1998 355 Spyder Grigio Titanium 13k ?

Well, as described sounds like a great car. Technically it's an 'off' color so that will drop it a bit in value...and was it an early or late '98 build? 'somewhere' late in '98 they improved the valve guides so there will be no issue.

I haven't been watching the market closely lately...but to me, sounds like a $55k+ car easy.

 

The production date is on the tag in the door jamb. I would run down the list of typical 355 problems and see how many it has (notice I did not say "if" it has any)

There is a long list but here are few off the top of my head not in any real order (this does not include regular car buying things to look for) :

- Recalls done

- Top operation

- Flywheel noise (heard best at shutdown in a quiet garage)

- Dash/doors leather shrinkage

- Sticky parts

- Exhaust valve operation

- Suspension actuators

- Leaky shocks

- Rattle in shifter/sticky shifter

- Windows don't rattle in doors

- E-Brake works

- ********ALL THREE REMOTE FOBS ARE PRESENT********

- *******PIN CODE NUMBER IS THERE*******

- Owners manuals are all there

- HVAC and A/C works (A/C blows cold / heater runs hot)

- Dash bulbs all illuminate

- No check engine lights (and bulbs are not missing)

- Headers are not cracked (maybe they were replaced, if not this is real tough to check)

- All under panels are present and not damaged

- Dome light works

I am sure I missed a few but that should be a good start.

 

No real way to tell what guides are in the engine unless you have paperwork showing they've been done.

Grigio Titanio is my 3rd favorite color on F355s, too bad it's not a Berlinetta or a GTS.



Rob

 

[QUOTE Grigio Titanio is my 3rd favorite color on F355s, too bad it's not a Berlinetta or a GTS.
Rob[/QUOTE]

Funny! I would say the same if it was a Belinetta or a GTS!
Sounds like a nice car. The estimate of $55k sounds correct if as represented. If possibe, have a Ferrari pro look the car over.

 

Yes, that is true - unless you want to pull the motor apart...

Grigio is probably my 2nd fav (as a rule I don't like red cars) my choice - Black/tan then Grigio/Bor. then maybe one of the blues.

 

Pull off one of the headers and run a telescoping magnet up to the exhaust guide...if it sticks it has the proper sintered steel updated guides.

Even pulling the heads off you cannot tell the difference between any of the bronze guides....the only way to tell the difference between bronze guides is to have a metalurgist test them.

 

Yes, this is what I was thinking - although it is a lot of work unless you are swapping the headers already.

 

market value and trade in value are completely different:

FMV - about $55K-$60K
Trade in - $45K - $50K

You need to budget $10K reserve.

 

I agree with this

I also agree with this

 

That was Peter's car....??