First time poster so be kind. I am interested in starting a search for the above mentioned car. I have been reading the variuos sections of this forum to gain the appropriate knowledge. I have attached a link to a car that represents what I am seeking. http://www.ferrariofseattle.com/inventory.php?car_id=11356 Although the asking price is $99,000, is it safe to assume that it could be purchased in the lower $90's assuming the "major" has been done? I am just trying to get a feel for the market.....that and I am cheap. Blaine Sellie
I was in LA 2 weeks ago on business and visited Cliff at DC Motors. He said that he would not let a 'euro' 1999 355 Spider Blk/Blk with 9k on her go for less than $95,000. Seemed a bit high. Blaine
F1 or Manny ? People will pay a Premium for Low Mileage, i.e. Garage Queens. I'd rather have the Red/Tan 1 from your link.
I guess the big question is still...........should I budget low $90's for a car like this or am I too low? Blaine
More like high 90's to low 100's...low mileage and f-1...best of the best. It is a ferrari, cheap and Ferrari do not hang together...
Blaine - remember dealers asking prices are just that, typically cars do not sell for what dealers actually ask. I can ask 120k for my car, doesn't mean I will sell it for that price. A 99 low mileage, recent serviced 355F1 Spider in red/tan is probably the most expensive 355 to purchase right now. It is the last year made, the Spider draws a premium as well as the F1 trans. I have seen this cars over the last few months trade for $88k-$105k - So honestly $94K-$96K is about a good average. Of course a 6 speed, off color, higher mileage, non Spider car will drop in price. You need to ask yourself exactly what you want - option wise and start your search. Low 90k cars are out there, you just have to be the right person at the right time... The first link you provided for the 99 Spider is too much. My opinion almost 20k miles for a 99 car is NOT low miles - nothing wrong with that mileage, but I would not consider it a low mileage car. That car should be priced around $93-$95k. Seems like a good deal on the Blue Spider they have - 97 car w/ fresh service for $79k - if mileage wasn't a concern and you like the blue - that could be a good buy, talk them down to $75k!!! The Yellow Spider for $109k they have - somebody was smoking crack when they decided on a sale price for that one..
i agree with 285ferrari's assessment of the blue spider. there's not much more depriciation left in that car, so you could add some miles without fear. same with the one with 35K miles. the 95 black/black spider is also a good option. if you could get it for low 80s i think it's the best deal of all their spiders. use the aftermarket wheels as a bargaining chip. john
A 95 can be had for alot less than 80's Here is a recently serviced 97 for 72K http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-1997-Ferrari-F355-Spider-20k-Miles-Just-Serviced-MINT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6212QQihZ004QQitemZ140057162820QQrdZ1
Maybe I haven't looked close enough to compare, but I didn't realize F1 tranny's added value....in my case I would only consider a 6-speed, and its seems that the majority of buyers of 355s now want the 6-speed (these cars are often on their 2nd, 3rd or 4th owners....people who may like the feel of a stick vs. any incremental track performance increase from an F1, or having the latest technology, since these are 7+ year old cars now...) Also, the F1 (355 in particular) is yet another potential expense to deal with (in addition to the top, headers, cats, peeling interior, etc). I don't mean to knock the F1 since I know some people love them, but on average, I'd be surprised if they brought any premium in price...I'd even venture to guess a late 355 (1998 or 1999) with a 6-speed would bring more money due to rarity...best of the 355 model and stick....this is just of course my opinion and not based on any extensive analysis. I may be totally wrong... -Andrew
yes Andrew -I believe you are According to my numbers---I could be off a few--here it goes Total production by trans type-- 6 speed - 8,649 F1 - 2,624 F1 is much rarer than the 6 speed..
Well, it is not a Series Fiorano car which is the last of the last 355 Spiders. Still, it is pretty. Since it is in Seattle, you could afford to wait a few months then go back and seriously haggle. No one is going to be buying or driving convertibles in Seattle for some time. I'm thinking $89.9K, but this is going to be a depreciating asset. Earlier Spiders may have already bottomed out. I'm not sure, but even if not, there isn't much more depreciation left on a 96 Spider compared to a 99.
Does the F1 transmission make the driving experience that much better.......or would some say worse? I am on my 3rd porsche, a 1988 930 Factory Turbo Slantnose Cabrio, that has a 4 speed. All of my prior sport car purchases required a manual transmission vs. automatic. I recently asked a high end car dealer what he thoufght of the F1 transmission.....he didn't care for it. I asked if was like the earlier BMW SMG transmissions.....he said worse. What is the consensus here? Do they shift fast? Is it the "ultimate" in driving experiences? Or just another "granny" stick? Blaine Sellie
Blaine, You will get many mixed reviews on the F1 trans. I like mine and so far haven't had any problems. It shifts very fast, faster than you can in a 6 speed car. I have driven both and don't like one better than the other--they are just different. My opinion-- it doesn't make the driving experience better or worse just different. You will hear people talk about the pump going bad and it costs 16k to fix -I truly think that scares alot of people away from the F1 trans. I made a poll here a few months ago about F1 pump failures and I think there was only 1 true response about failure of the F1 pump. My 328 was a 5 speed car and I loved it - my 355 is a F1 car and I love it. Bottom line is you need to go out and drive each example and make a decision based on what you what and what you like...
I expected a split opinion, and given all the manual transmissions I have had....... I am leaning towards the F1. I am sure it is far better than the Porsche Tiptronic or the BMW SMG. I appreciate your comments and others as well. Knowledge is powerful. Blaine Sellie
No problem - if you lived in the area I would let you take it for a blast - you wanna fly to MD?? HAHA
I should clairify- a later model (i.e. 1998 or 1999) 6-speed 355 I would bet might bring equal or more money and is more rare- do you have the production breakdown for 1998 and 1999? Seems to me more are F1 based on what I see for sale, but I don't know. Seems the market (and I) hold the later 1998 and 1999 355s a little higher due to decreased chances of the valve guide issue, and other updates which come from a car later in its production life. That's not to say I wouldn't want a 95 or 96, just that I'd be willing to pay more for a 98 or especially 99. So I still feel my guess that a 98 or 99 is worth the same or more with a 6-speed based on rarity is correct... I don't think an F1 355 merits any premium. Of course this is all my opinion, and....I may be wrong
Here is the response directly from Ferrari: "We would like to inform you that we do not possess exact figures for the number of 355 F1 Spider Red with Black interior vehicles produced, but the indicative number is approximately 200. The total production number for the 355 F1 Spider was around 1000." So, this should help you........ Consider the damaged and destroyed, and you have a few less on the street. Hold on to your 355s F1 spiders.