Garage Queen vs "drive it"

Yes, it is sort of oxymoron. I think if I was ever in the used-Ferrari market, I would look for one with all the records and with moderate milage (~300miles/month) on the car. And most of all, the quality of the interior and the exterior. With that being said, I think that's where the desire of finding a lower milage Ferrari comes from, as in less wear and tear on the interior and possible exterior.

 

Actually I think it referred to as a paradox. I agree that the desire for a low mileage car has more to do with the aesthetics and the interior condition than any reference to reliability because of lower mileage. So says I!
BT

 

Since we can't always get the car new, wouldn't we want to get the car in a state that's as new-like as possible?

We want to use our cars as much as possible, but don't want cars that are used. Its because we're selfish.

The same paradox exists with how we treat women:
I don't want to marry a woman who has had lots of *previous owners* and lots of *miles* put on her. I want to be the one that does all the *driving*

 

Martin, you are so correct. The guy up in seattle with the special order dark blue 360 is a great example. I think he drove his car on several long cross country trips, just like we would all like to be able to do. Maintained it well and when it came time to sell with 50k+ on the clock, all the buyers disapeared.
Well, I am driving mine and will deal with the market consequences when the time comes and knowing that the "cost" will be well balanced by the pleasure derived.

 

Here, here!! Well said.

Dane

 

I'm indifferent....I bought my 97 355 spider last November 2004 with 27.5k miles and it now has 34.5k miles. 7k miles in 10 months! I'm having a ball, to hell with depreciation!

Life is too short to worry about this crap. Yeah, I do want some "garage queens" around so I have a nice selection of used Ferraris to choose from...

 

Spot on Martin. I believe this dichotomy of words and actions exists because the money issue is more of a concern to many than they would like to admit.

Like Dave I prefer my cars to be a little "broken in" with excellent maintenance records.


I buried a good friend years ago who left behind a wonderful collection of extremely low mileage Porsches. He was always going to drive them more, "some day". Ever since then I make everyday my, "some day".

Life is short and there is ZERO trade in on it at the end, so LIVE IT UP!

 

John I agree with your point I bought my TR because I loved the car and always will I dont drive it a lot maybe 2500 miles a year and when and if I sell it I will get what I will get The enjoyment is in having the car as well as driving it . I also have a 355 which I drive more now has 19000 miles on it and feel the same way in my mind a Hanger Queen is a car that gets trailered to the shows and washed sees maybe 200 miles a year . Most owners are driving their cars at whatever miles per year and enjoying them if you are only in this for the investment you picked the wrong hobby!!!!!

Martin

 

Ouch! I can see where you are coming from now but there will be a buyer for your car that will recognize the condition and mileage and will pay the premium I know on the TR I bought just as the market changed and would probably take a 10/15K loss even after I put a Tubi on it and did several hundred dollars of improvements to it. Hang in there and good luck with the sale.

Martin

 

I get asked this all the time, when I take my car to shows with Rolands F40 LM..

my car is a 99 360 F1, and as a matter of fact had it on the track today for a little spin while Roland was instructing. My car has @30K miles now, and I will keep putting them on.

Every person that looks at my car, Can NOT even imagine that its a 99, and more so that it has 30K miles on it.

I bought the car cause its a performace car, and a FERRARI. I am driving the HELL out of it

thats my few cents worth...

-A

 

Whenever I see a high mileage, late model, I feel some envy for someone who had so much fun in such a short time. Nevertheless, if I am looking for one, I would look for low mileage because there are so many. Trouble with sellinig is that potential buyers of late model Ferraris can generally afford a "like new" example. The only hope of selling high mileage car is to have a low enough price for someone who cannot otherwise buy one and they are rare animals. Having said that, my 430 will be 2 weeks old tomorrow. At the rate I am going, it will be due for it's 5K service by Christmas!

Dave

 

Not driving reminds me of my poor old aunts, with lots of money, but afraid to spend any of it. Sure they are influenced by the Great Depression, but the security in knowing they have the funds is what they enjoy. So perhaps for the Garage Queen, the feeling is similar. It is about value and perfection. Not the actual experience of the drive. By the way, where did Garage Queen come from, why not Garage King, let me guess, a Queen does not Drive?

Mabe us drivers are Garage Kings! I proclaim myself a Garage King!

 

Jeez, you should see my '84 308. 72,000 miles. People can't believe it's an '84.
The funny thing is, that with non Ferrari enthusiasts , they say "only 72,000
miles" and it's an '84? So there you go. By the way she's for sale, extremely well maintained.

 

Dave,

Drop that thing off at the ranch with Roland and I, and I can have it ready for the 5K service by next weekend

-A

 

I gave up on the queen vs driver threads.

As long as its detailed, I'm happy.

 

You can have those 250 miles back from me, if you like.

On second thought, hell no!

If you can't sell it, drive it. Flip the 8, keep the 12.. I know that doesn't help you but its what I'd do.

Sunny

 

That 575 of yours is BEAUTIFUL. It will sell. Someone in or related to this community will realize it soon.

Did you start a thread with your impressions on the 430? We know its one hell of a machine, but what are your thoughts in detail to make you reliquish the 12 and arguably one of Maranello's best of everything in one?

Cheers,
Sunny

 

I don't have an Fcar (yet) but the way I see it is this. I would be prepared to do lots of hard work, long hours and graft so that I can afford my dream car in the future. When I achieve this dream car, I want to enjoy the vehicle I have purchased as intended by the manufacturer and IMO it was made to be driven so why not do that!
I appreciate why some people keep garage queens, but I guess that it is a question of whether you can afford to simply buy a Ferrari and basic maintainence, or whether you can afford to use it as much as you want and throw as much cash at it as it needs to be perfect.
I know of a Murcielago in the Uk with over 20k miles in less than a year - the majority of Lambos and Fcars would never achieve that sort of mileage, but the owner loves the car and loves to drive it so why not. Sure it'll be a massive loser on depreciation but I suppose it depends on whether depreciation is that important. As someone said before, you don't buy an Fcar for the profits

 

In my case, I tend to find a car that get regularly driven...my old 512TR had about 27,000km when I bought it, and it ran so well with no problem regarding engine. However, I got my '04 CS with about 600km on the clock. That's like buying a brand new car with some discount.

 

Marty, I think the problem is not so much the mileage as the fact that it's a V-12, and specifically that it's a 575. If it was a V-8 with similar mileage, I don't think the hit would be nearly as bad.

I would love to buy a new Ferrari, but the cars I prefer (612, for example) have tremendous depreciation, and I just can't justify that sort of hit.

The upcoming 575 replacement probably doesn't help things either.