Did you get a PPI before you bought your car?

Never did, but I had plugzit with me and had owned one before so I felt we knew enough to make an initial decision. Worked out okay. Then I had a Post Purchase Inspection done by Gary Bobileff just to verify that I didn't buy a lemon.

 

I didnt get a PPI until right after I bought it. I live dangerously.

 

I just did my own PPI on a F355 I've owned for 5+ years and it failed.

 

Bought mine sight-unseen from a 25 year certified Ferrari mechanic and independent shop owner with a stellar reputation.

 

We should say that one should only avoid a PPI at their own risk. We say never do this. Fact is, there are times when you have enough info on the car, the owner or your own research that suggests you may not be risking that much by avoiding one.

Generally you cannot get one due to pricing, opportunity or the owner is being a dikk. Stuff happens.

Still, this is not for you kids at home. Get the PPI. We are what you call, experts. (Even we get snookered sometimes)

 

Maybe we should start a recommended 348/355 PPI list of experts.

 

Had a PPI on mine before I bought it. Cost $500. Missed a lot of things. Crappy job on the leakdown ( I doubt they really did one!). I was too excited to get a Ferrari. Needed valves, headers and complete A/C overhaul. Told me the car was great. In actuality it was a C at best. Car is sorted now but cost me some serious coin. Moral of the story- Talk to someone beforehand to get a recommendation for a PPI. Know more about what goes into one. Don't buy one just because you can afford the buying price. Be prepared to "pony up" for the repairs/maintenance bills. I now feel I know enough about Ferraris to get into real trouble! Ha Ha

 

Wow, I do see a lot of me in your comments!!! Between bad PPI's. Bad cars, Sellers, it
seems a fairly daunting task to find a good car. Gut can go a long way, but for the novice??
Some sort of PPI or exp. eye sounds like a good idea.
Though difficult if travelling to find a car in another city, your kind of at the mercy of what is available locally...

 

Both seat backrests had movement in. Forwards and backwards due to the bolts at the join with the seat base working loose. To rectify the seat needs to be stripped as the inside screws are not the easiest to tighten up.

 

I thought they ALL do that, really!

 

Not supposed to, if they do it's possible your bolts are loose. Two of mine were about to come out altogether, there are six, three outside and three inside. There was a thread on here regarding this but not sure where now. Lots of detail and pics on it , maybe others know where it is.

 

My 328 has about 2 inches (at the top) of free play front to back. Both sides. I thought that was all normal.

 

My PPI was FREE. Yes free, I showed VTC a picture of the 348 I wanted to get, he gave me the OK, so I got it. Had it fully serviced by the BEST, Mr. Eugenio and I could not have been any happier.

 

It wasn't quite that simple my friend! 300 pictures later...
You do have the nicest 348 I have seen. Interior, exterior, engine bay, the whole nine yards.
Nice find! Now lets go drive
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Not sure about yours but after taking my seats out ,stripping, tightening and rebuilding the backs are now rock solid !!

 

Didn't even dream of a PPI, I'm a trained Engineer and with a good set of eyes and some common sense and most importantly realism.

 

I discovered FChat AFTER I bought my 348. I didn't know what a PPI was until I became a member of FChat.

The 348 I bought had a major service about a year before I got it, and the invoice was for approx $9500 because there were a lot of other things that were done along with the major. That invoice, coupled with a reputable Ferrari Dealer that sold it to me was good enough for me to close the deal. Almost three years and nothing major (thank God), or at least nothing I couldn't settle myself (with the assistance of the Stooges and other members on this site).

I should mention that I am not a pro, however I did my homework (a ton of it) before I bought my 348, so I knew what to look for on the invoices and knew what questions to ask.

 

I didn't get a PPI, but knew of F-chat prior. So I had a clue. I've worked on cars, heavy equipment, and aircraft my hole life, figured not too much I can't handle. It's machine like any other they work they break. Though I've lucky with this one.

 

There is actually at least a third kind of person in this context - those of us who bought our cars new. I bought my 348tb 19 years ago next week.

 

I did get a PPI, even though there are several members on F-chat who spoke highly of the car I bought and I trusted the seller after numerous lengthy discussions (not just about cars The major factors for me were 1) Since I was buying the car sight unseen, I though it was still a very good idea and 2) you can know a lot about these cars and still miss a small but potentially stinky detail without really getting into things. My whole MO was to be able to enjoy the car for a while before having to get knee deep into fixing something mechanical or performing a major...even though I'm sure I'll enjoy that too when the time comes. For now, though, the driving is the thing!

 

I did a PPPI.... Personal Pre Purchase Inspection I feel comfortable enough with my mechanical aptitude and knowledge of the 355, that I considered my personal inspection (along with the comprehensive service records) valid enough. I purchased with the asumption that it needed headers, cats, and a major. I feel there is nothing a dealer could have told me that I wasn't able to see for myself.

 

LOL!!! That was good, Brendan

 

I did not do one but was fortunate enough to find a car that had been sold new and serviced at the same dealership since delivery in 1995. Every record was in tact that the lead mechanic that left the dealership to start his own independent provided additional records. The dealership had gone through the car and done all seals, major etc. and the records showed all the cats, guides etc. done as well as all repairs so I figured that was a good a PPI as I could ask for

I think it depends on the car and the relationship you have with the seller. Buying one from a major dealership or well-known independent you are usually ok without one. Buying one from a private party or dealer who does not deal with Ferrari's on a regular basis I would definitely recommend one.

Cheers

 

94' 348- Had a PPI done on it by Tim Stanford in Florida. He said that the car was in great shape so I flew down and bought it.

99' 355- Had a post purchase inspection done by Competizione after the car was shipped. We put into the contract a 100% refund if the car did not pass. Well it failed miserably to the tune of 21k in repairs. The dealer (Ooley & Blackburn) paid the entire amount to fix it. The funny part here is that they had someone do a major on the car a few months before I bought it.

06' Gallardo- No inspection, the car was only 6 months old and had less than 3000 miles. Did not have any problems.

88' Countach- When I bought it we knew it needed some work. So it was sent to George Evans and he found alot wrong with it. More than what I wanted to spend so Roy Cats bought it back with no questions asked. Roy even offered to fit half of the repair bill but it was still too much. He ended up spending about 51K.

91' Diablo- No PPI. Car burned about two weeks later. The cause was either a faulty/loose/dry rotted fuel line. This is what the insurance company said after they had the car inspected.