New Guy - Moving to Italy - Want to Buy First Ferrari - Thoughts?

I'm a wee bit bigger than you, and fit comfortably in my 456GT.

It's a bit snug, but manageable.

That wasn't the case with a 308: way too tight.

 

I'm not sure you can find something for $30k

 

"...I'll probably end up with a beater of some sort to drive to work. Ferrari would just be a weekend car...."

What you don't want to hear: spend the FCar money on lots of European travel instead.
The car can certainly come later, experiences may not be available later?

Easy for me to say; I have my FCars; but wish I had traveled more extensively in Europe when I had the chance....

 

Scott, something you need to consider is maintenance. I know you said you are able to do a lot of work on a car, but parts can be very expensive. Also some work may require engine out and that may mean tools/equipment you don't have.

If you get close to settling on a model, I suggest you go to that forum and do some searches on maintenance issues. Just be sure you know what you are getting into.

And good luck!

 

hi scott.
first, arrive on station and check out your circumstances. you will be in naples, perhaps the least law abiding major city in europe and that has its consequences. will you have a garage?

secondly, with the guardia di finanza going nazi on everybody, exotic car prices have plummeted. so you are likely to find a car readily available in country - which is also a lot easier to deal with bureaucratically, and also cheaper.

third, you will not fit easily into a 308/328. you might manage a 348. the 456 will be fine.

 

You might want to check on the taxes and registration costs for the car. I think in Italy you pay yearly taxes based on vehicle specs (not sure if that's still the case).

 

you do and it is a formula based on the car's engine cap and hp.
but, scott may be exempt if he is running this on AF plates.

 

Ross,

Exotics prices may have plummeted, but this is certainly not true for "classics" anymore, their price has catched-up with the rest of Europe; ask Alberto, who lives in Modena, and is very active in the 308/328 section (and owns SIX 3x8s, all bought in the last few months, so he knows).

Nice 328s in Italy are "about 65/70 k EUROS" now (exceptional cars are 85/90).
Nice carbed 308s are 45/50 k EUROS
(Glass 308s are 100 k EUROS minimum)

3x8 are now entering a different world, these are certainly not "entry Ferraris" any more (a very good 328 costs now the same as a second-hand 430...)

Rgds

 

No its steel and you might be tight on fit - most models have threads discussing weight/size/fit

As others have noted you are right at the edge of non-affordability so be very careful - spend some time looking at old threads covering each model and their quirks too

Enjoy the posting and make sure you tour round as much as you can

 

nerofer, good point. so for scott's budget he can access a 456, which will fit his frame beter anyway, get him points with the wife for sensible and comfortable, and be able to accommodate his kids, so everybody wins !

 

Some large guys are able to fit in 3x8, this depending on how you sit, but my guess is that it would be way too tight for you.
I'm 6'1 (1,84m) and 160 lbs (= 73 kgs) and:
- I do fit rather easily in my 328 GTB, but my hair touches the roof liner; as I'm sitting rather more erect, I guess that 6'2 would barely fit, but 6'4: no way.
- I do not fit easily in my 328 GTS with the top on; the Saratoga top gives me about half an inch of additional clearance, which is helpful. But at 6'4 you will never fit with the top on, and with the top off you would be looking through the tinted band at the winshield top, which is not very good.
Remember also that the cockpit of these cars is small.

You would fit better into cars from the following generation: 348, 355, 456, etc...

Rgds

 

Or a 348, a car for which prices have yet to start catching up, but the corollary is that, due to the higher cost of the belt change and all maintenance compared to 328s, a lot of 348s have had "deferred maintenance" issues, and may still have issues, so you have to be very, very careful in choosing the right one, with a clear maintenance history. As we all know, a Ferrari with deferred maintenance issues might bite you quite hard...

Rgds

 

Whatever you decide to buy Scott, enjoy it, to be on the Amalfi coastline with a Ferrari is the stuff of most peoples dreams.

However, in Naples, be extremely careful, the 'mafia' spoken of there are Camorra clans, and they aren't as friendly and nice as the Sicilian mafia, who in turn, make the US branch look positively placid. A garage is essential, but while out driving you have a few risks over there as you drive through some of the darker and poorer areas on the way to the nicer parts of the city. take your 9mm everywhere with you just in case of emergency.