Ok - I'm bailing on this 355GTB

Ask them to give you a powertrain warranty for the next 5 years until time for the next major if they won't allow an offsite test. That way if something happens mechanically they can pay for it. Also give you full access to all the service records BEFORE you purchase car. If not then I would bail also--seems crazy to spend that kind of money and have no choice but to beleive what the dealer is telling you...There are also some indepndents out there that will travel to dealers to do a PPI using the dealers equipment and allowing the car to stay onsite, but it is usually twice as much as a regular PPI..

 

Just checked the registry---That car was for sale at Ferrari of Silicon Valley back in January of this year--asking price of $88K

 

They obviuosly are not interested in selling the car, but rather just off loading it. You are wise to walk away.

 

+1

 

Can't speak for them, but there are alot of dealers who do this. Basically you buy the car and then have it PPI'ed at your mechanic. I know of a recent 355 owner who did just that. Once it came home and was PPi'ed by the buyers guy they found a few things wrong with the car and the seller stepped right up and took care of it all..I believe he had this in writing from the dealer and the dealer agreed if for any reason he did not want the car after the PPI the dealer would take it back and pay for all expenses. The dealer lived up to his word 100%...So this is not an uncommon practice---just hard to swallow for sure..

 

I can think of some reasons why they might do this, but it isn't very professional practice. Essentially, they are trying to get you "invested" in the car so that you will go through with the purchase regardless of the PPI results. It's a differrent sales technique, I think, but not very straight. Perhaps they do not have much experience selling Ferraris. When you are the only Bentley dealer in town you can prolly get away with the crap. Walk away and find a better car.

 

+1 yes red n' tan is so common..... I would try and find one in resale nero ...

 

Tell them to shove it.

 

Business must be good for them to pull this type of stuff.

 

I live here in Berkeley/SF and Bentley of San Fransisco which is also the local Lamborghini, Lotus, etc. dealer are well excuse my language but *******s!
Although they do have a well equipped garage and decent mechanics, If I were in you shoes I would demand the car be taken to Ferrari of San Francisco the ONLY Ferrari certified shop in North America. Their shop is in San Rafael and although they are not cheap, you get what you pay for. They might agree to giving the car to them based on the grounds that Bentley of SF is not certified to assess the condition of the car, good luck!

 

Typical Ferrari dealer arrogance.

Ferrari dealers HATE customers who are informed. They hate to do business with someone who knows Ferraris.

 

Your getting me interested lol
I am NOT on the market for more cars as I have way too many, but if I can find some time I might just stop over at British Motors (Bentley of SF) and give you my two cents on the whole deal. Every once in a while I like rattling their cage and being shown the "Boost gauge" on the dash of a 355 for its twin turbos lol--(true story by the way)!!!

 

I would buy with no PPI from Sport Auto and thats about it. Run.

 

I agree completley.

 

What I do not understand is that this dealership you want to take it to is relatively close to them. It is not like you are asking to have it shipped out of state or something. What is with these people?

 

I can understand why a car owner would not want someone they don't know, taking apart their engine. I know that if someone wanted to PPI my car, it would have to be at a mutually agreed upon place. I'm not going to let Joe Shadetree go ripping up my f-car engine for the "buyer" to say, oh sorry - don't want it now. Then I'm left holding my d**k in my hand.

$0.02

 

You've got the right idea.