HOORAH--I found one!!!

Is the car with 23K also at a dealer? A car with 23k miles is great.....lets say you buy it for $46k and drive it for three years (15k miles) it should still be worth about $40k. Assuming that you pay for maintenance, depriciation will be minimal compared to other cars. Its a good way to justify buying an expensive toy for the first time. By the way, I have driven a 328 and its a straight foward car. Its easy to drive assuming that you are not too tall and have large feet. If the car has been well serviced you should not have a problem. You can also document the purchase and trip and post it here on FCHAT for all to enjoy.

 

Unless I'd had a chance to drive it around town a bit and knew everything on that 17-year old car was in really top shape, I'd probably transport it as well. Interstate driving is dull anyway.

My .02.

 

Never sat in a Ferrari! Never driven one! Me neither, until I bought my Boxer, and got cut loose into rush hour traffic! Whew! Made it about 5 miles, took an off ramp, then sat at a friends house til the freeway cleared up!

 

Prior to buying my 1982 Mondial I had sat in one and had driven one, but only for 20 miles or so. I live in NC, the car I bought was in LA, CA. Flew out, drove home. The drive home was not exactly uneventful but it was a kick. I never had so much fun driving 2500 miles (even including the unplanned weeks stay in Grants, NM).

Even if you get the one in FL, DRIVE IT HOME. You'll be glad you did!

Paul

 

This has become a very informative thread for the 328 buyer that is for sure. One thing I have learned in the 6 years I have owned my 328 ( 1987 # 73223 ) is that each car is different. Since I am a car dealer ( I have my nomex suit on so as to not get burned by the flames) I have had the opportunity to drive a lot of 328s, as well as other Ferraris.The one thing that always surprises me is that even though 2 cars my be identical on paper, you don't know till you have seen them in person and driven them.

We buy cars all the time sight unseen , but I have friends and contacts in the business that I trust their judgment and we have similar criteria for classifying a car a 10 or a 0.That is the advantage the average consumer doesn't have and that is why I think it is SO important to see a car in person before you write the check. I try and display my cars with lots of photos and I provide all the details I can, but to truly know how YOU will feel about a car you have to see it in person.Now that said people buy cars everyday without ever looking at them.

I am not writing this to try and win over you guys as customers.I know some of you very well and others not at all. I would be lying if I said I didn't want to sell cars....heck that is the business I am in=). Point is that when I was shopping for my car many years ago I made several trips to Atlanta and Washington till I finally found my car ( which ironically was owned by a guy in the next town over from me ) and bought it at my then local Ferrari dealer in 1999.

Regardless of which dealer you decide to buy from, if any for that matter, just be up front and honest with them. Unless you get the real slime bag of a dealer they know what the cars are worth, and will be fair with pricing. Buying from a dealer SHOULD ( at least in my book ) provide you a more secure environment... i.e. no funny stories , no salvage title's to pop up, or theft recovery issues. Plus there is more piece of mind in knowing we want you to be happy with your purchase because we are in the business and it is VITAL that we keep customers happy or our integrity goes down the tubes, and integrity in business is the most important thing you have.I hope this helped some and if anyone ever has any questions, suggestions, or concerns please feel free to vent my way.

Best Regards,

Steven Jones

 

A dealer can't tell you more than the paperwork on the car and an inspection by a third party Ferrari certified mechanic with compression and leakdown test. But peace of mind is peace of mind...

 

Come on Steve tell me....I want to buy that car! I also promise to drive it home! JK

 

Here are two ads from Ferrari Market Letter:

1987 model red with brown interior with 31.8K miles in Houston, TX for $59K. Call 713-249-8196.

http://www.ferrarimarketletter.com/viewclassifiedforsubcat.cfm?parent=67&preparent=1

1989 black with crema interior with 14K miles for $59.5K:
http://www.ferrarimarketletter.com/viewclassifiedforsubcat.cfm?parent=67&preparent=1
http://www.sportauto.cc/Ferrari.htm

This one is ironically at the same dealership as the 1989 328 GTS for $57K, but it is not listed on their company website. The ad on FML is two months old, so this car may have sold. But ask them about it.

 

In regards to the black TR not not beng on my website, yes it is sold...sometime ago...not sure why it is still listed? The condition of the car was/is reflected in the price. That car is not nearly as nice as others I have had and so that is why the lower price.

Also look at the 328 market closer and you will see that 89's tend to be classified on their own, where as 86-88 are dumped in the same pond.

Ciao'

Steve

 

So what, Dude? $57K could buy you a lot of things. Not everyone like the looks of the TR.

 

definately get an independent PPI, you cant trust 1 the dealer/seller gives you