Found a 355 spyder with problems, need opinions

Its quite possible that the dealer is telling the truth about item 1 as the cats have a fairly short life

However I would suggest the real reason to walk is the roof unless it is fixed and is working - try a search here for all the threads on 355 Spyder roof issues

 

If you are a real buyer, with real cash, for a real car.... keep looking. You are in the best possible 'drivers seat' we've seen in years for this market. Find a no-stories car with books and papers, and you'll probably still get a great 'deal'.

 

That car has been for sale there for a long time. In fact i dare say that single car has been in inventory the longest!

 

Like I've posted many many times, "There is no such thing as a cheap Ferrari". Just pay good money and get a great car plain and simple.

 

Buy my perfect 348 Spider for less than that, and it has zero problems . I bet you will never replace the top motor in my car !!!

 

Common issue?
I have yet to replace a top pump that failed from normal use on a car with a good top assembly. Bent and binding bows, warped and twisted arms..... requiring the emergency switch use where the button can be held on with the pump running for extended periods...... yes.

That emergency lifting bolt included in the little pouch... job security for the parts dept. is all I can figure was behind the thought.

I completely agree with RL. I know better and still I broke my own advise and bought a fixer upper. DAMN that thing is getting expensive

Dave

 

When I was looking for a 355 I saw many that were probably 5K-8K cheaper than what I ended up paying. I had Dave Helms do the PPI and get the car ready for new ownership and I have NOT experienced ONE simple problem (no leaks, no check engine lite, etc.,etc.) for almost two years now. I don't have any regrets paying a bit more to get something without stories and a sound car at that.

With today's market I am sure you can find a darn nice car for a decent price without the headaches. Plus, your significant other won't refer to your car as "that POS parked in the garage you can't use"!

 

Ace

cats are a common issue with 355's
All you need to do is replace with Hyperflow cats and your good to go.
Yes the mechanical 355 tops can be an issue for some......

Having said that my 355 spiders top works flawlessly. And yes my cats have been replaced with test pipes (Thanks Ricambi)
My advice is to move that car aside and look for a better example..........as Daniel said in a prior post, you are in the best possible position to be looking for a ferrari.....its a buyers market right now.

0.02

 

I have not personally seen the car but I called TFX and was told to stay away from it.
He said he would gladly take my money for a ppi compression and leakdown but my money
would be better served on another 355.
I think there was an article in 0-60 magazine about that exact car. ....wasn't too good.

 

There was a Berlinetta just sold in autotrader $45k mileage was low and major service was due. Here is a 97 needs service asking $55 with 25k miles.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=253277149&dealer_id=1151027&car_year=1997&model=F355&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=FER&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1&drive=&default_sort=yearDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=yearDESC&address=20866&advanced=y&only_photo=1&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=69999&cardist=619

Tow more asking $59k
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=252060348&dealer_id=49958918&car_year=1995&model=F355&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=FER&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1&drive=&default_sort=yearDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=yearDESC&address=20866&advanced=y&only_photo=1&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=69999&cardist=894
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=252519743&dealer_id=1392156&car_year=1995&model=F355&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=FER&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1&drive=&default_sort=yearDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=yearDESC&address=20866&advanced=y&only_photo=1&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=69999&cardist=938

Stay away from that yellow spider in Penn had front end work. If its source is not private party I would question authenticity of the receipt.

 

I'd buy it for $40-45k.

The check engine light on the F355 comes on sometimes for no reason (gas cap, car ran rich, etc). I don't even know if the valve guides will trigger CE?

 

If it just needs a cat and a top pump, why doesn't he put them on the car and sell it without problems. If he were an individual seller, I might put more credence in those excuses, but dealers fix cars if there's something that's keeping them from selling, don't they? They're pro's, buy and sell cars every day, and I've found that in trading in cars, they know exactly how to sell flaws as minimal, whereas as buyers who only buy and sell periodically, we're at a disadvantage. Deal with an individual (preferably an Fchatter) if you want a flawed car. Pass on a dealer who says "oh, it's just......you can fix that and have a perfect car"

 

I owned a 355 with a problem top. Dealer 'fixed' it 3 times before I sold it.

I would avoid any 355 with a top issue as it could end up causing you to despise the car and sell it

 

TFX is the co that did the last "major service" on the car. They are close to Deer Park I believe.
Look at the service invoice in his ad - phone should show there.

 

I am with Daniel----Also if the seller wanted to sell the car then he would fix the problems and price accordingly. I never understand people who attempt to sell cars without fixing the existing problems..

 

All good advice... Did anyone price out a new roof pump?

Seven thousand and thirty nine dollars! $7039.00

Take that off the asking price, and the car still has issues. It's really a sub 40K car.... who'd have thought that 355s would already be in that category....

 

The selling dealer can prove the catalytic converter issue by simply giving you the read out from the OBDII scanner or SD2.

 

Ace in Ohio we dont have any E checks.......so yes running no cats is fine

 

I think the title of this thread sums it up. Should I buy a problem? Um, simply, NO.

If you really like the car, have the seller fix it, and get a warranty.