Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, I think I understand you?!?! ...German Government....close to my heart HEIDELBERG !!!!!! Do you know the song. "Ich hab mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren" "I have lost my heart in Heidelberg" Markremovingman, you are so welcome Wolfarossa FORZA FERRARI
He-he!! No.....my correspondence with the German Government has to do with the restoration of some historic graves in Africa! It's a long story, but in 2007 it will be the 150th anniversary of the German settlers arriving in British Kaffraria and I want German Government support to restore an old cemetary from that era (that happens to contain the remains of members of my family). At some stage I will post some pictures of the overgrown graves in the jungle. I really felt like Indiana Jones when I found them a few years ago Cheers, MARK
Mark, a.k.a. Indian Jones, man, this sounds very interesting!!!! Wow, keep me updated on this and yes I would like to see some pics. Hopefully the German Gover. will answer you......very, very slow here in Germany. Too many people, no decissions, nobody feels responsible....you know the damn bureaucrazy? Wolfarossa FORZA FERRARI
Yes - I realise that, so I am probably going to copy the letter to the German Ambassador in South Africa and to the COmmonwealth War Graves Commission in both the UK and SA (as there is a historic link there too!). I have 2 years to get a response! Cheers, MARK
Hmmmm!!! Still waiting for a response from Polo too!!! They STILL have not sent the light that I need in order for my motorcycle to get technical "Type Approval" I will write to them today. Cheers, MARK
Mark, i think its still in "back order"?! Do you want me to call them again on Monday morning? Just advice me and its a pleasure for me to them for you. Wolfarossa FORZA FERRARI
Thanks Wolfgang - I will let you know if I need some help! Without the light I cannot legally ride my bike in the UK. The issue is that my insurance will run out in a month unless I get Type Approval and a local license plate. I don't want to go through all that cr*p again! Cheers, MARK
I know a place where you can ride/drive your motorcycle with ANY light: EGYPT!!!!!!! You know we have just been there.... They NEVER drive with light during the whole night!!!!!! Amazing, we can`t see anything but they told us: "we have good eyes, so we don`t need light, it hurts our eyes!" Thats damn true, we saw it! I know you have also been there and might remember this....crazy camel drivers Wolfarossa FORZA FERRARI
Oh yes!! It's really "fun" on the roads in Egypt!! However, I did not find it as bad as driving in Kathmandu in Nepal, Delhi in India or Iquitos in Peru or Lagos in Nigeria! SCARY!!! Cheers, MARK
Wow, I have never been there and no clue about the driving rules there but I think you must drive & act like the "treminator" to survive Wolfarossa FORZA FERRARI
This *#^@(*#&%@(%@^&$%^!$@ system just lost a LONG reply that I am NOT going to retype!! Cheers, MARK
....but its still understandable.....yes, I can follow you And this will be another great story to tell and talk about on our next meeting killing all those red-wine bottles Wolfarossa FORZA FERRARI
Quote: Originally Posted by Ton Visser Alex, My car goes indeed for its service to a small Ferrari specialist in Maastricht. I think that they perform the service better than Ferrari itself. Ton Quote: Originally Posted by MARC Alex, I know that Wolfgang and I would agree with this. One needs to find a small, local Ferrari specialist who is "in it for the love" to give one's car the treatment it really deserves. Our experiences with "official" Ferrari service centres have been expensive and less than pleasurable. Cheers, MARK That's just what I thought. Are the official dealers to focused on the owners who buy a brand new Ferrari every year and customers who have multiple Ferrari's or so??? Luckily there is a small Ferrari/Maserati/Lamborghini garage in the neighbourhood of Sint-Niklaas. Then again; when you buy a second hand Ferrari from a official dealer, it is probably a good car that's taken care of (but maybe you pay more for it also?, the official Belgium dealers don't list prices on their websites, only "on request"). Have you bought your cars new or did you have to search a long time to find a good maintaned second hand one? I just 'ld like to know if it's really so difficult to find a good car?
Hi alx355gt, like I have mentioned just a few posts B4: "Its easy to buy a Ferrari, but its hard to find somebody who CAN fix the car right and you can TRUST in!" Most Ferraris are CONSIGMENT sales at the DEALERS!!!! I bought my first Ferrari (used 308 GTSi QV 1985) after searching over 1 year for the RIGHT one from a private person! The second one ( used Testarossa 1991) I have searched here with my friends from Fchat.com over 6 months to find the right one....also from a private person! Both gents (I bought my 2 F`s) are since this time dear friends of mine and we have done so many drive-outs and holidays together...just amazing and impossible with a dealer. If you want to know more about the car & THE PERSON who has driven it before you - a dealer can`t help you. its always good to have a impression of the person who drove the car before! Wolfarossa FORZA FERRARI
Hi Wolfgang, So trust really is the key. My problem is, I don't trust a lot of people, especially not when buying a car from them. I gotta work on that How do you know you can trust someone in a caradvert? So it's important to find a seller who has the passion for Ferrari and treatened the car like it should. Sounds logical. Ok, so I guess meeting someone who sells his F-car in the paddock of Ferrari-trackdays can be a good start to find a perfect car? There were a lot of beauties for sale on MS-fantag last year. And asking around on this site can also be a good idea? Then the search for a good sportscarspecialist garage, I know about 5 of them within 80km (2smaller and 3 Fer-officials), must have been at least one that does the job right? Thanks for the info, I'll certainly remember that if I begin my search. Greets, Alex.
Alex, I do think that the Ferrari's that are for sale at the Ferrari dealers are of a better quality than the Ferrari's at small local autoshops. The Ferrari dealer knows how important it is to know the full history of a car. Most of the time they know the seller well. They also have a very fragile name to keep up. But you also pay a price for this. Ton
Alex, I also think that you have the best chance of finding a good ferrari at an official dealership! First and not in the least: you get a warranty!!!!! mostly a full year ferrari power warranty on the younger models! This means automatically that the cars WILL certainly be in a perfect shape, the dealer do has to keep his good name like Ton says! And secondly, the prices are not that much higher at the dealer than if you would buy from a private buyer i guess! ( i'm following and comparing the prices for a bit, but off course i don't know the real prices for what the cars actually go!) This off course doesn't mean you can't find a good car from a private person, if you get a full service history and you really think you can trust the person! But anyway, you always have to be lucky! Even if you buy a brand new car, things can turn out to become a nightmare! This is one off the reasons why i keep away from f-cars (or italian cars in general!) for a while! My former car, a Coupé Fiat Turbo was such a nightmare! Bought it from a dealer but ones the warranty was over, the trouble began! Nevertheless, i wish you all the best in your search for your perfect Ferrari! Keep us informed when you get there! CIAO... Guy
Guy, Ton, Thanks for your opinions. I believe you always have to be a bit lucky if you buy any car (new or used, good or bad constructor reputation). Recently, see a lot of new Mercedes owners, a lot of their cars are acting very strange! On the other hand, Guy, your Coupé (goodlooking car BTW!) may have been a nightmare, I've never had any problem with my Fiat, and it has already 280.000km. Ok, it's not that sporty , but (you might find it strange?) I do like my Bravo . Looking at the km I would do, I needed a economy, hatchback Italian when I bought it to ensure my future plans. Like I posted before, my next daily driver will be a Alfa Romeo, when I have that one the Ferrari will join as soon it's possible. I certainly will ask more questions when I get there, but that won't be for tomorow. I've STILL got time and patience BUT don't worry; I WILL have one . Greets, Alex.
Haha, some other guys from Belgium here I see!!! Once you have the Ferrari fever you may have a problem....because you're in love....and when you're in love it costs money, yes lot's of money. It's easy as that. Some time ago I made the decision I gonna look out for my first one. I am 26 now and I'm seriously trying to find the right 308. I discovered a very good one here in Brussels last week. Yesterday went looking at it again and next week on monday I gonna make a serious testdrive. Jeez, have to go now, we have to take a drink together some day guys!! Salutazione, Joren REMANS
Hi Joren, Good luck with the 308 testdrive! Hopefully it's a good car. If it isn't, have you already seen the two 308 GTS's that the Engine Room (in Antwerp) has? (www.engineroom.be). Do you prefer a GTB or GTS or doesn't it really matter? Don't forget to post some pictures and first day experiences when you have it! Sometimes I consider buying a 308 or Mondial already too, but then again, I'm a bit affraid of the age and reliability of those cars. So I'm waiting a bit longer to obtain myself a younger model. It isn't always easy for me NOT to buy those nice 308's and Mondials I've already seen, but in the end I'll be happy I've waited for a 328, 348 or my ultimate goal, a F355. Greets, Alex.
