Pre purchase inspection advice | FerrariChat

Pre purchase inspection advice

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Steve_nero, Jan 9, 2004.

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  1. Steve_nero

    Steve_nero Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2003
    261
    London
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Well I'm getting quite close to actually buying a car now - I've been lurking around here for months. I am quite serious about a LHD 355 which appears to be much better value than any RHD 348.

    My question is... if I buy from a specialist Ferrari dealer should I get the car inspected buy an independant expert. If so, any ideas who I should use in London.
     
  2. gumball3000

    gumball3000 Formula Junior

    Dec 17, 2003
    288
    East Yorkshire
    Full Name:
    Ed Neilson
    I bought my LHD F355 Spider from Joe Macari in Wandsworth. I was originally looking at a 348 but Joe steered me towards the F355. Newer and better technology etc. I am really pleased with the result. Should hold its value better as well!

    I met Joe on the Gumball and he is a really nice guy. Well worth a phone call. If he isn't in, try Aldo, one of the Mechanics. More knowledge than Maranello I reckon!

    I don't work for them, by the way.....Am just really pleased with my car and the deal I got!

    Ed
     
  3. Steve_nero

    Steve_nero Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2003
    261
    London
    Full Name:
    Steve
    That's exactly what has happened to me - at Joe Macari as well! In fact he told me about a guy he had just solf a 355 to instead of a 348, it was probably you.


    How do you find LHD? I was totally against it at first but when I add it all up it much better value for money.

    Did you get your car inspected alsewhere?
     
  4. ferrari355gtb

    ferrari355gtb Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,600
    UK
    Full Name:
    R
    Karl at Verdi's checked mine out for me. Cost £400 (ish) but you will probably find some small things wrong with it and use it as a negotiating tool to reduce the price a bit. If there are major things wrong with it - walk away. Talk to the people who last serviced it too.

    Mine's a 355 LHD and also toyed with the idea of a RHD 348.

    One factor to remember, being LHD the car also has appeal for Europe. Currently prices, due to the exchange rate, are a lot higher in Europe than the UK for LHD cars. There's another market to sell to if you ever have to make that decision. (Check autotrader - international web site for prices in Italy - I looked yesterday and the cheapest was around £45k)

    If you want anymore info let me know.

    Rich
     
  5. gumball3000

    gumball3000 Formula Junior

    Dec 17, 2003
    288
    East Yorkshire
    Full Name:
    Ed Neilson

    No problems with LHD. Every so often i try to change gear with the door handle and then realise....but I have had no problems....I wouldn't even think twice about LHD in the future!

    Are you dealing with Joe or Andrew?

    I didn't get the car checked out by anyone else. The first car they found me was a pig...but they spotted it straight away...I fell in love with it and was all set to buy it but they wouldn't let me! As soon as they looked it over and realised that it wasn't great they told me and sent the car back.....

    After that I trusted them.....When I bought my Spider they spent ages getting it ready and changed quite a few bits and pieces before they let me pick it up. They seem to really know what they are doing....My car is booked in for a pre Gumball service...So time will tell!

    Ed
     
  6. Modificata

    Modificata F1 Rookie

    Apr 27, 2003
    2,654
    Hampton, England
    Full Name:
    Andy Rasool
    Talking about LHDs got me thinking. I just realised I've had 4 LHD cars in that I bought in from Germany when the exchange rates were better so far!

    Never had a problem driving them here. You just have to adjust your style of driving. One of the more difficult things is overtaking, but in a 355 with a bit of advance planning you definately wont have a problem!
     
  7. Badapple

    Badapple Formula Junior

    Nov 20, 2003
    875
    West London
    Full Name:
    Phil
    For a inspection, do verdi/macari's need the car on site?
    Or are they able to just travel to the car & do it there?

    Phil
     
  8. Steve_nero

    Steve_nero Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2003
    261
    London
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Ed - i'm dealing with Joe and Andrew, they both spent a couple of hours with me yesterday and Joe took me for a spin in the car in question. LHD certainly doesn't slow him down. I haven't got a bad thing to say about them.

    I'll check out a couple more today (which are all more expensive) and hopefully come to a decision on the weekend.

    I think I'm fully over the LHD issue - thanks for the feedback.
     
  9. gumball3000

    gumball3000 Formula Junior

    Dec 17, 2003
    288
    East Yorkshire
    Full Name:
    Ed Neilson
    Good form!

    Go for it...You wont look back...

    I haven't!

    Ed
     
  10. Dale

    Dale F1 Veteran

    Oct 7, 2003
    5,211
    uk
    Full Name:
    Dale Juan
    Hi Phil it would have to go to the dealer and be put on a lift to check the underside thoroughly when you buy a car of this type and expense
    ALL faults must be reported,
    Dale.
     
  11. ric355

    ric355 Guest

    Dec 21, 2003
    1,375
    I had my car inspected by QV in Bracknell before purchasing. For £200 +VAT they spent approximately half a day on the car including test driving it. This covered pretty much everything you can think of, and included a compression check (£40+VAT, optional but recommended).

    The end result was a faxed checklist with any items requiring attention highlighted, and a further page with compression results.

    What is worth noting is that Talacrest (where I bought the vehicle) actually told me they'd prefer it if I had an independent inspection and that they'd willingly rectify anything found. In my case only minor issues were found but it was well worth the money to hear an expert say it was a good car.

    I was surprised when QV told me the CD multi-changer worked. I didn't even know it had one!

    Richard.
     
  12. Stewart 430

    Stewart 430 Guest

    Look at my comments on the 'Autosport' thread. You need tread very carefully with some so-called experts including some that are mentioned on this forum.

    Go to a main dealer at least you have some guarantees if the work is not completed or somthing goes wrong. unlike these independants who always seem to have work in progress.

    regards

    Stewart
    Pissed off, soon to be, no longer a Ferrari owner.
     
  13. 355fiorano

    355fiorano Formula Junior

    Oct 21, 2003
    781
    London
    Full Name:
    Philip
    I had my car checked at maranello for £450 incl vat. This is a mechanical test. There is a separate bodywork check if you want but i did not do it. I also had the compression test done which costs another £50 ish I think. I can't think why you would go to a specialist if the main dealer can do it for the same price and all the guarantees attached.

    Philip
     
  14. 964man

    964man Rookie

    Feb 12, 2004
    11
    Try this: the key is to get an inspection by someone who a) knows what they're about in PPIs, not just repairs/servcies loads of cars and b) doesn't sell cars themselves (or have a close relationship with someone who does - one of the posters made this mistake).
    http://www.sportscarguides.com/ferrari/ppi.asp
     
  15. Marcus 27

    Marcus 27 Karting

    Feb 3, 2004
    136
    Has anyone here used the PPI service in 964man's reply?

    I'm not sure what the set-up is, in terms of who organises the inspections, and how they ensure they're done to a consistent standard.

    see: http://www.sportscarguides.com/ferrari/ppi.asp
     
  16. Paul V

    Paul V Formula Junior

    Jan 25, 2005
    324
    Shropshire (UK)
    Full Name:
    Paul
    I also rang joe this week asking about a 348 and he told me to buy a 355. I did want a 355 but only had about £27-28k to spend so i thought i would look for a 348 but the ones i have seen are just no good so i rang Joe to see if they had any and that is when he conviced me to save up some more money and get a 355.

    Regarding LHD i have owend a LHD Escort RS Cosworth for the last 4 years with no problmes i actually like it more that a RHD as i can judge the kerb better and can squeze between cars better hell even the wife has used it for the last month.

    All the best with your car
     
  17. 400SPYDER

    400SPYDER F1 Rookie

    Jul 7, 2004
    3,473
    Kent, England
    Full Name:
    kevan

    I have used them twice and would highly recommend.

    Cost was no where near the £450 being paid by some people.

    The two cars where at opposite ends of the country and I believe they have a range of specialist contacts in each area, to whom they sub-contract the work. In my case it was Geof Shiltec of Shiltec Engineering and Mike at QV in Ascot.
     

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