[johandc]

Hello,

I could use some information from 348 owners.

Next week i am going to look for a 348 T '92 with 60.000 Km on it.
It has a full service history and campbelt done 03/2009.

Are there specific thing where i have to look for before buying this car?

This could be a dream that comes true, but i want to avoid that it is a nightmare that starts.

thanks

Johan

[ALEX A]

hi, some small advise. before buying a car , have it inspected by a quailfied ferrari tec. if you are buying from a ferrari dealer it should be OK. Good Luck.

[Granucci]

with that many miles I wild do a qualified leak down AND compression test: You will never know until too late if ok. Might save you a few thou. or make for better negotiations.

Drive is awhile and make sure it has proper sensors in order, you'll know after a proper warm up, if any lights start to come on, and

see if [common to some owners] have had its CATs etc. modified, removed etc. Perhaps someone did more than [what sounds like] daily drive it....

I would expect a well sorted model with that many miles to be in the $35-$40K range

[johandc]

This is the advertisement from the car i am looking for:
The guy asked € 37000, a month ago i did a redicules offer of € 25000 and yesterday he called me that i can have the car for € 26000 because he needed money fast. I think this is a very good deal.

FERRARI 348TB COUPE 3.4L 295HP RED AIRCO/LEATHER
Specifications
3405cc engine
217kW / 295HP.
Electric windows.
Exterior color red.
Interior leather TAN (completely renewed).
Airbags.
Air condition system.
Aluminium sports wheels with 4 new tyres.
Radio/CD.
5-Speed manual transmission.
Year of first registration: 1992
Drives excellent.
Alu wheels like new condition.
Numbers of kilometres: 60800KM.
Inside and outside in very good condition.
Accident free.
Full service history included.
Last cambelt change 03/2009.

[ALEX A]

the car looks great. if you feel comfortable and the cars drives as great as it looks. then you have to make the final say . the service records are from a dealer or a qualified ferrari tec ( good independed shop ) .
good luck.

[Granucci]

looks great

reliability?

Price, not sure in UK, but sounds very nice to me. After what I've seen and been through, I'll def. have a PPI. tell the guy he'll have a firm offer if you can have a couple things done: Leak down, compression.

[johandc]

thank for the info, are there special issues familiar to the 348?

[FBI]

Here's a link to all you need to know on the 348

http://www.my348.com/

Good Luck and let us know what happens

Cheers!

[Night Life]

Great price but definitely have a PPI done and leak down test, if you know a reliable reputable descent mechanic just use him does not have to be Ferrari mechanic. This car is easy to work on and a PPI or Leak down is done by most automotive mechanics now. Not saying that you shouldn't go to a Ferrari mechanic but they usually tend to throw out red flags left right and center scaring the buyer. Most of the problems and faults with the 348 can be repaired at home with a little elbow grease.

Ps they sell elbow grease in an easy to use tube now


Warning though this car needs car and attention and proper care so expect to pay more for maintenance.

[Granucci]

Originally Posted by Night Life

Great price but definitely have a PPI done and leak down test, if you know a reliable reputable descent mechanic just use him does not have to be Ferrari mechanic. This car is easy to work on and a PPI or Leak down is done by most automotive mechanics now. Not saying that you shouldn't go to a Ferrari mechanic but they usually tend to throw out red flags left right and center scaring the buyer. Most of the problems and faults with the 348 can be repaired at home with a little elbow grease.

Ps they sell elbow grease in an easy to use tube now


Warning though this car needs car and attention and proper care so expect to pay more for maintenance.

\+1 : You have been warned

Do NOT jump just because....trust us. Get that PPI

[johandc]

I called with the seller today, and it seems no problem to do a PPI inspection. The car will be available for for every inspection.

I am curious to see the car, but i have to wait until end next week because the seller is out of the country for the moment. It will be a very long week for me

I will for sure take a good mechanic with me when i am going to take a look at the car.

Can someone inform me about the maintenance cost each year. I have a budget of € 2500 - € 3000 a year for maintenance. will this be enough?

Thanks to everybody for the info

Johan

[Granucci]

Originally Posted by johandc

I called with the seller today, and it seems no problem to do a PPI inspection. The car will be available for for every inspection.

I am curious to see the car, but i have to wait until end next week because the seller is out of the country for the moment. It will be a very long week for me

I will for sure take a good mechanic with me when i am going to take a look at the car.

Can someone inform me about the maintenance cost each year. I have a budget of € 2500 - € 3000 a year for maintenance. will this be enough?

Thanks to everybody for the info

Johan

IF IN order: Yes, your budget should be well enough. and then some. IMO

[boxer512bb]

Check for any past accident damage, that will really depreciate the value of the car.

[Night Life]

Originally Posted by johandc

I am curious to see the car, but i have to wait until end next week because the seller is out of the country for the moment. It will be a very long week for me

Have you ever seen a 348 up close in person? I ask because if you have not you will freak out and fall in love with it immediately but refrain your enthusiasm till all checks come in positive.

[IPF]

Originally Posted by johandc

This is the advertisement from the car i am looking for:
The guy asked € 37000, a month ago i did a redicules offer of € 25000 and yesterday he called me that i can have the car for € 26000 because he needed money fast. I think this is a very good deal.

Hi Johan,

That seems to be a spate of incredible good luck. Knocking € 11,000 off of a €37,000 asking price (-30%!) is way beyond any normal negotiation result.

Unless... it really is not a € 37,000 car to begin with?!

Look, I do expressly not want to rain on your parade, but best be sure the story is how the seller tells it. If the car is solid, it should fetch at least €30-35k. At €26k it would be an absolute steal, and I don't quite get why nobody would have bought it already.

Get the PPI done by someone good, keep your fingers crossed, be ready to strike if it checks out...
but run if it doesn't...

Best of luck, do post if you get this one!

Irvin

[JazzyO]

Like Irvin, I would exercise extreme caution. Someone, out there, will win the lottery. We know this. We also know it is not likely to be us. You should view this buy the same way. It is very unlikely that this car will really be a good buy - if it was then the owner wouldn't sell it for such a low price because he could just drive it to any specialist and get a better price. The problem for him is that specialists know the cars so they won't give him more than it is worth.

I know for a FACT that cars drive around in Holland and Belgium that have been COMPLETELY written off by insurance after a crash. They have been pulled "straight" and made neat and for unexperienced buyers they can look like a great buy, but in fact they are terrible!

I am not saying this car is one of those. But what I AM saying is that it is much more likely that it is such a car than that it is a really good car with a desparate owner.

Seriously, Johan, I would run, run, run from a deal like this. My experience with Ferraris is that buying cheap means buying very, very dear indeed.

Don't forget, even if the chassis is fine and the car has never been crashed, then issues with the gearbox or engine could easily cost you €20k. And then you might as well have bought the very very best on the market with full service history and warranty from the dealer.

Best of luck, I hope you find one that will make you happy.


Onno

[johandc]

Thanks for the warning, i am also suspicious because the price.
So i contacted a former Ferrari mechanic to go with me to see the car and i also contacted somone a know at the Police department to check the chassis number to see if it is not a stolen one ore something.

I think it is 348 imported from the UK. The prices in the UK are a little lower for that kind of cars and due to the cheap GBP in comparison to the Euro it makes a great difference.

I also know a company in the Netherlands (Target Cars BV) that sels Ferrai very cheap, these are also imported from the UK. Some are LHD and Some RHD.
They have a 360 for € 37.500 unfortunally it is a RHD.

I can go for a look end next week, i keep you guy's informed.

Johan

[colonel1961]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

I am not saying this car is one of those. But what I AM saying is that it is much more likely that it is such a car than that it is a really good car with a desparate owner.

Onno

So true...

[Magnum6464]

Something is hidden unless he is getting divorced and has to give her half…hehehe!!!!

37 to 40 is the right price range. 26k…there has to be something that has to be fixed that the owner does not want to do or can’t afford to do. So figuring if he sells low if will no longer be his problem.

One reason is by looking at the interior, superb, engine bay, very sharp too. So he knows if his car was in excellent shape he could get 37 to 40, so why drop it at 26???

If you are seriously thinking about it, do this one thing; go see another one and test drive it. Then go test drive that one and compare. As well, if the owner says no, it’s a time bomb waiting to happen. Get a PPI and have every inch of that car inspected. And another thing, listen to the mechanic.... if he says run…..RUN!


~

Mario

[Magnum6464]

There was one for sale last year about 3 hours from me and the price was 35K (CAN) about 25 euro. I called him and asked what was wrong with it, he said not much, a few buttons inside were not working well, a small dent on the top of the rear fender (someone had leaned on it). Someone from F-Chat bought it because I recognized the pics and his info on the car. It needed a little more than 20K on it and he did ALL the work himself.

So all in all, it was not a good buy for everyone. And he spent several weeks on it. So for the same price he could have gotten one in top shape. And who know what else is wrong with it.

Also his excuse was and saw the pics of his garage, his Lambo had blown a belt and dropped a few valves and needed a major on it.



~

Mario