It's my wife's fault I bought my first Ferrari

I've decided that's my line whenever anyone asks.

But really........

I'm 45.

Im not embarrassed to admit the first Ferrari I remember seeing was on Magnum PI. Love at first site. I watched that show religiously as a kid just to see the car. I knew from then on I was going to have a Ferrari one day. Just knew it.

Didn't think it would take me this long, but many other priorities came first.... Career, wife, kids, investments, etc.

Bought and sold other performance cars to feed the need.... 2004 350Z.....2010 Camaro 2SS.... Great fun, and great cars. But I don't miss them.

Flash forward to my 10 year wedding anniversary trip to Vegas 2013. My wife surprises me with a World Class Driving super car experience. We drive a 430, 458, R8, XK-RS, and a Lambo through Lake Mead National Park.

Most fun I've had behind the wheel in my entire life!

We go back and do it again the next day

Can't shake the buzz I had driving the 430 and the 458. The performance. The control. The sound!

The memory solidifies itself into a determination that sits patiently in the back of my consciousness.

Time passes....... until recently I stumble across an article discussing the best cars for investment, and I'm not surprised to find some Ferraris included in the list. Buy the right Ferrari, drive it, and you can still watch it appreciate!?!?

My determination to own a Ferrari sits quietly no more.

I jump head first into full research mode, comparing Mondials.... 348s....355s... 360s... 430s.... Finding that the 360 is most likely to fit the budget and what I'm looking for in performance and investment.

Data I mined from Fchat and elsewhere taught me that there were only ~2600 3-pedal Modenas built, and ~50% of them were red... So my target became a 3-pedal Modena, NOT red.

Timing of all this just happened to coincide with a vacation to Florida for a couple weeks where I was able to see some awesome cars, and chat with some gracious owners at Cars and Coffee in Orlando, and at the Ferraris on the Circle at Sarasota.

I also took a test drive of a 360 F1 spider with a Candido Bonilla Jr., a fantastic salesman at Ferrari of Central Florida who spent several hours with me talking cars, and even checked campaigns and ran a carfax on a very interesting car I came across which Jack Babbitt (👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 ) of NJBAutomotive near Columbus, OH had been servicing for the past 4 years.

A 2000 360 Modena 3-pedal owned by a great car guy near Louisville KY...... 24,600 miles and a solid paper trail to its sale from Ferrari in Scottsdale in 2009.

After some research (Joe Abernathy at Cauley Ferrari was great about getting me all service receipts from sale to the first 6 years of its life, and written confirmation of campaigns) and a small bit of haggling, I decided to have the PPI done.

I had Jack do the PPI even though a PPI by someone other than the regular mechanic is considered the better route.... His reputation here on Fchat was excellent and he already knew the car.

Other than a weak AC, a door that needed some lube, and some "stickies", the car was given a great report.

So I have all receipts between delivery to 2006, and from 2009 to current, and record of 3 PPIs done since 2009, the last of which I paid for......

So, now I'm ~$80k poorer and one Ferrari 360 richer.

It's still at Jack's getting the AC worked on and stickies fixed, but I can't wait to be driving it myself! (although being in the upper Midwest, that might HAVE to wait for 6 more months)

A fool and his money are soon parted, and my wife was looking at me like I'm a fool when she saw the wire transfer receipt.... But she was the one who paid for me to drive a Ferrari for the first time, so I think she knew what would happen eventually

Thanks to all on Fchat, as I read here extensively about all things Ferrari and learn something new everyday, and for reminding me of the CAR in carpe diem!

Cheers! 🍻🍻🍻
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Gorgeous car, congratulations. I'm sure they'll be a nice day before the winter hits hard so you can take it out. Drive safe and best of luck!

 

THAT looks FANTASTIC!

 

Great story. You'll be a fool not to. Life's too short. Congrats!

 

Those exotic car drives are dangerous - it's what finally pushed me in to getting my Testarossa! And now I, too, am looking for a 3 pedal non red 360, preferably a black spider. Any leads, even if 'high' miles? THanks!

Congratulations BTW - sweet ride!

 

Well done! We work hard. It's nice to enjoy some of the fruits of our labor.

 

Looks great! When you are itchin to give that baby a bit more love.... Those dark cs wheels are cryin' for some hill engineering Ti lugs. Just sayin

 

I like your story, imo you've done everything right.
And what a beautiful Modena, congratulation, enjoy it!

 

Good for you. When I saw the subject for your thread, it drew my interest because my wife did have a lot to do with me getting a Ferrari. The short version of the story is: I had back surgery in Oct. 2011 and owned a Harley at the time. Months later I rode my Harley and my back did not feel good on the bumps. I talked to my doctor and he said lose the Harley. I was bummed. My wife said get a sports car! I said, "really?". She said yeah. Get a Ferrari! I said, "really?". She said yeah. I got a 360 and have had no back problems since. What a gal.

 

Thanks! I am continuing to keep my eye on the market, as I'm betting (hoping) my wife will want her own eventually. 😍 I'll be happy to send your way any good spider I find.

The last spider I saw of interest was this one, but not black:

Ferrari 360 360 Modena Spider | eBay

 

Very nicely done! Congratulations!

I remember I had to spend a year convincing my sweetie that I really wanted one. When she said to me one day at dinner with friends "did you buy it yet?".. I knew the time had come.

 

That's a solid car. Nice price!

 

Great looking. I find it amazing you can buy a 360 of that quality for 80k. Compare it to the cost of much more pedestrian new cars and i think its a no brainer


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Congratulations!! Great choice on the color!!!

 

I really like the color combo and wheels! Looks badass! Jack Babbit is a great guy and excellent mechanic - he has taken care of my 355 and now my 360 and I also highly recommend him! If the car was sorted by him, you should have no worries!

 

Thanks!

The seller included the original starfish rims as well. I thought I might sell the OEM CS rims, but they look great so I may just have to keep them

Great to hear another endorsement of Jack, much appreciated. He has been very honest and straight with me. Looking forward to meeting him in person in the near future!

 

LoL, congrats.

When I bought my TR, my wife came home and asked where the 308 was (I sold it to the dealer who gave it to his daughter). Her comment was "I never told you you couldn't own two Ferraris."

So we went to the dealer looking at a 355 spider in our agreed $100k or less budget. Then, she saw the 3-pedal silver 360 and said, "Forget the budget, buy the 360 because you'll want it in three years anyway."

Women are unpredictable, most times in a good way 😃


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Congratulations, Eric!

Gorgeous color and the wheels look awesome!

I literally took delivery of my 360 purchased from kn1ghtley this morning. We sang a few Italian opera tunes driving a 40-mile loop...

Enjoy in good health!

Cheers.
Frank

 

My sincere appreciation to all who have said kind words and shared their stories in this thread. I've enjoyed reading each one! Loved hearing how great your wives were!

Frank,

I hope you had a fantastic ride home in your 360! I know you got a great car as Brent took great care of it... Gary gave it glowing review and said Brent asked a very fair price.

Drive hard and keep safe!

������

 

Nice car...and she (wife) is a keeper!!! Car probably too...

 

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story. I will always own a Ferrari. You will too.

 

Great story, love the car. That was going to be my first choice for a color but it's not like low miles gated 360's are just everywhere to be found out here so when a black one owner popped up out here, having just been brought from Newport Beach with 5700 miles I jumped on it. This was two and a half years ago and about a year and a half after that memorable dinner I had with my wife. I gulped a drink to wet my mouth and was a bit nervous because I was about to casually mention to my wife that I was thinking about getting a sports car and I was looking at Ferrari's. She didn't miss a beat and said OK hun that sounds good, just please don't get a red one! She thought I would draw too much attention to myself! Yeah!!!!!

Welcome, I look forward to sharing your experience with that great car.

 

Eric, that's a great looking 360! Keep the wheels on it, they look better than the starfish. Going to be a long wait til spring. Lol.

Remember, just say no to salty roads.

 

That is awesome Eric! I am very happy for you I am sure you will have a blast with it for years to come.

YES! Congrats Frank! So glad it got there safely. Post photos when you can as I am already missing her - especially that sound Drive it and enjoy.

 

Congrats, what a nice car! My wife also pushed me to buy my first Ferrari. Honestly without her blessing I would still be weighing the purchase...