how do you test drive a Ferrari

Well, you don't want to buy any specific Ferrari without having driven one of that model. (I.e, just because you thought the 355 was comfy and fun doesn't mean you'll like a carb'ed 308...)

However, in my case I had already had seat time in a 328, so when the right one came along it was mostly a matter of making sure the car was mechanically/cosmetically OK. That made it a lot easier to expand my search nationwide. Ultimately I found the exact year/color I was looking for and was able to make the decision rapidly on the specific car.

 

Sorry for the hijack....

To bad about the F50, surely they are rare enough that at sometime, it will be spotted (if its still in the US and hasnt been shipped overseas).

Interestingly, I saw a F50 here in Denver in Nov of 2006. It wasnt a kit car, but it also wasnt in an area I would normally think an F50 would reside. It did have tags, didnt remember the plate numbers, but I posted it in the FChat RockyMtn section and no one commented and I wasnt sure if we had a F50 officially in Denver. The FChatters are pretty knowledgable as to whats around town...... makes me wonder .....

James in Denver

 

Hope it's not this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-F50-Rare-Beautiful_W0QQitemZ260166938757QQihZ016QQcategoryZ6212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

like that car even exists.

 

LOL, that auctions uses a real Enzo VIN...

 

Somehow some of the dealerships (not just Ferrari) in SoCal seem to think that if they "abuse" you, it makes their marque seem more exclusive and you'll want to come back and buy more than ever. Sterling BMW did this to me and after 2 questions about the (then) new 330i, they bluntly told me "I'm sorry, I need to help serious customers." I left them and went to Newport Porsche/Audi where I bought a 2002 Audi A4 instead. A few years later, I visited Sterling again where I was allowed to test drive, but the salesperson said something like: "Not anybody can afford to buy a BMW. Porsche, Audi and everyone else can give away financing, but with a BMW, they're very selective and you're in an exclusive club..." That turned me off and I just left.

Oddly enough, test driving and buying a Lotus Elise from Newport European was nowhere remotely close to the "snob appeal" experience I got from Sterling. And I was alwas welcome to sit in their Rolls Royce and offered test drives of their Ferrari 348, 355 (used) and Lotus Esprit V8 (new) they had in stock.

I think what it comes down to (in SoCal) is that some dealerships try to make themselves more prestigious to help sales (and somehow think that insulting customers is the way to do it), where others already know what they have and understand that customer service is key.

Back on thread: When I purchased my first Ferrari ('82 308 GTSi) I simply went for a ride. I was afraid of abusing a machine I didn't own. But afterwards, I will test drive a car - but I won't abuse it. I drive it like it were mine. As such, no high rpm operation if brand new. If used, I will go near (but not to) redline only after the oil is warm and in lower gears (to not outright exceed the speed limit.) I do tackle corners at about 60-70% of the car's (or my) capability to ensure I get a flavor for the handling - but nowhere close to endangering the car, myself or the seller. I am sensitive to respecting to owner/seller's machine since it is (not yet) mine.

Bob

 

Somebody should email the seller asking about that, and see what his response is. I think the response could be pretty funny.

 

... and this should be a red flag:

"**The Ferrari is in another country right now, full payment must be recieved before the vehicle is shipped overseas. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. If you have any concerns about this, please inquire**

1. It's in another country... what other country? What if you're in the country that he's in?
2. He doesn't know how to spell "receive". Maybe an F50 owner should hire someone who can spell.
3. Does it really take 2-4 weeks for delivery? From another country? I've had rebate checks take longer than that.

Oh, and I found it on the web from Dove House Motors:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/185089.htm

How do we report this guy?

Update: I got a response back from Dove House:

------------------------------------------------------
From: "Simon Lenton"
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 15:49:22 +0100

Hi Shahed

Thank you for letting us know. We've noticed that this has happened to
us a
few times with this car.

We are trying to sort it out now but thank you very much for letting us

know.

Kind Regards

Simon
------------------------------------------------------

~shahedc
.
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I bought a 360 a week ago. These are the ff guidelines i did: Test drive,check and verify service record,request for Car Fax history car result and check the best of your ability the body for dent or scractches. I hope this well help you .

 

It sounds like much of the dissent is over what purpose a test drive serves.

If you're not at all familiar with a type of car, you'll want to sit in the car, get a ride, possibly drive it, to see if you "like" it. (A "try it" drive)

But if that's the case, it won't tell you if the car is healthy. You need a PPI for that.

If you're already very familiar with the car type, a test drive may be part of a DIY PPI, but you already know if you "like" it. (A "test it" drive)

If you fall somewhere in between, that's when the PPI can substitute for a test drive.

 

The F50 incident happened about four years ago (Sept. 16, 2003) and it hasn't been recovered yet.
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Not much discussion about insurance ... should a test driver not have a letter from his insurance company saying his policy will cover the car if he damages it?

 

When I bought my 355 12 years ago the dealer was very hesitant to let me drive it. They definitely wanted to qualify me first. I insisted on driving it and after the salesman spoke with the owner etc. they let me. I'm selling the car now and are only willing to let someone go for a ride as a passenger. If that is not good enough don't buy it.

 

Over the years I have purchased 5 Ferrari's.....4 new and one used. I never test drove any of these different models. I figured if I didn't like it my dealer would take it back at no extra charge and credit me back the cost of the car.

 

I purchased my used Viper last June. Never test drove it. The previous owner took me for a 10 minute ride but no test drive. After a PPI, I felt comfortable making the purchase. I love the car, have had no issues, and plan to keep it long term.

Last month I purchased my first Ferrari, a 2007 599 from a used dealer. No test drive. In fact, sight unseen other than the photos published. Of course it's early in my ownership of that car but again, no issues to date and I'm 100% happy with my purchase.

 

I didn't test drive my particular car but I had test driven a 430 F1 and MT as well as a 360 MT unit. All were in the same day at our local dealer.

Most places will let you test drive IF you are a serious buyer.

 

I'm kind of mixed about test drives. Its like you have to do it, but you really won't know the car until you've lived with it for a few months. I think with a test drive you can at least get to a yes or no on whether you still want to persue it.

For example, did not like the 430 after a drive....but did like the Scuderia, which is weird because they are 95% the same car.

 

I didn't test drive mine before I bought it. The gentleman (Murray Bacchus) who did my PPI did for the PPI, said it drove well and I believed him... he was spot on.

 

When I was ready to buy I looked at three cars. Each time I met the owner, had a long talk about the car, took a ride with him driving and then drove the car myself. I'd never buy a car, new or old, without driving it first.
When I found the right one I made an offer and left a deposit subject to a PPI.

 

Yevgeny Kafelnikov wrecked his 550 Maranello within 2 hours of buying it. I was in Monaco the day it happened.

 

On 3 of my cars, I hired a consultant to handle all of this for me. He did the PPI, the test drive, etc. Having the consultant allowed me to get a great price, too.

 

Put a credit card deposit when I saw the car, got my PPI and then asked for the test drive when I showed up with a cashier's check ready to take it home. My only special request was the cold start which I always do with all used cars and am very thorough with my test drive despite the PPI.

 

A PPI and a test drive are two different things and one is no substitute for the other.

As a purchaser, test driving is nice, but not absolutely necessary because nearly everything you need to know can be done from the passenger seat, other than perhaps thrilling yourself just because you're behind the wheel of a Ferrari. An owner, especially when involved with a sale to an unknown private individual, would naturally be hesitant to let someone behind the wheel of his Ferrari.

Here is a link to a pre purchase check list that I put together for a 360, but most of it would apply to any Ferrari. Scroll down to the PDF link: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/191837-faq-shopping-used-360-a-9.html#post142778465

There are plenty of check list items related to the test drive and many of them can't be evaluated unless the car is out on the road. But the one or two items that might be better evaluated when the purchaser is behind the wheel can be done in a parking lot, the rest can be done on the road with the owner driver and the purchaser watching.

 

If i'm a seller and your a buyer and come to see my car I will take you for a ride if we come to an agreement on price and I think you will follow through, such as a deposit in hand. if you want to make the deal conditional upon a test drive , no problem , come back with guaranteed funds payable to me , you take the car for a ride while i hold the funds and sit in the passenger seat. Its that simple .

 

I guess I was lucky, I was able to test drive my 360 for 15 minutes with the previous owner before I committed to buy it. He even offered to let me and my Dad go out on a test drive alone, no problem. That was nice. IMO, I wouldn't have been motivated to BUY if the seller wasn't interested in letting me drive the car before committing. I was very courteous and respectful to him. Otherwise, I'd just look like some skinny Indian kid who thinks he's "all that." I showed up in a suit, driving my late-model M-B S-Class, and with a tray of desserts for the previous owner. After that, he was great to work with. Prior to that, he kinda blew me off.

I never got to drive a BMW M5 before I ordered mine. The first time I drove one was when I drove it off the lot! They just weren't around back then like they are today.