+

 

Um... Like mine. Midcentury architectural home. A garage would be a crime. I double cover mine, red indoor cover, and Covercraft outdoor on top of it. We're also behind gates so the threat of theft or vandalism is minimal.
A friend with a pretty nice car collection (Ferraris, Bugatti, and more) also only has a carport. Same reason.

 

The key is have secure place safe away from vandalism and theft. Spiders are more susceptible compared to hardtop coupes.

 

Scott/Ben/JD ([email protected]),

I think the best way for us to help you decide what you want is to begin with a review some of the thoughts you have shared with us (FChat search feature used) and others (Google search used) in the past:

Initial interest in the Ferrari brand?

9th February 2006 (348/355): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/93035-ferrari-should-i-get-308-328-348-a.html

But you changed your mind 11 months later:

27th January 2007: Car and Driver M coupe vs Cayman S - Page 2

...until later in the year:

9th September 2007: Price for RUF Cayman?

Any reasonably astute car enthusiast would have known that a custom version of a premier tune of a luxury performance car is going to be expensive, but I guess one who does not want to spend a fortune on cars wouldn't follow these things all that closely. Anyway, after a few years and a name change, you're back full of new determination to shop for that Ferrari again:

10th January 2010 (360/430): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/269996-annual-maintenance-costs-360-f430.html

10 minutes later on that very same day, you suffer a crisis of decision and Lamborghini looks quite attractive...

10th January 2010 (Ferrari Discussion, not model specific): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific-sponsored-algar-ferrari/269997-ferrari-versus-lamborghini.html

After 8 days have elapsed, he starts to wonder which is the more suitable Ferrari for a posterior of his carriage. Is Lamborghini falling out of favour?

18th January 2010 (360/430): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/270851-why-seats-so-tiny-narrow-360-f430.html

Yes, the Lamborghini Gallardo is definitely out...

16th February 2011 (360/430): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/313872-looking-buy-first-ferrari-what-look.html

Although, this helpful introduction explains that the love of Italian exotics was always there - except for that day back in 2007 when they weren't worth the money... it's ok, I gather the relationship many owners have with their Italian exotics are a love/hate relationship, so you're just getting in good practice at this stage:

21st February 2011 (New Member Introductions): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/new-member-introductions/313876-future-aspiring-ferrarista-san-diego.html

However, February is a chaotic month for knowing one's mind...

26th February 2011 (LamborghiniChat.com): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/lamborghinichat-com-sponsored-lamborghini-houston/315088-lamborghini-gallardo-ferrari-f430.html

But then February of 2011 thankfully ended and Scott/Ben/JD (delete as appropriate) drove a California...

19th March 2011 (Other Italian): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/california-nevada-southern-sponsored-fast-cars-ltd/317494-thoughts-driving-ferrari-california.html

But, you know, old chap, the Best of British is nothing to be sniffed at:

2nd June 2011 (British): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/british/325761-aston-martin-versus-bentley.html

...but suddenly, he must have started thinking about that slow California he drove a few months back because suddenly the 458 Italia seriously enters the picture again. Or is he warming up to Lamborghini again?

18th June 2011 (Other Italian): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/other-italian/327555-lamborghini-ferrari.html

But then we're back focusing on Ferrari, but nothing slower than a 430...

20th July 2011 (360/430): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/331003-why-used-f430-still-expensive.html

Hold on a minute... the slow 360 is still under consideration!

27th August 2011 (458 Italia): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/458-italia/335408-should-i-wait-458-get-430-360-a.html

But - another twist! Only 3 minutes later the dark side of the Lamborghini and stiff-upper-lipped Aston Martin raise their heads to challenge for the honour of his first exotic purchase!

27th August 2011 (Ferrari Discussion, not model specific): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific-sponsored-algar-ferrari/335409-why-did-you-choose-ferrari-over-other-exotics.html

Ah, but those Astons, Bentleys, and Maseratis look so pretty:

3rd September 2011 (General Automotive Discussion): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/general-automotive-discussion/336299-ultimate-daily-driver.html

Properly into autumn now, performance luxury seems to be the flavour of the day:

10th October 2011 (Porsche): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/porsche/340524-porsche-911-turbo-mercedes-cl63-amg.html

Oh, of only Ferrari had put a glass cover over the 599's engine! Why didn't you do it, Ferrari - why?!?!?!

17th October 2011 (612/599): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/612-599/341399-why-no-clear-engine-glass-cover-599-a.html

Wait a moment - the Ferrari California makes a surprise reappearance in procedings!

19th October 2011 (Porsche): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/porsche/341654-porsche-911-turbo-s-cab-ferrari-california.html

But through it all, I suspect the 430 has a special place in his heart - and damn those strong residuals:

27th January 2012 (360/430): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/353850-why-used-f430-so-expensive.html

Good grief, short attention span. Having had that question answered, he must ask it again almost verbatim just a few months later:

31st March 2012 (360/430): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/403616-why-prices-not-dropping-f430-yet.html

I'm seriously starting to worry about our friend here, aren't you? Well, we must go on... with a surprise!

19th December 2013 (348/355): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/431943-ferrari-f355-spyder.html

It's 2014 and that brave new year brings a brave new question! Which exotic to buy?! Hmmmm, no 430?

16th August 2014 (Ferrari Discussion, not model specific): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific-sponsored-algar-ferrari/458073-best-used-exotic-100k-under.html

Oh no! Our worst fears are confirmed! He's given up on the 430 depreciating into his price point!

18th August 2014 (360/430): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/458305-used-360-prices.html

Which brings us to today. Rejoice, dear friends, now he wants a Ferrari and the 430 has made it back into active and serious consideration!

TODAY! (360/430): http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/458806-now-i-want-ferrari.html

Whew!! It makes me feel tired just thinking about all of that!!

If it has been this much of an emotional roller-coaster ride for those of us on the sidelines, watching you reach this momentous decision to finally buy a Ferrari... a 360 Spider... or a 430... or a 458 Italia... or a 360 Modena... I can only imagine how taxing it must have been upon you these past 8½ years.

I feel for you Ben / Scott J. / B. Scott / Benjamin Prusinski / JD (delete as appropriate). It looks like you're having a really tough time buying your first exotic - my own journey is far ahead of me, but now I almost look upon its beginning with some trepidation... almost.

Good luck, you're going to need it.

Sincerely,
Andrew.

 

^^^ Andrew, that was very well done

And, if you notice the first 8 letters of his screen name, that's all you need to know about him/her, because when it comes to deciding on an exotic, he sure "mixes-a-lot"

 

GULP!

 

Nice work Andrew!

Oh THAT guy.. the one at C+C who comes every week in the same car ______ that tells everyone there that he's shopping for an exotic but never buys... "I almost bought one of these but didn't because of _______"

 

Words fail me - why waste the time and energy!!

 

U N B E L E I V A B L E is all I can say.

Very well done Andrew. I can only dream of having the memory you clearly have!

 

I think another one for the dreamers section. Amazing.

 

Guys
I'm torn between a Ferrari 430 and an Aston Martin DB9 Vantage, what do you think ............oh well let's not go there shall we.
Alan

 

Ha ha - go with a F430 they're under $100k

 

I'm looking for one now, gonna trade my M3 and Truck for it...

 

Just reading all those crazy posts made my head spin! Too funny.

 

Never seen a 430 for under $100k unless it has 100,000 miles on it ;-)

 

In all fairness, over the 9 years I was saving for my first exotic there was alot of mental masturbation like this. I considered a least a dozen models in that time frame. Talking about the cars kept the flame burning, which was tough considering my income and balancing family needs that always came first.

So I appreciate the journey guys like this go through....

 

Andrew,

Well you do have the right to my opinion! Just kidding and as an aside, time passes, life gets in the way and we do have a right to take our sweet time to make up our minds. This is America not communist China.