Is it worth purchasing a <30k Ferrari?

SideWinder · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:09

But then again, its that age old saying: if you're going to do something, pay extra and do it right.

Jez · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:09

Dj_Jestar said:
Still a lot though! Tyres are probably 'awkward' sizes and pricy. I think someone said they are a few hundred a corner. Pub chat though, so could be tosh

Most decent cars have tyres which are a couple of hundred quid a corner, "ferrari's" are no exception but they certainly do not cost the earth. Besides, you only generally replace them every few years as you wouldn't normally use a car like this for much mileage.

Janesy B · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:10

It's not just the purchasing price, the TCO of the Ferrari will still be very high due to expensive parts, servicing and short service intervals. If you can afford a few grand a year to keep it going then by all means go ahead, if you have to scrape the cash together to buy it i'd think again.

Dj_Jestar · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:11

£400 a corner and upwards?

Rotty · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:15

InvaderGIR said:
I recall it's something like every year or 3000k whichever is first.

for the 360

Due at 6,500 miles, 12,500 miles and 18,750 miles

Rotty · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:16

Jez said:
Most decent cars have tyres which are a couple of hundred quid a corner, "ferrari's" are no exception but they certainly do not cost the earth. Besides, you only generally replace them every few years as you wouldn't normally use a car like this for much mileage.

yep, mine are £1100 a set

£1400 a set for discs and pads

Jez · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:16

Dj_Jestar said:
£400 a corner and upwards?

Where do you get the idea that ferrari's somehow use "special tyres"? You could kit a 430 out with decent bridgestone rubber for around £1200 all in. In all likelihood you'll never buy another set, either.

probedb · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:16

bobert50 said:
lol

Who buys a 40k ferrari, to then service it themselves?

Other than the service history what exactly is wrong with servicing your own car if you have the knowledge?

What does it matter if it's a Ferrari? My car cost around £35k when it came out many years ago but I do most of the wear items myself without any trouble.

Rotty · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:17

probedb said:
Other than the service history what exactly is wrong with servicing your own car if you have the knowledge?

.

nothing if you know what you are doing

and if you intend keeping it for a very long time as resale would be difficult

Jez · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:17

probedb said:
Other than the service history what exactly is wrong with servicing your own car if you have the knowledge?

What does it matter if it's a Ferrari? My car cost around £35k when it came out many years ago but I do most of the wear items myself without any trouble.

Nothing mechanically, but no-one with even a quarter of a brain would ever touch a Ferrari without comprehensive service history.

FTM · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:21

I would imagine parts are eye watering...say you need a new piece of bodywork..they dont exactly grow on trees

InvaderGIR · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:22

Rotty said:
for the 360

Due at 6,500 miles, 12,500 miles and 18,750 miles

Wow, I almost thought I was talking bull, glad I got it right (for one car

).

SeatIbiza · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:22

Rotty said:
for the 360

Due at 6,500 miles, 12,500 miles and 18,750 miles

Correct and are probably a lot more than £1000.

If you worry about £1k services then supercars are not for you...

I would have thought a belts service on these (due quite often) is £2-3k depending on where you get it from.

For the OP there is the underated (albeit front engined) 550 to look at. These can be sub £40k (and were £180k new) and are brilliant cruisers. M friends dad has one, but it's aluminuim body and that is expensive to repair and therefore insure as well...

Gaygle · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:29

I was looking into this a couple of weeks ago (obviously just for just general knowledge) and whilst the running costs of a Ferrari are high, they are not the WOAMGWTFBBQ!! that they are often made out to be. Owners said it's not the running costs which are the killer, it's when something goes wrong that it costs an utter fortune to fix.

EDIT: found a couple of posts from a Ferrari owner.

For a 355, with no major dramas you're looking for £2500-£3000 p.a servicing for about 5000 miles p.a. It can vary a bit, based on if you use a main dealer or an independent. This includes regular yearly servicing and the odds and ends like clutch (£1200ish) or Tyres (£600) or Cam belts (£1400) that will always turn up when you don't expect. Insurance seems to be in the range of £1200-£2600 depending on particulars. So for normal use, £5k p.a. is a good budget to keep the car in top shape. If you do trackdays then count for about £750-£1k per day extra.
360 should be the same or cheaper i think as it was probably the first ferrari to be engineerd with servicing in mind so the labour hours are less for work carried out eg you dont need the engine out for belts so cost in nearly half that for a 355. I don't know about parts costs and how they compare but for a CS I think you go to a completely different league table me thinks.

I guess consumable last depending on your use. I had my clutch done at 17500 miles for the first time. I also had the brake rotors done then as well and that was about £800 or so if I remember conrrectly. Pads are about £250 +VAT fitted from a main dealer and half that form an independent. The tyres can cost you up to £1000 if you go to a main dealer but if you use alternatives then the price is lower. Track days cost about £300 to attend, about £350k insurance for £30k damage, £100 or so petrol and the rest would be the increases wear and tear (I try to have an oil change after 2 or 3 track days).

Others have had over 25k out of a single clutch

Rotty · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:29

SeatIbiza said:
Correct and are probably a lot more than £1000.

If you worry about £1k services then supercars are not for you...

I would have thought a belts service on these (due quite often) is £2-3k depending on where you get it from.

For the OP there is the underated (albeit front engined) 550 to look at. These can be sub £40k (and were £180k new) and are brilliant cruisers. M friends dad has one, but it's aluminuim body and that is expensive to repair and therefore insure as well...

At an Indy specialist they are under £1000

belts are expensive as its engine out, this is every 3 years

SeatIbiza · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:36

Fair enough - i've only seen ferrari invoices!

Isn't it 3 years or X miles? My mates dad uses his as an everday car so he's done it a few times...

I want one

but i suspect it'll make the RS4 seem cheap!

EddScott · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:48

SideWinder said:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/862185.htm

A friend has one of these. He had 30K to spend on a car and was going to get something german but his car dealer mate talked him into buying a 348.

He hates it. He says getting it in gear is a pain and near impossible until its warmed through. I think its only moved once in the last 4 years and that was to be serviced in Chelteham and I think it cost him a good few thousand pounds.

I also know someone whose mother is dating some chap who has just bought himself a 355. He is a bit of a tool to be honest and they are as ***** as you like.

Matt82 · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:53

bobert50 said:
lol

Who buys a 40k ferrari, to then service it themselves?

someone who wants to keep their ferrari in tip top condition and who clearlyis scrimping and saving (unremarkable property but great car) so clearly dont have abundent spare cash

bobert50 · 13 Mar 2009 at 15:57

Firestar_3x · 13 Mar 2009 at 16:10

At a sub 30k budget i can't really think of a Ferrari worth owning, sure i like the looks of the 348 and the Testarossa but as a driving and owning prospect, i'd rather keep the dream in my head, you might get a good left hooker F355 but no doubt RHD versions are not so hot at this price point.

Sub 40k seems like a good entry point and would get you a Ferrari worth owning, insurance costs seem low on a 355 and tbh for what it is running cost figures arn't as bad as expected.