At what point does mileage count??

i agree that the Ferrari market places a premium on low recorded mileages and this holds across all models.

I also agree that a comprehensive service record and invoices for any extra work, repair or parts replacement are more important than the stated mileage, in determining the true worth of a car. But this point of view is not obvious and comes about only through acquiring a Ferrair and getting a feel for the marque, or from following discussions such as these on FerrariChat.

At 63,500 miles (100,000km), the next service on my 92 TR will be the 'last' one according the service log book, because there is no provision for anything beyond this. I asked at the service centre and was told that, basically, you begin the service all over again as though from 0 miles (by the way, is this true?) !

But as has been pointed out on this thread, it's the general upkeep that is vital. I took my car in recently to have the aircon re-gassed, as it was not functioning properly in the English summer heat (ha!, yes, we do get it for a while). The car was returned some time later, along with a bill for $1,200, which included a host of other work needing doing, and this between services. In my case, I have an unspoken arrangement whereby everything is kept in working order, because I don't want the nightmare of a breakdown overseas, where I do a certain amount of driving.

It all costs costs costs and I know I won't get back much when the time comes to sell. But at least the car will be offered with a three-inch thick wallet of invoices, enough for a prospective buyer to while away a happy evening, noting the care that has gone into keeping this car roadworthy and in top cosmetic shape to boot.

The one saving I can make, as I learned from this visit, is in engine oil. Apparently the litre per 700 miles that I had been putting in, is too much. My service booklet had recommended this, but the garage said, try half the amount. Ah well, a few pennies off the total cost...

 

I think one partial factor also has to be the model itself. A higher mileage 3x8 is going to be worth more than a higher mileage 360 at some point. The lower build numbers of the 3x8 will mean fewer cars available to a buyer, thus their insistence on low mileage examples will have to take a partial back seat.

Due to the much higher numbers of 360s on the road today, my high mileage 360 (32k miles) will be worth the same as a Nissan Sentra in another year.

Remember boys and girls: it only "matters" and they only "loose value" if you sell them!

 

I will give you the price of a Nissan Altima right now.

 

I agree. I think maintenance history trumps mileage....I wonder why we never have "maintenance history" threads?

 

If the frame is in good shape,

The rest really does not matter.



If you don't believe me look at "REAL" car restoration.

They are almost ALL basically NEW.

 

Somewhere between,

When you buy a car that is from a less collectible model range that you didn't plan on taking to your grave.

When you sell a car that is from a more collectible model range that you did plan on taking to your grave.

 

Bingo.
I envy the guys with pre-Daytona front engined V-12's because they can drive them like they stole them whenever they want and then hang them up to dry. No price fluctuation whatsoever.
I saw a ratted out 1XX series Ferrari at a premier car show and everyone was Oohhhing and Awwwwing about how cool and original it was.

 

There's a clever signature line on here which (paraphrasing) equates not putting mileage on a car as being the same as not having sex with your g/f so the next guy can have her unmolested. I don't see it that way. You don't want to bring home a Whore. You want a nice girl with very little experience. You want to bring home a nice car with very little mileage, not something that the previous owner tore-up and figured it was the end of the line and time to sell.

 

This seems to be one of those questions / debates that come around and as some one has mentioned there doesn't seem to be that many threads on maintenance records vs mileage and price ratio.

When I purchased my F355 new from the dealer I was told if I traded it in with under a 1,000 miles I could sell it at a very little loss. Now one's definition of loss can be widely different, but I was truly surprised at the 1,000 mile idea. After attending several events and speaking with other owners that was the magical number. Drive your new Ferrari for 1,000 miles and then trade in for another new one for very little additional cash. Well, as some one else has mentioned that is also no longer the case as the economy is where it is. Production numbers are going to play a role in future pricing as well as collectibility. The current V-8 cars are built in larger numbers than the previous model it replaces and at some point one has to ask at what price does it interest a buyer. In the pre-owned market it is going to be what the buyer feels is the right price versus the new car environment where it seems one would sell their sole for a 458.

I think for the buyer of pre-owned Ferraris he / she is looking for the newest, lowest mileage and the best price. The greater problem is the current owners are used to being able to sell their car for more in the pre-owned market because of supply or more to the point pricing of the current car is so much higher in the pre-owned market than was it's msrp that that allows for previous models to hold a higher price in the used market than it otherwise might. But as the economy has faltered and production numbers have increased this becomes a greater issue.

All one has to do is look at the prices today of 360s and F430s from severals years ago. The prices have fallen more than some owners want to sell at. May be we as Ferrari owners are at a point where one thinks more about the cost delta of trading or selling our current car for the newest car. I don't know if this is the case yet.

Regards,

 

What he said. Preservation is generally an exercise in futility.

Low mileage cars are ultimately for the delusional.