Age old question: miles or maintenance? | FerrariChat

Age old question: miles or maintenance?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Vlad328, Aug 28, 2004.

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  1. Vlad328

    Vlad328 Formula Junior

    Mar 16, 2004
    279
    New Orleans, LA
    Full Name:
    Vladimir Zuzukin
    OK, I know I've seen this discussed on the board before but I would like Ferrari owners' opinions on a specific example of high mileage, well maintained, and driven Ferrari versus low mileage, undriven, and maintenance deferred Ferrari.

    Here's the comparison:

    Take two Ferraris from 1976 and 1977 both 308 GTB's early carbed cars without cats. Disregard fiberglass vs. steel chassis for this comparison. Both offered at same ballpark price ($25-30K) so let's say selling price also not a factor. One is "Resale Red" with black interior and the other is "off color" non red but unique original one-of-a-kind factory paint with tan interior. Let's say you like the color of both cars equally well and paint quality is the same, so not a factor either.

    So here's the difference. One has spent its life with about five owners and well documented professional service history. It is driven regularly at approx. 2,500 miles per year and one recent owner used it as a reliable daily driver for several years without problems. It has also received upgrades totalling about $8000 to the drivetrain (not repairs). Odometer: 65K miles

    The other has led a relatively sheltered life among 2 owners and rarely driven by either. The maintenance schedule was followed for miles only and not years. So the first 15K service was performed in 1986. The current owner has driven the car only 5K miles in the past 18 years but performed the factory recommended 30K service in 2002 with change of belts. This has been the only belt change on the car. Nothing other than scheduled 30K maintenance was done, but nothing was really broken either. The car is stock. Odometer: 25K miles

    Lets say both cars get PPI with leak testing but mechanic doesn't have time to tear the whole car apart and put it back together, so there will still be plenty of unknowns. Your goal as a buyer is to not use it as a daily driver but also not look at it as a sculpture. You will take it out consistently on weekends for some motoring and every few months do an "Italian tuneup" on the track. You plan to NEVER sell the car (or else why buy). However, you want both headache free enjoyment without the car constantly being in the shop AND you want to have peace of mind that resale value is there to sell or trade if needed in the future. You definitely aren't interested in a longterm ground up mechanical restoration project over the next couple years. You are buying the thing to drive a Ferrari, not restore a Ferrari. But if you had to compromise, unfrustrated enjoyment of the car is more important than resale value.

    So which car is the better deal? I'm deferring to the wisdom and experience of Ferrari owners to help me in my decision. I'll check this thread in a few days from Southern California. I'm going on a Ferrari Safari!
     
  2. Higgins23

    Higgins23 Karting

    Jul 16, 2004
    179
    Europe
    For what my opinion is worth, I would take the higher mileage, well maintained car. Ferraris are made to be driven and the engines should be good for a minimum of 100k miles before needing a rebuild. When they sit without an annual trip to a dealer for maintence, all sorts of things can start to degrade.
     
  3. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
    13,477
    Never home
    Full Name:
    Dr. Dumb Ass
    I'm guessing that the '76 glass car is the gold car that hasn't sold in a long time. It will need belts and seals. Budget $5k for that and other surprises.

    I worry about the $8k in upgrades that the higher milage car has.

    Drive both. Hard. Then decide.
     
  4. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    26,577
    Full Name:
    Avvocato
    All things being equal, would drive both hard to decide ultimately. But the one that would probably feel better would be the higher mileage car. I would always take a that over a garage queen.Unless I wanted a piece of furniture for the garage then I would take the garage queen.
     
  5. RAYMAN

    RAYMAN Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Mar 10, 2004
    315
    Oklahoma
    Full Name:
    Raymond Santilli
    My goodness, this is the most talked about topic on the board, the archives are full of it.
     
  6. dakharris

    dakharris Two Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 7, 2001
    29,441
    Sleepy Hollow
    Full Name:
    Cavaliere Senzatesta
    I'd take the off-color garage queen, but that's me. Since the maintenance schedule is current, what's the problem? Replacing the belt is done solely to keep from bending valves. If the belt never broke, no harm,no foul. Not driving the car will create problems with seals, gaskets, hoses, etc. If those are replaced, and they should be by now, then you have a core engine with far fewer revolutions on it.
     
  7. Ksullender

    Ksullender Formula Junior

    Sep 3, 2003
    887
    USA
    Red will always resale fastest, I have seen off color cars become hard to sell so keep that in mind. I would take a lower mileage car. You can't change the fact that the other is a high mileage car. You can invest in needed maintenance of the lower mileage car and have a better product to resell.
     

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