How do you buy a Ferrari ?

[Lifeboatboy]

Mine is now

Many thanks for all your thoughts and advice, I am listening and trying to use the information.

so as an update I’ve been to see three cars this week and most importantly driven two of them. All three were 360s and the two I drove were actually F1 gearboxes. I have expanded to include 360 F1 cars as well as manual as I liked the 430 F1 I thought it was worth considering and I liked the system in the 360 despite some of the online reviews. They Also drove fine in auto mode which increases the cars usability to my partner too.

The three cars I’ve seen were a 2004 360 F1 in red/cream at Foskers https://www.foskers.com/showroom/2004-ferrari-360-spider-f1/123. A TDF Blue/cream 2001 360 in a small trader in Bristol https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403077323107 at the same price and finally a car at auction today https://www.swva.co.uk/classic-car/ferrari-360-spider-2004/

So the one at auction sold for much more than I anticipated at £59k plus fees = £64300. Its condition was good but a few bits needed addressing and its service history was not very good. The car had a lot of carbon fibre bits, but does that make such a difference? Anyway this seemed poorer value compared to some other cars.

The car at Foskers seems to be very good and very nicely prepared and excellent service history especially recently and they will service the car prior to sale too. This car is very tempting car and seems the safe option. Has anyone experience of Foskers they seemed like a good specialist with a beautiful array of cars and service area.

The blue car in Bristol is quite good and the Colour combo (to me) is a big bonus. The car was in generally good condition and service history ok. The biggest disappointment was the Capristo exhaust was VERY loud. Whilst I understand they are expensive I think I would have to change it. The head says this car isn’t as good as the one at Foskers, but the heart says blue car.

Finally as a wildcard entry there is a car at auction very similar to the Foskers car. https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/ferrari/2004-ferrari-360-spider-f1-2/. Looks pretty good and had a lot of spend at AV engineering which I view as a positive. So will be interesting to see what happens.

The good thing is that the test drives have made me sure that the 360 is enough of a Ferrari for me so will concentrate on that as at my budget looking at a wider pool of cars, rather than higher mileage or cars with faults for the F430.

Thanks all for putting up with my ramblings

Many thanks for all your thoughts and advice, I am listening and trying to use the information.

so as an update I’ve been to see three cars this week and most importantly driven two of them. All three were 360s and the two I drove were actually F1 gearboxes. I have expanded to include 360 F1 cars as well as manual as I liked the 430 F1 I thought it was worth considering and I liked the system in the 360 despite some of the online reviews. They Also drove fine in auto mode which increases the cars usability to my partner too.

The three cars I’ve seen were a 2004 360 F1 in red/cream at Foskers https://www.foskers.com/showroom/2004-ferrari-360-spider-f1/123. A TDF Blue/cream 2001 360 in a small trader in Bristol https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403077323107 at the same price and finally a car at auction today https://www.swva.co.uk/classic-car/ferrari-360-spider-2004/

So the one at auction sold for much more than I anticipated at £59k plus fees = £64300. Its condition was good but a few bits needed addressing and its service history was not very good. The car had a lot of carbon fibre bits, but does that make such a difference? Anyway this seemed poorer value compared to some other cars.

The car at Foskers seems to be very good and very nicely prepared and excellent service history especially recently and they will service the car prior to sale too. This car is very tempting car and seems the safe option. Has anyone experience of Foskers they seemed like a good specialist with a beautiful array of cars and service area.

The blue car in Bristol is quite good and the Colour combo (to me) is a big bonus. The car was in generally good condition and service history ok. The biggest disappointment was the Capristo exhaust was VERY loud. Whilst I understand they are expensive I think I would have to change it. The head says this car isn’t as good as the one at Foskers, but the heart says blue car.

Finally as a wildcard entry there is a car at auction very similar to the Foskers car. https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/ferrari/2004-ferrari-360-spider-f1-2/. Looks pretty good and had a lot of spend at AV engineering which I view as a positive. So will be interesting to see what happens.

The good thing is that the test drives have made me sure that the 360 is enough of a Ferrari for me so will concentrate on that as at my budget looking at a wider pool of cars, rather than higher mileage or cars with faults for the F430.

Thanks all for putting up with my ramblings

In full transparency, I have a vested interest, but hey…

1994 Ferrari 348 Spider |

 

[coppins999]

Lifeboatboy, your 348 spider looks beautiful, and I really hope you get a good price for it. Trade Classics auctions seem to be a really decent website for buyers in particular as they really go to town to try and show everything. Literally hundreds of photos plus useful videos and sensibly written descriptions. The Market now Bonhams online were very good with a similar method but since Bonhams took over they went downhill and the types and quantity of cars liwered. Collecting Cars are now the big platform, but I find their descriptions somewhat lacking as evidenced by the large numbers of questions the sellers get asked.

i would say it is possibly worth putting adverts on pistonheads and classic cars for sale linking to the auction to try and get more people to see the advert as I feel it is a larger dominance of trade sellers on there.

 

[Lifeboatboy]

Thanks - again, outstanding advice.

As part of their product, they advertise on the following sites for 7 days (mine go live this weekend), and for that alone their seller’s fees are damned good value for money, let alone the incremental advice, help and guidance they gave me.

“Our Advertising Channels
Your car will appear on the following sites directing customers back to your auction listing on Trade Classics:
eBay / Pistonheads / Auto Trader (2008+) / Gumtree Motors / Motors.co.uk / Top Gear / Auto Village / Car Site / Confused.com / Drive24 / Honest John / Parkers / Preloved / RAC Cars / Regit.”

Thus far I’ve only had a 10/10 experience, but as Owners we’re all interested to learn from one anothers’ experiences so as I say, I’ll feed back when I’ve got more.

Thanks again. Appreciate you taking the time.

 

[coppins999]

Well I know this doesn’t fit with the advice of taking my time to find the right car, but more if the right car comes along.to just go for it.

So subject to a satisfactory inspection aT AV engineering

Thanks - again, outstanding advice.

As part of their product, they advertise on the following sites for 7 days (mine go live this weekend), and for that alone their seller’s fees are damned good value for money, let alone the incremental advice, help and guidance they gave me.

“Our Advertising Channels
Your car will appear on the following sites directing customers back to your auction listing on Trade Classics:
eBay / Pistonheads / Auto Trader (2008+) / Gumtree Motors / Motors.co.uk / Top Gear / Auto Village / Car Site / Confused.com / Drive24 / Honest John / Parkers / Preloved / RAC Cars / Regit.”

Thus far I’ve only had a 10/10 experience, but as Owners we’re all interested to learn from one anothers’ experiences so as I say, I’ll feed back when I’ve got more.

Thanks again. Appreciate you taking the time.

Ok, that’s great, I have seen their adverts elsewhere, but that it is included in the fees is good. They were good to deal with too (see next post )

 

[coppins999]

Well I know this doesn’t fit with the advice of taking my time to find the right car, but more if the right car comes along.to just go for it.

So subject to a satisfactory inspection aT AV engineering ive agreed a deal on the 360 F1 spider on auction at trade classics auction. Obviously more than the auction ran to, but the added peace of mind of an inspection is reasonable. I did speak to Aldous as they had looked after the car for previous owner between 2020 and 2022. gave reassurance that they had brought the car up to spec. and despite one service by a specialist garage on behalf of a trade seller to the current owner, I felt it was worth going ahead.

Assuming inspection is all fine, I will then have a service done by AV prior to taking the car home.

so many thanks to you all for helping me on the buying, and sorry for all the future dumb questions I’ll ask!

 

[tom]

That's the way to do it! Congrats.

 

[sssdu01]

Hope this works out for you. Dont know your car history/experience, but on anything as fast as your target models, the most critical element is the tyres. I would change any that are over 3 years old, regardless of how much tread you have left. You will find a range of views on whats best, but fitting "original style" Pirellis (if they still make them) is a bad idea as tyre tech has come a long long way.

My 430 had Pirellis and was a death trap in the wet, changed them to Pilot Super Sports and the change in grip was unbelievable.

 

[A348W]

If the Tradeclassics car progresses presumably you can talk to AV about specifics - for the Bristol car inspection options include RE SWindon who apparently have a former Ferrari specialist and Bob Houghton in Northleach - Foskers probably should have been in the original list of relatively sensible people - a little patience and persuasion and you do get test drives !

Having used foskers in the past; I wont be going back anytime soon! over west id be using Migliore.

 

[coppins999]

Thanks, yes fingers are crossed that inspection works out ok. Though as it Was a a tough choice it does mean I have plan B.

Good thinking on the tyres and possibly also worth a geometry set up too. Tyre wise recently favoured Michelin Pilot Sports. In terms of car history I’ve had mid-engined car (MR2 turbo), fast-ish and light cars (Z4M and S2000) and heavy and powerful (Merc SL55 and Porsche 928) plus a daft track car (lotus 7 style kit car, 500kg, 170bhp bike engine) but nothing with the combination of the 360. Plus an off in that will be very expensive (two headlights worth more than the kit car). So yes I will be getting to know it gradually.