Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Good Afternoon

[robert_h_bowser [at] juno.com (robert_h_bowser]

Charles is, of course, absolutely correct.  If you are going to buy a Ferrari, 
that is the logical way to do it.

On the other hand.....mixing the word 'logical' with the phrase 'buying a 
Ferrari' creates a bit of an oxymoron.

If I were to buy a first Ferrari, I'd still go for an old carburated 308 
variant.  You can pick up a decent model for much less than the cost of a small 
SUV.  The technology is crude enough that anyone with any mechanical aptitude 
can fix damn near anything that goes wrong with it.  Fixes are available for 
most, if not all of the shortcomings of the early 308s.  For the most part, 
parts are readily available.  Smiles per mile ratings are over the top.

I bought my '78 308GTS back in '99 the 'wrong' way.  Fell in love with it, paid 
too much ($27.5K).  No books, no records, no PPI.  47K on the ODO.  But it was 
gorgeous!  Red/black.  Flawless paint/interior.  Usual Ferrari mechanical 
condition of benign neglect.  Took me over a year to get the various 
mechanical/electrical gremlins exorcised.  Over the last eight years, I've 
probably put another $20K in it.  Majority of that was for a new engine 
(electrolysis ate up the original - books, records, PPI wouldn't have warned me 
about that).  Now it is a daily driver with 92K on the ODO, well sorted out, 
everything works, starts right up, runs beautifully....and gets comments almost 
every time I drive it.  In smiles per mile, it has been worth every penny I've 
spent on it (many times over).  I've done so much work on it that the car is a 
part of me (or maybe I'm part of it).  They're going to have to pry my cold, 
dead fingers from the steering wheel.... 

So, yes, as much as you can, apply 'logic' to the purchase....but my .02 - 

1.  If you keep it long enough, what you paid for it is immaterial.
2.  Don't buy it unless you love it.  More like a mistress than a wife.
3.  If you like getting your hands dirty, buy an old one and make it a part of 
you.
4.  If you don't like getting your hands dirty, and have the money, buy the 
newest one you can afford.
5.  If you don't like getting your hands dirty, and don't have the money, buy a 
Honda.

Of course, your results may vary.

Bob
'78 308GTS
'01 Corvette Z06
9mm S&W SW9VE, S&W .38 Detective Special, various models of Winchester 94 (8 
variants) & enough ammo for a small insurrection..... obligatory Guns & Ammo 
Content..... 

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