multiple owner 355 compared to single owner car? | FerrariChat
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multiple owner 355 compared to single owner car?

Discussion in '348/355' started by edmo7, Sep 4, 2004.

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  1. edmo7

    edmo7 Formula Junior

    Jul 8, 2004
    280
    Irvine, CA
    Full Name:
    Ed
    #1 edmo7, Sep 4, 2004
    was wondering what you guys think about multiple owner 355s as opposed to single or 2 owner cars. Does this usually affect a buying decision? Been looking at a 355 recently, but it has had 4 owners, and i'd be the 5th. What do you guys think?
     
  2. LetsJet

    LetsJet F1 Veteran
    Owner

    May 24, 2004
    9,334
    DC/LA/Paris/Haleiwa
    Full Name:
    Mr.
    #2 LetsJet, Sep 4, 2004
    Have the car checked at a dealer and check the records. Sounds like a fair amount of owners but it still could be a good deal. Why don't you post the info, someone here might know it. Also, fill out your profile.............
     
  3. 911Fan

    911Fan Formula 3

    Apr 15, 2004
    1,294
    Southern California
    #3 911Fan, Sep 4, 2004
    I would prefer buying a used car, especially a sports car, directly from the original owner. You can ask the owner about the car's entire history, going over each and every service receipt, and get some feel for how often he drove the car and how well he took care of the car. You can even ask him to take you for a ride in the car so you can see how he drives! You should still get a PPI -- trust but verify and all that...

    Unfortunately, It's hard to find older one-owner Ferraris. Ferraris tend to change hands at ridiculously low miles so you can end up with a 2000 mile car which has had 3 owners. Who's to say if all of those owners were honest garage queeners or if some of them were dishonest enthusiasts!
     
  4. lung7707

    lung7707 F1 World Champ

    Jan 13, 2002
    15,967
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    Full Name:
    Rupert 9.0
    #4 lung7707, Sep 4, 2004
    As much as I would like to say single owner is best... it really depends on the owner.
    I'd rather buy a car that has gone thru 4 careful and responsible hands than buying from a single owner who never looked after the car.
     
  5. edmo7

    edmo7 Formula Junior

    Jul 8, 2004
    280
    Irvine, CA
    Full Name:
    Ed
    #5 edmo7, Sep 4, 2004
    Here's the car I was looking at...

    http://www.ferrariads.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=1733&query=retrieval

    the Carfax says:

    MILEAGE CONSISTENCY CHECK:
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    * RESULT: GOOD NEWS!
    CARFAX found no inconsistent odometer readings in the mileage history
    of this 1997 FERRARI F355 GTS (ZFFXR42A3V0107411).

    Date: Mileage:
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    06/24/1997 131
    ----------------------------------------
    12/30/1998 3,758
    ----------------------------------------
    01/15/2000 5,758
    ----------------------------------------
    03/09/2000 6,383
    ----------------------------------------
    01/23/2001 9,051
    ----------------------------------------
    07/20/2001 9,765
    ----------------------------------------
    11/19/2001 9,920
    ----------------------------------------
    08/14/2002 10,349
    ----------------------------------------
    07/14/2003 11,293
    ----------------------------------------
    09/03/2003 11,905
    ----------------------------------------

    ----------------------------------------
    Avg. miles driven per year 1,931

    Ownership History:
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    CARFAX estimates that this 1997 FERRARI F355 GTS (ZFFXR42A3V0107411)
    had 3 owner(s). CARFAX analyzed this vehicle's title history and other
    supporting events to identify potential ownership transfers. In compliance
    with the U.S. privacy laws, CARFAX does not collect or report owner names
    or addresses.

    Estimated Owners: Date: Location:
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~
    1st owner 07/08/1997 California
    2nd owner 03/30/2000 California
    3rd owner Not Reported

    DETAILED VEHICLE HISTORY
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CARFAX searched more than 3 billion records from over 5,300 sources
    and found 16 record(s) for this 1997 FERRARI F355 GTS (ZFFXR42A3V0107411).
    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 06/24/1997
    Odometer Reading: 131
    Information Source:
    California
    Motor Vehicle Dept.

    General Comments:
    Odometer reading reported for title

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 07/08/1997
    Information Source:
    California
    Motor Vehicle Dept.

    General Comments:
    Title issued
    First owner reported
    Loan or lien reported

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 07/15/1997
    Information Source:
    California
    Motor Vehicle Dept.

    General Comments:
    Registered as
    personal vehicle

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 12/30/1998
    Odometer Reading: 3,758
    Information Source:
    Service Facility

    General Comments:
    Vehicle serviced

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 12/01/1999
    Information Source:
    Service Facility

    General Comments:
    Vehicle serviced
    Electrical system serviced
    Lubed oil and filter changed

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 01/15/2000
    Odometer Reading: 5,758
    Information Source:
    California
    Motor Vehicle Dept.
    Calabasas, CA

    General Comments:
    Odometer reading reported for title

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 03/09/2000
    Odometer Reading: 6,383
    Information Source:
    California
    Inspection Station
    Woodland Hills, CA

    General Comments:
    Passed emissions inspection

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 03/13/2000
    Information Source:
    Service Facility

    General Comments:
    Vehicle serviced
    Emissions system serviced

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 03/30/2000
    Information Source:
    California
    Motor Vehicle Dept.
    Calabasas, CA

    General Comments:
    Title issued
    New owner reported

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 04/09/2000
    Information Source:
    California
    Motor Vehicle Dept.
    Calabasas, CA

    General Comments:
    Title issued

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 01/23/2001
    Odometer Reading: 9,051
    Information Source:
    Service Facility

    General Comments:
    Vehicle serviced

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 07/20/2001
    Odometer Reading: 9,765
    Information Source:
    Service Facility

    General Comments:
    Vehicle serviced
    Lubed oil and filter changed

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 11/19/2001
    Odometer Reading: 9,920
    Information Source:
    California
    Motor Vehicle Dept.
    Manhattan Beach, CA

    General Comments:
    Title issued
    New owner reported

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 08/14/2002
    Odometer Reading: 10,349
    Information Source:
    California
    Inspection Station
    Manhattan Beach, CA

    General Comments:
    Passed emissions inspection

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 07/14/2003
    Odometer Reading: 11,293
    Information Source:
    Service Facility

    General Comments:
    Vehicle serviced

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Date: 09/03/2003
    Odometer Reading: 11,905
    Information Source:
    California
    Inspection Station
    Mill Valley, CA

    General Comments:
    Passed emissions inspection

    ------------------------------------------------------

    NOTE: You have significantly reduced your risk of purchasing a vehicle with
    a hidden problem. However, CARFAX has not inspected this vehicle. There
    could be other potential problems with this vehicle that have not been
    reported to CARFAX. CARFAX recommends a vehicle inspection by a
    professional mechanic.

    NOTE: Not all titles issued represent a change in vehicle ownership. For
    example, a title could be issued to reflect an address change or correction.

    Detailed Vehicle History Definitions:
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    First Owner - A state issues a title to provide a vehicle owner with proof of
    ownership. When a title is issued to the first owner of a new vehicle, CARFAX
    labels the title record with "First Owner".

    New Owner Reported - When a vehicle is sold to a new owner, the Title must be
    transferred to the new owner(s) at a Department of Motor Vehicles. CARFAX
    identifies this event and labels the title record as "New Owner Reported".

    Personal Use - Vehicle was registered by the owner for private or personal use.
     
  6. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 5, 2002
    25,860
    Portland, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Don
    #6 donv, Sep 5, 2004
    IMO, fewer owners is generally better, all other things being equal, but it's not a big factor. If you have a complete service history, that's more important to me.

    My 95 456 had 3 previous owners, but it has complete service records from delivery.
     
  7. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,816
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    #7 Rifledriver, Sep 5, 2004
    911Fan's comments are right on the money, however I would like to add a few things. In the Ferrari business a scenario we see quite a lot is poeple that buy a car and know they will not keep it long often drive it like they stole it and do little or no maintenence. It isn't always that way, but you should be aware of the possibilty. Also cars in general that trade hands often are sometimes problem cars that as each succesive owner finds problems that that may have existed all along and can't or won't cope with, just pass the car along. These are two reasons you should perform an examination of the service records prior to purchase and be very suspicious if good records are not available for your perusal.
     
  8. chaa

    chaa F1 Veteran

    Mar 21, 2003
    5,058
    #8 chaa, Sep 5, 2004
    This is a fact. this happens to some of my bosses wealthy frends. They buy exotics just for the summer here in the UK and sell them in the autumn. So owning them for only a few months. When i bought my 355 there was a guy who told me he was looking to buy it for the spring period only until his lambo came. So thats one way that ferraris can gather many owners, although the average ferrari enthusiats whould like to think there car has only one or two owners.
     
  9. drsrock

    drsrock Karting

    Nov 20, 2003
    238
    Colts Neck, NJ
    Full Name:
    Alex
    #9 drsrock, Sep 6, 2004
    I bought my car, a 99 355, as a 4th owner with 6300 mi. Auth. dealer did PPI and gave me the full report. The car only had oil changes, but since time was right I did major on it and the clutch, all the probs. were discovered by this inspection. The computer the dealer has also told me the exact # of mi. the car traveled in each gear so I new milage was accurate(there is virtually no way to hide fraud on an f1 car). The car is fine and you should not worry about the # of owners just the report from an authorized dealer.
     
  10. Robertb

    Robertb Formula 3

    Nov 19, 2003
    1,331
    South Oxfordshire, U
    Full Name:
    Robert
    #10 Robertb, Sep 7, 2004
    I am the 5th owner of my '99 GTS, 12500 miles. The first two owners were pro soccer players, the third owner was a long-standing Ferrari owner, and the 4th owner was again a great enthusiast, who I spoke to before I bought it.

    Works out at about 1 owner per year, which often happens with Ferraris as owners move on to the next latest toy. So long as the maintenance is done and the car is in good condition it does not bother me.

    Robert.
     

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