How long did it take you to find your Ferrari?

I have purchased several different Ferrari's over the years. On average it has taken about 6 months to find the right car at the right price. Advice is be patient, read as many different model and buyers guides as you can, talk to owners, and visit a number of official and specialist dealers.

 

Decide to go for my 360: 11/27/2003

Start calling every dealer in America: 11/28/2003

Car found: 12/23/2003

Car arrived in CA: 12/26/2003

Pick Up Date: 01/06/2004

Paid almost $40K over MSRP and worth every penny!

 

My first Ferrari found me! I went to a Ferrari show in town (Sarasota) just for something to do, sat in a 550 Marenello just for the fun of it. I had no desire to buy one. The car said take me home. I did.

aehaas

 

My first Ferrari, 328 GTS, took the longest, 5 months, but I compromised a bit. I wanted GTB originally.

Then I looked for 512TR or 550 for about 2 months, and got 355 Spider instead. I just fell in love w/ the color combination of Fiorano Rosso w/ Tan, and it was 6-speed!

Then 2 months later, I switched to 355 Coupe.

Having a dealer/salesman who tries hard for your need really helped my case a lot. Jonathan Peck & Terry of Lambo of Dallas. So you may want to find someone who has a good resource for Ferraris on sale, and who will try to meet your need.

Of course, asking questions & reading past posts on F-chat really helped, too.

 

I was looking for a Black 308QV or 328 and found my Black 328 within about a month or so of searching. If you're very particular, say you want that "rare color combination" of Red ext. and Tan int you may have to stick it out.

The key is to find many many places where the cars are advertised. CCTOL, this site, etc. etc... There are 5 or 6 classified sites worth perusing over and over.

What are you looking for?

Best!
Wes

 

Strted thinking about it '99, got the bug (really) '02, decided on 355spi april '03, started serious looking/negotiating Nov'03, bought one Apr '04, service, bringing up to 100% done by June about the same time I stopped caring wat was behind me in the rear view!

 

I knew what model and color and options I wanted as well as limited to two years that the car was made.
I found it in 6 months and was very picky. Only the best and at a wholesale price.
Gary

 

I spent 6 months looking for my TR and drove around So. Cal test driving 8 different ones. that was the fun part. one of the last ones i drove was the one i bought. you learn so much from every car as you do from every owner. be patient and be well educated before you buy. history of the car was very important to me. I wanted someone who owned the car for a while so i could get alot of current info. now i'm going to sell my TR and search for a 360 Spider. here we go again. the fun starts on the first test drive. LOL

 

I think I may have spent a total of one week between the 4 F-cars I have purchased thus far.

DL

 

I just finalized the deal on my first Ferrari last Saturday. It took me 6 months to find exactly what I was looking for. While I was looking for the most common, red over black 308 GTS, where I'm from (Kentucky) there just aren't such cars. I ended up finding my car in Columbus Ohio being sold by an individual.

 

I wouldn't compromise. Took me over a year. Well worth the wait.

 

34 years. My father traded his 330GT 2+2 in on a new Porsche 911S in 1970. I found the car in April of this year and bought it May 1st.

 

My search was 30 years but when the money was in the checking account 2 months.

 

The second i saw it, i knew i wanted it...

...it's the money i'm still looking for...

 

Same here. I haven't even put a dent in the price of an F50 yet.

 

it took me about a year.
Now how much longer before I get the next one????

 

Seems like the newer the car the quicker you'll get it. With new cars it can be somewhat of an impulse. I'm referring to used cars.

My 360 was about 2 weeks. A broker found it for me, local car and the perfect combo, so I went for it. No regrets at all.

Older cars seems to require a harder look, to make sure you're getting a good one.

 

My Ferraris always found me. I was either not looking, or looking for a different model, and stumbled across the car I bought.

 

Been looking for an '83 - '85 Red/Tan 308 for around 7 months. Unfortunately, because of where I live the pool of cars available is quite small. Pretty much limited to where I can drive in a day and still have time to examine the car (Dallas, Memphis, New Orleans, Atlanta).

Obviously, it is easier to find a good condition car if you are looking for later model years or if you live in California or St. Louis (no idea why so many Ferraris are for sale in St. Louis).

 

Complete impulse purchase - went to VW dealer to buy muffler - came home with Mondial instead. Didn't get a PPI because I figured it would scare me away and I'd never buy a Ferrari. Been paying for repairs ever since.

Still love it anyway, it's the perfect street Ferrari for blending in. Dark Grey, most people don't even notice it. Very slow compared to other Ferraris, but fast enough for getting through traffic or having fun on the back roads.

Ciao,

 

It took me one year to find THE 328 GTS I was looking for: it was time well spent.

Ciao

Eugenio

 

Erik:

Great story and nice car! What did your dad think?


From first inspiration(Oct.1, 2001) to mailing out the check to the seller (Nov.30, 2002), 14 months and a lot of searching. It was pure fun.

I saw my first 330 2+2 in 1964. Love at first sight for a 15 year old kid.