Update on local MN Ferrari servicing? | FerrariChat
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Update on local MN Ferrari servicing?

Discussion in 'North Midwest - USA (ND, SD, MN, IA, WI, IL)' started by Paul308, Aug 4, 2006.

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  1. Paul308

    Paul308 Formula Junior

    Apr 24, 2006
    289
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #1 Paul308, Aug 4, 2006
    Next week I move my 308 to MN at last and while I have had some great Ferrari repair resources out here in Seattle, I now fear for my baby in MN. I read through the thread again from March and wondered if you guys have had any recent good experiences with the local repair shops like GT Cars or the Maserati dealership? Hauling my car to Chicago or Madison for servicing doesn't seem very practical and nothing would make me happier than to have a reliable, honest, affordable local resource. A guy can dream, right? :)

    Also, what do you guys do with your cars in the winter? Do you all keep them in heated garages and do you run the motors for 20 minutes once a month? Any winter storage survival tips? I bought a house with a heated garage so I'll probably try to keep the temp at around 45 or 50 degrees if it doesn't bleed my bank aco**** dry.

    BTW, I hope to be a part of the Wheel of Italy show in September and it'll be fun to meet some MN Ferrari friends. :)

    Paul
     
  2. taptd

    taptd Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2006
    331
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Joe K
    #2 taptd, Aug 5, 2006
    Paul,

    Great to see that you're finally getting your car here. I continue to use the Maserati dealership and they've been great. Ricardo there in the service shop is a great tech. Straight from Italy and used to work on the Ferrari team. Doesn't speak a lot of english, but he knows how to work on the cars! Steve Rand is their service manager and always does what he can to ensure great service.

    While I've been there either looking at cars or getting service done, I've seen the following in the service bay...
    355's - another local service shop couldn't fix it properly and sent it there.
    430 spider
    430 Coupe
    575 - Brand new, no plates getting some work done.
    360's
    348's
    Mondial
    +

    I'd stop on in there even before the car gets here and just let them know you're looking for a good service shop and wanted to know if they feel ok working on the 308.

    If you want to use me as a reference feel free to as well. Was just there today, picked up a new little toy.. :)
     
  3. Paul308

    Paul308 Formula Junior

    Apr 24, 2006
    289
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #3 Paul308, Aug 5, 2006
    I'll definitely give the Maserati dealership a try and it gives me some confidence to hear that they've been working on other Ferraris. Mine is a bit simpler compared to those more modern cars so hopefully that will be a plus as well. I had a great mechanic out here who was a true pleasure to deal with. He really knew his stuff...short little Italian guy who has been working on Ferraris for around 30 years. He just knows these cars inside and out. We have a Ferrari dealership out here as well but I only bought parts from them and never had them work on my car since the mechanic I use comes highly recommended. I was there at the Ferrari dealership just a couple weeks ago and they had a 288 GTO in there! I thought that was pretty cool. There were a bunch of 360's, a 355, a Dino 246, and a Mondial as well. They're knowledgeable guys but their labor rate was pretty high (around $105 per hour I believe).

    So did you purchase an additional toy to compliment the 360 and the quatroporte or did one of those toys get replaced?

    Thanks again :)
    Paul
     
  4. BAM

    BAM Formula Junior

    Dec 7, 2004
    686
    MN
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    Jeremy
    #4 BAM, Aug 5, 2006
    must be the new day to day driver he was shopping for when he was looking at the fine peice of german craftsmanship.
     
  5. taptd

    taptd Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2006
    331
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Joe K
    #5 taptd, Aug 5, 2006
    Yep! I tired a 745 and then an m3 but ended up going back to Italian. They just got a used Gransport in with only 4000 miles. Might still be on their site. But it followed me home and I can't be happier. I hate to say it, especially on the Ferrari board, but it's more fun to drive than the 360. It feels a lot lighter like you can whip it around more. It is amazing the difference between the Mas Coupe and Gransport, there is a major difference in the feel of it.

    Still have the 360 for now, but it might go away and get replaced with something else next spring.
     
  6. BAM

    BAM Formula Junior

    Dec 7, 2004
    686
    MN
    Full Name:
    Jeremy
    #6 BAM, Aug 6, 2006

    i have heard the same about the G.S. oh and dont let some of the people on this place see you say that about the gs being more fun then the 360..they will write really mean things about you on the internet and say your not a true ferrari lover and blah blah blah.. can you tell im sick of seeing this. anywho......maybe if everything works out you can buy your next car from me.... shhhh its a secret...
     

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