Advice on buying a 488 spider

Hi folks. I’m looking at buying a 2019 488 spider, single owner and only 1400 miles. I love all the options, but it does not have carbon seats, which is as close to a showstopper as it gets. I called my local dealer and it’s $43,000 plus tax and would take a year to get.

I might be able to live with it, but here’s the problem… It looks like no maintenance has ever been done on it. Doing research online, and as a current Ferrari owner, that does not seem good. I’m calling my local dealer to run it buy their maintenance shop. To me it seems like all back maintenance would need to be done. That combined with the fact it is such low miles seems like a risk. I will not buy the car unless all back maintenance is done and I’m guessing that’s at least $12,000. Not to mention the risk that when I try and resell it there’s a 7 year gap and maintenance, which will be taken into account if I do make an offer.

I’m leaning towards no on the car, but what are your thoughts? Maybe I’m just making excuses because I don’t want to buy it since it doesn’t have carbon seats. I absolutely love everything else about the car though. Thanks, Glen

 

Also it’s on its original tires. Although low miles, they are seven years old. I see Michelin says you can go up to 10 years but to me the tires need to be replaced as well. on the California T we used to own it was close to $3000 when you included the alignment. Heck my 328 was the same price last year. Those tires only had 3000 miles, but were replaced due to age.

 

I just had my local dealer look it up and it has been maintained every year thank goodness. It’s just odd that Carfax showed no maintenance history when it usually does for cars. I guess they rely on Ferrari to report it. That removes a huge red flag. I think it still would need tires and most likely a battery given it is seven years old. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

 

Thanks for the help. In the end, I decided no. Yeah I’ve owned several Ferraris. This one although one owner has seven-year-old tires, needs a new battery, needs a major inspection within six months that’ll be $5200, has never had spark plugs and need those. Plus doing the CPO, getting the warranty through my dealer and a PPI it’s over $27,000 on top of the sale price. I politely told the dealer nice car but the price you’re asking is not the actual price that I’m going to end up paying. Plus went to the local dealer here today and sat again in the race seats. They really are a must. This 488 didn’t have them and it’s a dealbreaker.