how to value a car where the owner did the major themself

guys,

How do you put a value on a car when the service/major was performed by the owner themself? turning their own wrenches!

Thanks.

 

It depends who it is and how well it was documented. I personally trust my work over any shop.

 

I think many people would agree with that as well but it's biased. A car having the major done might be worth more than one with out but certainly a car that had a major completed by Ferrari dealer would be valued more than completed by a DIYer.

I am interested to hear opinions.

Thanks for responding.

 

It all depends. Documentation plays a big role. Take a look at how Dave Rocks is going about the project.

That's how it should be done.

 

If the major was not done by a recognized shop I would consider it not done. Sorry.

 

Oh well.

 

I've brought this up in a few threads before....
Im curious myself to know what others think.

Changing belts is one thing... and ONLY one thing.
There are hundreds of little "while you're in there" things to do /check....

and I highly doubt someone without extensive knowledge of the marque/model
will have done/checked everything that a dealer/specialist would have.

just my .02...

 

So I am a class S and T technician and I have to bring my car to a so called Ferrari shop to have my car be worth more?
So what do I do, retire my wrenches and give Ferrari dealer my money?
I have watched some videos on some Fchat owners having videos done at a so called Ferrari dealer and some of the things they did, I wouldn't. Yes, there are people that could do minor repair but engine work maybe a totally different story.
It all depends on whom is doing the repairs but myself being a licensed technician for over 35 year, 5 as an apprentice, and teaching diesel engine diagnostics, I think I am more than capable of doing my own repairs; that is if my back is still good.....LOL.

 

I'm pretty sure that John is speaking for himself only. But, of course, there are those who are willing to pay a premium for work performed by a "recognized shop".

 

Yup.

If a client was considering it I would steer him away. There are certainly people who can do them and do them very well but for every one done well there are 20 not done well.

Many shops do not even take on new cars that have a long history of DIY work.

 

Life aint fair.

 

You and me both. I'm more than capable, but I don't move around like I used too. When it comes time for my next major, I'll have to see how my back and knees feel. If it's in the winter, forget about it!

 

I've seen this first hand. I had a "friend" that had built up such a reputation in the St.Louis area that he had to take his car out of state for someone to work on it.

 

Wheres that list of all the recognized shops...


You must decide if you're comfortable with it. Also what is a Major service, it's different things to different people.

Me I wouldn't be concerned because I would probably check it myself and Do another one anyway.

I wouldn't be upset if someone questioned my DIY work but I will back mine up with documentation, Parts replaced, cost and Hrs that I spent doing it.

It's all up to the buyer. Also don't be upset when you question someones ability to work on the car, they may get butt hurt.

If you doubt the Service that's perfectly fine. But Don't expect them to fold and give you some kind of a discount because you would want to have it serviced.

They will find someone else to buy the car.

 

On second thought,,, if I were expecting to get top dollar sometime down the road then having a reputable shop do the work should be expected (ROI).

Is "provenance" only about famous owners and/or participation in significant events?

 

+1

 

No disrespect intended but the issue is not about how capable you are at doing your own repairs, the issue is the fact that you are not a recognised Ferrari Specialist and so to the majority of Ferrari Buyers, your car is worth less than a car that has a full service history stamped up by recognised specialists.

You may well do work to a better quality standard than the specialists but potential buyers would not know that because they don't know you and they have no way of checking out your reputation. Like it or not, at the end of the day your car will be seen as a car that has had DIY service/repairs carried out on it rather than being looked after by garages that specialise in the marque.

It's a fact of life that on the whole, a Ferrari with a Ferrari Classiche certificate is going to be worth more than one without the certificate.

A Ferrari with a full Ferrari Dealership service history will be worth more than one with specialist only service History.

And a Ferrari with a full Ferrari Dealership/Ferrari specialist service history will be worth more than a car that has had DIY servicing/repairs done to it for X amount of years.

It's all based on a buyers perception of how the car has been looked after.

Rightly or wrongly, Dealer stamps/recognised Ferrari specialist stamps in a service book inspire confidence that the car has been looked after correctly, money no object.

A service book with a load of anonymous DIY service entries will not inspire the same level of confidence.

 

Not at all. Salesmen have been doing this since Gottlieb Daimler started this mess, should come as a surprise to no one.


I might be a great artist but my work will not equal the value of a Monet. May not be fair but it just isn't the way things work.

Work on your own car and you'll save up front and pay on the other end. If that doesn't work for you find a new game because that is the way this one is played.

 

Brian,
What do you think about the work Dave has been doing on his 355? Surely you've seen it?

 

Dave who

Surely not


As far as market value it makes no difference what I think if I am not the buyer.

Suffice to say, if I say "Dave who", so will the buyer.

 

I would think that some of the more recognized independent shops like Brian's, Scuderia Rampante and Eugenios would have the same if not better clout than many of the dealerships that have had high turnover over the last 5 years.

 

Fortunately for me saving and gaining isn't part of my game. I enjoy working my cars more than most anything else.

But for things that exceed my capabilities then, by all means, the car goes where it should. Like today, an alignment for the Mondial at the dealer in Orlando.

 

Can you blame them.

 

I want to ask you gentleman a hypothetical question. If you were buying a used Rolex and it was serviced by an unauthorized dealer would you still buy it? Or would you look for a pre-owned Rolex that was serviced by an authorized service center?

The only reason I brought up this example is it pertains to all luxury goods. People always have more confidence in using a professional to have something serviced.

 

Eugenio never was a trained Ferrari mechanic IIRC. IIRC he was a trained engineer turned Ferrari mechanic. I think he chose a harder life.

FNA part replacers don't impress me either. Considering all the diagnostic tools at their disposal they should have impeccable reputations of successful repairs. They don't. FNA is also hamstrung by Factory dictates like maybe the use of Ferrari part sources. Indys are less hamstrung some will use special people who have broken down barriers like Hill and SNM. A diy'er can use any parts or fixes he wants including newer innovations that may be even in prototype stages. If I asked FNA to install an MSW cruise control they would laugh at me. If my visor breaks FNA will only sell me a new one which will break again. MSW has a permanent fix at a fraction of the cost. Is the FNA response to a sticky interior to sell you new FNA parts that will get sticky? We know there is a better way.

I'm a diy'er and in 30+ years and 6 personally owned Ferrari's I have never had service from a Ferrari shop of any kind. I bought the cars for me not for the guy I'm going to sell the cars to when I am done. I enjoy many aspects of the hobby especially doing my own service. I also enjoy putting any car on a racetrack and that comes with the understanding that you may have to scrape the busted hulk off to the side of the road. What this really means is when I'm ready to sell if i get a $1 or $10 I really don't care when I am ready to move on.

So to a prospective owner I would say if you like the car buy the car. Don't buy the drama. If the car is a used car expect to fix stuff (regardless of who fixed it before) until you get the car the way you want it.