Should I worry about aftermarket speakers?

some purely personal thoughts FWIW

• you could spend your whole life looking for the 100% perfect car - if it's great in all other respects I'd say this is a relatively minor drawback
• it looks well done and isn't offensive to the eye
• if you wanted to you can remove and replace the parcel shelf with new quilted leather - not inexpensive but very possible, see other links on FC for people who have done that. I expect you could get something back by selling the removed hi-fi
• the original stereo is truly awful!

so in my mind, not a deal breaker if otherwise 'this is the one' - maybe a negotiation point if you think that could fly, though I suspect seller may think the opposite...

 

I've seen a lot worse. If the rest of the car is good, don't let this put you off. If after 6 months of ownership you really feel that you can't live with it, take them out and re-trim the affected part of the back shelf - it won't cost the earth, certainly not as much as buying the wrong car would.

PS I like the colour.

 

1. "The quality will be remembered long after the price has been forgotten" (Sir Henry Royce, I bleieve).
2. Take the risk - it's a small one, it's manageable, and anyway you won't be selling it for a very long time . . . ​

So . . . GO FOR IT!!!

 

Go for it. If really bothers you can you remove it later...not super complicated to do.

 

One owner, 35k miles with I assume up to date service history seems like a good situation. The cost of dealing with delayed service or even relatively minor mechanical issues will make the cost of potentially repairing the back shelf seem trivial.

 

If you buy a Porsche are you still going to want to buy a 550?
If the answer is yes, then why waste time / garage space. Get a 550. Decide the no compromise options and ones you can flex on then go ahead and buy a car.
If the answer is no, buy the Porsche. Cheaper, easier to maintain, more reliable, etc.

 

If you can get it off market for a price that would cheaper than you think it will go for on BaT then you have your answer right there on value. If it checks out and checks all your boxes then go for it. However in nearly every post you keep mentioning stretching the budget, future values and if you had to get rid of it. That means something different to everyone on here, and only you can decide if it’s a smart purchase for your situation. Good history or not, these aren’t always the cheapest cars to maintain. Do you plan to drive and enjoy it or admire it as a garage queen, both have their pros and cons for future expenses. You seem to be looking for awhile, so you know 550 values have been steadily trending up.

 

Exactly. The purchase price is merely price of entry. an annual maintenance can easily hit high four figures annually.

 

Have you considered a manual 456? Cheaper than a 550, similar performance, and the added advantage of 2 extra seats (albeit for small people or short journeys).

 

If you desire a 550, this is moot, but this is great advice! I'm one of those weirdos who sought out a 456. It is a fantastic car for likely 85% of what a 550/575 can do. Essentially the same drive train. It is a wonderful GT car. And in the past few years of ownership, it gets waaay more positive attention than I ever expected. No one, even many Ferrari enthusiasts, seems to be proficient in a 456 and it brings out a lot of positive. Only about 2100 manual cars made over the whole production run of GT and M-GT cars.

And for the price you can get a pristine one for likely still less than a 550.

 

Your budget is too low.

That will cover normal use, but not majors, overhaul, or surprise fix. As 550s are now nearing 30 years in age, suspension/cooling/fuel (that's a big one) all need to be gone through. I just finished redoing my entire fuel system on my 456. It was 3k in labor alone. Mind you the only outward symptom was slight fuel smell and common sense knowledge the rubber supports of the pumps likely disintegrated. Surprised/not surprised when pulling the pumps exactly that was seen with hairline crack on the plates.

Also ended up needing a new water pump and various worn bushings warranted that be overhaul as the ride for my 456 was worse then my FHP 575 on track tires (stiff). The labor alone to replace all bushings/balljoints/shocks was far outside your budget. Again, labor alone.

Realize 456m and 550 share nearly all the same parts for the aforementioned. Its not a question of if they will need to be done but when.

 

Speakers in rear deck make it a salvage car. Honestly people these are just cars. Buy them if you enjoy driving the last of the V-12 manual Ferraris with lineage back to the 275GTB. These are not an investment. The same money in the SPY will be $1.2 mill in 30 years. There is no way a 550 will eclipse that with lower risk.

 

Buy a 575 for half the price of a 550. Get used to it for a bit. Then convert it OEM style when funds allow.

 

Easiest way to ignore it ... window tint.
Probably sounds nicer than the stock layout.

 

The 456 is a good looking car especially the 95's with the hood vents. I would own both if I had the space.