Question about selling an F355

I agree with this, if the guy is serious and has a PPI done and puts down a deposit, then it's pretty clear he's very serious. I actually didn't drive mine before buying it because it was flat bedded to Fast Cars for the PPI so once they went through it I knew I was all set. Just told them to keep it and start on the major.

Ferrari does have different rules though so I'm willing to bet that if a seller is being a hard ass he'll still find someone to buy it if the car is clean.

 

I personally would never purchase a car that I was not allowed to drive (if viewing the car in person). The owner should have the car insured. When I bought my 98 F1 GTS, the seller was a bit reluctant to allow me to drive. I had to be firm, yet nice, and say: "Paul, with all due respect - I don't drive, I don't buy - it's your call"

We went for a ride and he drove first and took me to a low traffic spot and allowed me to drive.

 

Really? That surprises me. Not sure I would buy a car without driving it.

I would never expect to drive it without the owner in the car...but a 5 minute run to see if I can feel any hesitation in the engine / tranny, warped rotors, power steering issues, braking bias, squeaks, rattles, etc seems like an important step to skip.

In fact I would skip a detailed PPI if the test drive was solid. Compression check, clutch check (F1) and an OBD scan would be fine with me.

 

I've bought a few vehicles without test driving them. I guess I'm too trusting.

With that being said, I would have no problem letting someone test drive mine if I knew for certain that they were serious.

 

I agree with others. If I'm not driving I'm not buying. But part of the responsibility of the buyer is to know something about what he is buying. A buyer needs to present himself as a valid prospect. That said I'm 6 ferraris in and never a PPI because I do my homework. IMO a PPI is a pretty worthless document. Heck, I have even rejected CPO BMW's with a warranty until I found the right one. A little investment in time will pay you dividends.

 

I'd respectfully say that is a bold statement.

Like a lot of things in life and this world, there are heroes and zeroes.

Not all PPI's are created equal. I very good friend of mine (member here) was selling a car and the potential buyer requested a PPI. It was done by the sellers mechanic (usually a conflict of interest). I saw the PPI and it was fantastic - one of the best I've ever seen and I've seen a good amount. It was so clear that the tech was not biased to the seller who is his customer.

Not every Ferrari own is a mechanical guy or someone that can review a car themselves. Those folks reply on a good PPI. Plus, if you buy the car sight unseen, you are relying on the PPI to be your eyes.

A good PPI done by a good tech is very valuable to many.

 

Some would say "bold" I would say the "truth." Your story is a great anecdote. However, there are many on both sides of the argument. Many great techs won't even do a ppi because of all the issues. There is no set of standards for ferrari inspection at anything even resembling the low hanging fruit like the American society of Home Inspectors and we all know how many significant issues are missed during Home inspections and that is a legal requirement for most RE transactions. You have even stirred up perhaps the most significant issue with 355's, how are poor leakdown numbers interpreted? How about having a great PPI (snapshot in time) and then the new owner posts on Fchat "help I got a CEL." "Well I got a PPI..." There is so much a PPI isn't going to tell you. Just like you can't have a doctor on a CD-ROM there are subtle things an experienced doctor will pick up to secure a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

OK...I will leave you with last anecdote. BMW CPO is certified pre-owned BMW's program where car for sale must pass numerous tests or being brought up to factory standards before sale. It has to be low mileage and still have factory warranty. The factory develops a set of conditions and all dealers have to follow. So BMW got standards. We don't have standards to look for with Ferrari ppi's. I buy CPO BMW. I pasted on several until I found the best one over multiple dealers. My BIL loves my BMW so much he goes out and buys a CPO BMW just like mine. Heck it is certified and has factory warranty bumper to bumper! He has warranty repairs done to the car. It is all good. After warranty I'm fixing the stuff that breaks on his car. My car, I have done nothing but oil changes. I thank him for letting me learn how to fix my BMW on his car. He will never buy a used car without me again.

 

Oh...another bold statement Dave. Records are worthless but can be entertaining reading.

 

For the mere mortals in the group, FBB, a PPI is a beneficial service. Unless you wish to lend your expertise to any brother needing it for your version of a PPI...

I have bought exactly 2 Ferraris and a Porsche Turbo as far as exotics go. All had PPI's. None went wrong. How's that for anecdotal evidence? Some of us feel pretty confident in our ability to screen a potential purchase, at least for the hidden, potential expensive stuff. I would guess the rank and file do not, however. I do not fault them nor begrudge them having the cars looked at.

The more important question becomes, assuming you need a PPI, getting it done correctly from the rightly qualified people. This should be our role here versus telling people a PPI is worthless.

 

The ppi tells you some stuff. It is far from something I would rely on. And finding "qualified" mechanics is harder than examining the car! Heck even the infamous Eugenio has his haters. And for all that I know about Ferraris there are those who I am sure think I am full of hot air. A 355 for example is the cost of a mid to low-line BMW. People get way to into ppi's, records, and unmolested tool kit, like the prospective 355 they are looking at is the second coming of a 250GTO. In the dealer world it will be a long time, if ever, before the 355 or any modern Ferrari (except a very few limited models) will every be considered anything more than a "unit" to be moved out. I love a Ferrari as much as any of you, 6 times so far, but it is still just a mechanical thing.

 

I think they are both important. A ppi plus a test drive by a mechical owner would be my best case senario. Either is better than nothing.

I think most of us that do a lot of our own wrenching would agree that we could pick out many more issues now than before we owned one.

So to add to what I said before best case scenario would be a ppi followed by a test drive by someone like rifledriver, dave helms, or others with that kind of experience. Surely they will feel things a new owner would just pass off as the way a ferrari drives.

 

I test drove my Ferrari with Tim Stanford after flying in to see the car. It was at his shop.

I got a great lesson in how to and how not to drive the car from Tim, he was very kind.

I am 6'4", 195 and I would never buy a car without driving it, otherwise I would be stuck with a 308 I almost bought that I would not fit in and physically could not drive safely, lol!
Alden