Dream come true

Long story short: new member of the brotherhood here. So hello there!

** Edit: Halfway writing the story, I realised it was really getting BIG. So my apologies beforehand if it's a bit too much for a presentation post!
** Edit 2: No pics yet, I'll take few on the weekend and put them up!

Here's the story of a random Joe struggling to accomplish his goal of owning the car of his dreams.

For years, I have dreamed of owning a Ferrari 348 TS. It's been clear from the beginning: Red on black, or red on tan. No funky combinations. All my friends knew, all my family knew. Why? Well, let's say I'd bring up the topic quite easily if given the opportunity

Ever since I finished college and scored my first job (I am a grey boring software engineer), I began to gather information about this model and to check the euro market for potential bargains. Granted, I didn't have the money to afford one, but a kid can always dream, right?

During that time, I have read a gazillion articles in this forum and learned the ins and outs of the car. I remember I first signed up here to be able to display pictures. That was already back in 2009, and made of it literally a daily routine. I didn't make any post, though, since I had no valuable contribution to make. I just limited myself to the noble art of lurking. Pardon my voyeurism.

Fast forward almost 5 years and a half, and we are in December 2014. As usual, I still keep window shopping for my dream for few minutes between I arrive from work and I start cooking dinner. That helps changing context, from work to out-of-work. This time, however, things start to be a bit different. This time I am very close to having the required funds saved up, so it's no longer window shopping... this time is shopping for real!

There are about 5 models in Switzerland that interest me, all of them between 40k and 45k (my budget). One of them, however, really stands out. A immaculate condition (seriously, I've seen showroom cars that didn't look that good) 348 TS rosso corsa on tan. Not the full tan, but the version with black carpet and some black leather panels. Of the bunch, it also happened to be the cheapest at 39k.

So I decided to ring the owner and arrange a meeting. I couldn't believe it, I was planning to arrange a meeting for a prospective purchase of my dream car!

Met the owner, checked the car, and drooled. Drooled baaaadly. It was just there, sitting low, sounding mean, and looking sexier than Claudia Schiffer on her heyday. The owner also had a couple of Lotus Exiges (one being the V6 Cup), an Audi RS5 as a daily driver, and some other car I can't quite remember (something along the lines of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution or a Subaru Impreza). Quick check around, ok. Eyes back on the Ferrari now.

After a long talk about the car, its known issues, the service history, tricks to service this, improve that, etc. we arrived to the big moment. No hesitation, "I want it", I said.

The problem was that while I was close to having all the money saved up, I didn't have it all yet. I was also about to change jobs in February, which even though it was a considerable upgrade and would help saving up the rest much easier, it prevented me from requesting any loan at the bank due to the mandatory probation period of three months. So I was stuck with no financing and no money until May. Bleh.

Explained the whole situation to the owner, and made sure he understood that I REALLY wanted it. So to tackle the situation, my proposal was to pay a deposit of half the price of the car, and commit to pay the rest in May (when I would've finished my probation period and would be able to ask for a loan). If the second payment was not met or was delayed (even for one day), he could keep the first half. However, if it was him calling off the deal, he'd have to return the deposit and pay 1k in penalties. Everything was to be signed on a contract.

He refused the deal arguing he just needed the money ASAP. Can't fault a man being honest, so I walked off with a bitter feeling of hopelessness and impotence. I really couldn't do anything about it. Bleh again.

So the Xmas period arrived and I returned back to my country (I'm Spanish myself) to spend a couple of weeks with my family and friends. And in fairness, to clear up my mind too.

Then I returned and got busy for few months with changing jobs, moving to the other side of the country, meeting new people, enjoying things around, etc. Meanwhile, however, I kept an eye on the market. Luckily, the 5 examples I had bookmarked had not been sold yet. Good times, stay that way!

April arrived together with some nice weather, and my petrohormones started to get wild again. Decided to get in touch with the guy that I visited in December, and he confirmed he had sold the car two weeks before! NO! Disaster! Now what?!

Two of the five examples had also disappeared from the ads meanwhile, so there were only three left. Long story short, one was in more-than-questionable condition, and the other two had been sold within the last month too. Leaving me with no examples in the market. Not at least in my budget. Why? Because despite of what everyone thinks, these damn things are obviously appreciating in value! Lots of examples in the 50-70 bracket, but nothing below.

I started to fear the worst. My dream, which was so close to be accomplished few months back, now started to seem more and more unlikely to reach. From experience I know that when a model starts appreciating, there's no going back. I've seen it happening with the 208, 308 and 328. Also on the P-side of things with their 930 and 964. Those were selling for 20-30 about three years back. Now we all know for what kind of money you need to fork out if you want to own one.

So I waited for the most part of May, but nothing was coming up. Almost losing faith, and in a desperate move, I began considering other models, to name a few: Porsche 996TT, Lotus Exige, Audi R8 and Porsche Cayman S. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to fill the void left by the red lady. The situation was seemingly irrecoverable.

And that's when, as if karma was rewarding my patience and determination, a bargain-priced receipt-packed gorgeous rosso corsa on black 348 TS popped up in an advertisement near where I live. Almost shaking, I rush up and call the shop right away: "Is it still available?". The answer was "yes". Never three letters meant that much!

Booked an appointment right after work, dropped by and there she was. The red lady of my dreams with a big label saying "32,500". Reason for that price? High mileage: 120,000km (about 75k miles).

I am of the opinion that a car that is used and well maintained is a much better deal than one with no miles and no servicing. I had previously seen an example with 10,000km on the clock and the last service from 2007. Would you dare to crank up the engine, warm it up and take it to 7k RPM? Because I didn't myself. So no, thanks.

So I jumped on it, and the interior, albeit not brand new looking like the first example I had seen, it was in REALLY a good condition! No odd wrinkles, worn weather or sticky bits! I asked for the service book and went through all the stack of receipts. Everything in order, no shortcuts taken. YAY!

So I decided to ask for a test drive. I start the engine, and the first thing I notice is the sound. That sound was nothing like the other stock examples I had seen before. I asked the dealer: "is that the original exhaust?", to which he answers: "no, it comes with an aftermarket sports exhaust... I think it's a Tubi". And as he reaches his hand to his pocket and pulls out some tacky shiny transponder, he says: "and look, it's got this remote controller to open or close the valves that regulate the noise".

Remote controller? Valves regulating the noise? Please, bring the defibrillator, because that, my friend, is a CAPRISTO! Of course, I didn't say that out loud, and instead, mumbled an indifference-loaded "uhm, alrite then".

The rest you can probably guess. Returned from the test drive with my heart in one hand and my bank details in the other, ready to sign whatever they wanted. Had the contract included a clause requiring forced works at the dealership for a year, I would've signed anyway! I just WANTED it!

And so it was! Today, I took delivery of it and I just can't believe it. I am the proud owner of a Ferrari 348! So hello to all of you, nice to meet you (at least officially, as I've read many of you enough times all these years to almost consider you part of my family).

And thank you if you've made it this far!

Fer

 

Thanks Andrew! Pics will be posted for sure

 

Thanks a lot to all of you for the warm welcome!

 

Thank you all for the nice messages and the warm welcome! It's a pleasure to share my joy with you, as I can see many can relate. Ah, and thanks as well for your patience and for reading through! It wasn't my intention at first to write such a long post, but... it just grew

I just woke up to a wonderful warm and sunny day, and in few minutes, I am planning to take her to the Alps and do a couple of mountain passes. I'll possibly head to Grimselpass, as I love the scenery there.

Here's a video of a 997 with a GoPro mounted on the dash, and chasing a 348 up Grimselpass. It's a shame they removed the original audio only to put that tacky song on top (I actually wrote to the video owner back in the day to ask whether he still had the original video... but no reply). Still, it can give an idea of what the scenery is like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvDWaR9Sk9k

I'll try to get some phone pics when I will be around there

I use Swiss Francs. 1 CHF = 1.06 USD.