Need advice on this 550

This is the lowest priced 550 that I know. Yes, 35,000 mi. reflects in price. I am tempted, hoping it can go well with my 2000 456. I have no experience with 550. Can you guys please advise/help. Thanks so much.

http://dcmotorcars.com/details.html?VID=1-2l1193270433

 

Great price, if the services have been done. The belts should have been replaced 2 years ago. My guess is that they haven't so I'd budget about $6k for that. It would be at least worth a look and a PPI. Also make sure that it does not have a salvage title.

Dale

 

Hi Dale,

Forgive my ignorant question, but where can I find a PPI in Orange County? Thanks.

 

It's a plain-Jane Euro w/34000 miles and if it doesn't say "Recent major" in the ad it probably needs one. The airbag cover and the bolsters are worn and there's no picture of the dashboard up front. All that leather work could approach 3K or so (including dash do over). It probably runs well if it has been maintained, due to the miles on it. If it truly needs service, I'd start them in the high 60's and get a THOROUGH PPI including brake and oil lines.

 

Yes, you are correct. I just called, it is an Euro car. 30,000 miles service done a few months ago. Clean title. What do you think, especially as it is European car?

 

Write a check for 70K plus tax and tags, lay it in front of the guy and just stare at him! First one to speak loses!



Subject to PPI of course.....

 

In term of the price differences between US and Euro cars, would it be more complicated, e.g costlier for maintenance, repairs, etc..?

 

Same maint....figure ~15% deduction for Euro (Purchase price)

ALSO!!!! Make sure it's a 50 state DOT certified car. If not, you're looking at another 3K and a time consuming PITA to get the Cali cert.



edit** No license plate in the picture. Ask for the registration.

 

It will be quicker than a U.S. Spec.

Lighter and no pre-cat exhust restrictors.

Assuming it is straight and up to date.

 

Possibly; many Euro cars didn't have the OBD2 connector and software installed to automatically diagnose problems. You need to find out if this was done.

 

If you're in California, and looking for a nice five-figure 550, you might check with Jim Lyons at Sports Car Company.

He has this one in TDF blue: http://www.sportscarcompany.com/detail-1999-ferrari-550_maranello-2034792.html which you could certainly negotiate down on. 29K miles. I believe it's a U.S. car, so no smog issues.

 

30k service does not necessarily mean belts were changed. Totally different thing, so check that.

 

I met with Jim, a nice fellow, last June, looking at 456 with tubi. The car was not as nice, so I ended up with another 456 with about 9,000 mi consigned at a Ferrari dealer. Owned for 4 months so far, very pleased. Now looking for either 550 or 575. Had Testarosa before, but sold it six months later. Took 15K loss. Testarosa chose drivers, and I was not selected.

 

Youd better plan on keeping it a long time..It may be very hard to sell after your done.

 

I concur. Too many 10K-miles cars out there.

 

It's quite strange that I was in London last summer and realized that most Ferrari owners, not only in London but also in Europe, drive at least 10,000 mi per year, considered roads in America and Europe. Newer Ferraris with 50,000 km (35,000 mi) are normal. Seems that we in the US do not drive as much.

 

You got apparently a good buy, but I bought from Jim a 456 w/ tubi in Jan '07: very pleased. Pleasure to deal with and he [may] negotiate.

 

I called on that car; if the same one, Jim told me a Ferrari technician bought it. Jim was/is very nice and quite forthright about the condition of that car NOT being up to par. The silver/bordeaux and grigio car he said were quite nice though.

Euro cars give me a bit of a pause - - you'll ALWAYS have some 'splainin to do if you go to sell it.

 

PPI in Orange county California

Larry at Ferrari Tech in Orange.

He got the Miami Vice care OKed by EPA. He is good.

 

PPI anywhere in LA area - Call DAMIAN at Fusion Motorsports. The best. 818-773-9636.

 

on that silver car, look at the turn signal lenses on the fenders....they stick out like the old 308/328 cars...looks awful on a 550. that alone is enough to not buy the car. great price though. as someone said lay down a check for 70K and see what happens. when you want to sell later, you might lose 3-4K, but a 550 in the 60K's will sell fast, euro or not.

john

 

Go and see it in person, I have to love it, that no one or that matter what car it is, no one takes the time to show under the car or take off the rims to show the brake condition,

so start poking at every thing possible and if you feel its good take it to the nearest Ferrari dealer or tech to have the car checked out and that means

Fluids / water / oil / gear box / ps / a/c.

Start the car up let it idle.

Read over the service books on the car.

Check all and every thing you can think of on the car.

Make a check list.

Its a really exciting time when your ready to get your dream car and it can be so easy to over look the key factors.

*Question* to fellow owners and other Ferrari enthusiast about the PPI :

is a compression and leak down test performed in the PPI ? if not how much extra will that be in the cost of a PPI ?????.