Did you get a PPI before you bought your car?

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those that get a PPI when buying a Ferrari, and those that can afford to loose <lots of cash>.

Comparing the peace of mind that a $200 PPI costs to the potential loss of <lots of cash> there is really only one choice. Really!

 

When I purchased my 355 Spider 3 1/2 years ago, I had never heard of Fchat or a PPI. The average person does not know what that term means. I was shown an invoice for $11,000 from Ferrari of OC detailing that an engine out service had just been performed two months earlier. That was good enough for me. I have logged almost 30k miles and I am one happy Ferrari owner. Just my 2 cents.

 

i did not but i talked with several f car people before my purchase,and i felt foreign car was very strait with me when i bought my 94 348 spyder from them

 

I got a PPI 4 years ago for my car as well. IMHO that inspection is very important. It is getting harder and harder to find qualified personnel to even want to perform them. OTH, many of the posts I read are guys looking for a "cheap" Ferrari so it probably doesn't really matter at the end of the day. The school of hard knocks has a waiting list to get in.

 

The third kind of person. The person who is obsessed with what every mechanic says and never buys one. 29k miles and no issues no PPI and know oil loss. But what do I know I own one.

 

im shocked -

i never heard of a ppi - and i dont think it was around 11 yrs ago when i bought my TR - EVEN STILL - i had my mechanic look at the car before i bought it .... he put it on the hoist to at least make sure the car wasnt twisted -

what did people do when they bought these things 20 yrs ago then

 

+1
I should have.
-1
I don't have lots of cash for mistakes.

 

i had ppi on 1st car i considered which was in a little rough shape. i didnt buy it. i skipped the ppi on the one i eventually bought bc it was in such great shape. worked out ok

 

The previous owner of my 328 GTS had one done in August 2007 (major US
dealer, full documentation).... passed a 98-point PPI with only a couple very minor
faults. In March of 2008, another PPI (major US dealer, full documentation)
right before I bought the car.... 98 point PPI with only a couple very minor
faults.

$25,000 after purchase, the car would now actually pass a PPI. Biggest issue?
ROTTING FUEL LINES, including the 2" main filler hose.... dated September, 1985.
Cracks through which I could see light. I still have that hose as proof. Timing
belts with a date code of 1999 (car bought 2008).... I have those too.

Also had "green rot" on the ECU connectors, mud in the trunk, failed vacuum
advance, totally destroyed cat, muffler full of cat bits.... on and on and on. ALL
AFTER having TWO INSPECTIONS IN ONE YEAR BY FERRARI DEALERS.

In my personal experience, a PPI is only as reliable as the person doing it. Don't
be duped because it's a "reputable dealer" doing it. I know better, and paid
DEARLY for that knowledge.

Anyone doubting this just search back in the archives
about my car (61515) - which is NOW a car I wouldn't be ashamed to sell.

But if I did, I'd hope you'd get a better PPI than I did.



Jedi

 

Unfortunately, yes.

Kai

 

LOL!! You said in 2 words what I spent paragraphs saying!!



Jedi

 

I pay for a compression check, and that is it.

 

Nope.

I had a quick look over it before I test drove it.

 

I had 2 PPIed. That's why I don't have one - I found out that I couldn't afford the ones that I could afford.

 

I bought mine without having seen it in person, or getting a PPI.

But it had a total of 124 miles on it, and just had a major at the Ferrari dealer in Salt Lake City Utah.

 

9 years ago I spent 6+ months looking for my first (and only) Ferrari. I had 4 ppi's done on 4 different cars. The first one was a car that I was so excited about I flew up to San Francisco from LA before the Ppi was complete. What a mistake. I arrived at the shop doing the Ppi and the mechanic told me it needed over 30k in work, the seller was embarrassed he offered to pay for 1/2 the Ppi. Needless to say the next 3ppi's I did not fly out for, owners were nice enough to drop cars off at the dealer and I paid for the inspection. The last Ppi came back great. I flew out a week later and purchased the vehicle. I probably spent 1200 for the 4 ppi's but it was money well spent, as I have had 9 years and 22k miles of pure enjoyment.
I would never buy a used car that was not inspected, by a trusted mechanic or dealer in the area.

 

Yes and haven't had any problem with the car....but I was appalled with the quality of the PPI, lots of stuff I have found subsequently that should have been reported on, wouldn't have changed my mind but would have helped in the negotiations

 

I did not, but bought the car from someone with whom I had a special relationship with.

 

I had one carried out at an independant Ferrari workshops and whilst satisfied was upset to discover what had been missed. Both seats had the dreaded backrest movement in them ( now cured ). The handbrake needed new shoes and freeing off to get any decent feel to it.
Until I asked for it they were not going to do a compression check on the cylinders, something I would have thought essential !!

 

What is the dreaded back rest movement? I have read about every freakin problem with these cars and never heard of this.

 

Been there, done that.

 

just something else to make these cars worth less. maybe we should all talk about the good things about the car and then they would be worth more. just an idea

by the time you buy one you will need to check off 100 bad things off the list. or deduct $30,000 for the already $60,000 asking price. maybe they are worth 60k because of the issues so why decuct twice?