Check out a car for me.. | FerrariChat

Check out a car for me..

Discussion in 'Texas' started by dgpIII, Jul 1, 2007.

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  1. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    Blue/Tan '99 355 F1 at Expo MotorCars in Houston. Anyone in the neighborhood who could drop by and take a look for me?
     
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,380
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Address?

    I'm all about looking at Fcars......
     
  3. WJHMH

    WJHMH Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 5, 2001
    26,457
    Panther City, Texas
    Full Name:
    WJHMH
    It's not far from FoH on the access road before you get to the Fire House, they had a some try to make their showroom a drive thru a couple weeks back, I think an Aston Martin & a couple other cars were injured. Better check to make sure the 355 wasn't a victim.
     
  4. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    5918 Southwest Freeway; Houston TX 77057; 713-783-3976
     
  5. jonathanp

    jonathanp Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2003
    687
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jonathan Peck
    Check the car over VERY well......read into that what you want.

    PPI, Leakdown & Compression, full court press would be recommended.
     
  6. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    first things first...

    does the car look like it's been tended to or neglected...

    how's the paint? how's the interior? how's the engine bay? do the air conditioner and power windows work? Is the center console sticky? condition of exterior rubber around the windows and doors,etc.

    In short - what's the first impression? A car to investigate or walk away.

    If it passes a basic eyeball inspection we can talk about going to the next level(s).
     
  7. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
  8. hplug

    hplug Karting

    Sep 23, 2005
    210
    Dallas
    Full Name:
    Hayes
    I think JP os on the money with this one!
    H
     
  9. Bimmerista

    Bimmerista Formula 3

    Feb 7, 2004
    1,765
    Carrollton, TX
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I'm no expert, but with the Houston heat & humidity, & just by the look of the center console, its clearly evident that the console is very sticky.

    It also looks to be poorly detailed too.
     
  10. 328Nero

    328Nero Karting

    May 14, 2007
    193
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    The Dude
    My office is in the Galleria, I am only a few miles from this place. I will go by there some time today and take a look at it for you. I was looking at a 355 before I found my 328 and decided to go old school for my first car. There seems to be something fishy with this one though...I will let you know after I take a look at it.

    Have you contacted them for a Carfax report yet?
     
  11. 328Nero

    328Nero Karting

    May 14, 2007
    193
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    The Dude
    I meant to say my first Ferrari...I wish my first car was a Ferrari.
     
  12. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    Nope. I always run CarFax first then call dealer because I've learned they usually don't have it and I want to be able to inititate conversation with at least some knowledge about the vehicle. This is a 3 owner car Oklahoma/Texas and needs a major service since the dealership has no service records to speak of. I'm interested because a) it's a '99 and has steel valve guides b) I like the color combination c) 'relatively' low mileage F1...but I've looked at so many cars that didn't live up to the photos I would like an objective visual from someone on Fchat, that's all.
     
  13. 328Nero

    328Nero Karting

    May 14, 2007
    193
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    The Dude
    understood, I will go by there in about an hour to take a look at it for you. So it sounds like you are expecting the console to be a wash since you can clearly see in the pictures that it is sticky, you just want to see if the first impression of the car is the same as you see in the pictures?

    It is raining here in Houston today so I doubt seriously that I will be able to hear it run or god forbid drive it in the rain. It looks like this place has an indoor showroom so I dont know if they will start it or not...I will try.

    I will post my first impressions when I get back...
     
  14. 328Nero

    328Nero Karting

    May 14, 2007
    193
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    The Dude
    OK...I just got back from the dealership in question. My first impression of the dealership when driving into the parking lot was "man do they have a lot of cars...and there not Toyota's. The dealer works with only high end cars, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Caddilac, Ferrari (3 on the floor), RR, Maserati and a Lambo in the back that I couldnt see up close.

    Most of the cars that I was able to see were in great shape...there were about 6 salesmen around the floor and they all seemed busy, it looks like these guys do quite a bit of business. I was introduced to a salesman and I asked him immediately about the "car through the window", he told me about it but I wont go through the details since it was a non event when dicussing this car, the 355 was not involved).

    At first glance the car looks clean, no body work that I could find, all panels have a tight fit and the paint looks straight although it could use a good polishing and waxing. The tires look to be in fairly good condition and the brake rotors look straight. Upon opening the door the lower valance on the drivers side has some rust...the black paint is bubbled and lifted in several spots, I would guess about 10-15 square inches...this would most definately have to be fixed although I dont know how bad it would be.

    The leather all looks good, nice and soft with very little wear. All of the vents and the center console are sticky, every plastic peice is sticky. Something that struck me as odd was the fact that the paint on the paddle shifters is chipped and worn...I wouldnt expect this for a 12k mile car but I dont have much experience with these.

    The engine fired right up and sounded healthy but of course this can be decieving. I asked about records and there are none, but FOH has done some work on it, I would suggest you call them and see what has been done. I was told the right cat had been replaced and the left cat needs replacement soon. The sales guy said Ferrari of Houston looked at it and said they would ball park all of the work to be done somewhere around $15k. I am sure this number would grow substantially if you wanted to replace all of the interior peices and fix the rust on the drivers side.

    The engine bay looks clean and has defiantely not been looked after the way I look after my car but it isnt too bad. Just needs some TLC.

    In summary it looks like this car has been driven by several owners and then passed on when it was time for service. I would expect that it has been driven pretty hard but it doesnt look like it has been wrecked or anything. I am told that this car has bounced around to several dealerships lately because it hasnt moved. Should you fly to Houston to take a look at it...I dont know for sure? If you are looking for a car that is perfect or near perfect then this isnt the car for you. If you are looking for a driver that will show well but will cost you some money up front to make it straight mechanically and coachwork wise then happy bidding but I wouldnt pay anywhere near $84k for it. I would imagine you would need to put $20k into it to make it straight again...that is to make it damn nice...that is only a WAG (wild axx guess). I was not able to drive it since the rain in Houston today is relentless but after talking to the Manager is said that if you were serious enough and called them he would be willing to let me drive it for you or to let you drive it when you arrived in Houston.

    Call him, I wanna drive it!
     
  15. dgpIII

    dgpIII Karting

    Jun 23, 2006
    148
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    DGP
    Thanks for the great report. Very thorough and I really appreciate it. Maybe I can return the favor someday. I pm'd you.
     
  16. Inowownone

    Inowownone Formula Junior

    Jul 22, 2005
    377
    Plano, TX
    Full Name:
    Tom W.
    Not to thread-jack this thread... Just trying to continue my learning efforts.
    What dose a "sticky dash" represent? Just a lack of detailing the car?
    DGP, when you had this "listed" as a item to look for... what did the results (it having a sticky dash) tell you. Correction, sticky console.
    Just curious.
    Thanks.
     
  17. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2001
    24,903
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jim E
    It's a pretty well known malady of 355's, the plastic on the console and the vents deteriorates when an unknowing detailer applies Armor All and it's allowed to sink in over a period of weeks/months. Or something like that. The plastic plate around the a/c controls is known to bubble also. Replacements are expensive.
     
  18. Inowownone

    Inowownone Formula Junior

    Jul 22, 2005
    377
    Plano, TX
    Full Name:
    Tom W.
    Thanks Jim. And I thought you were just a "Clutch Expert".
     
  19. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,380
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Right if you leave them alone they don't get sticky, or as bad..

    To original poster you need to heed Johnathan Peck's comments and PM him...he worked in exotic cars in Dallas, TX and may have relevant info..

    I doubt FoH will discuss someon else's car, that sounds unlikely......

    Not saying anything bad about this dealer, but anyone can wholesale cars, they are just doing upmarket cars...

    HTH
     
  20. Rexcoltrain

    Rexcoltrain Formula Junior

    Nov 6, 2003
    671
    Oahu, Hawaii
    I'll second the PPI rec's...I purchased my Boxster from them and the PPI showed a few issues. They fixed the problems without me even asking, but had I just bought it off the floor I would have been stuck. Common sense for any car purchase really.

    As for the Ferrari, I'm nearly certain it's the same one the Mercedes dealer in North Houston had on consign several years ago. I stopped by several times to look but it never sold. I spoke with a salesman later and he said the owner wanted way too much. If memory serves, it already had 10k on the clock back then, which means it hasn't moved much in the last few years...not good for a Ferrari. Carfax should verify this.
     

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