joining the ranks

Don't get hung up on the dealer thing. The most important thing is to have a PPI done by a reputable company or individual. Also be aware that some things you can't forsee can and will pop up. For example: I had a PPI done on my car everything checked out and so I made my way back home with the car some 500 miles away. When I got home My throwout bearing started making noise. I needed a new clutch. No indication before that...

Jim

 

Buying from a dealer does not get you anything. A good PPI is the best way to go. Every used Sports Car I have ever bought (Corvette, Ferrari...), has sucked down about 10% of the purchase price in the first year in maintenance. Much of it was items that showed up not from an inspection, but when I really started using the car and things broke because the car did not get enough use. My F355 which I purchased a little over 1 year ago has swallowed about 10K in parts and labor. Fortunately, I had a warranty and the cost was Zero to me. If you buy from one dealer and get serviced by another (FOW Service department is absolutely outstanding!) you will pay for the stuff that shows up. By the way Ferrari parts are not cheap! Two identical cars, one from a dealer and one from a private party will probably still cost you the same money in the first year until you get it put "right". Therefore, if you save 10K up front then you have the money to get items fixed. A dealer car is just higher priced...not any better...unless you get a warranty!

 

Not sure I completely agree with this. I recently purchased a 72 246GT from Algar in PA. Before I purchased it, they performed a PPI that cost me about $600. They had located the car at my request, and we used the PPI to come up with an offer price.

When we tore the car completely apart, there was significantly more work required than the PPI had discovered. Algar ate about 80 hours of labor before it was over, because my offer price was based on that PPI and they are honorable folks.

So, while not all cars purchased through dealers are a deal, my car turned out to have a personal guarantee, provided by the dealer, based on that PPI. I'm sure if I had bought the car outside of the dealer and brought it to them, there would have been no eating of hours, and an additional $7-8K bill would have ensued.

 

Whether purchasing from a priavte individual, indepndent dealer or authorized Ferrari dealer, it all comes down to the seller's reputation ad integrity. As my father-in-law used to say: "You can get a bastard anywhere." I recently purchased wonderful used 550 from Ferrari of Washington. We hammered on price for a long time -- all good natured adn we both had a blast -- and their promise was similiar: to make the car perfect. Which it appeared to be on delivery. They even took care of things that they discovered after the PPI, one of which was sizeable, while doing the actual work at no question, no charge to me. And, as with any used car, there wer a couple of minor glitches that cropped up since delivery. Again, taken care of with a smile, a cappucino, and no hassle or cost to me. I have had similar expereinces on other items such as used cameras from both individuals and independents. It really comes down to the reputation of the seller and making sure all understandings are clear, and preferably written with a trustowrthy seller.

Mike

 

I bought my 84 QV from way out of town as well. You can get all of the asurrances you want that the car is "perfect". With a car of this type and more importantly this age there WILL be surprises. Do as much research as you can to find out about its service history, look for trends of recurring problems, reputable service shops etc. The mileage will tell you a lot. With most of these vintage cars, it has probably sat a lot. So while you want a good PPI and you want to see that it has had the appropriate major services done by reputable folks, you can be sure that it will have a few skeletons. Just be prepared. Build your relationship now with whomever you want to service it. FOW is well respected, but consider also people like Grand Touring in Laurel. When i got mine I took it to my mechanic and asked him to make me three lists: 1. What they felt HAD to be done, 2. What would be nice to do, and 3. What things can I do myself. Regardless, be ready to love the car and be frustrated by it. It's all worth it in the end!