Rod Handsfield

Ferrari Maranello(1997 - 2004) prices have recently dipped into the super nice 928 GTS range ($69 - $129 K BIN on ebay) and I am tempted. They seem to be similar in concept, execution and affordability(?) of maintenance. Do any of you listers own or have experience with these Ferraris? I'm sure this topic will generate lively discussion.

Kaz

I have some friends who own various years of the 550 and 575. You'd do well to visit Ferrarichat for more detailed information, the guys there research cars down to the VIN number so there really is no excuse for buying a sorry example with a poor history. Just like here, someone always knows something about a car or who it was inspected by etc.

Strangely many owners prefer the 550 to the 575 which is more refined but maybe lost something in that refinement. There are some minor fixes for the 550 which seems to build a lot of pressure on the oil filter but once that's done it appears to be a relatively bulletproof engine.

www.ferrarichat.com

slate blue

The next car I plan to buy is the 456 GT, the prices for maintenance are higher, much higher, the costs have come down due to Ebay but used parts are cheaper in Europe than in the States. Also Ebay prices are not the cheapest, auction prices are, in the lastest EVO magazine a 1997 550 with 24K miles sold for 26,680 pounds which I think is around $37,000 USD, the prices should not be any where near as high as you quoted unless you are talking late model 575 at retail prices. I don't pay retail. I like the 456 GT because it has 4 seats, I think the engine will have plenty left in it for development.

Greg

DANdeMAN

456GT...holy maholy, that's a car.

Hilton

Greg, UK (or European) prices for Ferrari's are way cheaper than US prices.

I was eyeing up 456's too a couple of months ago in the UK courtesy of the SEVS rulings, although if you're after the engine to work on, go for a Maserati 4200 or Grandsport - same engine and F1 gearbox as the F430, so certainly room for development there too, plus it has 4 good seats and is cheaper than the F-car.

I just paid for my second 928 (manual '87), so plans are off for another car until I know I have the time free to learn another car to work on.

ShawnSmith

My whole concept with what I'm doing on my 88 S4 is to build something I can romp around town with similar performance to something genuinely exotic like an Aston AMV8 or a F 550, while paying insurance and attention-by-cops-and-thieves premiums of nearly zero.

If I wanna impress someone, I'll rent whatever-the-latest-thing-is for a day.

RyanPerrella

550 in GTS price ranges? No way I wish I would own one

Yes 5550's can be had in the 70's but your average GTS is going to cost about $30 - $40 not exactly comparable

pcar928fan

I think he said for NICE GTS's and maybe down under they are, but not in the US at this point. 456 prices are about the same for equal miles, but the GTS will probably have a nicer interior. The Ferrari interiors just FALL APART! Their dash boards are like the early 928 dash boards with all kinds of leather pull issues. At least down south where it is warm they tend to look like crap.

I too am hoping my next car will be a Ferrari! 360 Spider, 456, 400i...that is the preferred order.

blazing928

I have done quite a few miles in a 550, a friend had one that he tracked and we did the 2004 East Coast Targa in it.
Its just beautiful to drive, the steering is so informative, soooo much power, in my opinion just a vastly different level of performance to the 928, so while prices may be close to a GTS, it sure has a LOT more performance
The general consensus was that the 575 was made softer but the HGTC handling pack gave it back its bite , like the 550. I do prefer the dash in the 575, the F1 gearbox can be a problem in that clutches wear out quickly and even faster when a non sympathetic driver uses them.

Syd's 550 was very good because it actually got driven! It was no garage queen .

I am with Greg [who i brought my 87S4 from :-)))] and would love a 456 for when my 2 kids get too big for the 928, but I know reality will be totally different!

928autobahndreamer

Car? Where?

RyanPerrella

if i had $50 K a 456 is what i would get.

I actually think i prefer the hood of the earlier 456 and the interior over the later 456 M cars.

Get a manual though, apparently the autos run 40K to replace.

pcar928fan

I didn't see the car in that pic either, but what I did see me likey!

pcar928fan

That whole auto trans problem, is bogus. There have probably been a few and if they break they ARE expensive but based on many, many, many HOURS on Ferrari-Chat that problem seems to be a red herring.

jpuzas

This is a timely discussion. I have an opportunity to by a "99" 550 for $45K 51K miles from my father. Perfect car that I know has been babied and well maintained. Problem is that it is not an everyday car like the 928. The 928 is hard to beat. A semi-exotic that looks good and I do not shy away from using it when I suspect snow or any weather. It has been 100% reliable in terms of always getting me where I need to go. It is cheap to maintain thanks to this forum and places like 928 International and 928 Specialists. My sense is that prices for parts are outrageous. Does anyone know if there are places like 928 Specialists and 928 International for Ferrari parts?

docmirror

If you know the history, and like the car that's a real nice deal. I would say if any of the F cars are every day like it would be a 550. It's refined, but still has a Ferrari pull. Check the belts right away, same issue as the 928 engine.

There are independent parts suppliers for the Ferrari crowd, but prices are still pretty toasty. Wear items, and supplies aren't the problem. If you need something like the wiper stalk, or a bit of body trim for a 550, you're flucked.

www.ferrarichat.com is the place to find info. Sadly, there are a coupe of dicks in the forum that don't have much to do except T-bone people looking for info, but you can work around them.