Ferrari Mailing List: Re: How or where to buy a used Ferrari

[Charles Perry (charles]

For exotics, I've had four iterations:

a) Private Seller, with PPI

b) Private Seller, without PPI

c) Private Seller, with PPI & paperwork through dealership

d) Dealership, sort of without PPI

 

They all turned out fine, although like Larry I did have a problem letting an out-of-town mechanic who did the PPI then do a major service on (a). I would not do that again. I saved the transport money by letting an out-of-town guy do an overdue major on my TR and then took a Greyhound (yup!) to pick it up and drive it home. Took two extra months and found much later that some parts that were on my bill never made it onto my car. So I would do whatever it takes to get the car home and let your own mechanic do the work so you have easy recourse if it's ever an issue.

 

You're always going to find a few details that aren't sorted, or at least aren't sorted to your standard. List wisdom has always been to make sure you have a slush fund saved outside of the purchase price of the car to address those. I don't feel like any of my sellers, private or dealer, intentionally hid something from me. Just that I'm a perfectionist with my cars and not everyone is.

 

Buying is usually harder from a private seller because they have an emotional attachment to the car and to their investment in the car, so getting them to accept the realities of the market can take a while. Dealerships aren't emotionally attached but know all the tricks to squeeze your emotions/wallet on the purchase.

 

On my Aston and my Diablo purchases, I wanted a specific chassis/VIN, so my objectivity was compromised. I may have overpaid a bit, but I got exactly what I wanted with no regrets. On the Ferraris it was easier because "there's always another car out there."

 

Obviously I recommend a PPI to anyone. The deals I've made where I skipped it were based on my trust of the seller in one case, and in the dealership service department having recently gone through the car before it was traded in the other.

 

So I think both ways have plusses and minuses and you just need to do your best to let your brain make the decision and not other parts that get involved when staring at a shiny new toy.

 

-- charles

 

 

From: Ferrari [mailto:ferrari-bounces+charles=carolinasound.com [at] ferrarilist.com] On Behalf Of Clarence Romero Jr.
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2019 8:05 AM
To: Charles Perry
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: [Ferrari] How or where to buy a used Ferrari

 

Ok seen having done it both ways (don’t go go there Erik, I am warning you!) 

I would like to hear from the guys out there 

Including those who don’t post what was the best experience ?

Dealer, independent, private owner, eBay?

The 512 I bought from a authorized dealer  car had no squawks was code one other than a windshield that I had them replace 

The 575 got a deal on it I have some small issues 

It was an independent dealer I use to work there 

Seats ( got them to work loose connections) 

Slightly bent rim( repair when I get back from YUL)

Seeping transmission ( nothing serious)

Brake cooling ducts( same shit with the TR, cheap Italian paper)

Some small window trim issues 

Those with 550/575 can contact me privately I will tell them where to look it’s very inconspicuous on this, like really stealth 

And a missing inspection panel left front wheel well, which I can’t find the part # for neither can one of the most experienced parts guys on the planet !

 

So let’s hear from the gallery on which way would you buy your next Ferrari in the future 

eBay

Cars.com

Autotrader

 

 

Off to Montreal for the GP

 

 

 

 

 

     RF4-4EVR

Scars are Tattoos with better stories !

 

If you have no enemies, you have no character !

 

Clyde Romero    

 

 

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