Recommendations for under $40,000.00

What Ferrari would you buy under $40,000.00 and why?

 

Any 308QV or carb car. Best bang for the buck with investment potential would be a 308 fiberglass Euro car (performance wise) IMO.

 

Five years ago I would have said a 400i 5 speed. So I did. Today my answer would be the same. Plenty of change left over from the $40K, too.

John

 

Yes, I agree w/ Cavallo Nero on any 308QV or carb car for the value. They are less than $40K, but could move up in 5 years to over $40K. Of course, by then, dollar value may not be that strong as now. You can also get 328 for $40K, if you look for patiently.
For 4 seaters, you can find early Mondial in that price range, too. One time someone posted $22K Mondial Coupe here.

 

What about 348's? Are any to be had that are near the $40K mark?

 

A 328GTB. It's one of the most beautiful modern era Ferraris ever made. The photos of the car do do it justice. One sold last spring for $42K and it was pretty darn nice. One can be purchased for below $40K. LFSC had a nice silver car they sold in that price range.

 

You can find a nice 308 gts or for a few more dollars get a 328 gts. Shop around and get a pre-purchase inspection.

 

Skip Ferrari, buy a 930 Turbo or Lotus TT V8.

 

I would say a nice 328 or a rougher 348 but at $40K a 348 would be a little hard.

 

A Lotus would be nice and less maintence.

 

For $40K I would buy a well-sorted 348 (Motronic 2.7) that just needs a major service. Buy some tools, do your own work and learn the car inside out. With any sports car, the purchase price is not what really gets you, it's the maintenance costs and the headache of having to take it to a mechanic for every little piddly thing that you don't know how to do. And regardless of make or model, there are a lot of "little things"....

 

Porsche 930 or 928 S4
Lotus TT V8
Wait for the Lotus Elise (its supposed to be about 40k right?)

A sub 40k Ferrari just doesn't seem like it would be worth it. With any of those your maintenance costs will be less and they are all great fun cars that will probably give you a lot more enjoyment, speed wise, than similarly priced Ferraris.

 

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Not interested in a Lotus although I think the Elise is nice. It's too small and hard to get in and out of.

I originally was looking hard for a 348 but now I can't seem to find any lower than the 50's. A 348 is truely what I'm looking for. As for the 328's, they seem to have held their value much better than the 348's as I see them more often priced higher than the 348's. I'm starting to like the 308's a bit more as they increase in age, but I still think of Magnum PI which ruins it a bit for me. Aren't 400's 12 cylinders? I saw on this board that a 30k service on a 308 was 8.5k, what would it be for a 400?

Finally, I've seen Mondial coupes in the teens, which is still an option. What are some thoughts on Mondials?

 

$8500 for a 308 30k is rape, plain and simple. I personally know people that have paid anywhere from $2k to $5k, depending on the shop and additional services. $8.5 is high for a 12 cylinder. And yes, a 400 is a 12.

I'd suggest a 328 for that money, nice examples can be found for that price. I know of 2 for sale in the Dallas area priced pretty close to that.

 

"I saw on this board that a 30k service on a 308 was 8.5k"

Where did you see that? Thats the cost for a complete rebuild.

If I had a $40k budget, I'd get a car around $32k, and then have enough put aside to maintain a car of this age.

 

Actually, you can get a 348 in the 40k range. Don't be scared off by the prices listed at the dealers pr sellers. You can always deal them down. I have seen a silver 348 TB at Symbolic Motorcars and don't know if they still ahve it but they were selling it for $48K. Actually it was listed for $54k but then it went down. I think it was because the previous owner did some custom interior work to it and most purists were turned off by it. It had red suede interior, which didnt look that bad and a in dash TV screen for rearview monitering. It had about, if Im not mistakin, 12-16K miles. If I'm wrong, please forgive me. If you're intersted, you should check it out. The car was there for quite a bit, like almost 2 years and like I said, I think its because of the interior, cuz I saw the car and it was hella clean.

 

I would suggest a 328... perhaps this one? (not mine, but a friends...)
http://ferrari.threefourfive.com/328/ Bet you could talk him down to $40k, maybe a bit less....

Dave

 

You can find nice mondial cabs in the low to mid 30s. Top down fun, low repair bills and all the great engine music you expect from a Ferrari. I like the body of the 308 more than the mondial, but I too can't get past the Magnum PI aspect. Both are a great choice though.

 

If the Magnum PI thing is bothering you about the 308GTS,
Then get a 308GTB, or a 328GTB.

 

308 GT4, with plenty left over for maintenance/upgrades.

Dom

 

A really nice 308! Classic styling and a solid car.

 

The Ferraris mentioned;
Maserati: Khamsin, Sebring, Ghibli 4.7, 3500GTi, Indy;
Lamborghini: Jarama S, Islero S, Espada;
Iso Grifo;
AC Frua 428 Coupe;
Facel Vega HK500;
Jensen: CV-8, Interceptor;

 

I found my 328GTS for less than $40K, but be careful, since the less expensive ones may not have been as well cared for or serviced.

And if anyone cares, the service book for the car indicated that the 30K service cost about $3500, which sounds about right.

 

My sister's husband just bought a 2001 Viper for 45G. To think I almost bought it... I like the 348 looks better than 308 & WILL find one for myself.

 

I agree with venusone.

When I park my 308 next to a 348, there's no comparison.

But then when I pay my repair bill and he pays his.... again, there's no comparison!

For $40K you can shop hard and get a carb 308 AND a GT4 to run for parts.