Ferrari Mailing List: Re: The Wait

[BRIGANDBAR (BRIGANDBAR]

I believe that my experience will differ from most on the list, but I have  
to say that my "wait" was somewhat less than 6 months. the fact that I bought  
the Ferrari startled my wife since I had been pining for a Porsche for several 
 years, having almost bought one except for some unethical conduct on the 
part of  the dealership, and my legendary frugality.
 
I'm not sure I can identify why I decided that I wanted a Ferrari, there is  
no specific moment, point of enlightenment, revelation, etc. One day I just  
decided that I wanted one and was going to get one.
 
First step was to go to the internet, use Google and some other search  
engines and read everything that I thought would be relevant. Second step was 
to  
contact Tom Reynolds, a much undervalued member of the list, whom I knew from a 
 number of MB lists, talk about AZ, etc., and sought some guidance. And 
guidance  I received. Tom faxed and e-mailed me bountiful amounts of knowledge, 
 
hooked me up with this list and introduced me to some other list members,  
including Clyde, another great help in the decision process. I then just  
allocated 
an adequate amount of money, more than recommended by Clyde and less  than 
that suggested by Brian, and hit e-bay, club and other listings, again  reading 
and asking so many questions on this list that I thought that I would  join 
the banned. And the help that I received was legion. Folks gave me input,  
recommendations, referrals, and even offered to look at specific cars for me  
when 
located in their vicinity. Exchanged a number of phone calls and after I  
finally bought one a list member went through all of the trouble and labor to  
e-mail a copy of the owner's manual, not included with my purchase in sections  
since it way too large for any single file. That is in a binder and accompanies 
 me one every excursion with the car, and each time an issue arises.My 
gratitude  to him is also legion, though I'll protect his anonymity so not to 
expose 
him to  an overload of similar requests. Finally, some help from Steve 
Jenkins in the  form of bidnips to help out with the eBay process.
 
You know, I've never met any of these folks in person, yet the went  out 
their way to provide me with wisdom and insight that from their responses  were 
gained over long period of time and study.  I hope that you consider  this 
treatise, while far less in terms of knowledge and experience, in a similar  
manner. INMNSHO, if you want one, set a budget, find a model that will work for 
 you 
in that budget range (remember, even a new Toyota or entry level Lexus is  
now costly), then search for the best example of such a car that you can find.  
Have it checked out by a reputable and knowledgeable tech. and buy it. It 
simply  boils down to that. You can always "upgrade" from a 308, 328, 348, 355, 
 
etc. to a 430 in the future if it suits you, and if you find that you  aren't a 
Ferrari type, you can just take the hit and sell it and move on to  something 
else. It isn't a life changing experience, its a car purchase. Then,  as with 
any car that was originally marketed to folks who pay upwards of $150k  for a 
car new, remember that it was designed for folks who can afford to  maintain 
it, pay outrageous prices for parts, spend outrageous amounts of money  doing 
things like pulling the engine to change out a timing belt every 15k mi.  etc. 
and begin to set aside a maintenance reserve for forecast, and unforecast  
repairs and maintenance. I have such a reserve set aside individually for each  
of my hobby cars, as well as my daily drivers (which include most of the cars  
listed) and may need to move some money from one account to another to cover 
an  unforecast event, replacing it when appropriate.
 
And then, when all else fails, just ask Clyde for some advice on how to buy  
and drive a Ferrari.
 
Go for it. It is far better to die having owned one and regretting doing so  
(in the unlikely event that this would be the case) than to not have owned one 
 and worry and fret about what you have missed.
 
Dr. Steve  

1964 Rolls  Royce Silver Cloud III    1975 Pontiac GV Conv.
1980 MB  450SL                 1982 RR  Corniche
(newly  acquired daily driver)  1988 Rolls Royce Silver Spur
1994 F-350  Powerstroke 4x4          1996  Bronco
2000 Lincoln Town  Car                   2004  Excursion
1995 Ferrari 348 Spyder
+ Audrey's 3x MB's

Dr.  Stephen B. Spies, CES, CFI
Director, Forensic Sciences  Laboratory
Explosives Engineering Technologies

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