456: $51K in maintenance in 6 yrs/14K miles!

The 456 I was looking at months ago had a similar history - it's not the same car as the one you are looking at, but it seems that the PO spent thousands everytime he used the car for 500 miles.

Erik

 

Yeah, spending more than the cost of the car in maintanence is a downer.
People forget that although you are buying the car for a relatively inexpensive price, you're still maintaining a car that cost a quarter of a million dollars when new.....

 

IMHO that's pretty insanely dumb.

Almost 10k/yr to just maintain a car that is seldom driven. That would be classified as a "lemon" in typical used car contexts. Is that particular model just a good looking POS? What possibly does it need every year to require that kind of maintenance?

 

I believe the escessivley low milage might have something to do with the large maintenance bill.

 

i reckon thats an anomaly.
i have spent about $25k of my own money on the necessary maintenance on the 456mgt in the 4 years and 20k km i have owned it.

 

Definitely a case of a dumb owner and a smart garage/shop I would say.
I bet that on the daily drivers of any of the people here I can make a list of things to do of $20k, even if it only has a 15k mileage on it. It's just how you define maintenance - is it to keep the car in good running order, or are you trying to keep it in "as new" condition? That makes a VERY big difference in cost.

I did a large service on my 456 one year ago. It did not receive maintenance for 5 years and it wasn't used for the same 5 years. It cost me $5000 in parts, including everything - and I am anal about auto repairs... the best fluids around, best filters, hoses, plugs, timing bearings etc; all genuine parts, as well as 4 tires. Put over 2500 miles on it this year and fully expect to get away with only fluid changes for the next few years in terms of required maintenance.

 

To be honest any new or near new prestige car will give you that sort of hit on a yearly basis with depreciation + maintenance. Both my wife's car (Merc) and my car (BMW M3) have cost about that sort of money in our first 5 years of ownership of both. They are both now nearing the bottom of their respective depreciation curves so this will change going forward, But.....neither is a Ferrari!!!! and a 456 is surely at the botttom of its depreciation curve.

As others have said, sounds like the costs were due to not driving enough or maybe some bad luck and if it is now tip top then could be a good buy.

 

Absolutely a good buy. Low miles and an anal PO - it doesn't get much better than that.

 

I'd guess a fair amount of those costs were for preventive and opportunity maintenance. Some owners take as much pleasure in working on the car, or having it worked on, as they do driving it. It's just part of the ownership experience IMO. Don't ask me how or why I think this

 

Do you guys believe everything salesman tells you?
Do you make a distinction between what is necessary to spend in maintenance and what is discretionary spending?

 

I just happen to have a 993 and a 456. Both cheap to maintain although I have a hoist and do it myself. A tranny and steering rebuid at 20,000? Either previous abuse or misdiagnosed.These are just cars, no different than others, Patience, common sence and some parts and they run well. I also hane a DB7vantage and a XK8- also low maintenance if you are not anal. The Aston has 71,000miles and runs like a dream. Buy your shop manuals and treat them like regular cars.

 

If owning a Ferrari is stretching any buyers annual budget, especially a 10+ year old Ferrari...you are taking a risk that upkeep will be too much for you. There are many people here that have experiences wherein $2500 (sometimes less) was their annual spend for maint. BUT, there are many cars/peole that average closer to $10k per year.

Do a search on total cost of ownership (I think the best thread I saw was in the 360 section). Owning one of these is vitually always 5-figure annual total cost when one factors in depreciation, scheduled maint, consumables (tires, clutch, brakes), breakage (this is the unpredictable one and the one that largely causes the flux in total annual costs), insurance, interest costs (either of a loan or "opportunity cost" if you pay cash), gas, keeping it clean, etc.

Being a smart buyer and reading up on the models, getting a car with that was well cared for, getting a thorough PPI can all help reduce both the cost and the variability in cost.

With all that said, my advice (beyond the above) is "mentally and financially" be prepared for years where you spend as little as $1k for maint (not to mention all of the other "total cost of ownership" items mentioned above) and years where you spend $10-15k on maint/breakage/consumables. For example, my CS this year will need over $12,000 in clutch, belt service, annual service, tires. Last year I spent $1500 on a few minor things (battery, charger/tender, annual).

Anyways, again, if owning is a stretch to any buyer, don't bank on a small number...that would be unwise IMHO.

 

These type threads crack me up. try owning 3 Landrovers as I do. Owning a Landrover is not for the faint of heart. It is like playing the lottery each morning, you never know what light is going to flash on the dash. The cheapest car I own is a 20 year old 964, best gas milage and most reliable car in the garage.(easy on the eyes as well) I think it is actually appreciating at this point as people are looking for old air cooled 911s again. However, I have been extremely lucky with the 575, annual fluid changes and no hick ups after 6 years and 20K miles. The valve adjustments on the 964 are cheaper than an annual on the 575, but I am not complaining.

 

Ghibli, I was looking for a 456 for a while, then ended up buying a TR (just fell in love).

I saw and drove this 456 back in may. I drove a few before, and this one was disappointing. There is something wrong about the paint, weird shade near the right headlight, and a big dry drop next to the pininfarina logo on the side... The spoiler warning light came on while driving it, and the interior is overall clean, but not in great condition. Everything else felt ok. I passed.

 

At least with the lottery you have a slight chance of winning.

I've owned five Range Rovers, so I know. I just paid >$800 to have an outside mirror replaced.

 

I can do a lot of the work myself, but once the computers are involved I am lost. Last week the parking brakes locked up on one of them. Very confusing as I never use the parking brake. Like using easy pick on the power ball, you give them money and you never hit a win.

The old Range Rover classic is like being in the Boy Scouts, instead of bread crumbs, you can find your way out of the woods following the power steering fluid and oil trail. Gotta love 'em though, they are way cool when they are running good.

Over all, the LR3 has been a great truck, I have debated for years to get a new Range, but the LR3 has the same engine and more room on the back. I am not a baller and not trying to impress anyone, but I have to admit the Range does have a great look. I am due to upgrade in the next year and may buy two new ones. Both mine are getting to be around 90K miles now and while they look good, they are only going to be more problematic. The wife wants a Range, but I may stick with a LR4.

But back to Ferrari, do not let that number scare you, pick a good one and do not look back. It is true about paying more in the front end for a well sorted car than trying to be cheap in the end.

 

Who ever said an exotic car doesn't come with exotic repair bills?

 

So are you implying the maintenance costs associated with this low-mileage car are high? If the tranny was rebuilt wouldn't this account for the costs?

 

Owning a Ferrari is expensive. Even the parts that wear out (tires, brakes, oil, filters) wear out faster and cost more to replace. I cracked a rim. $1,750. Tires are $550 each and are soft and are driven around corners faster than most cars. Thus, they wear faster. It takes a case of oil $100 and has funny little filters ($50). Not one oil filter like most other cars, but two. Then you do a major that can run between $5,000 and $7,500. It all adds up. That's why not many people utilize a 456 (or any Ferrari) as a daily driver.

 

I have been trying to change public opinion for years. With a low mile garage queen what you got is an unproven car rotting from non-use. I have seen cars sit for a year not driven with old gas in the tank and valve springs taken a "set". Who would want that car? When a car has miles you know what needs to be maintained mostly by miles and you can better predict failure. It is very hard to predict a drying out a/c seals or valve spring taken a set or any number of non-use issues. It is great to see however someone saving the car putting the money in it. We are seeing that alot with those who irrationally love the 355.