[DarkKnight88]

Hey all, my name is Rich and I'm from Bayard Nebraska. I work at small to medium sized business as the Network Administrator currently and am planning to buy my first Ferrari sometime in the next few months. This seemed like a great community to learn a few things at and to get some suggestions on what to buy. I'm finding I love the look of the 308, 328, and 348. I don't want to get in too deep though and find out I'm over my head in cost and trying to keep it up myself. Any suggestions on older models such as the Mondials, and the previous mentioned ones or any other starter Ferrari models would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time and help guys, I look forward to truly joining the community in the near future.

[colonel1961]

Two questions: how much do you want to spend on acquisition (a price range would be good) and how much per year can you budget for maintenance?

There are certainly some good values out there at the moment...

[Killer58]

I recommend you start with the Buyer's Guides. Then, there are several recent posts that discuss the very models you're considering.

Welcome to the club!

[Barry]

Welcome to Ferrari Life DarkKnight88.

The Col. has hit the nail on the head. A budget for purchase and maintenance will certainly narrow it down a little....

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Barry

Welcome to Ferrari Life DarkKnight88.

The Col. has hit the nail on the head. A budget for purchase and maintenance will certainly narrow it down a little....

+1 and the buyers guides are a great place to start learning about the different models.

[brettgagnon]

welcome aboard

[DarkKnight88]

Sorry guys, didn't even think about adding my price range in there. I could probably go as high as 25, but somewhere in the teens would be spectacular. As for maintenance I could probably manage a couple grand a year, maybe a little more, especially if the new job I'm working on comes through. Everything I've read thus far is really kinda leading me towards one of the 308 models thus far, any other suggestions are definitely welcome though. In the meantime I'll look into the buyer's guides and keep reading. This site has some great info.

[DarkKnight88]

Also thanks for all of the information and the warm welcome colonel, Killer, Barry, Boxer, and Brett I look forward to getting to know you all.

[wetpet]

25 is gonna be tight. bump it to 30-35.

[Killer58]

Originally Posted by DarkKnight88

I could probably go as high as 25, but somewhere in the teens would be spectacular.

Teens?! You could probably get an engine rebuild and a new exhaust for that. Not much else.

There are some 308GT4 selling in the "teens" but I'm not sure what state they're in.

I agree with Wetpet, $25-30K is a better starting point.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by wetpet

25 is gonna be tight. bump it to 30-35.

+1, you should be able to find a good 308 in that range.

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by Boxer

+1, you should be able to find a good 308 in that range.

There is no law in buying and maintaining a Ferrari, but my experience tells me this:

1. Never buy a cheap Ferrari unless you plan to restore it (and thus spend much more than a good one would cost).
2. Don't run a Ferrari unless you can take a $10k hit (what I mean is - I would not be comfortable owning a Ferrari without having at least $10k in the bank).

From the information you have provided, I would say it would be better for you to wait a year or two. Get that decent job you're working on, get comfortable and only reward yourself when there are no clouds in the sky.

This is just my personal opinion, there will be others out there who do it for less and some are very happy to make the sacrifices. But many people have been ruined by overstretching themselves, so I'd advise against it. Owning a Ferrari should be a source of joy, not misery.


Onno

[DarkKnight88]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

There is no law in buying and maintaining a Ferrari, but my experience tells me this:

1. Never buy a cheap Ferrari unless you plan to restore it (and thus spend much more than a good one would cost).
2. Don't run a Ferrari unless you can take a $10k hit (what I mean is - I would not be comfortable owning a Ferrari without having at least $10k in the bank).

From the information you have provided, I would say it would be better for you to wait a year or two. Get that decent job you're working on, get comfortable and only reward yourself when there are no clouds in the sky.

This is just my personal opinion, there will be others out there who do it for less and some are very happy to make the sacrifices. But many people have been ruined by overstretching themselves, so I'd advise against it. Owning a Ferrari should be a source of joy, not misery.


Onno

That sounds like pretty good advice. Which is why I came to a place like this, wanted to see some realistic expectations. 30 to 35 would be doable with a trade in, so it's not that it couldn't be done, but being able to take a 10k hit at any given time, would be a little rough, at least at this exact point in time. A restoration would be fun, but I'm fairly certain I lack the experience for that. My mechanical endeavors thus far have been working on an 87 Mustang and a couple old Datsun 280ZXs, one a turbo model that drives me to drink often. So how about a little further explanation, why would I need to be able to take a 10k hit? Are the engines and labor as complex as people make them out to be, because from some of the stuff I've been reading they don't seem to be? Would a restoration on a 308 be unlikely without a large amount of liquid assets? What real world perils could I be looking at if I buy something cheap or make a bad decision on whose car to buy? I'm here to learn so that it can be a very joyful experience.

[DarkKnight88]

Originally Posted by Killer58

Teens?! You could probably get an engine rebuild and a new exhaust for that. Not much else.

There are some 308GT4 selling in the "teens" but I'm not sure what state they're in.

I agree with Wetpet, $25-30K is a better starting point.

Yeah I kinda figured that would be the reaction to the teens range, but I've seen some there and figured the only way to know is to ask. Though come to the think of it on here in the classifieds there is a black 308 GTSi QV for 11,900 I think, I've been really wondering why anyone would sell one that cheap, anybody know?