First post, in need of first Ferrari advice on a $40,000 budget

Might be about the same or the 412 might more because it's 12 cylinders, basically multiply everything by 12 or double it (two fuel pumps, two filters, etc.).

So as far as maintenance costs I would say 348<355<412.

To repeat it for a billionth time, the car that fits your budget, both purchase price and maintenance costs is the 308, or possibly a high mileage 328.

I asked it before but I'll ask it again, what about Ferrari interest you?

-F

 

I think the common wisdom for affordable an reliable Ferraris, the 308/328 series s a no brainier.

 

OK. Your budget dictates what model you can choose and that is a 308, maybe a 328. That's it. Not a 348, not a 355, not a Testarossa, not a 400, not a 360, not a...

Really, you should be asking, where you can find a nice 308 in your budget, not what costs less to maintain between three highly needy models (348, 355, 400).

BTW, the 308 are a lookers but don't really move compared to modern cars. If you are good with a 308, then proceed. If a 308 doesn't do it for you then you will have to move on to some other marque or save your money for another model that does interest you.

-F

 

I can't decide if you're trolling or not, but will give you the benefit of the doubt.

First, a Ferrari is NOT about "quality". They aren't well made, and they break. Accept that now, or don't buy one.

You've got every answer you need, but you aren't hearing much about maintenance costs. They're high. My car is approaching $1.50/mile. I've had it 11 years, and it's a "cheap" 328. If you aren't prepared for that level of expense, don't buy one. Your costs may not be that high, but they could be worse also.

A 12 cylinder car will kill your budget in maintenance. Don't buy one based on what you've told us.

Buy a nice 308 for $30k. Save the $10k for maintenance and service. It should last you a few years if you don't need a major.

 

Sounds to me like you want a 308 GTB. Your budget isnt dissimilar to what mine was a few years ago when I got mine, but the 308 was THE car I wanted. I briefly considered a Testarossa just for the 12 cylinder, but upon closer inspection I realized that the maintenance was going to be out of my price range. I have absolutely loved my 308 GTS QV and would not second guess that in a heartbeat!!

Yeah, its not "fast" by todays standards, but I am not looking to drag race every civic on the block either. I drive it for ME, because it was MY dream car, and I love the experiences that the car gives me.



PDG

 

Trolling is sort of like "pulling our leg" or simply messing with us. Some people are beginning to wonder if you're serious.

Frankly you've been given some bad advice with the cheap 355 and 400 suggestions. Those cars would be disasters based on your tight budget.

Since you have taken the Mondial off your list, based on your budget, you have only one choice, 308. I suggesting heading down to the 308/328 section and continue your search there.

-F

 

Then again, if you're a gambling man, you could take your money, invest it aggressively in the market, and try to increase it such that you can buy a costlier, "better" vehicle.

There IS a potential downside, however ...

 

You get the passion first...then you figure out how to get the car.

 

I'd agree not to get a 355 if $40k is your hard budget, it's unrealistic unless you get extremely lucky. The car will either cost right at $40k leaving you nothing for maintenance (which is suicide for any Ferrari purchase), or if you can somehow find one in the $35k range, it will at minimum need a major service and again leave you with nothing for any further maintenance. Huge gamble and not worth it, I'd say you'd have a 1 in 5 chance of it working out at $40k or under at best, which are not odds I'd take. Up it to $50k and I think your odds are good, very good if you can DIY.

Personally, I'd look at a 328 or 348. They're more livable than a 308 and more simple and cheaper up front than a 355. I would leave $5k for maintenance in the first year to sort out any bugs - not including a major, leave $5k on top of a major if it needs one. The only big gotcha on the 348 I'm aware of are the transmission retaining nuts which were sometimes not staked properly. As long as the trans is not already bad, they can be checked and addressed without incurring much cost. Anything else should be well within the $5k budget. Good luck.

 

Please guys, let's stop diverting him from his only option. There has been too much of that already and it has led him to options he really doesn't have.

A 348 should be taken off the list because the engine out service will eat up any money he has left over and he will have nothing left for basic maintenance. As for a 328, I don't think he will be able to find one in his price range ($35,000 purchase price) so I have taken that off the list too.

Really, truly, the only car in his price range (purchase price + money left over) is the 308. That's it. If that's not livable enough then he will have to forego the Ferrari or save his money for the next car on his list.

-F

 

A 328 or 348 with over 50k miles and a major within the last 3 years should be obtainable in the $35k range. You won't have much choice of color or body style, but how is that not an option?

 

I really have to agree. 40K$ for purchase price and reasonable maintenance costs while actually driving the car... especially for someone who's not going to be turning his own wrenches... A sound 308 it has to be.

Of course that takes all the fun out of the thread because there's nothing to argue about. But maybe over in the 308 section, we can dive into the GTS/GTB, carb/2Vi/QV discussion?

 

Regarding the 348, that's a short term proposition because the next major, due in five years from purchase, will use up the rest of the OP's budget. A 348 is just too expensive to maintain with that tight of a budget.

As far as a 328 for $35k, there might be one out there, I just haven't seen one. I could be wrong there.

-F

 

He said $40k for purchase and one year of maintenance. If you amortize the major over 5 years, it's less than a grand a year. A major on a 348 should not really be that much more than the other cars, it's around 10 hours of labor extra I think. The engine was made to be removed easily, unlike the other cars. It allows a lot of other things to be checked and easily repaired at the time of the major, so it's not necessary to live with small oil leaks and the similar that some 308 and 328 owners do...Also, as soon as you do a clutch, you make back most of the extra on a major as it's ridiculously easy on a 348.

There's a high mileage 328 with 'recent' major (don't know how recent, so it'd need research) on autotrader for $37,900 ask, $35k would not be an unreasonable offer. If it checked out, that would leave $5k for anything that might crop up over the first year. So there are certainly other options than a 308 if you do a little hunting and don't have to have a car tomorrow. If you are particular about color combination etc., be prepared to spend a long time looking or, yes, limit your search to 308's as there will be more of them that fit your budget giving you a bigger selection.

Patience is key, It took me over a year of looking, and it was a couple of months after I was ready to make an offer on a car before I found what I wanted at the right price. I'm not much over the op's budget after 1 year and 5k miles and I have the "high maintenance" 355, but it took looking at hundreds of cars and the patience to wait for the right deal. I still have 3 years before the major is due, so we'll see what crops up in that time but so far it has not been a problem. I was, and am, prepared to spend the money needed to maintain it as necessary, though. I wouldn't have bought it if I had a hard budget cap or couldn't do my own work as it would have been too risky, especially as there is not a local trusted f-car mechanic that I know of.

 

Fair enough. Under that criteria, a 348 might work. I'd be nervous.

Yes, that's an option. I just took a look at the add. I wonder why so cheap. I believe $37k for a 328, even with 40,000 miles is under market value. There seems to be a wide range of prices for 328 at the moment.

-F

 

I had a 355 that I brought over from Hawaii that was a fair car, but not as nice as buyers were looking for, and it sold for under 40k. In fact it's still on the market as I've seen it on Craig'sList in the high 30's. The trouble is that it was ready for a belt change, and we all know how expensive that is on this model. Not a show car but a hell of a driver---I was impressed, as I'm used to slower cars such as 250GT's, 308's, etc. I don't think you will find one of these, fully serviced, in your budget.

 

They are "out there"...

I'm not sure what he paid, exactly, but Greg328 got a beautiful 328GTB example from an estate, off eBay.
West Texas (everyone thought it would be all shriveled up and dusty!!)

He had to patiently work thru some title issues with the guy's probate (or relatives, I didn't write this story down...LOL!) and at the end of the day got a sweet car at a very fair price.

As Ed points out the 355s are a monster on your pocketbook, so even a cherry one is reason for caution.

These are just hard machines to own, if you are budgeting for a full life...

 

under the criteria i wouldn't dream of anything but a 3.2 mondial or a 308.

And even then I'd still expect to blow my 40K limit by 5 or so for "unforeseen stuff"

Even a perfect 25 year old car will **** the bed at a random time... because it's 25 years old.

Even little stuff ads up... and if you don't sweat the little things, they start to add up and you have an unloved old car. "other than the right rear window, it's perfect..... other than the heater fan reostat it works great... the AC? well.... second gear? just skip it" Those things are all great on a well maintained car. I bet the first round of drinks that one of them is wrong on 90% of cars you'll look at.... or will go wrong within a year. They are like boats... you chase down the things that go wrong over time... all the time.

Keeping a top notch older Italian car takes dedication, skill, or money.

and we all love it.

 

You want a car that really moves:

Just so you know, a 308 is gonna take at least 7..5 seconds to get to 60 and about 15.5 to 16 to complete the quarter mile.

An early model boxster S will get to 60 and through the quarter mile in about 1.5 seconds quicker.

You can get one dirt cheap.

Just saying, if you want a ferrari with even decent modern day performance, your budget is a bit light.

 

A lot of Viper guys where in similar situations, I was 8 years ago. I am on my second Viper now a 97 GTS and love it. It’s fast, reliable, good looking, cheap to maintain, etc. etc. I realized a long time ago I just don’t have the scratch for the Ferrari with the performance and reliability I would want with it.

 

Nope. 2nd gear can be sticky from cold in many well maintained 308s; they loosen up when warmed.