How Often Do Older Ferraris Need To Be Driven?

Here's the thing, everyone here agrees that he needs to drive the car longer. He needs to get in a complete drive cycle or he's better off not driving it at all. And everyone agrees that engines are meant to run or things go wrong. Someone else's repairs don't cost me money or downtime from my own driving so I don't care what they do. I don't think any of us do. But when people come on here and state "don't want to put too many miles on the car" as a reason for not driving them the way that is most beneficial, then expect others to have an opinion. Especially when you asked the question.

The general consensus is that mileage shouldn't be a worry and if it is, then you should reconsider your purchase. Most cars are not investments. Except for cases of very rare vehicles, things like mileage and depreciation shouldn't even factor into buying an exotic. It's not like anyone needs one to survive.

 

Well said.

 

So, just to be clear: you're a trader?

 

Yes, and he works 70+ hours per week.

 

I live close to NYC. Our tri-state area can surprisingly be a bit busy too compared to Miami. Yes, most have to plan trips well ahead and in my case even recon the roads before heading out for pot holes, cops, traffic,etc. Like I said, when I feel upkeep becomes a chore, it's time to trim the toys. He'll I gave up Track days as I just couldn't keep up enough days per year to keep in top driving shape. Yes, when you're at advanced levels in GT race cars, you shouldn't be doing just 1 or 2 events for your and others' safety.

 

My 355 sits for months over winter.

If it gets keyed up it doesn't get turned off until it reaches full operating temp.

 

So you wouldn't consider an SLR Mclaren or a 575 where less than 600 total ever came to the US "rare" and near the bottom of their depreciation curve? Both cars I have there are just a few hundred in the United States, if thats not rare I assume you only consider "rare" to be a 250 GTO or something. I guess I may be the minority who thinks that they're both rare cars.

There were just around 500 SLR coupes ever in the US

The 575 had US production of

02: 208
03: 167
04: 127
05 235 (575M and Superamerica Combined)

So Im not sure why you think that either one of those cars isn't special enough to merit investment status over the long run......

With that said the reason I don't put miles on them has nothing to do with keeping values high, the 575 I bought has decently high miles at 20k. I have 3 cars and 7 days a week, I can't just rack up the miles on them when I walk a few blocks to work every morning and have 2 free days every weekend. The math just isn't there. I try to play with the cars when Im up early and have some free time in the mornings, but that isn't always the case so I figured I'd ask what is appropriate usage to keep the doctor(mechanic) away.

 

Thank you thats the type of answer I was seeking.

 

Something can be rare and still not be valuable. But no, I don't think those cars are the kind of rare that are going to pull in high dollars later on. The market decides whether or not the car is going to maintain or increase in value and that's not easy to predict. I bought a GT3 last year and could sell it right now for more than I paid. Does that mean it was an investment? No.

I get that money is your thing. Trust me, I'm a former CFO so I understand money. However, cars are a passion for me so I let that go. If I want it and can afford it, I buy it. Hence why I have a brand new Huracan and have never once considered things like production runs or depreciation.

As to the original question, I answered it. When I take my cars out, I drive them at least an hour before putting them up, and that's on highways/interstates for part of the time so I can get some good speed out of them and really get the engines going. We live in Florida half the year and my husband returns to Texas once a month just to drive everything. The batteries are always fine and everything runs great with only once a month driving. BUT he drives them all for at least an hour.

 

Your driving it over to downtown over the McArthur Cswy right. I have been there a hundred of times but not in my Ferrari as it is in Sweden. But dreaming of it every time I drive my Jag there. Post some pictures please.


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The SLR is $300k right now damn I'd love to see what you consider "high dollars" and its not even old yet its barely 12 years old. I didn't buy them strictly as investments but I like rare machines. I live in South Beach, I see countless everything out here. I saw 4 aventadors just last night at dinner, well 2 at dinner and 2 at the lounge I went to after. I literally see every car countless times a week out here, I love things you just don't see. There are way faster modern cars I could buy today like an NSX if it was just about the driving experience but for me cars are art and the 2 I have are rare,beautiful machines that you just don't see that often and I like to enjoy them but still try to preserve them somewhat, no offense but they are not huracans that are made by 20,000+ unit quantities so the comparison isn't the same.

 

There are 12 SLRs on eBay at the moment. If I can buy one on eBay any day of the week, I don't consider it rare.

 

When I bought My 1990 348 TS, the guys at The Ferrari Centre (a UK independent Ferrari specialists), advised Me to drive the car at least once a week, for a minimum of @ 30 miles, to ensure everything was fully warmed up up, including all of the lubricants and coolants, and to make sure that any water/moisture/condensation was forced out of the car.

When I asked about the winter months when it wasn't suitable to drive the car due to the salt on the road (the UK authorities love spreading salt at the slightest drop in temperature, even if it's not going to be freezing!), they told Me to at least fire the car up once a week, and warm the engine up fully, revving the engine rather than just letting it idle (they suggested gently revving the engine in 1000 rpm stages up to @ 3,000rpm), until the engine oil was at full operating temperature. This they advised, would keep the engine fully lubricated throughout the winter, and help prevent the seals from drying out.

 

You're completely missing the point, but that doesn't surprise me. I buy cars because I love the car. I love the way it looks and I love the way it drives. I don't care how much my cars are worth today or will be worth tomorrow. If I owned that SLR and it dropped 150k in value tomorrow, I still wouldn't care, but you would. See the difference? I think it's foolish to buy exotic cars for any reason other than wanting them because you love them.

NONE of that changes what everyone has said. You're not driving long enough. You'd be better off to put them on a battery tender and not drive.

 

I don't know what market you are a "trader" in, but there are two sides to the rare equation. Supply is one, but if the demand isn't there, well ..........

 

So demand has to be there today? Just a decade ago you could grab a 246 dino around $100k they're 3-4x that now. 512 BBI were also right there at $100k, they're also up 300% or more. Cars go through cycles where they start out expensive, then go unloved as they age for a long period, and then they rise back. The testarossa spent years in the $40-60k range just a decade ago and look at it now. The SLR and 575 aren't even "old" yet. In another 10-15 years the 575 will be a 30 year old Ferrari of which less than 600 reside in the US. It will forever be the first production ferrari v12 with an f1 system a single disc clutch at that which is not even in use anymore. It will also forever be known as the first Ferrari that wasn't a supercar to hit 200 MPH. How many 30 year old V12 Ferraris can you buy for less than a 575 today? Not too many......

The SLR also, rare, high performance car made in smaller quantities than the iconic mercedes gull wing. I'd say demand is still there bc its 12 years old and most trade in the $200-300k range where people could buy lots of other newer things. The gullwing too was a $300-400k car 10-15 years ago and look at it now $2m to get a decent one. I don't know why you're acting like either one of those cars lacks demand now or in the future. Their values are both pretty solid for how old they are. They both lack the performance of modern cars and both have fairly expensive running costs for the performance they offer. So you're basically paying for the artwork of the bodies which is what I bought them for, that's also what investors in classic low production cars pay up for. Plenty of new cars are faster and cheaper to run than both of them, if it was driving experience alone then I would have bought a new NSX,Mclaren 570, or even a 488 but I prefer to invest in things that are classics, low production, and possibly near the bottom of their depreciation curve. I know everyone on this site is made of money and can just lose hundreds of thousands in depreciation but I personally prefer to avoid it if possible.

 

The topic of rarity shouldn't even be a discussion for the OP's cars if some people knew what they were talking about.

A drive once every two weeks for 30-45 minutes is more than sufficient if you don't have a battery tender. If I had a battery tender I would be driving every 4 weeks instead.

 

2 to 3 times a week is enough.

 

I drive my 360 at least once a week. every Saturday or sunday or both. I HAS to be long enough that your oil temperature reaches the normal part of the needle. Until then the oil in the engine, and by default transmission oil, isn't warm enough.

IMHO neither the SLR nor the 575 are investment grade. Cars for old guys. Those buyers gonna need the cash for the retirement home and medical bills..

 

I agree with this.

 

With local temps in the low 60s this weekend, got the 550 out of its winter hibernation. Went for about an hour-long drive, varied driving, nothing special. With the CTek batt tender connected during winter storage the car fired right up. Tire pressures were even spot on, and no flat spots. Car and all systems operated perfectly, smooth as ever, no issues. Topped off the tank (was full w/ Stabil added prior to hiberation), dusted/speed-shined, connected the CTek, covered it up until next time out. Hopefully in next couple of weeks, assuming no more snow/salty roads.

Question for those in the know (background info first): I have a 2013 Boss 302 Mustang, and it has a really useful feature with its ECU (or "PCM" in Ford lingo) for cranking the car to build up oil pressure after it's been sitting for a long time. Put the transmission in neutral, floor the gas pedal (it's a "drive be wire" throttle), turn the key to "start", and the motor will crank for about 7 sec, but not fire. You can repeat this for as many cycles as you want -- I usually do three cycles -- to get the oil circulating throughout the motor, prior to initial start up.

Does the Bosch ECU in the 550 or 575 allow this (I'm guessing not, but thought I'd ask)?

 

The issues with NON regular use include fuel pumps going bust, hoses degenerating and belts etc. Porsche (Till the mid 90's models) has a different seat of issues with seals going due to heat in places that are v hard to access. At the end of the day people drive these cars for a few hundred miles a year and it brings a smile to the face. That is what its about. If you are talking about reliability, then these cars are still years behind the Germans. Just look at the interior plastic for starters. These exhorbitant cars still have no solution to problems of melting plastic that leaves black marks on your fingers from switches and controls from designs of 2 decades ago. The problems of interior from the 348 still exist on cars that are currently 5 years old. Zero development or lessons learnt. I am sure Ferrari have the resources to have some research and developement on something so basic like this.

 

IMHO, the SLR is a 'rare' car. Only 2,000ish produced. Much rarer than say mainstream Ferrari models now which will be produced in the tens of thousands over their life cycle - add in the mid-cycle update and we could easily see 30K runs. Hard for any of us to say what will be worth a ton in the future and what will be worthless. We could all expect lower values if automation becomes the norm - I can see law made that all cars in certain areas must be in full automation mode. Then all these cars will be only allowed in certain areas - which I believe would drastically reduce their value for all but the most iconic and important models. Automation may also never come. I personally like the SLR, and wish you the best on your car and hope it goes up in value for you.

 

I've always believed condition and service records are more important than extra low miles.

Ferraris are meant to be driven.

 

No, but if it's not ever there .........

I have no idea whether demand for your cars will or will not be there. I'm just saying that low supply does not automatically mean high price if no one is chasing the supply. Sometimes things out of favor eventually come into favor. Sometimes one cannot hold onto an item until it comes into favor. Sometimes it may never come into favor. Who knows.