Looking to purchase first ferrari

Hello,
I'm brand new to these forums; I am looking for advice. If I'm in the wrong place please flame me and tell me to buzz off.

I have looked at a 348 GTS and it looks good. I want to have it inspected by a professional to ensure it's mechanically sound. Any ideas who best to have do this? Ferrari of Boston? I looked at the Ferrari Buyer's checklist and I have all those answers down now. Just looking to make a final decision on this car.

Thanks

 

Do a search and you will find loads of information on this site. There are a lot of folks who can offer advise and over the years the search will educate you.
PS You might want to fill in your profile.

 

Before my father and I ever buy a car we have John Terell with Independent Ferrari Service Inc inspect it. He's the best out there. He isnt cheap but WELL worth it

 

Don't forget Boston Sports Car!

 

I agree with that...I've worked with them on a few occasions..very knowledgeable and helpful.

 

Shane,
Welcome to Fcat. Nobody here in the NE section is going to flame you. We're nice dudes.

Getting a PPI is a very very good idea. A good deal on a Ferrari can turn into a very bad deal indeed if you get hosed. The 348 is a fine car and you will love it.

Birdman

 

John T @ IFS is definitely the man for a PPI. Welcome to Fchat!

 

Another greats service place is KTR Motorsports in Ayer, MA.

www.ktrmotorsports.com

They've been around for many years. Specialize in Vintage racing & restoration. They are super helpful. Andy, the service mgr even came to my house one Saturday to help diagnose a wierd problem on a 308 a friend & I were working on!

Their head tech is Jim Burns, extremely Ferrari knowledgable, very good with carb'd cars. Diagnosed Birdman's 308's carb problem that BSC couldn't fix by ear. During a dyno run, Jim tuned my mixture, again by ear, 3 little tweaks, each tweak added 3hp!

That's where I'd take my car for something I couldn't handle myself.

They're far enough out so that their realestate overhead is relatively low thus their labor price is very competetive, about the same as my local Chevy Dealer! Believe they're the closest quality service to Pelham,NH.

Service mgr. is Andrew Funk @ 978.772.7800. Tell him I recommended them to you.

Helpfully, Verell Boaen

 

Which 348 are you considering....someone here may know specific details....

 

Looking at a Black/Tan 348 GTS in Merrimack, NH at Classic Motorsports; it's listed on Autotrader.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=171507267&dealer_id=80501&car_year=1990&make=FER&distance=300&lang=&max_price=&model=&end_year=1996&min_price=&certified=&address=03076&search_type=used&advanced=&start_year=1981&isp=y&cardist=13#vdptop

 

I purchased my 328 from Boston Sports Car in 2003 .
They maintained it so I had all the service records ,
and the full history on the car.
Their workshop is meticulous, the staff is very courteous and professional, it was an excellent buying experience.
It is best to have the full history of any Ferrari prior to purchase.

http://www.bostonsportscar.com/

Also you should check out F-40 Motor Sports in Connecticut .

http://www.f40.com/

Ask for Pete Lombardo

 

I had a horrible experience with John Tirrell two years ago with my PPI on a 1990 Testarossa that I purchased. He charged me $500 to do a PPI that took just over an hour to do, no leakdown tests and he said the car was "excellent". It consisted of putting it on a lift and a road test. The major was quoted to me as around $5,000 to do because it had not been done. I brought it back 200 miles later for him to do the 30K major and it took him 7 weeks, he quoted 2 weeks and handed me a bill for $11,700.00 because of all the "things" he found wrong with it. Two weeks later I had to bring it in to a bosch facility because the idle was all screwed up. I can rant and rave, but call Boston Sportscar, they are great.

 

I looked at the car in NH in early spring & it's been on EBay about 3 times with max bids raning from $46 - $50K but never hit the but it now of $53.5K. I was told the 30K was done in Manchester I think & that the rear fender or door was repainted due to scratches. It looked like a 10K mile car to me.

I know one member here has his 90 black 348 serviced at Boston Sportscar so they would be good. Based on my minor mechanical issues on my 328 (all fixed by me for small $$) just since you have a PPI done does not mean something (alternator etc.) is not going to crap out the 1st week you've got the car. Just make sure you're prepared & learn how to work on your own car at least fomr minor items if you can.

Brad

 

I purchased a 94 348 spider last year in FL - 50K+ miles, no records, F of S. FL did PPI... wouldn't trust them with my chevy - terrible, talked to Mark Mina at Ferrari of NE - AWESOME - gave me great advise, had major service done at BSC - Excellent! (FofNE was booked out 2+ months at the time) I would feel confident with either of the two doing a PPI - well worth the $$$ - my 348 has no issues, got a great car, love it - sold a 930 turbo to get it... miss some of the horsepower but wouldn't go back...

 

It's a small point, but the ad lists power steering as one of the options. 348's are manual.

 

When I bought my 308 years ago, I found a mechanic (in SoCal where I was at the time), who did a thorough review before I bought it and didn't charge me a dime...it was his way of getting himself good with me so I'd bring it in for the inevitable things that need to be done on a use F-car that someone's selling. I'd approached him before I had found the car and formed a relationship with him, asked about what to look for when buying, what kinds of things he checked for, etc since I was new to Ferrari cars. Needless to say, he got all my business while I was there (and some of my refurbishment work afterwards). Just something to consider.

 

Ferrari of New England

www.FerrariNE.com

They did the PPI on my TR, and have done all of the work to the car since purchase. The service manager, Steve, is a great guy. His crew does a perfect job for me every time.

Alex

 

Hi Shane,

I highly recommend John Tirrell at IFS in South Easton, MA. 508-238-4224. He services both my 308QV and my 355 Challenge Car. He'll tell it to you straight, is personable and easy to deal with, and is a top shelf expert mechanic. Having John do a PPI before buying the Challenge Car was a great investment and enabled me to buy the car with extreme confidence.

Best of luck in your purchase! FYI -- I'm also the membership chairman for the Ferrari Club of America New England Region and would like to invite you to join the FCA. Our region is one of the most active in the country and the club has added a tremendous amount to my Ferrari experience, from track events to social events and drives... and I've made many lifelong friendships along the way.

Best Regards,
Charlie Vest
Glastonbury, CT
eMail: [email protected]

 

Thanks for all the advice...I'm still looking at the car; hope to make the deal soon.

Shane

 

How's the car deal going?

 

Shane,

Did you buy the car??
I PM'ed you