Invest now 308's are next. They have been moving up too They made a lot of them (Magnum PI) but half are now gone I've owned 5 of them over the years...loved the styling and still have a lot of Hawaiian shirts
What the... Australia is a democratic capitalistic society. Just like us. Everything is expensive in Au just like it is in Nz. Cargo ships cast a lot to operate. It's a geographic issue. You were of course just being funny... right? God I hope so because I did laugh when I read it. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Not really. Read up on their restrictions and requirements for importing a car and the taxes and fees involved. Mostly protectionist and partly environmental extremism. Shipping costs have nearly nothing to do with the price of imported cars there. There are a lot of other issues too but gets into P&R territory. Lets just say by my yardstick they are still subjects not citizens.
Merica! Btw I did google "why is it expensive to import cars to Australia" and I did not see much of what you say. Not doubting just don't see it off hand is all. https://www.finder.com.au/importing-a-car https://www.savvy.com.au/blog/cost-of-importing-a-car-into-australia
Huge. Worse as I understand on used cars. Very protectionist. Ask the Aussies what a Ferrari costs over there. Down there....whatever.
Just 2 examples I looked up 98 355 65000 km $213,000 US 512 TR 30000 KM $355000 US $125,000-$225,000 in shipping costs? I don't think so. Not allowed on the road as I understand unless RHD. So some models are not allowed at all. I am not aware of any western country with that restriction.
Or, as I understand it, try to retire there from another country if you don't have any relatives there.
A number of auto mags have had stories with nightmare stories of importing to Australia. Cars impounded and disassembled by a 3rd party over which you have no control to remove all brake and clutch material and any heat shielding that might have asbestos content. Very expensive process I am told.
We had a few clients with multiple homes, California/Hong Kong etc who when things were closing in on Hong Kong told me they were moving to Canada. Keep the California house but residents of Canada. They said a person with assets was welcomed there and financially punished for moving here.
The used car market prices in Australia is driven mainly by supply and demand... just like anywhere else. But of course with a higher starting point because the cars are more expensive brand new. They ultimately pay about double what we pay for a new car. An indirect way of taxing you more if they aren't already taxing you enough. When your government takes a huge bite out of everything you do, how "free" are you really?
I'm starting to question how "free" I am just living in California. Australia has it much worse when it comes to enjoying exotic cars.
I recently helped a friend in Qld. ship some heavy duty 2K, 5K 10K, and 20K watt film lights and stands from Los Angeles to Brisbane. I suggested he have the wiring and sockets removing, and have the lights scrubbed clean prior to loading them in a 20ft shipping container. The shipment was held in customs and my buddy had to cough up $5K AUD to get everything straight. All the wiring contained asbestos. His Russian old lady almost murdered him when she found out. I sell vintage motion picture cameras and gear all around the planet. Australia is super hard on wood coming in. Most cameras ship in a dozen or more flight cases. The cases are made of a wood cored laminate. I only sell to the Aussies if it is prepaid, FOB my garage. I couldn't imagine what car would go through.
And another 1999 355 Spyder for sale on BAT. 11K miles. As someone else commented earlier....must be the year of the 355 Spyder sales. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1999-ferrari-f355-spider-16/
I think the 348/355 market is going to fluctuate for the next few years. You have people coming into their adult lives who grew up with these cars, yet they can't afford the Ferrari they really desire, so these are great alternatives.
This is exactly what drives price increases in all classic cars. Use the 55-57 Chevys or 60s muscle cars as examples. The difference is that the Ferraris are all rare in comparison and will continue to rise. I just watched a bunch of 50s cars hit the market because their baby-boomer owners are letting them go because they are aging. The current buyers are looking at newer cars because all car guys like cars from when they were kids. I covet the 275 GTB/4, @NeuroBeaker digs the 348 because he is half my age. YMMV
Right. And in 5-10 years when the 80s kids get into their 40s, I imagine the F355 won't be the alternative but the Ferrari from their childhood that has aged the best.
And the kids of the 90s kids will dig EVs, ridesharing, and autonomous cars. The horror. What car posters do you remember from when you were coming up???
I graduated highschool in 1985 im 51 and bought 348. it is THE car. i dont even want a 430 or newer. if they were all the same price id still get the 348. dont even want a 355 but they are great. 360... uhhh no thanks lol. funny tho id take a mondial. maybe it was weird science.... muscle cars... when all the hippies are gone no one will want them. hence market is dropping and more will sell. even if they are cheap noone want those pieces of crap.