Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Some more clarity

[Doug and Terri Anderson (dnt]

One hundred years ago, (or was it 15?) I had to do a three week job related 
stint in a corn belt state. First thing I do is look in the Sunday paper for 
cars for sale - Hmmmmmm, a FURARRI 308 GTS - in a Porsche dealer lot - 
wonder what the car looks like?

Mind you, I had NEVER been real close to a Ferrari, & that said, I decide to 
learn a bit.  Having owned Porsche's for 30 years I figure - this oughta be 
interesting and, well, Hell, in a coupla weeks I'm on a plane outta there. 
Any how, Terri is Italian and prone to Modena Movers.  So for two weeks I 
make a pest of myself - I use my concours judging (off my computer) sheets 
to look over every speck - I have them put it up on a hoist - I grunt a lot 
and say Hmmmmm a lot too.

I had been in touch with a Ferrari tech back home and ask what a good price 
is - just for giggles.  He says X.  I put that figure in the back of my 
mind.  Finally, they call me at work and ask me to make an offer.  Now I did 
NOT want that car - I just wanted to learn a bit.so I take Tony's price (a 
respectable cLYdE price) and suck off $4,000.  This is $10,000 less than 
they had the car priced.  Again - I did NOT want to buy it - one of these 
days maybe, but not now for pity sakes.

They gnaw a bit on the receiver a bit and I respectively explain the cars 
short comings, per my concours sheets, and, well, that was that.

Next day they call me at work again and want to meet me half way.  Nope. 
(three more days to go - whew - maybe I over did it?)

Two days left and they call in the a.m. - lower yet - No thank you.  That 
afternoon they bug me two more times to the extent my partner asks the 
rhetorical question - Are you EVER going to do any work?  I shrug, weakly 
smile, and my answer to the dealer is Nope again.

Almost at closing, with one day to go, they make what I hope is the last 
call and my last Nope.  I restate my asinine price - and the caller asks if 
I can hold.  Hmmm - new voice on phone - different - says he is director or 
whatever of sales - once again asks to meet his price.  Nope - then he 
says - well, ok, looks like you just bought yourself a Ferrari. !!

Imagine my thoughts - not as I ever expected when buying a Ferrari, our 
First Ferrari.  My thoughts? - something like "oh shit, now what?"  To be 
modest, I had kept Terri somewhat apprised - yes its red and the top comes 
off - - - so after our kick ass purchase price purchase I call Terri to give 
her the, gulp, good news.  Princess she is responded - Very well, I'll wire 
the funds.  And so it was and we still have our 78 GTS.  Who woulda guessed, 
eh?

DOUG
PS - I must say this, and it is the troooth, when ever you buy a used car, 
you are buying someone else's problem.  Ours was no exception.  Nothing 
insurmountable, but niggling projects that were challenging and somewhat fun 
to surmount.  All in all - one heck of a lot of fun.  Onward.