Hi Everyone, First of all thank you all in helping me decide on the car. So I have finally found a F430. It is from a private seller and he is willing to take it for PPI to Larry at Ferrari Tech in Orange County, Cali as I am in a totally different state 2000 miles away. So what do you guys advice on me being physically present during the PPI or trusting someone miles away is just as good in this Ferrari world? Larry seems like a great guy after I spoke to him on phone. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.
Unless you know what's you're doing, being present during a PPI is of little help and might result in a punch in the nose by some of the more surly mechanics. Best bet is to find someone you trust and with whom you will have a continuing relationship. It might be cheaper in the long run to fly your guy out.
Thanks @Texas Forever. How can I have a continuing relation with someone when I am actually based in Texas ? For a future relation, I would need someone here in Texas who will look after the car once I get one. But that is the next step. That was my whole point of the question - does it really matter to be there or the information provided over the phone with the results of PPI (which obviously I can run past you guys on this site) is sufficient? I don't expect anything major to come up as my friend (who has a Scud) has test driven the car and has given the thumbs up. Unfortunately he is out of town for the rest of the month for work else he would have taken the car for PPI. Does it all make sense?
You're spending a hundred grand. Come to California. Meet the seller. Meet Larry (good guy). Drive the car (along the beach). Have lunch. Go to bank with seller and transfer money. Maybe drive it home. All part of the experience. No regrets, no remorse, you'll know everything first hand. Enjoy the whole experience!
Abe you are making perfect sense. I would myself arrange a PPI with the Ferrari Dealer that is nearest to where the car is. Even arrange a flat bed to deliver the car...in other words keep the owner out of the loop. You are the dealers customer not him/owner. If the owner doesn't agree to that then walk
Thanks @ Plugzit. I agree with everything and that is exactly I would do and I am planning to. But because the car has an outstanding loan, once the PPI is done - it will take some days (can take upto 10) for everything to be documented and done correctly. And apparently I happen to work as well and can't stay for 10 days in Cali. The worst case scenario is - I fly now and get PPI and then put the car back in the garage till documents are done. And then fly back again to Cali and drive it back. Thanks @ Formula Uno. It is not a dealer car to start with. It is from a private party. And also, I called few dealers around and they don't do PPI for some reason anymore. So I found Larry after rigorous research as I was looking for a more honest to the point guy and not some advertised people who just make money. So when you say, "keep the owner out of the loop" - you think it will be better just to arrange a trip and meet the owner and be there during PPI (I was planning to meet the owner anyways because he has been great and understanding in everything so far anyways once PPI was completed and I go and pick the car up.) Sorry guys, just trying to understand "keeping the owner out" - even if when I called the owner the first time and asked that I will get the PPI done and his response was - Go ahead. Anywhere you want " and "can I trust PPI remotely" scenarios.
Ask yourself: Is this just an acquisition, or is this part of a dream coming true. Does the dream include driving the car? On some of the most epic roads in the world? Ortega highway. Mulholland Drive. Coast highway to Monterey? All doable in your new 430 if you come out. Impractical if you don't. The journey to acquiring your 430 wasn't short, so why rush the purchase making it a cold financial transaction instead of an epic experience?
I get it. Life is complicated sometimes. Two trips to Cali? Why not??? Once in a lifetime chance probably. Life is short, ya gotta make it happen. You won't regret it.
By "keeping the owner out of the loop" most people mean that you should present yourself as the customer of the shop performing the PPI. You are paying for it, and you are the customer. If the current owner of the shop delivers the car, waits for it, and picks it up, while you are still 2,000 miles away, they build a ftf/personal connection with him/her but not you. No one is suggesting that you keep the current car owner in the dark, rather that you build a personal relationship with Larry as the "future owner" and his customer, and enjoy the experience of acquiring your dream car!
Thanks guys. But honestly what good a personal connection is going to do when the car will be living 2000 miles away from the mechanic who performed the PPI? And moreover I will be eventually going to pick the car up anyways and I can always meet Larry before I start driving towards my side. So let me ask it in a different way - If someone here knows Larry or personally takes his cars to him, please advise. Also, can the PPI results be altered just because the current owner is getting the PPI done? Is there any trust left these days ? Also, are you guys also saying that every single person who gets a Ferrari from across the pond actually flies all the way back and forth in these kind of scenarios? I understand seeing it once before you actually pull the trigger (which I will).
This is actually a question far more properly asked of the guy doing the inspection. For myself when I do an inspection I want to stay focused on the car and generally onlookers, no matter how well intentioned make that impossible. I would suggest either meeting with him when he is done or before any deal is transacted. He needs to know in detail from you what your expectations are and does this car meet them? Also, and this varies from buyer to buyer, I'd have an eyes on look at it.
