Euro vs. Us cars

If the US car is "converted" to US spec then there should be precious little difference. If you are talking about the difference between a US spec and Euro spec car then the difference is significant.

 

The euro after federalization is always worth less than the original US car even after the US car warranty has expired (which seems ridiculous).
Today I would say the euro 355 sells for about 10K less than an equivalent US 355.

 

Here is an interesting euro v us spec with the 355s. Two 1995 cars both with 2.7 motronic. The UK car has a De-cat capristo and K&N filters also a Hamonn fueling chip. The US car has a Tubi with K&N filters along with Na-performance headers. Both cars about the same spec in regards os tuning, and both cars with the same peak power. The top two are the UK results and the bottom one is the US speck car. I always thought US cars were down on power, based on hear say realy.....but clearly not.
Link:http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106847
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California emissions testing is probably a lot stricter than Texas, and California is a huge Ferrari market. If a car couldn't be registered here I'd guess that would hurt its value. (Doesn't apply to pre-1975 cars that are exempt from testing.)

 

Jon's right.....if you're buying a Euro car in California, it costs another 5k+ to bring to to Cali EPA standards, even if the US conversion has been done. However, it looks like you're in Dallas....so that won't be neessary. If the car has NOT been converted to US spec, stay away, as it COULD be a long and expensive process.

If it HAS had a documented conversion, expect to pay about 10-15% less than an apples-to-apples US car.

 

So whats involved in a US conversion then? And why? And why is a US car not the same as a California car? Seems to me that the power out put is the same with it being either Euro or US or California any ways. Though i do perfer the clear side lights of the euro version over the orange ones of the US. And what is it with them side lights
Please remember that there is life out side the US and some of us are trying to understand.

 

i would rather have a true euro spec car , hands down. all the crap that has to be put on many cars as an after thought ruins the cars feel and performance. why euro cars is cheap is a direct function of supply and demand. fewer states allow euro cars to be registered, limiting the demand market.
Georgia is ok with the older euro cars and i am on the hunt for a euro Ferrari Lambo.

 

For the 550s at least

The Euros are lighter, quicker through the model years (pre-cat EPA regs.) & had options aailable sooner.

While the post 2000 U.S. Spec 550s became slower (0-60)
the Euro that were converted and imported are just as fast as the pre-2000 U.S. Models.

 

More opinions ...

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103933

G

 

Every one who has ever driven my 00 euro 360 says it is the fastest they have driven. It is lighter(mine weighs just over 3000 lbs empty so very close to CS terrritory) and more fun in the twisties with a single set of cats.
Swithcars is correct in that my car is legal in all 49 states except calif., although the figure I got to "californicate" it was a bit less than $2k not $5k. Either way there are plenty of other options since many of the ferraris I see here are registered in Oregon or Montana anyway for tax reasons.
I was very very happy with the price going in and am quite certain as the prices settle on these cars the price discrepancy going out will continue to shrink.