Why is 56,600 miles considered high mileage

There was another user recently who was selling an even higher mileage mondial...and he sold it. He wouldn't disclose how much he got for it, though...

Perhaps some others can chime in with what this mondial might be worth? It seems that modials sell for 5k$ less than 308's, or is it just me?

Figure a 50k$ 85 308 is probably in the mid to high twenties, unless its at a dealer (then its 50k$ ).

Good luck!

 

Bo knows Ferrari's. Good post.

 

I am not posting a value debate here really. What I do want people to understand is that there is nothing wrong with 60,000 miles. Period. Case closed.
You do have to watch out for one thing and that's $urpri$i$ with that pretty $42,000 308 with 16,000 miles (whatever - see above). Unless it has has ALL the rubber replaced, don't drive it out of town. That $42,000 better have included all of that stuff or all of a sudden you will end up with a $48,000 308.
Lets say my car is only worth $25,000 now. Whoever buys it can drive it to California this weekend and not worry, track it all summer, then put it up for the winter. All for $25K. Now who got the better deal?

Again, don't turn away from a "high" milage Ferrari. Look it over and thing about it.

 

Too funny man!!

 

Tom, in reality many of the higher mileage ferrari's I looked at didn't look all that great - yours may be the exception. Figure a 50k mile 308 is worth 25k$. Now, as the typical budget restrained owner (who else buys at this end of the price spectrum?), how much money are you willing to sink into this?

Here is how I think MOST high mileage relatively cheap ferrari owners look at it:

1) 5000$ service? Uh, yeh, right. I can barely make my 70 month payment.
2) Belts? Look ok-ee-dok--ee to me. I could probably get my buddy to change them...
3) Paint wearing? Lets put on an extra layer of wax...
4) Seeps? I saw this stuff in a can that might fix it. Gee, lets pour this stuff in. Ditto for radiator repairs.
5) Steering wheel leather worn? Gee, the one from Autozone will fit, just need to drill it out (Don't laugh, I have seen it).
7) Leather pulling away - gee, black caulk will fix that right up (seen that too).

We all want to think that folks take a money is no object tract to these cars. That folks will put 20k$ worth of maintenance into a 25k$ car. It just ain't so. From a monetary point of view that would be silly.

Realistically, a garage queen is MUCH less likely to have been molested through its string of 1-2 owners...

And guys, I don't mean to offend anyone here, or criticize all high mileage cars. But all of the cars I have looked at, that were high mileage, looked lousy.

 

You are right, there is a lot to consider. I guess I am just glad to already have mine. I think if I were in the market for one now, I would lose my mind trying to decide which way to go.

 

Or you could take my approach and just buy it if you like it, sight unseen...

 

That said, the wife has told me no more cars this year, so I'm out of the market for a few months. I'm actually going to listen to her.

For now...

 

I think another reason people look for lower mileage cars is the perception (or possible reality) that most of them are very hard miles. They assume even if the car was driven agressivley, at least the lower mileage cars have a better chance of holding up. So whether actual mileage or not, take the reading and double or triple it due the fact that Ferrari = hard miles... at least from a perception standpoint.

 

I agree with all of the above...

Keep in mind parts and service are EXTREMELY expensive, making hi mileage cars a concern. Sure, a low mileage car can snap a belt or get into some serious problems, but so can a hi mileage car. And the low mileage car looks much nicer...

I have been on fchat for about a year now, and I have learned many things (Imagine that being said in the voice of David Carrodine, from "Kung Fu" fame. )

"Listen carefully grasshopper. The voices of the elders have shown some things over and over..."

"What is that, Master?"

Despite arguments to the contrary:

1) Ferrari's with over 40,000 miles are hard to sell. Most dealers won't take them on trade. I should probably rephrase this : "Ferrari's with over 40,000 miles are hard to sell FOR THE SAME PRICE as lower mileage ferrari's." Lower the price, I'm sure they would sell. Most folks expect the same price as a lower mileage car...

2) A ferrari with 50,000 miles is, in the eyes of many, almost dead. Not saying I agree with this, but its reality. How many posts have you seen on here with folks who have 50,000 mile+ cars and can't give them away?

I still remember Henryk and his immaculate testarossa. Didn't the dealer offer 30k?

I still remember someone with a 70k mile 308, was getting offers in the teens?

3) A ferrari with 80,000 plus miles is pretty much going to sell for the value of a parts car...

Sure, a ferrari motor can likely last 100k miles+ with optimum care. I doubt many of these cars got optimum car. Keep in mind the owners on this site probably own the cream of the crop and are fanatics, thats why we are here. MANY 70K+ mile cars are going to need work...soon.

We can all vacillate, and argue that this shouldn't be the case. When it comes time to put your money down, most DON'T want high mileage. But it is.

 

There is Ferrari Thailand. Then, a few self claimed " Ferrari specialist ". But non of them actually expert on pre- 348 models as the 348 were the first model Ferrari Thailand brought to the country. Before that they were all imported by gray market...

 

Nuts. My 550 has a little over 56,000 miles on it and it is LOW mileage. WHy, because I want to hit 200,000 on it.

 

Bo's observations are valid for the classics and moderns, but when you get into the vintage stuff, not many really look at the milage, but rather the condition of the car.

 

My '77 uncorked Euro 308 has 70K miles. I bought it with no records. Aside from a bit of blue smoke when cold, it drives like a bat out'a hell. Lets see, 70K miles divided by 28 years is 2500 miles a year. I'd says that's a low-mileage car!

 

I think the ideal used Ferrari is one with careful driven low mileage and proper maintainance and on schdual with OEM parts. Then, the garage queen is number two to consider. then, the higher mileage driven car... One to avoid is one with high milage plus all modifications for it to be driven faster and harder...

 

I have been following the ebay Mondial Cabriolet listings and there are very few that bring more than $25k. I have been watching the qv and 3.2s specifically and most bring $22k or less. Coupes bring even less. I think if a seller asks more most people will go with the 308 or 328 instead. Personally I would not buy a mondial over a 308 at the same price even though I really prefer the Mondial Cabriolet.

Currently ebay has the following Mondials listed.
http://motors.search.ebay.com/mondial_Ferrari_W0QQa10239ZQ2d24QQa39ZQ2d24QQa41ZQ2d10QQalistZa39Q2ca41Q2ca38v1yQ2ca38v2yQ2ca10239Q2ca3801Q2ca85Q2ca10246Q2ca33512Q2ca10241QQcatrefZC3QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfclZ3QQfposZ46806QQfromZR2QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQgcsZ13QQpf_queryZmondialQQpfidZ2473QQpfmodeZ1QQreqtypeZ2QQsacatZ6211QQsadisZ200QQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZbs

Past auctions had the following bids:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4556993320&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4556894709&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4550121785&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4550155929&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4548271046&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Due to the current summer weather and an inflated valuation of Mondial Cabs I will wait until fall to actively start looking again.

 

I bought my car, an '81 308 GTSi, when it had about 95K miles. The car had been maintained, was well known within it's respective community, and cosmetically beautiful. I was willing to pay for it, too, and I'm glad I did. My car's a gem. Do I care if I have almost 100K miles? Heck yeah!! Why? I absolutely love telling people her age and how many miles are under her belt. I get the deer-in-the-headlight look. Those that truly know cars respect the **** out of it.

I've seen beat to hell cars of all age. If all you're seeing are beat to hell cars with high mileage, either keep looking, I say again, "Keep Looking!!" or simply decide that you want one with low miles. It's all up to the buyer.

My philosophy has always been this: (1) Budget (2) Do your research (3) Search, search, search (4) Acquire (5) Inspect (6) Decide (7) Act (8) Never look back and most of all, (9) Enjoy and maintain. Dane

 

Which plays into my point, give these queen lovers what they want if your high mileage Fcar is pristine, just change the odometer, that way, they have the low mileage for their moronic hangups and they also get the no surprise Fcar with zero maintenance for quite some time. Queen buyers would not be queenies if they knew anything about automotive mechanics. Because that is their fear: cost of maintenance. Queen buyers don't know all of the facts because they know little about cars. It doesn't surprise me.

 

So, would you go for a 44K miles (FL) car over a 19K (KS) miles car, wherein the higher miles car is several thousand $$ less, has a clean Carfax and all books and records from day one? Identical year, model, etc. Not F-Cars but same principles apply, no?

 

Make it easy on yourself. Go for the best mechanically maintained and cosmetically pleasing car you are able. It's up to you to decide which has higher marks. Again, you are the buyer. It is up to you. I agree with researching and querying others' thoughts but you're the one that needs to be happy with the decision. If you're not totally happy with one car, walk away. If YOU are happy and the car feels "right," go for it.

JMO,

Dane

 

Problem is regarding “garage queen”, by paying more to acquire one, you will now have to follow same premise of hardly driving and enjoying the car in order to keep the mileage low and maintaining same valuation. And a higher percentage of these cars are past due on major service which has to be factored in. Owners hold off as they don’t drive much.
Now on the other hand, buying a well serviced car w higher mileage, one can more easily enjoy and drive as they are meant to be, without being as wary of the accumulating mileage. I have owned 137 cars and the ones w the least mileage have required the most dollars for service. Buying the best you can afford does not mean you need to buy the lowest mileage example.

 

Why did someone resurrect a thread from 2005?

 

Is that a problem? Maybe boredom was setting in.

 

Why do you only have 85 posts in 6 years?