Your Opinions Please

Over in the 328 & 348 areas there are a few threads about which to buy - do you need four seats ? If not then since you don't list a 308 GTS/GTB go for a 328 GTS/GTB - the exception is if you like the looks of the 348 and are prepared for the possibility of higher bills - if so then drive one and decide

 

I had a 328 GTS prior to the 355 great car and if your budget can stretch to it go for that.

 

I would also say 328, but don't think you'll get one within your budget. You might be a high milage left hooker. You didn't mention 308 GTS, how about one of those?

Edit to say £15k - £20k is high milage left hooker. For 25k you should be able to get a good RHD 328.

 

Another vote for the 328, perfect Car for entry into Ownership, still miss mine today

 

Agreed re the 328. I dont think you will get a good 348 for your budget.

 

Go for a 308 QV with deep front spoiler, far better looking front end than the 328 and the interior has all the right retro switchgear, bet everyone knew I was gonna say that though

 

I agree.

Good 348's are around the high £20's/low £30's.

308 & 328 would be a lot cheaper to service and easier for you to work on.

 

Whatever you buy you need to allow at least £3K in the first year to insure it & service it + put some stuff right. There is always stuff that needs putting right on the older cars. So your budget is a maximum of £22K unless you have some more tucked away to cover this. On the older cars the initial sort out can often mean bodywork & that can get seriously expensive. The mechanicals are never too difficult to sort out (sometimes expensive but not difficult) but if you buy a rust bucket -- that could be a nightmare.

IMO £22k is just about enough to get you a decent 308 or a very good Mondial or GT4. Its not enough for a decent 328 but it might buy you a ratty left hooker or a very ratty 348 which would then cost a fortune to sort out & a good deal more to run. A 355 is much further out still.

308s/GT4/Mondial & 328s will all cost about the same to run. 348 & 355 running costs are of an entirely different order of magnitude. Insurance costs will be significantly higher as well.

Best advice would be that if you really want to own a Ferrari, don't buy a car that you really can't afford to run or to maintain properly. Not only will you have to watch your pride & joy getting ratty which would be quite depressing, but you will also kill its resale value.

I.

 

All good points above. I would add that you should either find someone who knows their Ferrari's to help whilst looking or better still get out there and see as many cars as you can - even if you arn't about to buy the more you see the more you learn what to look for.

I spent a fair while looking for a 355 and looked at many (at least 30) until I found the one I wanted. Even main dealer cars sitting in showrooms had issues they hadn't resolved.

In my opinion (and as I have said elsewhere), given the taxation level of the little yellow box's from Maranello you need to be extremely careful buying a 355 (especially for less than £35K) and then you should plan to spend £5000 a year on running it (it hopefully wont be that much - but some money in the bank each year will go towards the biggy as and when).

When I bought my 355 it was mint but I still spent £2100 straight away on a service which uncovered some "normal running costs" whilst the engine was out. Stuff like water pump bearing play = new kit £150, leaking shock = rebuild £200, replaced knackered cats with pipes = £200 (knew about that one, grey powder in tailpipes) - these are minor things on a 355 that would be relatively major on a "normal car" given the numbers involved.

I used to love 308's when I was a kid, until I drove one! For me the handling and driving position is too odd pre-348 so I would def test drive one before buying. The 348 and 355 are still a bit odd (355 much better handling than 348)...but I am also dissappointed by the 360 as it just feels "normal" - everyday car etc. So I guess if I like the quirky nature of the 355 others would say same for 308's etc.

Go look, test em and find out for yourself which mould you drop into but which ever you chose welcome to the club of mad people (we must be)

 

Yeah, I'd go for that aswell
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Totally agree with you.

When people call a car "mint" they tend to refer to things such as the paintwork, leather, engine and gearbox

What most people fail to consider are the other unseen components like rads, shock absorbers etc. The cars are old and things wear out and need to eb replaced. that's when ££££ needs to be spent.

 

All the above will help a lot. 308/328 is going to be easier to work on for sure. However, you are going to find parts prices entertaining!

For instance, if you decided to replace the Ignition leads (and extenders) on a 328, plus the dizzy caps (there are two) and the rotor arms....what do you think it will cost?

£100?


£250???


£500???

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Try

£180 per cap
£67.50 per Rotor arm
£123 per side for ignition leads
£5.50 x8 for the plug extenders

Total £785....just to replace caps, rotors & plug leads.

(prices from Eurospares.co.uk - basically the same as Ferrari direct)

Oh and 328 brake disks are about £300 a pair

Some of these things can be bought for less if you keep your eyes open - but not much less. Fortunately they don't need replacing that often but the point is that you need to have a very good look at even what you might think is trivial stuff on any cars you look at.

Good hunting.

I.

 

Save for the 355. Better looking and faster.

 

See, I told you we are all mad.

 

problem is when you want one you have just got to get it!!

 

Yep I would still be saving and missing out of F ownership. The way I look at is the Ferrari you buy at this age will not depreciate too much. You can ignore running costs as they would apply to any car you bought to some degree anyway.

So you may wait a little longer for the car of your dreams (355) by buying a different Ferrari but you will enjoy the wait

 

Don't fancy yours much - looks like a right shed