Shall I buy this one? please help a newbie

Hello all:
I am trying to get my first 355.
DO you think it is a good deal?

http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dda/detail.jsp?ct=u&car_id=293359106&dealer_id=63525477&car_year=1998&dealership_view_name=cncmotors&address=&sort_type=make_modelASC&resultCar=290446427&cardist=7807

One owner
major service done late 2010.
In good shape.
no stickies.
No known issues.

 

" MAJOR-ENGINE OUT-BELT SERVICE "
This is a common sales tactic to make a buyer think a full major service has been performed. Key words above are Belt Service, which basically means only cam belts were replaced. You have no idea what other services have been done without seeing the repair/service invoice. If you are really intersted in the car get an independent PPI before moving forward. Just my two cents.

 

They say "Major engine out", and offer to share the invoice with a phone call.....

 

I saw this car for sale as well, greeat color, GTS and it looks great in the pictures. I understand that the dealership are good guys.
The one question mark is the Carfax report which shows that the car was exported from Spain in 9/2004 to California, after being in California previously. I would be interested to have clarification on that.

 

thanks for the responses.
I looked ta the invoice. they changed everything under the sun (well in the engine). It was a $12,000 service!!!
The car starts and drives fine. I just rode along.
The only item on the service list that was strange was "Used crank" for $2250. Why would one change out the crank? engine blowout?

 

Carfax shows car it was serviced at Symbolic Motor Car Company several times.

 

The folder they have contains a letter from Ferrari in San Diego, explaining that the previous owner was invited to a fund raising event in Italy where he spent 50K and toured the factory, took pics ..etc. He then returned the car to the US and continued to own it until he got himself into a 458.

 

Crank replacement IS odd (if it means the crankshaft)....maybe a spun bearing burned a journal or something?

Used one was cheaper than machining and .010 over bearings????

I dunno.

 

Indicates he had the money to keep it up properly....maybe.

 

yes, there were entries on the service list for bearings.

 

Sounds well cared for then....you are aware of all the other "355 Issues" then??

Headers
Some valve guides (bad run, not all)
Sticky trim bits

If you burn some purple sage around the car and feel you have dispelled all those demons......go for it!!

 

You could certinly do that, if revving before everything was all warm and happy........the kind of shi t valets do.........

 

I love the color too, give me that paint code I might use it!!!!

 

Thanks Big Tex. i brunt a lot of everything around it.
I asked about the other issue that you mentioned. They cannot confirm. What they said is that it is a no-issue car per Ferrari San Diego and the other specialized shop.
I am thinking it may be safer on the valves issue since it is a 98 (not necessarily though), and other issue would have been dealt with at the dealer/high end shop.

 

The valve guide thing was actually pretty short lived in the run of the model, IMO.

Sounds like this one has had a good owner (just the one, that's a plus also) and a lot of good shops looking after it.

It could blow up tomorrow, but you don't get many more "good indicators" than that.

 

The headers can burn thru or crack, and that malfunction can cause other issues too.

Sounds like this one has dodged that bullet, unless you see mention of it in the Service History.

 

None of that in the service records. I checked with them again and they contacted the technician they work with. he mentioned that the changes may not have been needed, but it was good thing that changed the crank, bearings, etc.
I understand that it may blow up tomorrow, but at least I have done what I can

 

Sounds like you've made up your mind! Get er done!

 

Is the car a USA or Euro Spec ?
The mileage seems good- not to little not to many
Go with your gut, but I would get a compression test to be sure
I looked at a really nice yellow 355 about 2 years ago and the price was right,,,
had a 90% blow by on the 1st cylinder-- 20K job--Yikes !
I passed

 

I think I saw this one on eBay the other day too. If the "major" is legit, I'd say the asking price is reasonable for the mileage and fact it is a GTS.

Is that color Rosso Barchetta?

Good luck...get er done, you won't regret it.

 

You sure? The HVAC panel looked bubbly from that small pic...

 

Yeah it looks like Barchetta Rick. Sure has a better ring to it than Burgundy huh?


That is a sweet F355, still "red" but a more rare red. GTSs are nice too.

Buy it before I see if they'll take my '97 Berlinetta in trade.


Rob

 

Looks great and asking price is more then fair if everything checks out.

Get your PPI done and enjoy the ride!

I think it looks like Rosso Rubino, Can you get us the color code? Because that's a beauty.

Cheers

 

Almost certain it is Rosso Barchetta, same as mine. [Edit - no, probably not RB. See post #26] I think 1997 was the last year of Glasurit (312), and in 1998 the paint supplier changed to PPG. The PPG Rosso Barchetta (320) is a slightly lighter shade than Glasurit. I found this out when I was looking for touch-up paint.

 

As a former RB owner, this looks to me like Rubino. OP, can you get a paint code?

Otherwise, it looks like an amazing deal on a GTS