Purchase - no service history?

Some here would say that resale could be hampered b/c of lack of pedigree. But I have always thought that if YOU keep the car for some time and keep documentatin of YOUR service history this effect is reduced. Also, if the guy before you did not change fluids at proper intervals or waited too long to do the belt/major service you can imagine that small issues that a PPI would not necessarily pick up may arise down the road. With this kind of investment the more you know the better.

 

+10000000000

Just ask around!

 

Waiting to long for a belt service doesn't mean squat, unless they already scattered the motor. Fluids are more problematic because they change over time and can gum things up. Notice that time is more important than miles for this problem.

There could be other stuff lurking that can be detected but not from a typical PPI. Supose they had some water damage, PPI may not detect. or what if they rebult the motor. Again not detected unless the PPI is VERY good.

Ask around and you will find something.

Note - for the right deal I wouldn't ahve much problem. The seller should be able to tell you where it was serviced. Then make a call based on what was done.

 

I wouldnt buy a car with no history as you have no idea how it has been treated. I doubt I am aloe so it would be extremely difficult to sell. There are lots out there so why woul someone buy one with no history unless it was VERY cheap?

 

And there is very few with records, so what is guy to do?? I know!! I know!!!

 

Chris - What do you mean by "few with records"? Every one that I have purchased has had records all the way from day one.

 

Travis, unless you are getting a strong enough deal to cover both the downside that has been suggested earlier and the increased hassle you will find in selling such a car, I would look further.
If, however, you are going to keep the car for a long time and you can reestablish a new history with good records, then it might be fine.

 

Why would you even consider buying an F-Car then!? Buy it for you, not for the next owner! Dont get me wrong, I know exactly where you're coming from but with that kind of mentality, it will make it hard(er) for someone to actually consider and/or purchase an F-Car. If you can afford it, then get the service (completely) updated then worry about the resale IF you need to later on.

 

Overall, in today's market fewer cars are coming with records...

 

I didnt say "there are few with records". I said there are lots (with history) out there so why buy one with no history?

I do buy the car for me, but realistically I am going to sell it at some point (tend to only keep cars max of 2 yrs, often a lot less), so I want it to be reasonably easy to sell, hence I would want one with history. If I seem unusual then buy one and find out whether it is easy or not to sell it when the time comes!!!

 

I think Tim was referring to my comment I made about cars coming with records these days...

 

Like any choice we make regarding the cars we acquire and own, this is a very personal issue. If you don't care how the car was maintained by the previous owners, our views don't really matter. There are a surprising number of cars out there with no records, missing books, missing tools, auction orphans, etc. where the original owners (or those who leased) really didn't give a damn. I'd always prefer to acquire a vehicle from an enthusiast who took great care of the vehicle, even if it has been tracked or has high mileage.

 

I personally entered the Fcar world on a spur of the moment decision with no PPI and no records...on an '01 360 Spider F1 at the beginning of last year. At the time, I didn't yet know the importance most people in the Ferrari world place on a PPI. I suppose it was theoretically an ill-advised move but the car was equipped exactly how I wanted it, the $$ was fair, etc. It had 16k miles on it.

I guess I got lucky...I did end up spending around 5k a few months later for a 3/30k service and other odds and ends that needed attention. I asked the shop to be super thorough in going through the car...like giving me the extensive PPI I never had so that I would know exactly what sort of shape the car was in (since I didn't do that before buying it).

The car ended up needing some attention on a few little things, I fixed them, did any preventative maintenance recommended, and I've been happily enjoying the car ever since...15k miles and 14 months later. I've had 2 other 5k services since that time and the car has been been great.

Realizing that "provenance" is important in the Ferrari world even for high-production models like the 360 as well as to satisfy my own curiosity, I set about trying to research and establish the history of my car. I've got most of the history pretty well put together in a file I created. I have a good idea of the maintenance history of the car and I've dug up a few service records. I think this is good stuff to have but ultimately I think that knowing the current condition and maintenance situation of the car is most important.

In my case, I am really comfortable knowing the current condition of my car...and that has a lot more to do with my experience with it and my service history than it does with whatever happened in the first 5 years of its life. After all, I've put as many miles on it as all previous owners combined.

Anyway, I'd strongly recommend a very thorough PPI...may not catch everything but it'll give you an idea of what you're dealing with. Having the records is certainly nice but I wouldn't let that get in the way of getting a car you want if you can establish that its present condition is very sound. Either way, be prepared to spend some $$ on unexpected items that a PPI may miss and you shouldn't be disappointed.

Good luck.

 

Resaling an F-Car (assuming that you will/had serviced it regurlarly within the two years of ownership) will never be easy to begin with. Not a whole heck of a lot of "general public" will be in the market for a used ferrari. With the two years worth of "service history" plus your generated knowledge of that particular F-Car, it would (IMO) be sufficient enough to satisfy the next owner. Its always best to purchase a used F-Car with a documented service history, but if the deal was sweet enough and the mechanical aspects of the F-Car turns out to be good then I dont see why one would let the deal go. Just because the car lacks history doesn't mean that its automatically a lemon!

 

Clearly, the best situation is to find a car that has complete service records, but as mentioned previously that is not always possible. How concerned should a buyer be if the car has less than 2,000, 5,000 or 10,000 miles? If you assume that you're going to do belts, fluids, etc. after purchase then how much damage could have been done with so few miles? Seems to me that the need for records increases with miles on the car. When you think about it even the cars with great records may have been driven hard all the time. Which would be a more risky buy?

 

Good question, and the answer is even cars with low miles, but are 6-7 years old, and super low miles, like lets say 2,000 miles is more then likly going to have more issue then a car with 10,000 miles if the service has not been done and kept up...seals may have dired up and began to crack..or even more serious issues...It would make me wonder how the car was driven? Did the former owner allow for proper warm up times, and did they just go on short quick jolts when they drove the car and then put it away hot?...all kind of questions would arise for me...If you have low mile car and just sat for 6 years...with no serivce I would be nervous...More so then a non-serviced 10k mile car...

 

Its all hype! Just get it serviced thoroughly and get all the "nuisance" worked out. Dont SCARE yourself out of buying a Ferrari. Buy it, drive it and enjoy it. These cars were not built to be "Pu$$ies" or garage queens. They're race engineered sports cars that loves (and probably needs) to be driven hard. Unless you were purchasing a 250 Lusso or other "Classic" F-Cars, then thats the only time you should be concerned with the car's history!

 

+1 Very well said! A good car needs a good base, and that ware the pedigree comes in...

 

DON"T buy without the PPI...I had a car sent over to Penske Wynn Ferrari for a PPI and it came back with a $15-20K! repair bill. After that, I realized I rather pay a premium and get a correct car to start with. Pay a little more but getting the right Ferrari is very critical otherwise you will be wondering where the HELL this car has been (Not just service stamps & records) all the time when you start noticing the imperfections here and there.

 

That about what they would charge TravisJ for a PPI! J/K dude!

 

Thanks, do I get a commission if he buys from you!?