Hello - I've been a lurker for a few days and am now coming out to be a part of the community. I'm formally a Porsche guy who has now decided to step it up a notch (or two) and purchase a 550M. I have been doing extensive research and getting educated on the heritage, car, costs, availability, service, etc so I have a pretty decent sense of what I'm getting into at this point. My budget is not sky high - I'd say about $110K max. Any guidelines as to what I can expect? Obviously I'd like a 2000 or 2001 but also don't want to get one that has a ton of miles. Ideally, I'd like somewhere between 10K - 15K miles but I may be stretching for that at my price point. Of course, a well serviced '98 or '99 would also be great with miles on the low end. Interested in your thoughts! It won't be a daily driver (i have an '06 Range Rover for that) but plan on taking it out on the weekends for fun runs of the coast towards Malibu and in the hills. I'm in the Los Angeles (Santa Monica/Malibu) area so I also welcome any thoughts on local service centers (Auto Gallery, BH Ferrari or other independents). I am a fan of the Titanium and Grigio Alloy / Silver colors first and foremost but also would not turn down a clean TDF Blue. I'm not certain about Rosso, Black or Yellow for this car so those are not my first choices. I welcome any of your experiences, thoughts or advise as I begin my journey and look forward to sharing pics of my car once I make my purchase. Thanks! Rio
Similar to Riozilla...I have also been lurking, intend to step up a notch, also doing research, have about same budget, and looking for titanium / silver. However, I have a 8-series as a daily driver. Got rid of my 5-series and down to one car now. I intend to use this and my 8 as daily drivers. Since I depend on my car for daily use...I am looking for a back-up when one is in the shop for maintenance. I also love to work on the little stuff myself, but can't stand having a car down and not driveable. (Wife has a fit if I take her car) I am also very interested in experiences of others with regards to daily driving and the reactions of people, particularly clients/customers. VERY very curious about the attention it gets. Questions that are often asked, and how they are handled. Have a bit of this already with the 8, but the 550 easily steals my attention - so I imagine it will be quite a bit more than I am used to. I like some attention, but often prefer to not stand out. I have caught the bug for this car and it is a must have now. My reasoning for this car...if I spend anytime in a car at all, then I want to enjoy every second of it.
You'll love the car. I've had my share of regular cars and very nice cars but the 2000 550 I have has some magic I just cannot describe other than to say that my experience with two other F/cars provided similar results ...so it must be the Ferrari magic. I drive mine much of the time, weather permitting, and just love that V-12, the hoodline, not to mention the leather interior. Buy one and drive it! Hotrod
Probally not as much with the 550 as with a 360...but when is your car over the top vs. acceptable to clients/customers etc? Everyone you come in contact with wishes you success and wants to only work with success, but they don't want to feel as if they are being had. How do you intro the car when they see it for the first time? When spotted and they comment "wow, things must be going well"...common responses? People judge you if your car is a wreck and forget about preconcieved notions when you drive a Tahoe, but will judge again with this car. How do you folks handle those situations?
Curious .. came across this 98 550M at Bev Hills Ferrari and it looks like it belonged to Michael Bay, the director who made (among other things) Bad Boys II - and that the car was featured heavily in the film. Not sure this is a good thing, as far as the condition of the car.. One red flag could be the recent clutch replacement at 19K miles. Is this usual or un-usual? How long does a clutch typically last? Here is the car - seems a bit expensive ($120K) for a '98 with 19K miles..I do like the 575M wheels they put on it though. http://ferrariusa.com/detail?template=/ferrari_importer/hitlistdetail&vid=11917822&make=12&model=475&franchise=12&pn=11&lang=en&country2=US&curr=USD&odounit=miles&vids=11431995,11917822,11391625,11854224,11391626&vidindex=1&starthit=5
John, I had pulled your pic and posting on the 550 shortly after you posted it on roadfly. Showed my wife the "next" car after 5 months with the 8...expecting a roll of the eyes (again), but she saw your black beauty and said "ooooh - if that is instead of a motorcycle, then do it"
I would pass on the Bad Boys car. They filmed it across the street from my house and they treated that car lika a 10 year old Honda. People leaning on it, eating Micky d's , etc etc...plus, watch the movie!!
I posted a 2000 550 on 11/6 on Ferrari Chat. It's Rosso "Monza" certainly not your run of the mill. Great car, wouldn't be selling it except my 430's arriving in Dec.
Sorry Joe, can you post a link where your car is for sale? Did not see it on Ferrariads.com somehow ....
Rio, Ive had my 99 550 as my daily driver for almost 2 years now. I bought it with 25k miles on it for a great price (less then your max) and its been absolutely great! Dont be afraid of miles if theyre fully documented and maintained. These cars, at least mine, seem very solid. They dont fall apart after 20k miles. Another benefit of higher mileage cars: they have many more bugs worked out of them! I giggle a little at many people who buy very low mileage cars only to find out they have many niggling problems, and they wonder why. They somehow confuse how many years a car is in service versus how many miles are on the car. A 500 mile 1980 car is still new with respect to finding many of the initial manufacturers problems. Buy the 550, drive it, enjoy it!! Good luck, Tim
Thanks for the good advice Tim! I have to admit, I've been caught up in trying to find a 2000/2001 with low miles which has been extremely challenging in my price range. Combine this with the amount of information available on this forum, and I've been consumed with research and data - making me a more informed consumer - but also somewhat paralyzing my decision making ability. I've also been able to get a good sense of the market - what's available out there at different dealers and price points. I also now know exactly what I'm looking for in terms of color & options - which is helpful. I'll start to expand my search to include a well-sorted out & documented '98 or '99 550M (likely to be more in my price range) and will keep you posted. Regards - Rio
I just drive something else. I have a 07 yukon denali when I don't want to show one of my other cars.
Purchase Update: I put offers out today (subject to PPI) on these two cars so I'll keep you posted as to how it goes.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190048888894 http://continentalautosports.com/inventory/details.aspx?id=NLIL0007.5/8341
Will do - It's like a very light blue, with a tint of silver in it, right? My only potential concern is that it's a color that is too much like my Rover in Zambezzi Silver - pic below. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Don't think your getting the 550 from Continental, because I just bought it!!! (just arrived home from seeing the car 1/2 hour ago... flew for the OC to Chicago to check it out) Good luck on your search! Tom
The car is nice, got it at what I consider a fair price, but not a great deal... I've seen less expensive 550's than what I paid for it, but the car was clean, had a good service history with records, which was important to me. Good luck on your search... it took me nearly a year of research and searching, but I'm sure it will be worth it. It was quite fun, but not as fun as the next year's gonna be!
Good to hear. Don't want to ask what you paid unless you are comfortable stating. I am always curious how much below asking dealers are willing to go. Let me know who you end up using for shipment as well - in case I have to buy remotely .. have not done research on who to use yet. Did you end up looking at any of Jim Lyon's cars (Sports Car Company) in La Jolla? http://sportscarcompany.com/ Where in OC are you? I'll be in Newport next week on my way to San Diego for Thanksgiving to visit my mother. I'm up in Santa Monica/Malibu area.
I expect to see you all at Concorso this summer!! If I can come from Fla, you can drive up the street!
