Why not spend a little more and get this: 355 Challenge Not sure how well the previous owner treated it though!!
That's 360C's old 355CH. I can't comment on the previous owner's treatment, but I'm sure that whilst it was in the care of 360C, it was treated exceptionally well! I've heard it described as the best 355CH in Australia.
I know, hence my tongue in cheek comment! It does look like an exceptional car. Is this a realistic price for it? I have no idea on the pricing of Challenge cars. It is a lot more than a good 355!
My mistake! I remember reading somewhere that the current owner was not really that eager to sell it, so I think the price is on the higher end of what one would expect to pay. CH prices are something I'm interested in (for obvious reasons), but because they are so thin on the ground in Australia, determining prices is a little difficult. One could import a Euro/US LHD Challenge for substantially less, but from what I've seen, they tend to be clapped out racers that can't be driven on the road. LHD complicates matters re registration as well.
It has been sold to another owner, who is very conscious of the rarity of these in Australia and the condition it was kept in by the previous owners. He has since spent a fair bit more $$$ to ensure it stays immaculate.
AHG is correct again (Bad habit Andrew- stop it). My old car was sold to a new owner a couple of months back. I saw it at File Finish (who repainted my N-GT) and it looked beautiful. Possibily my favourite Ferrari that I have owned and certainly THE best sounding. Never got out of that car without a smile from ear to ear.
As has been stated often here before, your average recent model Ferrari owner normally has several other cars in the garage and is financially secure enough to not fire sale the car. Therefore they can wait for a buyer to meet their price, or they just hang on to the car. Now ask yourself, if I had $170,000 to spend, would I buy a 11yr old 348 Spider or a newer 355 spider for the same money? I have seen at least 6 355 spiders for that money.
I'm sure that a car can sell for well under 100k... question is how well looked after was the car and was it a best of example of that car. I would agree that for the same money I wouldnt blink my eyes at buying a 355 over a 348, they are so different and at the offense of offending other 348 owners, a far superior car for similar or slightly more money. However, if there is a substantial dollar saving, the 348 is a lot of car for the money. I agree with you, most people with these cars can afford to hold if the need arises, I sold my Porsche a few years back for $20k above the previously transacted price of a very similar car purely because I was not in a rush, the car was in top condition and there just happened to be a wiling (stupid?) buyer at the time... the market for these cars is just very unpredictable....
It was a pretty average example; but not beyond redemption from a caring owner prepared to put in some $$ and TLC towards getting it ship shape. I think it was $80k FWIW. Good examples can be found at the $100k mark if you are patient. As you say, don't be in a rush to sell and make sure your car is much better presented than other similar examples on the market.
nah fergot, was gonna have a look on the weekend but my clutch slave packed it in and left me driving home in 2nd gear unable to stop so i've had other issues. if anyone knows the kensington roundabout you'll know what kinda fun i had though i did pull off one of the most impressive manouevres ever to get around stopping for a red-light, onlookers won't forget that one in a hurry! edit: found i've uploaded a map of the kensington roundabout before
I'm about to fall asleep, so explain the manoeuvre and humour me (to keep me awake for another 5mins)
oh ok it's raining, i'm cruising along in 2nd toward intersection of 2 3-lane roads on edge of CBD, 75m ahead the light goes amber and is banked up with traffic at all corners, i just have to get across that intersection and i'm home. lights are red and oncoming right-turn traffic is green, i decide instead of stopping i'll quickly turn left and duck in front of the right-turn traffic and take a back street a little further up that way so i'm not in heavy traffic. as i look over my right shoulder checking i've got room in front to merge i notice the left-turn arrow is green which goes back onto the road i was on. nice slippery conditions, i feint the car, nail it to get the wheels spinning (so i don't stall in front of just released traffic) and end up pointing back the other way toward the intersection again (and on the correct side of the road). i get a bit of traction and woof thread the needle past the traffic waiting to go straight and come sideways back into the road i was originally heading down, with the cars i was just following sitting behind me at the lights thinking WTF the car is also very loud and attracts attention so i was pretty much pumping out the scud-laughs by the time i got to the other side. here's an illustration, red is the lights i was approaching, green is the flow of traffic, blue is me.... Image Unavailable, Please Login
You were too slow, I already fell asleep. Anyway, a very interesting "move"......might give that a try myself someday.
