Am I insane for even considering this? | FerrariChat

Am I insane for even considering this?

Discussion in 'California (Southern)' started by AJS328, Apr 4, 2004.

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  1. AJS328

    AJS328 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Apr 23, 2003
    7,520
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Augustine Staino
    Okay guys, I need your help. I need all of you to tell me that I'm out of my mind for thinking that this could be a good idea. This week I had planned on sending my car to auction in hopes that I could get out of it and into something a little more sensible and less dear. Well, in the middle of an early morning ride through the rain (today is supposed to be my last day with the car) I came up with a ludicrous idea. How about I just keep the 328 and try to move to LA with this as my only car! Yeah, that's the ticket! If there is a city in the world that you can drive a Ferrari everyday as your single mode of transportation it's LA right? I could be a sort of Italian Cowboy!

    Okay, let's start the deliberations. This is a ridiculous notion, right? I couldn't possibly pull it off, could I? Surely the insurance would be astronomical. And using this car as a daily driver would beat me up, wouldn't it?

    Here is where I stand right now. My car is due to get picked up by flatbed tomorrow morning for shipment to the Manheim Auto Auction. I need to make a decision one way or another. If I'm going to call this whole selling idea off I need to do it soon! What do you all think?
     
  2. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
    60,791
    In front of you
    Full Name:
    BCHC
    Your preaching to the choir! I can see the plate already........AZUR CAL!

    DL
     
  3. JMJ575M

    JMJ575M Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2002
    294
    Chain of Lakes Regio
    Full Name:
    J Michael Jordan
    Your car is so beautiful! If it was mine I could not part with it! And get the plate that Darth recommended!


    JMJ
     
  4. silverf1modena

    silverf1modena Formula Junior

    Are you definitely moving to Cali? Sorry if that is a stupid question. Also are you in a financial rut? If you are definitely moving to Cali and you have a solid job lined up, I would definitely keep your car. Your car is one of the most beautiful 328s I have seen. The bottom line is you are in a financial rut, then you will have to do what you have to do no matter what other members say because you know yourself that you are the one that is going to be the one in the problem and not anyone else. And if you sell it, I definitely would not sell it at an auction. I see that you are a car dealer manager and I would have figured you would no best. If you do decide to keep it and your finances are solid and you are moving to Cali, it would not be at all bad to have as a daily driver. I drive my 360 almost everyday. The roads are quite nice here and the freeways are smooth also. One of my friends who had a 328 drove his every songle day going from Newport Beach to LA for work and had not a single complaint. So yea, if things all work out, I would keep it. Plus in Cali, if you decided to sell it, there is a huge market for Ferraris. Just try it out and if you need a daily driver, just buy a beater. You can pick up VW GTI or a Jetta for like 5 grand. I know you are pressed for time but make your decision wisely, as your car is not a car on production anymore and cannot be replaced or duplicated. If I offended you in any way please accept my apologies.
    Just another fellow Ferrari owner in Cali
     
  5. AJS328

    AJS328 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Apr 23, 2003
    7,520
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Augustine Staino
    I am definitely moving out to California and I have some very good job prospects that I can jump into when I am ready. I am probably going to wait until late summer/early fall to make the move so that I can build up some "cushion" money to make everything smoother. If only I had been better at budgeting myself over the past few years. I could have paid the car off a few times! Anyway, I am hoping that this can be a reality because I would love nothing more than to take my blue baby out there with me! :)
     
  6. F-passione

    F-passione Karting

    Mar 31, 2004
    173
    Orange County, CA
    Yea, not unless you're under a serious $$$ crunch I'd bring the car out here and see what happens. You don't want to get yourself up against the wall that's all.
     
  7. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    75,879
    Texas!
    Small world. I'm putting my Porsche C4 in the 4/22 auction. I guessing that you are aiming for the 4/8 one?

    About driving a 328 around LA... Everything will be cool except the freeways. Driving anykind of stick and a car with marginal A/C will be no fun. This could be a problem seeing how LA is nothing but freeways.

    As far as selling on your home turf, selling later in the Spring is always better. This is why I'm going to go for the 4/22 versus the 4/8 auction.

    As to whether you will get a better price in LA versus the tri-states? I'll have to leave that the experts. My guess is that the top 3 places in the country for Ferraris are LA/OC, South Fla, and NJ/NY/CT.

    Another option is to leave the car in NJ on cosignment.

    I don't know why you're moving and what your emotional attachement is to your car. But I'm a big fan of starting over. Shed that old skin and grow a new one. But that's just me.

    Good luck, DrTax

     
  8. Jet-X

    Jet-X F1 Veteran

    Nov 2, 2003
    5,688
    Orange County
    Full Name:
    Brian
    Depends on where you are moving too and where you are working.
     
  9. ara

    ara Karting

    Dec 30, 2003
    144
    Westmount, Quebec
    Do not sell that car, it is the most beautiful 328 i have ever seen, keep it and drive a beater, my cousin had the same problem, he bought a taurus sho for everyday for like 2-3k, and kept his porsche. Keep the car.

    Good luck, let us know what happens!
     
  10. Nationaltec

    Nationaltec Karting

    Dec 22, 2003
    157
    North County
    Full Name:
    Patrick
    I'm pretty sure NJ has one of the highest insurance rate averages in the country... Heck, I'd think you'd save money moving to California....
    ( I use AAA.. best rate/quality org I found with all the extra liability I needed to get )


    But I agree with Jet... It depends on where your moving....

    Keep it... Dont do the auction .... It's car dealers looking to make a margin! Very few collectors....IMO

    Good luck
    Patrick
     
  11. jordan747_400

    jordan747_400 F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 9, 2002
    6,928
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Jordan

    I have to agree there, Gus! Keep the car and buy a reliable POS for 1k. Of course if your lacking a garage when you move out, you can store the car in my garage :) If you need to commute, you can trade cars with me :) My Mustang does well in traffic but the clutch is a tad heavy.
     
  12. zsnnf

    zsnnf Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2003
    1,877
    If you can afford to keep it, keep it. Only you know the answer to that one. It will make a great So.Cal. tanning machine. The market here, in the summer, is probably better than the market there, now anyways. If you buy a new one here, you will spend another 3K in sales tax also. I have lived in So. Cal. all my life and the only car with an autotrans is the one in my Duelly used for pulling the race cars. I have also never lived in a house with air conditioning.

    Good luck,
    See ya here,
    Rick
     
  13. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,513
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    Dirty Harry
    I think this would/could/should be the only time I disagree with DrTax -

    L.A. not only has high quantity, but low quality of surface streets, with sadistic monkeys in charge of traffic lights.
     
  14. AJS328

    AJS328 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Apr 23, 2003
    7,520
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Augustine Staino

    You guys have sadistic monkeys too? lol
     
  15. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,513
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    Dirty Harry
    Yes - inbred, in fact.
    It may seem I'm pessimistic about city roads, but I kid thee not about surface street "quality" in Metropolis. Though, the budget may be in the millions, but I think they use water-based asphalt, as it dissolves in the rain. As such, if Chicago is "The Windy City," LA is the "The Bumpy City."
     
  16. XJARGH!

    XJARGH! Rookie

    Feb 29, 2004
    43
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    Tim
    I DEFINITELY agree, especially in BURBANK!!

    More traffic signals per square mile than anywhere else I have seen, and the rate they change is MADDENING to say the least.

    What amounts to a 10 minute drive anywhere else turns into a 30 minute stop and go fest because of the light programming.

    Tim





     
  17. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    75,879
    Texas!
    Seeing as how I have never been able to figure out how to get off 405, I will defer to the wax man.

     
  18. AJS328

    AJS328 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Apr 23, 2003
    7,520
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Augustine Staino
    Well guys, I am happy to announce that my car has survived this scare. Just the thought of her going to market was making me ill and I've decided to hold on to her. Thanks to all for the great support. Hopefully I can make this thing happen.
     
  19. zsnnf

    zsnnf Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2003
    1,877
    Good call.

    Rick
     
  20. Ferrari Boy

    Ferrari Boy Formula 3

    Oct 25, 2003
    1,254
    Long Beach CA
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    David Couch
    Cool, hope i can see it someday, hopefully as soon as you move :)

    -David
     
  21. jordan747_400

    jordan747_400 F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 9, 2002
    6,928
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Jordan
    Gus, just a quick question. When are you planning on moving? Do you have a loose date in mind yet?
     
  22. Chiaro_Slag

    Chiaro_Slag F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2003
    7,789
    CA
    Full Name:
    Jerry
    I think it's do-able. I drive the 328 4-5 days a week and the insurance is exactly the same as it is for my Wrangler - About $700 a year.

    Plus if you ever need to sell it, you can probably get a little more in Cali for it.

    Glad to hear you are keeping it! :) :) :) :)
     
  23. AJS328

    AJS328 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Apr 23, 2003
    7,520
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Augustine Staino
    Jordan,

    Right now it's looking like the end of the summer or early fall. That would be my guess.

    David,

    I realy hope to bring the car out there. If I do, you will definitely get one of the first rides. I think you'll like it. :)
     
  24. Ferrari Boy

    Ferrari Boy Formula 3

    Oct 25, 2003
    1,254
    Long Beach CA
    Full Name:
    David Couch
    Wow, thanks Aug!!!!!!
     
  25. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    75,879
    Texas!
    I don't mean to throw water on this parade, but....

    I am a big believer that you should use cars for its special purpose.

    Being at a dead stop on 405 in any kind of a Ferrari doesn't make any sense. Just because you can do it, doesn't mean that you should.

    Now, if you are moving to OC, that's a different story. Rock on!
     

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