UPDATE: Need advice on 99 Spider I saw (see previous thread)

Are you planning to keep this car for a while? Or just a play-thing for 2-3 years?

It's a beautiful car and color.....however, it's not a strong resale Ferrari color and especially for a car with a "story".

If you going to keep the car for a long time....then I'd go ahead and dive in.

If thinking of selling it after you get bored...then maybe think again.

PS. I like the black intrument pod better than covered in interior color leather.

 

I would hammer them on the price! All of the afore-mentioned changes affect re-sale. If they will come down to where you are comfortable, buy it. If not, wait for something else. (They should have replaced the whole upper dash in black and the steering wheel, then no-one would know the difference!) Good luck bargaining sir, Scott

 

I'm not keen on the black instrument nacelle, but they did it because you can't match tan leather perfectly after 8 years and it was more expedient to do it a contrasting color.

The small dents will bother you. Are they removing those and then respraying?

The water pump and tensioner (?) (you need to know!) bearings weren't done because they looked good. Unfortunately, if they go bad before your next major in 3 years you will again need to pull the engine and put things right. Maybe everything will be fine. This is why I bought my car when it was due for a major and then specified what I wanted done ($400 for the water pump rebuild seemed worth it to me, especially because the prior belt service had not included this item.)

3 owners over 8 years isn't strange. You've been on FChat enough to know how often people change cars. It's nice to know who owned it though (I've exchanged emails with the prior owners of mine, and one of them asked me to let him know if/when I sell it.)

But - for $100K+ - and considering your garage issues, it's not a bargain. I would be inclined to pass and look for a great 308. If you still want a 355, again, I'd say buy one in the fall at a better price and get one without dents, a weird dash and a partial major service.

You'll take a bath if you buy this for $100K and sell it in less than a year.

 

Don't understand why the dash pod was recovered in anything but original color. Ferrari of all people should know to keep things original. Concours event?? Expect a deduction..James I would go in and sit down with them and FLAT out ask them what it would take to sell the car to you. No BS!! Tell them you are interested but know the value of these cars and you also have a budget in mind..See if they can get close to your price, if not --Walk away....Remember they want to sell the car...You don't have to buy it...

 

The price is too high for that particular car, you are close to 99 360 prices!

 

the dent, the dash, the partial major, and the repainting bother you. Going in for a stretch price is only going to bother you more down the road. One day this 355 will be waiting in your garage for some stupid maintenance thing to be done that'll cost $ - and you'll relook at the painted quarter-panel, and the dash, and be annoyed that you can't drive her. And you'll be double-peeved and consider selling her too early.

my two bits.: All FCar's can have problems - buy the one that isn't going to keep you up at night wondering about non-standard dash colours and depreciation.

 

good point!

 

The 355 will cost you more to run than any 360 period, what you may save in the purchase cost will come out in upkeep IMO.

Any Ferrari can have problems even at time of purchase, especially a 355.

 

My 2 cents, find another car.
With this one you’ll be paying a premium price for a less than premium car.
Your list of reasons not to buy is longer than your list of reasons too buy.
You’re already concerned about resale, concerned about the dents, concerned about the not fully done engine service.
Did I miss anything?
It’s not like 355s are a rare bird that only come on the market at midnight during alternate leap years, so don't let the little head over rule the big one! Perfect ones are out there, so keep looking!
John

 

James,
We spoke on the phone this past summer about the 328 at Ferrari of Washington. Well, they have a beauty 355 in silver there for sale right now! The service manager owns the car and you can believe it is well maintained!
Take a look at it and let me know if you want some more info, they are asking $99k.

Hope to see you get a F-car soon!


Robert

 

yellow/black 6 spd at FoH $72K.....

 

Wasn't me.

 

Not I, although I saw the car independently (from their website).. they didn't
even give me the honor of a reply to my inquiry.

Something I've found out in my search.. when the dealer hedges on a reply
to a specific list of questions - you can be assured there are "stories".

At least that has been my experience to date.

Then they find someone else to buy the car. Not everyone is educated about
these cars and what to look for/etc.

Jim

 

i know of a yellow/ black 99 F1 spider with only 3K miles with the belt service just done . the car is immaculate in every way. if you are interested pm me and i will put you on to the right person

 

Sorry to hear that...

and it better not be someone here on Fchat who did this. It's just wrong if that person did get info here prior.

Good luck next time. At least there are plenty of good Spiders out there...it's not as if you're hunting for that perfect GTS . Don't know if this will make you feel any better?

 

The car looks outstanding, but it is not a "no storys" car and you are paying the very high end of the price range for this car.

As others said, it will be very difficult to resell, and the dash pod looks off, unless you/they change the entire top of the dash to black.

This would be a great car for $85k

 

If there's a deposit, you could still call FoD and offer to buy it. Then the buyer has to ante up or move on. I had a deposit on my 328 (with Sport Auto) for a couple of weeks before we agreed on the final price and I signed the purchase agreement. It was refundable, not much of a commitment on my part.

I doubt anyone "sniped" the 355, but frankly it's a car sitting in a dealership open to the general public with a for-sale sign on it. It's not a huge surprise that someone walked in, saw it, and decided to buy it while you were hesitating. (A couple of other people were vacillating on my 328 when I wired the money.)

But based on your garage issues, and the eccentricities of this car you might want to keep looking. I'd guess the guy who bought it wasn't as picky as you are, which is a compliment to you for being informed and doing the homework.

 

No one "stole" anything from you................you have to own something in order for it to get stolen.

If you find a car that you like , get a PPI and buy it.

You will get a million different opinions here and that will cloud your judgement and perhaps cause you to lose a car.................like what just happened!

Don't feel bad, the right car will turn-up plus you still haven't dealt with your driveway issue.

 

James - no need to kick yourself.

You chose not to leap at a pricey, off-color, dinged car that wouldn't get down your driveway. And that's not even mentioning the dash pod.

Now, doesn't putting it that way make you feel better?