Ferrari buying experience observations..

Cool - best of luck! Post pics and info when you land one.

 

What are the colors of the CS's you placed offers on?

 

Everyone goes through this. As difficult as it may be, try to think about how you are going to feel a few months from now (IF not braces then something else). My advice would be to go with a red/tan F1 360 2002-2003 with 5-10K miles with a solid service history. It will be more car than you have ever owned, you'll actually DRIVE IT, and you'll have a chance to enjoy a low risk investment at a Porsche Turbo price or below. Trust me, you will love the car and a year or two from now when you are ready to buy the 430 you will offset any depreciaition with an unblieveable deal on the 430 of your choice at far below where they are selling today.

 

I'm guessing that given your car buying history, you will become a "serial" collector. No worries, lots of us do or have done serial collections.

As for the troopers, get a V1, you will need it.

Dave

 

haha, i enjoyed reading this.

 

If you can afford a 430 buy a 430.

 

Oh yes and one more thing. Take the car to the track and avoid those ugly citations and more important, safety issues. I was stopped on Christmas Day 2 years ago in my 360 Coupe by a State Trooper while going 125 in a 55 on a very isolated Colorado back road. He couldn't have been more understanding, checked me out, wished me Merry Christmas, and asked me to open the bonnet to have a look at the engine. Fortunately I have a clean driving record. That was close.

 

Buy a Rosso Corsa F430 three pedal car. Of course I'm biased!

 

That is a good choice if you must have a 3 pedal car, in fact two f-chatters have prime examples listed in the Ads section. Dave and Luis have beautiful examples.

 

My $.02.

Unless the extra $$ between an 430 and a Scud is nothing to you I would stick with the 430. You wont get twice the enjoyment out of the scud...the 430 will definitely suffice.

But if that extra $100k+ isnt a big deal...then get the Scud.

I wouldnt get the CS because its not a 6spd. but thats just me. If you can be happy with padles the CS is probably your best bet.

 

my $.02, if you can get a Scuderia for $270k, take it. i haven't seen any private sales, eBay listings or dealers selling for that amount. the first batch of cars were $267k with nothing on them and that didn't include the gas guzzler, freight, etc.

 

Ah yes, the mysterious system. That may have been true in the past, when there was easy money, easy credit and high demand. Now a days, in this economy, dealers are sitting on largely unsold stale inventory. But wait, Ferrari has reduced production. Surely, that will maintain prices? New cars are being offered to anyone who will take them at MSRP. Used F430s, just like other luxury products have taken a beating and are accumulating at dealer inventory. Here's a new paradigm for Ferrari, it's called a buyers market. As you know, the number of capable buyers in this recession are rapidly diminishing.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Dealers holding onto cars because they have too much into the car is a poor business strategy. It's gets pretty expensive when your inventory is rapidly depreciating while carrying costs are increasing. Let them hold on to their inventory, that will exacerbate the price decline when they realize at year end that they're way into the red on their balance sheets. They will either blow out their inventory, or go out of business, or both.

As for the 6spd dilemma, go with the 3 pedal car if you go with the 360 (I own one and I love it). If you go with the F430, the F1 is excellent, but you already knew that.

 

Just buy based on the best deal.(providing it's what you're looking for) The whole "list' thing is out the window right now anyway as cash is king. For me the process was lightening fast, maybe there weren't so many options at the time. Enjoy your F-car and check back with us later and let us know if it's all that?

 

I started my search for my first f-car looking at the 360. I ended up with an 07 f430. It is a six speed and I am very happy I stepped up to the f430. I would not be so focused on buying from the ferrari dealer. There are many honest people on this forum who would be more than happy to vouch for a dealer or fellow f-chatter. Good luck and post pics when you pick up your new baby.

 

Comprador, excellent post.

I think you mean ostracized. Osterized is putting something in a Oster-brand blender.

You should consider spiders too. I got a grey manual F430 spider and it rocks. Only second-thoughts is that I should have gotten Abu Dhabi Blue. I think its a real daily-driver and actually quite nice roof-up too.

How did you do 60 cars? I've only owned 7, which includes two Pintos and two E39M5s, so its really more like 5...

 

Leftfield idea... buy either and ask Novtiec to augment with superchargers:

http://www.novitecrosso.com/us_sites/main.htm

 

I also started my search looking at a 360 or a 575. The '07 430 i wound up with was sooooo much nicer. Went F1 as I've grown tired of 6 speed. Went Coupe because i like the lines better. Went Blu Pozzi because i wanted to avoid the 'flashy' red as you mentioned. All personal choices. Frankly, IMO, ANY choice you make is a good one. They are all amazing cars. It's just what level of amazement for the price do you want.

Also......if you are a car flipper like i have been over the past, you may consider the 360, enjoy it, and eventually trade up as 430 prices come down....or as the new replacement comes out. For Example, i'd love a 599, but i can be patient for prices to come down.

Anyway, best of luck. I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you pick......and i'm sure you will always be second guessing it as well.

 

I had a 360CS for over 3 years and replaced it with a 599.
The 599 was in the garage for 1-1/2 years before it was replaced by a Scuderia in January.
The Scud is my 360CS on steroids.
The 2004 360CS was my favorite Ferrari owned over 20 years of Ferrari ownership (V12's and V8's)...but...the Scuderia has traveled over 900 miles in the first 10 weeks. It rocks!!!! It IS what a Ferrari should be.
A used 360CS would be a wonderful "first Ferrari" (subject to all the Cost & PPI considerations).
All new Ferrari's (in this market) depreciate.
Let your budget be your guide but let your heart decide your purchase.
Everytime you climb in the Ferrari that has YOUR interpretation of "The Right Stuff"...you will collect the dividends on your purchase decision.
The Scuderia does it for me (right now).

 

No offense but listen to yourself

You lengthened the process because you enjoyed doing so and you had a bunch to learn. Ask yourself, in your daily work, do you carry emotion into the office? Bet not. Bet it's straightforward dollars and cents.

Treat this as the same. When you save your emotions for your driving, and you have clearly thought through and bought the right car, then you will maximize your enjoyment.

If you goof because you got carried away, then you will know it, trust me, you will know it and you will cost yourself a great deal of enjoyment.

Focus past the sales experience.

 

Excellent Post. I would say this, keep loooking, driving, testing all the modles you are interested in. The 360cs is a very special car. I loved mine I wish I never sold it. Then I bought a F430 Spider. The power and torque so much better. Almost that the next time I drove a CS something was missing POWER. So what of course is the perfect pit....enter the Scud. How to justify $270-$300k for a car in my current position is the tough part. Is the Scud $150k better than a 430, a Superleggera, a CS. I do not think so but still doesn't mean I would not bleed for one!!

Ferrari Dealers typically are 10-20% higher price than a used or unauthorized dealer. If you find a reputable unauthorized dealer you can get a great car at much lower premium most times, if you do your due diligence of course. Yes the Ferrari dealer will be more than happy to service your car if you do not buy from them.

As for being part of "The Club" or being a Ferrari dealer customer, yes it feels good to buy direct, yes you get latte's, water, invites to events and offers to get on "the list". This is all a good thing. The only down side once again is most times their cars are 10-20% over market. But for that extra premium you do get that warm fuzzy feeling. Not saying some F-dealers do not have good deals in todays market but you can always find a less expensive like car.

Now having said that I personally think that the relationship with an F-dealer can be a pricess thing. I have access to my service manager 24-7 and I own a Murci and Bentley now. They always answer the phone and cell phone to help me out. Also all the sales people, even though I do not own Ferrari currently, call me with deals on new and used cars events etc.

Remember the hunt for that first F-car may seem tiresome but looking back you will have found memories

Good Luck!

 

I haven't seen a "list" in my life that a hundred dollar bill can't get me on......I am only half kidding about this. Hooking up the service advisor at the local dealer will definitely get you a cell number and lots of lattes....just my two cents