UK Dealers

Your best bet will be one of a number of the Independent specialists. You will tend to pay a bit less than through the authorised dealers both for the car and subsequent servicing.

If you do a search of the Archives you should be able to pick out which ones people like - and which ones they definitly don't like. Names to search for would be

Kent High Performance Cars (KHPC)
DK Engineering
Talacrest
Verdi
Rosso Corsa
Houghton
Rardley

& a few others you might pick up in related threads.

There is also www.ferrariownersclub.co.uk where you should be able to see a list of cars for sale privately & there are a couple of other sites around as well.

HTH

I.

 

I still recommend Joe Macari in Wandsworth. I am down there on Wednesday 6th looking at an F355 GTS and picking up my new Daily Driver. Will check to see if there are any GTBs in stock.

Ed

 

Don't forget Cartwrights in Derbyshire somewhere, they have a good reputation

 

I got mine from Italia Autosport near Huddersfield Tim. Happy so far (7 months on). It's good to know if there was a problem I can just call in - sorting something out down South would be a bit more difficult.

Chris.

http://www.italia-autosport.com

 

Tim

tried to send you a mail with some advice but can't can you post an e-mail address or send me a private message through my profile

 

IMO on buying a ferrari is that its a risk and a gamble. Yes people try and narrow that risk down by looking for that perfect car which involves walking away from alot of them. And when that so called perfect one is found alot can still indeed and do go wrong and thats when the f.chat guys gather round to help
When i bought my third ferrari (my current 355 spider) it was not perfect becourse it had quite a few owners and milage in the 30ks,also there was the on dash suspention light on indicating that one or more actuators were not working. Many would have took the "walk away" stance I did not i bought it and replaced the broken actuator and bingo That was 18 months ago and 10,000 miles later, and the car has never ever missed a beat and is in perfect working order and has never let me down, i just jump in and thrash
So going to my first point its a risk and it depends on how the dice fall, i personaly know people who have bought from main dealers just to buy a lemmon, so dont be to impressed by big well known names of specialists and dealers That does not garantee the perfect car.
Another angle that needs serious consideration is the warranty. Be carefull becourse some are not worth the paper they are writen on even though they might have cost £600+. Go for the very best warranty that money can buy, if you are going down the warranty route.

 

Personally I trust Karl @ Verdi a lot.

As Chaa said, its a lottery - I remember having a laugh with Ade at a meet on a Sunday at Box Hill regarding the problems he had with his car (literally every problem that could rear its head on a 355 and it was bought from a very well know independent...) as my car had not missed a beat during the time I owned it (not one niggle). The very next weekend on the way to another meet, it erupted in a giant fireball at the side of the M25.

Happy hunting!!

 

Verdi Ferrari. Sold my 308QV through him and also bought my Testarossa from him. Very professional at what he does but more importantly, honest. Totally agree with Eric above, I trust him 100%.

 

Agreed, Karl Verdi is the man

 

I'd try Nick Cartwright

http://www.racecarnewmedia.co.uk/nickcartwright/stock.asp

Genuine nice bloke and a monster collection of cars.

 

Nice dark blue with dark red interea 355 F1 just come in to George two days ago.Hits the show room next week

 

I second that.

Out of all the Independents I came across, he was the best.

 

I would strongly recommend against buying from a main dealer unless you like giving money away.

I bought a 355 from a main Ferrari agent, just over a year, 2000 miles and a cambelt service later they offered me £12k less than I paid for it.

Nice car and beautifully prepared though...

 

Nick is good becourse he has a selection of loyal custumers and is established, and his cars are displayed at his lovley home. Although he is known to demand top doller Has any one seen his Dino hanger? bliss

 

Nick's the man - he's got a good selection, and he owns the cars (well mostly anyway)

 

Another independent I would try (my local) is Bob Houghtons in Northleach Gloucestershire. They've got an excellent reputation (WW) and can get access to some mouth watering stock. Bit pricey, but they know their cars. Worth a look

http://www.racecar.co.uk/bobhoughton/index.htm

4 GTB's (2 F1's)

 

I agree that Verdi and Bob Houghton are both excellent.

 

Tommo's right, I forgot Bob, one of the masters

 

My advice is to scan the internet, autotrader/top marques are a good source, find a car privately and when viewing see where it's been serviced. Then approach the service agent to seek their opinion on the car. You'll typically save around 3 grand against dealer prices.

 

I got mine from Forza288 in Christchurch - David is a top man!

 

Elias at Racing Technologies is a no BS merchant - whilst he's not a trader (he's a service specialist) he does get to know about cars for sale. For instance he told me yesterday about a couple of 355 Spiders - one lhd one rhd - one a 1998 the other a 1999. He can be reached on 0208 874 8927.

I'd also strongly recommend that you put a wanted ad on FOC site - that's how I found my 308...but be aware that if you stick your email address up there you'll be inundated with offers to increase the size of your penis, invest money in stocks and launder money from Africa!

 

I bought mine 4 months ago from Dick Lovett in Swindon. I was happy with the deal and the service I got at the time, and have had no problems since. If you do have problems then a main dealer may - and I stress may - be more concerned than some of the independents - and again I stress some- to put it right. Also a Ferrari powertrain warranty is worth having but the car needs to be less than 6 years old.