How far are you from your nearest service center? I'm in Central Oregon... | FerrariChat
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How far are you from your nearest service center? I'm in Central Oregon...

Discussion in '360/430' started by Emissary989, May 18, 2005.

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  1. Emissary989

    Emissary989 Rookie

    Dec 3, 2004
    23
    Bend, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Josh
    #1 Emissary989, May 18, 2005
    I'm considering purchasing either a 355 or 360 coupe in the near future. I've spent the last couple of months researching on this site, and I'm fairly comfortable with the expected (and unexpected) costs associated with owning a piece of art such as a Ferrari. My principle concern, however, is where I'm going to have the maintanence performed. I live in Bend, Oregon, and as far as I can tell, the nearest authorized service center is Ron Tonken in Portland (which would be a mere 120-some-odd-mile trek over a set of mountains).

    My questions for this forum are as follows:

    1) In general, how far away are you from your nearest authorized Ferrari service center? How much of a problem is it if you live far away?

    2) In the slim event that anyone else on this forum owns a Ferrari in Central Oregon, where do you get it serviced? Is there any place local that services Ferraris?

    I've really enjoyed my time reading this forum during the last couple of months and have found it an invaluable resource. Any assistance now would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks in advance,

    -Josh
     
  2. lapeter

    lapeter Formula Junior

    Jun 13, 2002
    885
    SunValley ID&Kapalua
    Full Name:
    Al LaPeter
    #2 lapeter, May 18, 2005
    I live in Sun Valley, ID and I am 350 mile from the nearest F dealer. There is a local mechanic that does my oil changes, but not the big issues. I owned a 1996 355 spider for two years and never had to go to Salt Lake City. I now have a 360 spider that is still under warrenty until 11-05. We will see if I have any warrenty issues. My game plan would be to have the local mechanic (he has a suitable trailer) take the spider to Salt Lake City, if needed. A 700 mile round trip would entail 2-3 days of wasted time for me. If I was 120 miles away, I would just drive there. I have owned 4 F cars and they have been trouble free. I don't track my cars or drive them very hard.
    Al
     
  3. Eric308gtsiqv

    Eric308gtsiqv Formula 3

    Nov 26, 2001
    1,956
    Orange Park, Florida
    Full Name:
    Eric Eiland
    #3 Eric308gtsiqv, May 18, 2005
    Nearest Ferrari/Maserati dealer from me is approx. 150 miles. Not a problem...we trailer the car(s) down and/or plan the trip around a weekend vacation trip.

    The last three trips down since January, we ended up trading in a car for something different every time. The wife says we need to start spreading our visits a little further apart -- too late...I've already planned a vacation to Disney World the first of June...just in time to check out that 550 Maranello they just added in the showroom! :D ;)
     
  4. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,142
    Orange County, CA
    #4 SrfCity, May 18, 2005
    It sounds like you may be buying an earlier model 360 i.e. out of warranty. So, it's best to just find an independant guy. If you find a good car the only thing you'll need done over the next while are fluid changes. Personally that's all I've needed in almost 2 years of ownership of my 360. My dealer is about 10 miles away but after the warranty ran out I haven't been over there.
     
  5. garysp7

    garysp7 Formula Junior

    Mar 28, 2004
    436
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Gary
    #5 garysp7, May 18, 2005
    I live 100 miles away from the nearest dealer. There is no one closer who is qualified to work on a 550 with a warranty.
    I have the tow truck pick it up about every other month for engine check lights that keep coming on. After it is fixed, (supposedly), I have to arrange to have my wife drive me down to the dealer (in her Lexus-it always runs :))
    and then I bring it back. I am now having the car towed back evan after reapiring it since it is moer convenient. The moral of this story: Have twoing insurance if you live far away and make sure it covers a flat bed towing to the nearest dealer.
    Gary
     
  6. Scotty

    Scotty F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    10,507
    Oregon
    Full Name:
    Scotty Ferrari
    #6 Scotty, May 18, 2005
    One consideration--when I contacted one independent service person in PDX, he said he couldn't service 355's or 360's--they are too computer intensive. Some of the more technically oriented folks may chime in--I had heard that brake pads couldn't even be changed on the 360 without the proprietary Ferrari computer software.
     
  7. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,142
    Orange County, CA
    #7 SrfCity, May 18, 2005
    Right, if the guy doesn't have an SD2 diagnostic computer then forget it.
     
  8. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 5, 2002
    26,141
    Portland, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Don
    #8 donv, May 18, 2005
    Is more required than a standard OBD-II scan tool?

    I do know that non-OBD-II cars, such as the 95 456s and 355s, which require SD-1 or SD-2, do need to go to a dealer for many things.

    In regard to Bend, I would try posting in the Northwest section. I am sure there are some Ferraris over there, and I would be surprised if there was not a shop which could do at least some Ferrari work.

     

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