F355 Market

I know this for a fact: 99% of cars sold on BaT or being referenced are dealer dogs and not really nice cars. Only a few exceptions. Having owned 10, I have seen them in all conditions and service history - current or lacking. You pay up for a premium vehicle with personal care, history and ownership experience. This forum is its own worst enemy on values and always has been. The Yellow car was the Drs. car I believe and $230 is very fare if you want yellow. My TDF car would be a bargain, only because of the miles, if it was 20k miles or under, it could not replaced for under $285K - TDF, Gated GTS and 1999 late production, Trifecta of rarity. Granted it has been updated from delivery with NOS Fenders and Shields, as well as Challenge Grille. Exhaust is beautiful! I may post on here for sale through the new format. but really hope to find a referral buyer off market

 

The car is currently located in Canada at the moment, so the asking price is a lil tricky for a U.S buyer. Tariffs are fluctuating and there is hope it will move lower soon. Car is a Japanese market car.

 

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Paint meter readings would suggest the hood and head light covers were repainted. Not the entire car. No big deal. My car is similar. Records for my car show that the dealer "refreshed" the front before selling it to the second owner.

 

The ad description says the car has been “repainted.” When asked several times by the peanut gallery what has been repainted, the seller says “look at the paint meter readings.” The seller never speaks with confidence or certainty about what was painted and what wasn’t leaving himself an out.

These type of responses don’t instill confidence in bidders as everyone is thinking in the back of their minds covered up accident on a 14k mile car.


If only the hood and headlight covers were repainted, the seller should be able to state it confidently.




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I would say it's the opposite. Those reflectors look so ugly. Euro spec cars look so much better and should be worth more imho.

 

I don’t disagree the Euro versions look better. But the differences can be changed if it bothers someone enough. Either delete the side reflectors or buy euro bumpers, which I have done. Outer tail lamps can also be changed, which I am in the process of doing. Fenders will be trickier for most.


What’s more difficult to change without getting into trouble is speedometer in kms. Some prefer readings in mileage.


If I weren’t living in California, I’d be hunting for a euro car with goodies unavailable in U.S market 355’s.


If you have 2 equivalent cars that don’t have particularly unique features, I don’t see a good enough reason the euro version should command more than the equivalent U.S version just because of side reflectors. 50 state legal (California) holds more value than 49 state legal.

You also have Carfax history with the U.S car. Euro cars… you are relying heavily on seller word, perhaps independent inspector, and your own knowledge and expectations of what a clean 355 should be. Carfax instills confidence nothing drastic has occurred with the car if the damages were not drastic enough to report. It’s a bigger mystery how reporting is done in Europe and how easy or difficult it is to cover something up.

Then you have service history. There is a sense of familiarity with U.S Ferrari service shops. Throw out a shop name and Fchatters will either vouch for the place or tell you straight up if anyone has even heard of it. Known shops…their reputations are on the line, so if something stupid was done, you can somewhat still take it up with them or at least air out the issues. A bit more difficult for a U.S owner/buyer to haggle things out with a euro shop, not to mention possible language barrier. Less incentive for that shop to help you out. U.S buyers are less familiar with the reputations of shops in Europe.

Come time to sell, I think it’s easier with a Carfax and U.S service history. When you buy a euro 355, sure … you might have been convinced by the seller and simply went with your gut. When the roles are flipped and you’re now left with the responsibility of being the convincing seller without Carfax or U.S service history, your potential buyers might not be as easily convinced as you were. Especially, if sold within a short time frame.

Having said that, if one is chasing a euro 355 … at the very least, look for unique colors and options rarely found in U.S spec 355’s to justify it. Otherwise, a plain jane U.S spec 355 with 20k mi should be worth more than an equivalent euro spec 355. More pros than cons imo. Side reflectors (ugly or not) aren’t enough to flip that around.


I would say the same for a U.S car in Europe. The Euro car should be worth more in Europe than the U.S spec car given identical specs.

 

Good morning All,
As I continue to search for car listings I keep coming back to this: https://www.wcdreammachines.com/inventory/1997-ferrari-f355-spider/. Does anyone have any thoughts or know any history on this car? The listing states it had the front bumper replaced and the last major service was done in 2019. Is a complete compression and leak down test (as part of a PPI) usually called for?
Thanks for looking!
Mark

 

“The Carfax report shows that the front and left front of the car sustained "minor damage" in October 2018, and the front bumper cover was reportedly replaced to address the damage.”

 

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/ch25/lots/r0063-1996-ferrari-f355-gts/#/smallgallery2_1348213


Clarkson 355.

 

Yes that’s what the listing mentioned. I’m not super worried about reasonable repairs. I’d like to drive the car and not necessarily worry about future resale value or anything like that. There are several listings out there of cars that are plenty “worn in” with less than 30,000 miles on them but I’m attracted to this color combo. This example is ready for its major service but at least the car looks to be in good shape. I might go up and take a look, It’s hard to tell from carefully presented photos on a dealer’s website .

 

Pretty car.

 

Seems you have already made up your mind. What information were you seeking with your post?

 

Sorry, Just wondering if anyone with more experience here see’s any flags. I meant to say that just about every car I look at (online) has some flaw that i wonder how much trouble will become to repair

 

I’d definitely drive it and also look into the reputation of the shop who last serviced it. If you are doing a belt service soon under your own watch, lots of issues can be resolved during that time.

 

Good point! Thanks for the tip.

 

https://www.drive.com.au/news/toyota-supra-flips-the-script-literally-with-ferrari-trumping-auction-price/

“More than you can afford, pal …”


The iconic quote from the 2001 movie The Fast and The Furious, in a scene that sees the famous orange Toyota Supra driven by actor Paul Walker, face off against a smarmy owner of a Ferrari F355 Spider, has been flipped around.

When sold new in the USA, the 1996 F355 Spider sold for $US137,075 ($A212,300) before options. This made it over three-times the new price of the equivalent Toyota Supra, which sold for approximately $US40,000 ($A62,000).

Time changes things however, and while you can now pick up a low milage F355 Spider for around $US95,000 ($A147,000), roughly 70 per cent of its new price, the Toyota has gone the other way.

 

Yeah crazy. Those things are like 370Hp now…..but still a Toyota. Nothing against Toyota’s, but the comparison is hard to make .

 

I have hope! Lower mileage and part of the Dr. Evil Collection. Clarkson has nothing on Carnutdallas

 

Does being right hand drive make it more of less valuable?

 

In our world less - narrower market in my opinion.

 

Good morning All,
Are these door speakers stock? This car is apparently a European example if that makes a difference. It's for sale in Texas needing a major service and multiple interior repairs. Asking 80 some thousand. Thanks for looking!
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Not stock. Well done, but not stock.

GTB, GTS or Spider…. I am pretty sure a spider?

 

It's a Spider.
https://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/listing/1997/ferrari/f355--spider/470879
there are paint and interior issues and it needs a major service. Check out the cover on the clutch pumpkin. is that stock? Euro thing?
thanks
Mark

 

Federalized car. Side reflectors on front and rear bumpers are not 355 side reflectors. They’re some misc reflectors. No blue OE floor mats either, which will be impossible for you to find. Condition of carpets also not as good as your initial choice.