Hi I have found a very interesting and good priced 308 QV GTS with 80.000km's for sale. Looks very very good but i have to check in reality of course. Only problem is the history. Only 2 service note's from 2013 and 2016 (with belt change) from official Ferrari dealer. I heard from some one the person who ownes the car (private) is a real Ferrari enthousiat so i think he has done most maintenance himself. On the pictures is can see he is a real purist. His garage is as clean as an operating room ! Is this a big "no go" or maybe still interesting depending on the price ? Thx for any advice.
The missing older history is arguably less relevant than the newest Did the current owner do at least one oil change between 2013 & 2016 - if not how many km between ? Was 2013 also a belt service ?
Missing Service History is no problem at all. inspect the car together with a real professional mechanic. Trust your "stomach-feeling" , if you're falling in love IMMEDIATELY , you have to buy - if not, leave that car.
+1 get a thorough pre-purchase inspection by someone knowledgeable and impartial. This will truly uncover what you're dealing with and what it may need. Only in this light can you assess if this is truly a good buy or not. Keep us posted and good luck! Ruben
Pass history papers are just a reference. Current condition is the most relevant. But I'm in the opinion that the car shall be devalued if without the warranty booklet.
I will check the waranty booklet. But as already stated on the pictures the car lookes really really great. I have some experience in oldtimers and i can see on the background of the foto's ( which can say much about the owner and his car ! ) you can eat from the floor in his garage. The interior of the car also lookes incredible spotless. So i assume he is a purist and did some maintenance himself. A bit like myself Priced at 55 keuro.
That's really low asking! I posted last week in another thread a GTBi 2V from also Belgium asking almost double that. Inspect and test drive the car with someone who knows these cars. Hidden issues won't show up in photos.
I would check the belt service records, and see if they also changed, or greased the idlers. That's important. And take the car for a long test drive. Bring it up to temperature. See if the cooling fans come on. See if the car has good power. Can't have good power if there is something wrong with the motor. Check for a smooth idle. Check the handling. You can feel if the car is loose, it probably needs new wheel bearings. Check the gearshift operation. Check the brakes. Drive the car hard if they let you. Look underneath, and see if anything is leaking after you drive it. Look at how clean the oil is. Check the operation of all the switches, lights, blinkers, windows, horn, wipers, washer bottle. Look inside the coolant expansion tank with a flashlight. Make sure it's half full of coolant. See if it's rusted out, or leaking. Check the hoses to see if they are bulging, or old and hard. Look at the motor for oil leaks between the major parts - valve cover, heads etc. See if oil is accumulating on the bottom of the engine. Smell for leaking gasoline. Look underneath the car for rust. Check if the hood lifts are weak.
Very few older cars still have this - unless its a concours car I would not be too worried if its missing
I'd say that buyers for a good driving-condition car would que up for 55 K.. Maybe that's the strategy of the seller: starting a bidding-war in front of the car..
A 308 with full service history is nice of course, because that is the only way to make sure that the mileage is (probably) correct. But if it is missing, it is not a big disaster, most cars have big gaps in their history. If there is no complete history, you just do not know how many km's such a car has done. It can be 80, 120, 180 or even 280K etc. Let the condition speak for the car. Most things you can see yourself, you do not need an expert for a first inspection. Most cars are not as pretty as they look like in the advert pictures. Check for rust and check the basic things, like the seams between rear wing and B-pillar. It should have a thin black seam. 55K is cheap in todays market. Average prices in Europe are 70-80K. Lowest prices are 50-55 for cars with work and usually GTSi 2V's. And check the buying guides on Ferrarichat.
Buy a corvette or something else ..... Everything is built better ,and less expensive for the same money and you won't have to put up with the nonesense. Knowing what I know now, i would never buy any Ferrari.
Geez Rick, you're really pissed off by the Ferrari world I thought your trip to Montreal in the TR would have revive your love. Maybe not enough espresso But as a new owner of a C6 vette I kind of agree with you. Went to the dealer yesterday for a TPMS in rear right wheel. Around $50 for a new part, wow that is cheap. This car is best bang for the buck. But I still love my old 308GTB.
Hey, Ferrari isn't a value brand. The Corvette is a great car but it isn't special. You're surprised that super models are more touble than the cute girl next door?
I like this answer! It's really what it is. Education. But I do not regret my Ferraris. I learned what this world is and I think it's not for everyone. Higher end cars attract higher end people and special cars = special owners. Owning a Ferrari is an experience in itself and it could be good or bad. If the OP is new to Ferrari he has a lot to learn or be educated. Owning a Ferrari can be very rewarding or very frustrating depending who you deal with as friends, mechanic, parts guy etc, who you are and how much money you have. One of the BIG factor in my own experience is how can you rely on yourself to repair or maintain the car. There is no firm answer to the question because there is too many variants about the buyer and the car itself and all our different experiences. Go with your feeling and GOOD LUCK !
Did you ever owned a Corvette? I'm at my 3rd and believe me a Corvette IS a special car especially the more recent ones. Lots of reaction and good comments!
We've had a couple dozen. From 1965 coupes and 427 L89 big blocks to most recently a 2016 that we bought in New Hampshire a drove to our Las Vegas home. Wonderful car and more comfortable than the Airbus I flew back on. All that being said they don't feel special to me, just great cars that were made in the millions.
Corvette is by far the best bang for the buck and performance levels surpassing the best of them but The car has no "sense of occasion" like you experience with Ferrari Ownership, not even close. To even spot a Ferrari heightens the senses and brings a smile to one's face. For me, seeing a Corvette on the street is as mundane as seeing every SUV you come across in a parking lot. ( no offense meant ) inless were talking the early, early Corvettes
Pretty funny discussion about people saying the car is special , and being a "value brand" with a different experience and better experince over other cars. The reality is - when you buy one, everyone downgrades and slams these cars as being overpriced, not properly serviced by previous owners etc .... or requiring service constantly like belts...etc....When someone decides to sell, the gangbang of over priced happens here as well.... And yet the oxymoron of comments of how special these cars are continues. Not sure if many of you read your own posts over the years, but the reality is you can't suck and blow at the same time. Many on here do that, without knowing ( maybe ). And this is not exclusive to the 308 section. I wIll not recommend these cars to anyone, somethings are left to being a dream for a reason. These cars are just that ... Dreams. To the original poster .... RUN from these cars, go get yourself some thing faster, better, newer and you will have more fun in the sports car ownership. As a 17 yr Ferrari owner, I speak from experience - purchase something else !
Granted, it's hard to beat a Briggs Flattie, but what exactly is it about Ferrari's that you "know", and makes them so horrible ? Please be specific.
