Hi everybody, I have posted a few times this week, because i have sold my 348 and am hunting for a 360, whilst i am 'schlepping' up and down the country, a thought has occured to me. 'are we all a bit obsessed with the number of owners an F car has had, and its mileage' ? I ask this question because i am looking at a couple of 2000 year cars at the moment, one has had 7 previous owners (24,000 miles full main dealer history etc.) , and another has done 37,000 miles (full dealer history etc). If i was buying an everyday car, 6 years old 37,000 miles would seem pretty low right? 6,000 per annum. And who gives a hoot how many owners it has had if the servicing has been done. But with a ferrari over 25,000 miles and it starts to look a bit heavy, but surely these cars are built to withstand more than 3000 miles a year? When i sold my 348 GTC which was 12 years old, i wondered whether the fact that it had 3 previous owners and had 35K on the clock put some people off! So i suppose what i am asking here is, in another couple of years when i have got a 360 for sale with either 8 previous owners or with over 45,000 miles on the clock, would anybody be interested in it, or would it be considered a car that has been 'thrashed', simply because it has been used more instead of sitting in my garage? My last Ferrari covered just 5,000 miles in the 3 years i owned it, and all my pals said you don't use it enough, all that money sat in the garage. Makes me wonder whether we (apologies for the generalisation here) don't use them much and try to keep the mileages down because we think we are going to blow too much money on depreciation? Your thoughts please !
Multiple owners is very common, if you trace the history and servicing of the car you'll no doubt find it's been owned by a number of business's and people all conected to each other, eg. car registered to the supplying dealer as a demo then on to the first owner who flips it 2 months later for a profit to owner 2 who registers it in his company name, then re-registers it into his wife's name followed by his own.....car now has 2 owners but lists as 5! As for mileage I'd be happier with a car which shows 6k a year useage and service to back it up than a sparcely maintained car with low mileage.....Ferraris are very very easy to clock! a good example being a 328 with the Reg F328 ***(can't remember the final 3 letters but it was buggered around to look like maranello) this car was with a well known crook and his brother with 80-90k miles on the clock......it vanished over the winter into a barn somewhere and emerged in the spring with a reconolised interior 30k less and a few pages of history missing! And before some smart arse pops up, no we do not do that, but a quick glance in the autotrader will show numerous people who "re-calibrate" the odometers!
6 owners do seem a lot for a 6 year old car, personally it would put me off with that newer car, quite often its because people don't realise the servicing costs and then sell them, I thought my 83 qv was bad with 7 previous owners, mind you not a patch on a 75 Lotus I had with 18 previous owners
I agree with Andrew, the number of owners listed is not so important IMO. These cars are often bought as toys and are moved on after a year (or less) when the 'must have a Ferrari' itch has been scratched. We all know the cars are perfectly capable of doing decent mileages if serviced regularly but the market seems to think otherwise - which obviously encourages odometer disconnecting or tampering.
My car has 6 ownwers (86 328) it had 43K on the clock, good history in terms of stamps and in addition reciepts going back to 97. Also every MOT (for milage verification). I'm not concerned about the owners - but I was at first. Took a while to come to terms with the ownership cycle of F cars, most of the owners were in the first 5 years, then one bloke who only had it two years (and did "nearly" 300 miles). So, I wouldnt be concerned about milage or owners - but would be concerned with believable history.... BUT I'm not well read on milage related froblems with the 360 (I read that 355 valves have issues over 40K miles - Classic and Sports car)
My 328 shows me as the 10th owner but previous records show that it went around 3 members of the same family and the same with a garage owner and his 2 sons. Didn't bother me as long as it was cared for and serviced regularly.
I apologise for the inevitable generalisations but... My only concern with a large number of owners is that someone who keeps a car for a few years or more may care for the car better than someone who has it for just 6 months. I've had my car for 8 years and I don't intend selling it - so I know damn well that any carelessness on my part will come back and dent my Bank balance. If you only have the car for 6 months you may be more willing to ignore some maintenance/repair items or be more prepared to dump the clutch than a longer term owner. As for mileage - yes we are way too sensitive on this subject. I think it is part of the Ferrari culture that we try to keep mileage low - in the mistaken belief that is a reflection of the vehicles condition/worth. However, it is still very much a factor when cars are priced, rightly or wrongly. I don't do high mileage in my car but only because I try and make it a bit of an occassion when I do drive it (like getting it out of storage in the next few days after 5 months of incarceration...)
most new owners who buy a car have it serviced or some work done on it so the more owners the more maintainance its had
I agree just got a 360 myself and sent if for a full cambelt service just to make sure everything is ok.
"I agree just got a 360 myself and sent if for a full cambelt service just to make sure everything is ok." Hi chaps! Thanks for all the remarks, i must admit number of owners is tending me away from the lower mileage car, but equally i must admit that when ever i buy a car i have the work done that is required there and then instead of leaving it. So i will have the car Pre Purchase Inspected and take it from there, at least i have seen the service history and it is all genuine main dealer. 'blueunplugged' what do you think of the 360 ? I am going for a manual as opposed to an F1. How does it compare to what you have had before? Cheers Anto
Anthony, comparing a 348 to a 360 is really simple, whilst the 348 is a great car it's technology was pretty old and user unfriendly day to day (no power steering, italian heating, ventilation & electrics etc) the 360 as a day to day car is like a grown up MR2.....ie it can be used day in day out with no problems, it's comfortable, reliable, pretty modern inside and to use, and to top it all they make all the right noises and go like the clappers!
had the 550 before and if i am honest the 550 felt a much better quality car but you can expect that with the price difference when new. The 360 experience so far has been amazing and i only drive manual cars (Can't get used to not having clutch control on the auto cars). I have done about 500 miles and can't get enough of the whole experience, for some reason it just feels so "ferrari" having the 360 if you know what i mean. The 360 gives you a lot of information back when driving and both the steering and other controls are very sensitive and precise. Ground clearance is better than the 550 and i find it easier to park etc. The 360 IMO the best looking modern Ferrari and i still prefer it to the new F430, can't see why Ferrari have changed the rear panel so the potential for a challenge grill is lost.
Glad you like your 360, i have been tempted by 550, but can't get away from the fact that the 360 is a looker!, notice you are northwest, I live just outside manchester maybe we can have a get together ? Noticed your other question about having key refurbed, don't know where you get your cars serviced etc. but i have always used R & D motorsport in Eccles, they might have some clues, if you have not used them before number is 0161 789 3555. They will be doing a pre purchase inspection and any work my 360 needs (when i get one !) cheers for now
Car was at R & D last week having had the full cambet service. The best service i have had from any garage! very genuine set of guys and will always use them.
IMO number of owners dosn't matter its the car that counts, look at the age and mileage then check the car over and you can easily see if the mileage is believable. Not just the interior but general mechanical state. My car has a service history hole of about 4 years (although I have all the MOT's and tax discs) but as 90% of it looks brand new I would say the 20,000m in 8 years is not far off (unless it was written off at 100,000m and all bits replaced with new of course ).
No matter what anyone says, a low milage car, owned by few will nearly ALWAYS be better looked after than something sold off after a year by a rich playboy more interested in image than actual enthusiasm for the marque.
Lots of Owners + NO bills in the history file = RUN AWAY AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. Lots of Owners + tons of history and bills = No problems (IMO). Basically steer clear of the cars that people buy and only keep for 6-12 months and quickly flip on trying to avoid a service/bill. Sooner or later someone is going to be burdened with getting the car back up to scratch. Dont let it be you. Personally I look for a car that has been owned by the last owner for a least 2 year, and they have put it through a 'major' and can prove it. Otherwise it is possible for a short term owner to put through a service on-the-cheap just for the stamp.
