Advice of F355 purchase | FerrariChat
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Advice of F355 purchase

Discussion in '348/355' started by johnk..., Feb 20, 2013.

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  1. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,276
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    #1 johnk..., Feb 20, 2013
    Ok, I've been looking for a car for going on 3 years. What something "different" (not red). Almost sprung on a 99 F1 Rosso Fiorano last year but the PPI showed a number of things needed besides a major because the car sat for 6 years.

    Now there is this green (verde Silverstone) car than no one here seems to know: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355/399291-anybody-know-car.html It is listed in the 355 Register.

    The Car Fax only goes back to 1999. Assuming one owner from new to 99, there have been at least 8 owners. I have service records from 2007 on. Car seems well maintained over that period, at least to 2011 by Competizione & Sports Cars. Car was sold by Ferrari of DC is 2011. That owner kept the car for about 6 months (2k miles) and sold to the current owner early last year. Total of 4k miles on the car since the FoDC sale. Headers have been replaced. Hyper Flow cats. Cat ECUs replaced..... Don't know about valve guides. The problem is, aside for the limited history, the car seems to eat batteries. Battery has been replaced 5 times since 07. Charging system was checked and alternator was replaced. I realize that if the car sits the battery will be drained by electronic systems, but this seem excessive.

    Any thoughts? The cars seems to have changed hands more times that a drunken whore at a bachelor party. :)
     
  2. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
    Richmond
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #2 bobzdar, Feb 20, 2013
    If the battery switch is not shut off or a tender not put on it, it will lose enough charge to not be able to start after 2-3 weeks of sitting. Do that too many times (or for too long of a time) and the battery is dead. I could see this happening if the car is put away for the winter and the battery switch not shut off. Sitting for 2-3 months with the switch on and no tender in a 355 will kill the battery so dead there will be no bringing it back (unless a deep cycle battery is used). If you have receipts back to 2007, look and see if the battery was replaced every spring or if it's on a random interval. If it's every spring, it's probably just that the owner didn't know there was a battery shutoff and is used to cars that can sit for quite a while and fire right up. If random, there's probably something else going on that may have been fixed with the alternator.

    Have a very thorough PPI done and mention the battery issue so they can check for excessive current draw on the battery when it's off and check alternator output when running. The electrical systems are not too complex on these cars (at least compared to new cars) so it should not be a difficult fix if there is an issue and it wasn't just improper care of the battery.

    My thoughts are to buy on current condition and recent maintenance and not worry too much about what happened 15 years ago. It could have been religiously maintained when new but beaten on hard and have more wear than a car that only got annual fluids but was just taken for an occasional back road blast. Just the maintenance records don't tell you much if you don't know how it was being used and unless you're buying from the original owner or maybe 2nd owner (and they tell you), you won't know that.

    If it's done 4k miles in the last 2 years and has only had battery and alternator and has no other issues on PPI, it's probably a fairly good car. How many miles since 2007 and what's been done in that time?
     
  3. GerryD

    GerryD Formula 3

    May 5, 2010
    2,444
    North of TO
    Full Name:
    Guido
    #3 GerryD, Feb 20, 2013
    Dont buy it because one day soon after, you will wake up holding your head wondering what the hell you were thinking. That car is the wrong colour and the Ferrari paint guy probably had to go for therapy after painting it. Frankly im surprised it was bid to 33gs.
     
  4. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,791
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    #4 plugzit, Feb 20, 2013
    If the car is a 99, why do records go back to 97?
     
  5. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
    Richmond
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #5 bobzdar, Feb 20, 2013
    It's a '95.
     
  6. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,636
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
    Full Name:
    Tim Dee
    #6 SoCal1, Feb 20, 2013
    It's that new math :)
     
  7. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,276
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    #7 johnk..., Feb 20, 2013
    Thanks for the reply Pete. The service records between 2007 and 2011 look good. Since the car was sold by FoDC in 2011 it looks like the only service done was fluids changes and another new battery (with trickle charger!).

    As for color, I ordered some paint to spray out and see what it actually looks like. I've seen too many picture of Verde Silverstone that look very different. I'm not particularly interest in red ans I already have a Rosso Corsa Ferrari in my garage. Like I said, I'm looking for something different, understated and green and tan always looks good.
     
  8. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2006
    10,476
    DC Metro
    Full Name:
    L.C.
    #8 355dreamer, Feb 20, 2013
    I've seen the car before at Competizione. The good news is, it is still in the area. If you are serious, you might want to call Richard or Fernando and see if they remember it. They would likely give you a thorough PPI if necessary.

    Are you in the DC area? Have you taken a look at the car? If not, I would be happy to swing by and give it a once over.

    Luke
     
  9. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,276
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    #9 johnk..., Feb 20, 2013
    Hi Luke,

    I'm in CT. I figure if I get to the point I want to make an offer I'll probably drive down and take a look. I would want to drive it first. I was thinking about calling Competizione for a PPI since they know the car. But I'm looking a a couple of other cars as well. If I need you assistance I'll pop you a PM. Thanks for offering.
     

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