Transmission preference

I own or have owned all of them: 1984 308 GTB QV, 1988.5 328 GTB, 1994 348 TB Challenge (still own - won't sell), 1997 355 Berlinetta (looking to add another one). There are things to each of the cars that make them special in their own right. Based on each person's driving habits, skills, and environment and his/her individual tolerance for maintenance, the "right" car for them will be apparent. Personally speaking, I have my favorites of those but they're all great cars. It's interesting to see what makes some more "collectible" than others.

On another note, this whole argument about values sort of makes me chuckle because value only really matters when you sell the car. If you've bought a car or assembling a collection to keep for your lifetime, the value is of little consequence. Therefore if you love your car and want to keep it forever, it really doesn't matter what it's worth because you'll never see that money.

 

That must have been some day when you took delivery.

What dealer? Was there a quota issue if were you able to just step in?

Very cool that you still have it. I'll get up there to visit and see it someday.

 

F making a coffee table.... I'm going to make 5valve per cylinder duel overhead cam V8 Jacuzzi... It wont be worth much because its a 97 stick.... honestly at the end of its life I will do something with it other than sell it for 20k as a parts car. Maybe I will plant flowers in it and make it a lawn ornament or even have them make my coffin out of it.

 

I was going to add that but you beat me to it. A couple of my other cars have appreciated nicely over the past year or two. I tell my wife about how well they are doing. She comes back with that's great but your not going to sell them anyway, so what does it matter. She's right.

 

Bottom line on a macro note we are in an asset bubble worldwide thanks to your Fed. There will be a day of reckoning on all this when the value of your Ferrari will be the least of your concerns.

Sorry for the reality check.

 

I actually resent that. Both "parties" have sound arguments. I always said I disagree (and I strongly do) with people who say manuals are/will be more valuable than F1s, some have solid arguments, some don't. But I certainly wouldn't call them obnoxious and I wouldn't make it personal. We'll just have to wait and see over the next few years how different markets react to desirability and rarity. I love to debate with logic and courtesy, respecting each and every opinion no matter how strongly I disagree. Generally, I learn from who disagrees with me as long as they aren't trolling, because I consider that there is more uniting us than separating us regarding our beloved 355.

Kindest regards,

Nuno.

 

I bought it from Bob Sharp Ferrari, March of 85. It was a 38th birthday present to myself. Actually signed the deal on my birthday. Took delivery the day after Memorial Day. There was a quota and when I showed up they said they had sold all of theirs (27). They asked me to wait for the 328. I told them I wanted a car by June 1 or no deal. They said they would look for one for me. I wanted red/black. They found a couple, a red/tobacco and a red/tan. I went with the red/tan. Considering the number of GTBs made in 85, (201) world wide, and the rarity of GTBs in the US, I guess I was lucky. Car came from FAF in Georgia, now Ferrari of Atlanta. It was indeed pretty cool I took delivery for Stan Nowak, well know Ferrari aficionado and great guy. Paul Newman raced out of that shop as well (Bob Sharp Nissan was in the same building). The place was pretty much of a sh*$hole in appearance. There was also an 84 288 GTO for sale for around $80k which the salesman (Jerry) talked me out of because "it really wasn't something to drive on the street". Yea, thanks a lot Jerry. Weird walking into the dealership and seeing a used 308 and a BB512 on the floor next to a bunch of new Nissans. I'm in jeans and a flannel shirt and say I want to buy a car. Salesman says Nissan or Ferrari? I said Ferrari and he became much more attentive. Nothing like the stories you hear about today. Miller Motors bough the Ferrari dealership and moved it to Greenwich a few years later.

Funny thing is that I always seem to buy cars at the end of March. Basically signed the deal for my 355 at the end of March and it rolled off the truck on Memorial Day 2013, almost exactly 28 years later.

 

Yup

Not to mention the demise of the "commuter" car as we know in in the next 10 years
All human driven cars will no longer matter.
The entire auto industry is scrambling to make new business or exit plans

Big changes a coming

 

You are probably right. Hopefully not as bad as 2008.

 

Young people will be passing us in their computer driven cars going " omg look at that old fool he's manually driving his car" and " what does that old relic run on , gasoline ?" Eeeewwwww


" serenity now "

 

thats obvious as well..you still dont get it..but thats ok..its really the 99s more commanding more money than 98 and just look for one on the market..there is none..look for a 95-97 stick there everywhere..its simply Supply and Demand..alot of people who can afford newer Ferraris but dont really like them that like the 355 more will pay the money just as I did in 94 when I purchased an 89 328 I could have had a new 348 spider then..It just did not cut it for me..i dont want to argue with anybody, im kind of sorry I even stepped foot on this subject..ALL 355s are great cars!!!..This is actually my third one!.I never loved a car more!!

 

sorry..i did not

 

if I got it from there I would be saying the f1s are worth more and 98 as well, i do believe 98 has an edge because of less built but they still made alot of 98s in stick midway into production came the f1..its the 99s that have the edge mostly..sorry to disappoint you guys..The market is showing it..not me!

 

I think the only true way to get a sense of what cars seem to be bringing the most money would be for either sellers or buyers to disclose the actual selling/purchasing price. The year, model variant (GTB, GTS, Spyder) transmission, mileage, condition. I still think the car's condition determines its value and also having the right buyer at the right time that wants that particular car with those features.

 

lol...

 

I wonder if anybody on this forum even owns a 99 stick?..if so step forward

 

Obviously I don't own it, but there are a few around.

This car is at my local Ferrari dealer. I've seen it many times in person and it is basically brand new.

1999 Ferrari F355 Spider Cars For Sale in SA - CarPoint Australia

 

Thats a Euro car..Where are you located?? oh I see Australia..Here really none to come by

 

whatever

 

The only difference in a 96 vs 99 is the value of a model that is the last year of production and one that is 3 years newer. I have a 98 and it would be better if it was a 99 but it's such a small benefit.

 

As an owner of a low mileage well documented car, mileage matters to some people and they avoid low and high mileage cars. Arguments can be made for all sides IMHO.

Almost all Ferraris have a residual value near 40% of sticker after 3 years of ownership.
The exceptions are the Super Cars and a few other scarcer models.

My car is in Concours condition because I over maintain it and hardly drive it enough. I got older and I am driving my 575M much more than my 355 F1 GTS. My favorite
driving mountain had a bad fire last year and landslides and falling rocks (boulders actually) so i didn't make the run to many times in the 355 this past summer up to 8500 feet. Pop the GTS top off and the engine sound reverberating off rock walls is the bomb, especially on down shifts.

 

Without wishing to create a fire storm (cue people leaping up to defend their own personal cars etc.).... After a car is about 5 years old I simply don't trust what the odo says.

The 355 like virtually all cars of that era and before can have any mileage on it you want in around 25 minutes.

When I am buying an older car, and I have bought and sold plenty over the years, I use the odometer as a kind of vague indicator. Originality (unmodified, OE spares etc.), Condition and maintenance are king. If you are a hobbyist or a very trusting person then by all means go with the mileage.

"Certified mileage", corroborating service records and the like aren't worth jack in my world, and the reason is that if somebody has knocked off say, 1000 miles a year, every year on a 15 year old car, well... you can work it out. There are even folks who would drive with the speedo unplugged.

For a collector who knows what they are doing, mileage on the odo ain't that important.

Let the wailing and hand wrenching begin...

 

Mileage fraud is certainly a concern but in the US with Carfax , etc. having entris whenver a car is registered or renewed with mileage and service records having mileage on them it is pretty easy to sniff out the fraud on a cursory glance.