Looking at a non-ABS, non-red, 328 GTS with approximately 26K miles. Spoke with the owner, who says he has owned the car since 1989. The question relates to the reported mileage. 1992 the car had 16K miles. In 1993, the mileage was 22k miles. Presently the mileage is being reported as 26K. No other title activity, emissions activity, or anything fills in the 16 year gap from 93 til present. Is it reasonable to assume that maybe the current reported mileage is slightly embellished? Will a PPI give an indication if this is really an approximate 40K+ mile F-car? The price is attractive even if it turns out to be a 40K mile car, but the CarFax will always highlight the mileage question, which might hurt future value?
It seems like sellers like the 26k mile range. Is it correct? They say it's easy to disconnect the odometer so buyer beware. In truth the important question is has the car been properly maintained and serviced. For a 20+ year old car to have 30k or 40k miles is not a deal-breaker IMO. But you need to see service records so you know what was done and when it was done.
The seller is very willing to show the service history. He said the last major was an engine out about 3 years ago and only a couple of hundred miles since then. A couple of comments made by the Seller just don't feel right, but a PPI should make everything right.
I read a post in here somewhere from one of the experts about how he thought every 3x8 has had the mileage tampered with. I agree, how else can you explain how every ebay car has 30k miles? My car has for sure had the odo rolled back. I don't think your carfax sounds any worse than any other 30 year old car with 30k miles. Buy it and enjoy.
All I know is, I won't sell you or anyone my 68,000 mile giallo! No offense, but these cars are too much fun! PPI it....numbers on a dial don't matter, it's the state of things, internal and external, that determine whether or not you should commit. Image Unavailable, Please Login
The numbers to me that matter are the PPI compression test, and leakdown ... that to me is the real deal. if the car has sat all that time I would be looking at brake fluid, bushings, hoses etc.... I think its common understanding with the 308/328 series cars that regular use is much better than lots of inactive sitting.
It's not totally unrealistic that the car may have sat for many years without being driven. There are lots of ferraris dozing away in garages that rarely get driven. Sometimes things more dramatic happen such as the owner kicking the bucket and the widow leaving the car slumbering in the garage as a reminder of her (now departed) husband. It happens sometimes. In any case, a car sitting for 10+ years w/o being driven in probably in worse shape than one that has been driven quite a bit.
Thanks for all the advice. What is curious about the stated mileage and the Carfax mileage is that the owner talked about how he drove it since he has owned it. He truly loved the car and did not want to part with it. So, if he drove it and loves it so much, why would it sit in the warehouse for all these years? He was also very proud of the service history, which is good even if he did not drive it? Everybody has a story....it was a very entertaining conversation. Also, I did not mention that the car has a Non-Op title (all you Cali owners know the term).
Probably me. I have been saying this for years. In fact, every 308 since I have been following them in the early 80's has 30K miles. Go look in the back of an old R&T and see.
Good observation. I haven't been watching 3x8s for anywhere that long, but most all the cars do have the magic 30k miles. It makes me think that an honest 45k car would be the better catch.
