Most Reliable Ferrari W/$90K | FerrariChat

Most Reliable Ferrari W/$90K

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Esprit, Feb 17, 2004.

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  1. Esprit

    Esprit Karting

    Jan 26, 2004
    153
    CA
    With $90K and wanting the most reliable Ferrari out of the bunch, which model would be the best for me. I can go about $4K a year with maintenance but the problem is I live in Fresno CA, and would need to drive close to 2hours of any known Ferrari mechanics.

    Any advice?

    Ed-
     
  2. AJS328

    AJS328 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Apr 23, 2003
    7,520
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Augustine Staino
    You have a lot of options in that price range. Can you be more specific as to what kind of style you prefer? Mid-engine? 12 or 8? Newer or older?
     
  3. F328 BobD

    F328 BobD Formula 3

    Mar 17, 2001
    2,327
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    BobD
    Two 328's.
     
  4. Esprit

    Esprit Karting

    Jan 26, 2004
    153
    CA
    Thanks for the replies guys..

    More specific.. Mid engine would be a definate. I like just about all styles post '86 perferrably. Engine size does not matter to me. I'm used to Esprits and NSX's so I don't mind the smaller engines but a V12 would be great too. I guess I'm looking to have the best 1st time Ferrari experience without too many reliability issues (Given the Ferrari purchased has a good history).

    My favorites are the following in order:
    1) 512
    2) 355
    3) 348
    4) 360
    5) 328
    6) 308
    7) 550
    8) Mondial
     
  5. robert biscan

    robert biscan F1 Veteran

    Jan 17, 2003
    5,066
    Nashville and Palm b
    Full Name:
    robert s biscan
  6. labcars

    labcars Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 22, 2003
    1,589
    Phila. + Scottsdale
    Door number 2---355
     
  7. rossofiorano355

    rossofiorano355 Karting

    Dec 22, 2003
    210
    NOLA - Bham
    Full Name:
    Ron
    I feel that a 355 is the best choice in your price range. I went through a similar exercise about a year ago and am very happy with my decision.
     
  8. DBR328&330

    DBR328&330 Formula Junior

    May 31, 2001
    605
    Winchester, VA
    Full Name:
    Daniel Reese
    Two $45,000 328s- one GTS for open air and one GTB for better handling. Even if one is in the shop (rare) you still have another. Seriously I may go for 550. Prices should be at this level very soon.
     
  9. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2001
    24,510
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jim E
    I vote 355 too.
     
  10. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
    10,213
    San Antonio
    Full Name:
    Russ Turner
    Most reliable:
    328 or Mondial 3.2; I hear a later 355 is pretty well developed in reliability as well.
    Ferrari reliability is usually directly proportional to the time a model has been in production and development.
    Seems to me if you drive them regularly they are more reliable than if you don't.
    Have fun.
     
  11. djo715

    djo715 Rookie

    Feb 8, 2004
    3
    Is there a 90K 360? I was looking for these - but the majority seem to hold their value extremely well - most appear in the 135-160K range, if not higher for clean, low mileage editions.

    I'm in a similar situation, (right around the 100K price limit) and concerned about maintenance esp on a F360, and yet looking for a car that can hold up to say 3-5 track days a year, without requiring a major engine overhaul.

    Cheers,
    -Darryl
     
  12. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    26,288
    socal
    A 355 is just over budget. Believe me. Also reliabilty and Ferrari cannot be mentioned in the same sentence. Your Ferrari will be the most unreliable thing you have ever owned but will give you the most smiles per mile.
     
  13. Joe G.

    Joe G. Formula 3
    BANNED

    Dec 9, 2003
    1,109
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    Joe Gazzani
    The most reliable Ferrari for $90k ?

    Two 328's for $45k each
     
  14. TigerAce

    TigerAce Formula 3

    May 29, 2003
    1,793
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Yoshi Ace
    When I did the research last year to buy the first Ferrari, most people (mechanic, sales man, multi-F owners) told me 328 is.
    Keep in mind if something major goes wrong, $4K won't be enough. Thus be careful what you buy. Try to check the maintenance record of that car as much as possible.

    W/ your budget though, I will buy 355 GTS. Sounds great, looks cool, and drives comfortably, too! I love my 328, but it reminds me that it is a sport car, not sporty cars!

    Or you can save up to extend your budget, and go for 512! (I'm in the market for 512M so don't compete w/ me now)

    Yoshi Ace
     
  15. ChuckEBaby

    ChuckEBaby Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 7, 2003
    1,002
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    Chuck
    Esprit,

    You won't touch a 360 or 550 with what you've budgeted ( Not good
    ones anyway). But the remainder of your list? Wow, if you're not partial
    to any one Model (Yet), take your time and drive a few. Find one you like, Inspect every inch of the Car with theowner present. If it's at a dealership, ask if the owner can be present when you do theinspection. Ask tough questions, then get serious. Make sure all service records are in order and
    up to date. Service records should show mileage at time of service. If service intervals don't add up and the guy tells you he did the Oil and Filter change himself, ask to see the receipts. ( A person who keeps meticulous records is a good indication of Pride in Ownership). Do a Carfax (Vehicle History Report), check the Odometer that the numbers line up correctly (mileage role backs ARE possible and if any number on the odometer is out of sync. Walk!).
    Don't let euphoria stymie your judgment. If everything checks out, pay for
    a PPI then pay the price, or make an offer. This is a big-ticket item, like buying a House! Think first with your Head ( The one on your shoulders),
    and let your Heart follow. When you're ready to finalize the deal, take a day and go over it with someone you trust to make sure you've covered everything. If not, you could be out 3-4 years of your allotted maintenance in the first year or less! …Good Luck!
     
  16. Esprit

    Esprit Karting

    Jan 26, 2004
    153
    CA
    Thank you Chuckebaby and everyone for the great replies. I've learned the tough way of not thoroughly investigating a car purchase. When I purchased my 1st Esprit, I went through the process too quickly and ran into quite a bit of issues. I took lots of time before I purchased my 2nd Esprit (2000V8). I had Ferrari of Los Gatos in CA, inspect the car. It was expensive but well worth it due to them finding a liner leak which ended up costing close to $2K.

    I've always wanted a Ferrari but living here in Fresno makes exotic ownership difficult. Owning an NSX is about as exotic as you can/should get. The closest Ferrari dealership is about 150miles away. I was lucky that Esprits are easy to work (for the most part) on as a Englishman/mechanic in a nearby town knew his way around a Lotus and I was able to do the "small" stuff.

    If $4K is not enough to maintain a 3xx then I'm not sure if I can do this.

    Thanks again for all the comments and information. This really helps

    Ed-
     
  17. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    17,913
    USA
    Esprit,
    a 355B should fit your budget nicely. The 150 miles should be no problem, you simply hire a flat bed company to transport your car to the repair facility, no big deal. Shouldn't cost more than a few hundred bucks.
     
  18. solly

    solly Formula 3

    Jun 2, 2001
    1,148
    Westchester NY
    Full Name:
    Dr. Steven S.
    For that money, a 355. But you picked a 348 over a 360??? Have you ever driven both of them? One is a horse and buggy with an egg slicer on the side and the other is the finest sports car on the planet under 500k.
     
  19. tifosi69

    tifosi69 Formula 3

    Dec 23, 2003
    1,678
    Atlanta, Ga.
    Full Name:
    Al-Al Cool J
    Hey, that's not fair. The last few years of 348 (93-95 Spyders) had the quirks worked out and were a great car. As far as looks go, I love the 348, incorporates all the retro beauty of 308-328, adds the TR flair side and rear, and gives a more-than-subtle hint of what's to come in the 355.
     
  20. AJS328

    AJS328 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Apr 23, 2003
    7,520
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Augustine Staino
    I love the idea of two 328's (a GTB & GTS). Seriously, if you are worried about service costs just get one really, really nice 328 and save the rest of money for upkeep. I've had mine since April and I drive it a lot. I've put about 9k miles on it since then and it has been very reliable. Good luck!
     
  21. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Franklin E. Parker
    The #1 onyour list is the 512 Boxer and it is the car to get. If it had been properly maintained and driven over the years it will be very reliable. Do not get a garage queen though. You will get the true 12 cylinder Ferrari experience and have a little money left over for oil changes ect.. Do not, I repete, DO NOT settle for a v8 car. You will always look back and know that you could have had the lovely flat 12 of a Boxer for the same money. Plus, a Boxer will hold its value much better over the years. And $4k a year for future maintenance is more than enough. In fact, I would even recommend a TR or 365GTC4 over one of the little v8 dinos.
     
  22. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    9,992
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
  23. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
    13,477
    Never home
    Full Name:
    Dr. Dumb Ass
    328 GTB/S (your choice) and a sorted 330 GT 2+2
     
  24. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    75,370
    Texas!
    Interesting question, but I'd like to state it a different way. Namely, I'm not sure that you can say that one model of Ferrari is more reliable than the next. Being low-volume cars (and yes, 4,000 a year still qualifies as low volume), Ferraris tend to have problems that need sorting when new.

    Over time, the problems unique to each model become known and, in most cases, fixed, e.g., the value guide problem in early 355s. I don't know this, but I'm sure that Boxers had some issues that need to be factored into this equation. Another example are 308s from the early 80s, or the 1989 328 versus earlier years.

    So maybe the better way to ask the question is this:

    What model AND year of Ferrari is the most reliable for under $90k.

    My answer is a early 465 GT (not the auto).

    Dr "Reliable" Tax
     
  25. matkat

    matkat Formula 3

    Mar 18, 2003
    1,840
    Scotland
    Full Name:
    Dave McGuire
    I just traded my 328 GTS for a 355 GTS F1 definately go for the 355,and incidentally i also live about 2 hours from the dealer.
    best regards
    Dave McGuire
     

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