Manufacture Year vs Mileage

You don't mention price, which is important in this comparison.

But assuming that they are equal in price and that there are no differences between the 456M from '99 and '00 that make the 2000 model better or more desirable, I would definitely go with the '99 and the lower mileage. People always want lower mileage on Ferraris, and the fewer you have on, the better for resale value. Let's say you sell the car with 60k on the clock in 3 years' time. That means in the '99 you will have done 32k, in the '00 you will have done 13k. The resale value for both will be nearly identical as both cars are more than 10 years old and the difference between the years won't matter much anymore. Consequently, you've had a lot more fun in your '99 than in your '00. Or let's say that you sell in 3 years but you drive either car 15,000 kms. Your '99 will still be below 45k and your '00 will be over 60k. I predict your '99 will be worth more than the '00 model.

Respraying always affects resale value, plus it also casts a bit of a bad light on your vehicle. People immediately associate it with accidents. If you plan to keep the car for a long time, I would say go for it, but if it's only a year or two I would not do it. Respraying is also very expensive if you want it done well. I had a quote for a 550 respray in the Netherlands for EUR15,000 ex VAT if they didn't take the windows out. For a good job the windows have to go as well and then it comes to EUR20,000 ex VAT!! I'm sure Hong Kong won't be this expensive but you have to make sure that you use a quality shop that you can rely on. There are a lot of bad paint jobs out there...


Onno

 

If you are getting the car sprayed you have to make sure it is an A1 job. Maybe take before, during, and after pics to show the car was not accident damaged in any way.

As for the cars, well on mileage i am not so sensitive as long as the history is there. The main thing is price. If you can get a good deal on a car because the miles a a little high, it may be a better deal.

Also look at the rest of the spec too. For example how will the interior suit the new colour, does it have Daytona seats, etc etc. Also mechanically which is better, had more money spent recently etc.

Personally I think on a car like the 456M there is little difference between a 1999 and 2000. 1999 to 2003 however is a big difference. Remember they only made 1354 M cars (auto and manual), so they are very rare to start with.

 

Looks like TdF to me, but there are several blue colours which are quite similar on photos sometimes. Very nice car! Congrats Modificata!

I still prefer my car's colour, though: it's a darker "nightblue". Ferrari should really put it in their programme (it's the original paint but was custom ordered by the first owner)!


Onno

 

Unfortnately not my car! It will still be a couple of months until I get one. This car is a 2001 Le Mans Blue.

Here is a few more pics:
http://www.the456.com/Pictures%20and%20Videos/Pictures/456M%20GT/2001%20Le%20Mans%20Blue%20GT/Pictures.html

 

Thanks but not mine! Le Mans Blue is a lovely shade, as is TDF Blue. Ideally I'll be looking for a Blue with Tan. There are a few around in the right spec now, but im about 6 weeks from being ready. Hopefully they will still be around then.

 

simple math:
age: car1(2000) : car2(1999) = 9:8 = 1.125
mileage: car2(47K) : car1(28K) = 1.67

so if MY2000 is the same as MY1999, the low mileage car is better deal.

 

It can look very close to black, particularly on overcast days. But if you put photos of a black one next to it, it is very evidently not black. Here are a couple of pics, with a black one for comparison.


Onno
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