Euro vs. USA

Additionally, the Euro 360's are a little quicker than the US Spec 360's post 2000. The early 99 US spec 360's are as fast as the Euros.

Reason: Precat exhaust restrictors required by the EPA & DOT for 2000. Euro did not have to be modified on import.

The same is true for the 550's. 4.2 O-60, instead of 4.7 post 2000. Not sure on the 360's.....

When I was looking for a replacment for my first 550, I called the dealer and they have absolutley no issues with parts or servicing a Euro car.

 

Interesting. I saw an ad for a euro 355 spider and it was downright cheap. Maybe there are some issues with documentation??? How do you track mileage and service history on a car delivered outside the US?? You don't.

 

The cars I looked at that were Euros, all had original paperwork, service, invoice etc.

I will say that the few Euros I looked at were all sold for the first time in the US by Ferrari dealers.

John

 

What if Carfax shows a 2000 car arriving in 2000 and you can identify the prior owners?

G

 

I don't think Euro Ferraris can be registered in the state of California. Not sure as the reason why but the few owners of Euro cars I know had them registered in Nevada.

 

Cig?

 

Legitimately AZ, I have a part time residence there. California would more than welcome to have me register there, they've made this known in writing.

G

 

I Love my EURO and couldn't be happier--it's a FERRARI! Just because Ferrari of North America didn't make their money its still MY FERRARI!
N

 

Fifteen Grand is Fifteen Grand !!!

Word is a Euro should be about $15k less than a US car. I've said it before and I'll say it again ... as the US car depreciates, the $15k delta will shrink. People are trying to talk down early US Modena prices, saying they are approaching the $100k-$105k number. When a clean US car reaches that mark, you can be sure a clean Euro car is not going to be had for $85k. A clean early US car with low miles should now be somewhere around $120k-$125k ... an equivalant Euro car should bring close to $110k.

It's the US car that has been compromised by the factory. It was designed and tested as a ROW car ... then came the US DOT modifications.

I love my 6-Speed Euro car and will probably keep it for a LONG time ... it looks good and runs like a MoFo

G
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I have to join the love fest. I looked for 6 months to find a titanium car with black interior, cf race seats and 6sp. It turned out to be euro. I know for a fact my 2000 euro is faster than most U.S. cars ( from Brian Crall who has driven way more than his share!!) and is lighter weight too, by about 150lbs, according to an Fchat study posted last year.
So I was able to negotiate for a couple of months and get a very rightous price. If it had been a US car I would have had to pay a premium, as this combo is very sought after and the car would have sold quickly, at least that is what I have been toldby dealers. So, my good fortune. Personally, when I do sell, I will price the car according to condition, miles and mods, not US or euro. If the price is fair, they sell quickly as evidenced by a board member whose fairly high mileage 99 euro sold for asking within the first couple of days!
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A lot of lending institutions will not finance a Euro car as well as Insurance companies are not too much better. I think the CA problem is extremely strict emissions.

 

This is not from my own experiences, but what I've heard about Euro cars is that official Ferrari service centers will screw you over on ordering parts if it is a Euro model of a USA-available car. "Oh, well, we had to order the Euro parts especially from ***..."

 

Here is a picture of my Ferrari.
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Not true of the dealers I talked to, these being "Ferrari of X" dealers..

 

Easily financed and sourced multiple quotes

What you heard? This is how the misconception is perpetuated. If someone is ballsy enough to buy a Euro car, why would you think that person cares to service their car at an offical Ferrari service center. There are plenty of qualified independents.

 

Really what is the differance? I see none in the euro - usa car. Well, the F430 has Launch control. Why doesnt the USA get launch control?

 

We over use it and it's hard on components! LOL!
Black marks all over the pavement......

All arguments are well made, the Euros do tend to be "black sheep" at dealerships, but if you have an independent, only smog problems and such would apply, I'd think....

Now there ARE a huge shopping list of "US Mods", to be certified and legal and all, but that 's an individual decision, as these owners are saying!

Drive on........

 

Since I have had a car converted to US specs before, my concerns would be who did the actual conversion work and the other would be the miles. It would be much easier for a first owner if they are buying a new car but once things start getting watered down I am sure there are plenty of euro cars that came in that suddenly received new odometers. It would be very hard to trace back ownership history of something that had miles before it came over. I am not saying I wouldn't buy one, but that is why the price is lower to me.

 

I'd think color combination would have more influence that delivery destination for the 360. For older cars, several of the Euro versions were preferred because of emissions and power ratings

 

Thats a good one, the only problem I had at the factory dealer was they wanted $9k for the same service that Brian Crall, one of the Bay area preferred indenepdants, did for $5600 and his service included a lot of things the dealer would not have done. So, please, tell me how that is a disadvantage in any way?!??

Some people are more confident of cars with full dealer history and those people would not buy a euro car anyway. Some, like myself, would rather just have a good car and appriciate the euros differences like weight savings etc. and are happy to buy in to the ferrari dream for less and do so with eyes open knowing that on the way out the price will still be lower. BUT, as time goes by, the price difference will continue to close and at some point there will be a different kind of buyer who will seek out the weight savings and less smog equipment rather than aviod it.
Believe me, if I could afford to spec a new Ferrari every year of two, I would service the car at the dealer, keep the mileage low and not molest it any way. Easy in, easy out.
But since we can not all afford to do it that way, the euro cars offer a great value in money and performance for the "rest of us"!

Pity that my car is not worth as much and I have to get my "value" actually driving and putting miles on my car......

 

Not true for me..this is coming direct from a euro owner. Never have had a problem ordering parts from the dealer or private mechanic. My car is serviced by both. The dealer has not treated me any differently because my car is a euro...as a matter of fact, FNA has been very generous in paying for some warranty work for my car.

I have not experienced a liability to owning a euro car except for price. But then again, if you bought it for less initially, the ratio is relative for re-sale so net/net it's the same.

Can't speak for issues related to financing as I paid cash.

As for registering in California....I am both a Texas and California resident who currently lives in Texas. When I was considering moving back to CA last year, I spoke with a gentleman in Sacramento who works for the California Dept of Consumer affairs. He said that as long as the car has a US EPA DOT CERTIFIED plaque (usually somewhere in the motor housing), you can bring the car into California like any other car manufactured for the U.S.

 

I think that is the same scenario many f-car owners experience, euro or not. Many times the dealers rates for service is higher than independents.