Good Used Ferrari?

[edgemar]

When if at all did Ferraris start getting reliable? Is a 360 much better than a 308in terms of reliability and ease of servicing? My friend is considering a used 355 Spyder and I have no idea about those cars except for the 308 series having read a used car classic article in Road & Track a few years ago. Does the engine still need to come out for a major service? Let me hear your thoughts?

[Whtnkls911]

I have a friend with a 355 his comment was that it required a top end rebuild at 60,000 miles and the cost was around $30,000 for a quality job. He bought his used and said there are quite a few 355's he found with around 50,000 miles that were a bargin until you added in the cost of the rebuild.

[peppy]

Good used Ferrari. Isn't that an oxymoron?

[David]

I don't know much about Ferrari's, but I haven't heard of any that don't require the engine pulled for major maintenance. I've looked under many of the older ones and they're about as close to a racecar as a car can be. The suspension is really good stuff, but it looks like bushings aren't made to go the distance. In other words, expect maintenance costs to be high.

With that said, I'd like to own one at some point. I'm leaning towards a 575M or 599 when I turn 50 in 10 years .

[SlowToady]

The 355 requires the engine to come out for just about anything and everything, including changing the spark plugs. Not cheap, by any means. Hell of a car though...

IIRC, the 360 and other newer models, don't have the engine out requirement for most things.

Reliable is pretty subjective..how exactly do you mean it?

Originally Posted by edgemar

When if at all did Ferraris start getting reliable? Is a 360 much better than a 308in terms of reliability and ease of servicing? My friend is considering a used 355 Spyder and I have no idea about those cars except for the 308 series having read a used car classic article in Road & Track a few years ago. Does the engine still need to come out for a major service? Let me hear your thoughts?

[Britwrench]

From the 348 onwards you are pretty much limited to either Official Ferrari Dealers or independant repair shops with the Ferrari SDS testing system.

328 is a really good all-round compromise as a fix-it yourself or any of the independant shops.

[edgemar]

Originally Posted by SlowToady

The 355 requires the engine to come out for just about anything and everything, including changing the spark plugs. Not cheap, by any means. Hell of a car though...

IIRC, the 360 and other newer models, don't have the engine out requirement for most things.

Reliable is pretty subjective..how exactly do you mean it?

Is having a top-end rebuilt at 55k common?

[motion]

There is a LOT of inaccurate information in this thread. Please do your homework as thoroughly as possible to make an informed decision.

From the 360 onward (1999 and newer), V-8 Ferraris are very reliable. Not 200,000 miles reliable, but not bad. There are many 360s out there with 50,000 plus miles and they still run like new. Service, including belt changes, are done with the engine in the car. Prior to the 360, major service involved removing the engine.

[sketchers356]

Originally Posted by motion

There is a LOT of inaccurate information in this thread. Please do your homework as thoroughly as possible to make an informed decision.

From the 360 onward (1999 and newer), V-8 Ferraris are very reliable. Not 200,000 miles reliable, but not bad. There are many 360s out there with 50,000 plus miles and they still run like new. Service, including belt changes, are done with the engine in the car. Prior to the 360, major service involved removing the engine.

I don't see any negative comments about the 360.

What is the misinformation on the thread?

[dewolf]

I'd take a Pantera over a Ferrari (older Ferrari). Can be made to be as quick and a hell of a lot cheaper to maintain. Not mention with the big rear wing and GT5 body kit it just looks kicka$$

http://www.panteracars.com/1108024487zj.jpg

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by dewolf

I'd take a Pantera over a Ferrari (older Ferrari). Can be made to be as quick and a hell of a lot cheaper to maintain. Not mention with the big rear wing and GT5 body kit it just looks kicka$$

Take mine, please! (Sorry...no "ironing board" though...).





425 reliable HP. All parts for the motor are readily available @ NAPA. And no, the motor doesn't have to be removed for any routine maintenance!

$39k obo.

[edgemar]

I thought they still make Panteras

[legion]

Good Used Ferrari.

Pick any two.

[the]

The 3 series ferraris started out as junk with the 308, got better with each new model, but didn't become a real car until the 360.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by edgemar

I thought they still make Panteras

Snowmobiles? Yes. DeTomaso's? 1970 ~ 1991.

[PatrickB]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

Take mine, please! (Sorry...no "ironing board" though...).





425 reliable HP. All parts for the motor are readily available @ NAPA. And no, the motor doesn't have to be removed for any routine maintenance!

$39k obo.

Danny~ Is that car not just kick in the ass fun?? I've driven them before... Not very comfortable, or even easy to drive, but brutally quick!

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by PatrickB

Danny~ Is that car not just kick in the ass fun?? I've driven them before... Not very comfortable, or even easy to drive, but brutally quick!

Yes on all counts. Very thin sheetmetal (as compared to our 911's or American sleds). No traditional chassis to speak of. Feels like you're riding in a toaster with a motor strapped to your arse (...it's 12" behind your head...the motor, not your arse).

[motion]

Wayne is right, parts are astronomical. The key to older Ferrari ownership is a good, honest repair shop. Many in LA use Eugenio, in the Pasadena area. His prices for service are 1/2 or less what the dealer charges. And, he's an incredible guy to work with. Parts can be tracked down from other places than the dealer for substantially less.

Personally, I wouldn't own a Ferrari without a manuf warranty. Ferrari spent in the neighborhood of $80,000 - $100,000 on warranty claims on my Stradale during the 2 years I owned it.

[edgemar]

Originally Posted by motion

Personally, I wouldn't own a Ferrari without a manuf warranty. Ferrari spent in the neighborhood of $80,000 - $100,000 on warranty claims on my Stradale during the 2 years I owned it.

That sounds like a good reason to not get one out of warranty. They seem like a car to have if you've got the savings account to pay for it. I was hoping the newer they get the more reliable they are...instead of more things to go wrong.

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by motion

Personally, I wouldn't own a Ferrari without a manuf warranty. Ferrari spent in the neighborhood of $80,000 - $100,000 on warranty claims on my Stradale during the 2 years I owned it.

Holy *****... can you enumerate the problems? That's mind boggling. That almost sounds like a lemon.