Will prices drop on 355s?

Seen alot of talk & speculation on the values of 360s. Unfortunately still will not be able to afford one. BUt...the 355s are within my grasp. Seeing some for 70K-80K for a 95-96. I actively search everyday but was not planning to step up until the end of the year. But don't know if I can go a summer without a weekend driver. Do you think the prices will be much different by the end of the year or early next year? Maybe 60K for a good example? Of course, no one knows for sure. Otherwise, we be talking stocks. Opinions please.

Ray

 

Personally I don't see good examples of 355's around $60K in the near term. They may come down to the low to mid $70's but anything near $60K would be a rough car in my opinion. I have a 97 355B that is pristine but I don't see these cars in the $60's for three to five years if then.

 

I am into these type of conversations lately - as a speculator - and someone who has been an F-car owner for a while... I am not sure any studies have been made - but there is some interesting facts at play here:

1.) Pre 308/328 cars - F-cars were made in the several hundreds per year. And the further back you get - the fewer that were made...

2.) 308/328/348/355/360 - This is the era for Ferrari that the numbers are measured in the Thousands (or several thousand) made over the model production years.

3.) So the 430 will be 6th Model to be made in mass numbers (by at least the ferrari standards of old). (I think the Mondial and 550 had nice size production numbers as well - but I will leave those out for now).

So looking at supply with relavance to age of the models - where rareness is not really a factor in the 308 thru 360 (and in a few years the 430) - the availability of cars from the supply side would large - since there are more raw numbers out there. Thus driving the prices down a nice increment each year (hypothetically)

However on the demand side - as the price hits certain points - different buyers markets open up - enabling more people in different income levels to buy a ferrari - which increases demand.

Of course maintenance must be thrown in there as a barrier to entry - which would hurt the demand.

I am really not coming to a conslusion at all - but looking at other exotic makes such as Lambo - which suffers from high deprication initially (and if you look at how they increase the Gallardo production via Audi - the price went down just about as it was released) Were you see the 430 selling way over dealer invoice - do to more limited) - where as ferrari for most of the models have a nice curve on depriciation (minus some of the 4 seaters/gt's) - I wonder if we will be entering a era - where the supply is slightly greater than demand - thus causing bottoms that we did not think we would see so quickly - actually start to happen maybe a few years ahead of where we thought we would see them - if we would have had this conversation this time last year....

Ferrari as a company also needs to sell more cars to stay profitable - as cost rise or market conditions change (just like any other car maker) and they have made more cars in the last 15 years as they have all cars combined in their first ~40... So it is a good question as the direction to the prices will go as the more mass produced F-cars continue to get older and more continue to be produced...

Should be interesting to watch... I know I see more people - including younger people today with 3x series cars than I did 10 years ago... Living in a smaller market - You could count on 2 hands the number of F-car/exotic owners in my area - now there are to many to count...

 

They already are. Check this out.

http://used-cars.autos.yahoo.com/usedcars/detail/index.html?cid=automobiles-177257113&dst=1946.95&rsr=bWFrZT1GRVImbW9kZWw9RjM1NSZjbF95PSZjaF95PSZjbF9wcmljZT0mY2hfcHJpY2U9JmNsX21pPSZjaF9taT0mY2s9Jmd1cj1hbnkmY3N6PTkwMjEwJnZ0eXBlPWF1dG9zJm1rPUZlcnJhcmkmbW89RjM1NSZjcz1wcmljZSYmYj0-

 

I too, have been watching 355's fall in price over the last 2 months. 95-95 (esp. the non-spiders) are now trading in the 65-75k range. The issue for many buyers (or potential buyers, including my self), is that in this price range, one could get a 2001-02 996 Twin Turbo that still has a year of warranty, same (some say better performance), and a car that is 4 years old as opposed to 10. I am trying to explain to myself why I want a 10 year old car with 10 year old technology (eletronics, braking etc). Other than the love of the idea you have an F car, or the love of the sound of a Tubi equipped 6 speed going thru tunnels, I am having a hard time justifying that kind of money (on a non collectable!). Change my mind!!!
Tim

 

You have to drive them. If the TT floats your boat, buy it. But if the F355 moves you, then you're toast. You'll become a junkie just like the rest of us.

Dr "Come on kid, one fix ain't gonna hurt ya" Who

 

That F355 has 50k miles it's not a serious market indicator. If new F430's are going to be 200k plus then it will drag the overall market up.Even though the F355 are 10 years old they still offer a compelling value.

 

Simple: IT'S A FERRARI!