Opinions please :-)

[tempt8]

2 choices of 458 coupe:

1) 458 yellow with racing seats, 80k miles but it’s had an engine rebuild from a specialist engine place approx 1000 miles ago
OR
2) 458 red with cream comfort seats, 25k miles, Cat D recorded but repaired to a high standard.

Both cars have similar spec and full main dealer history.

Now, clearly we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but, I’d like to hear your opinions on which car out of the two above would I have least difficulty selling in a couple of years time?

Edited by tempt8 on Wednesday 1st January 23:12

[Durzel]

Neither choice is great to be honest.

How quickly do you think you’d need the money if you wanted (or needed) to exit? Neither car will be easy to sell, even at market value. Dealers won’t touch either car which limits your market further.

Both cars will invite big questions about their history that you probably won’t be able to answer conclusively because the major events (write off and engine rebuild) weren’t done during your ownership.

Both cars could have significant bills ahead. An engine rebuild might be alright but what about the other components that have done 80k? As for the Cat D car, I’d want to see an engineer report and photos of the damage to have any confidence.

If you can get either car for a lot cheaper than the going rate then it could work, but I’d expect problems when trying to punt either car on.

[MingtheMerciless]

I agree with Durzel. These are cars to buy really cheap and with a fund set to one side to fix and possibly with a view to not being able to shift at the right time for what you might regard as the right money. I was being a bit facetious with my comment on starship mileage but 80k is at the upper end of ever being able to shift it again if you put some miles on it for more than pin money.

If either is still in the F dealer network (and if the engine rebuild was done by Ferrari in the case of the yellow car*) and you had a powertrain warranty with it that might move the dial a bit towards it. Everyone has their own taste but non carbon seats would put me off the red one. If it were me, subject as above, I'd buy the yellow one if it was really cheap and I'd buy it knowing I'd be paying for bits that wear out (so would budget to pay for all the consumables and suspension parts and retrimming the interior etc. at wallet shocking prices - the engine is actually pretty solid) and drive it hard on the basis that I wasn't keeping this girlfriend for the next bloke.

• Edit I note you mention "specialist place". This means it is definitely outside the F network and that takes another chunk off the price for me, even if they are very good. This is just what I would think, not necessarily gospel.

[tempt8]

The is for the replies guys :-)

They’re both around £90k mark, I’d like to think that I’d see a return of around £80k in 2 years time?

[Gibbo205]

tempt8 said:

The is for the replies guys :-)

They’re both around £90k mark, I’d like to think that I’d see a return of around £80k in 2 years time?

Why not offer 80k on both, then decided based on the one who comes closest to your target price.

Then in 2yr time advertise 10k below lowest in market so expect no doubt circa 65-75k maybe......


As which to buy, well I am biased but the yellow is the nicer car, also a much better specification and if you got rid of the carbon badges, replaced with original, also de-tint the rear lights and get it looking a much classier car how the 458 Italia was intended will also aid its value.

You should test drive a few, then test drive yellow one, does it pull just as well, if it feels just as strong as others you drove, no odd sounds, rattles, engine knocks etc. I feel at 80-85k that yellow car is worth a shot, then get it looking more classy, like my own and that will only help value.

When I spotted it for sale in March I thought the car looked woeful, silly wing, carbon badges, tinted lights to me made it look bad, the worse element of that the wing is now gone, just sorted badges and tints out, it is then a much nicer car.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Thursday 2nd January 13:42

[tempt8]

Gibbo205 said:

Why not offer 80k on both, then decided based on the one who comes closest to your target price.

Then in 2yr time advertise 10k below lowest in market so expect no doubt circa 65-75k maybe......


As which to buy, well I am biased but the yellow is the nicer car, also a much better specification and if you got rid of the carbon badges, replaced with original, also de-tint the rear lights and get it looking a much classier car how the 458 Italia was intended will also aid its value.

You should test drive a few, then test drive yellow one, does it pull just as well, if it feels just as strong as others you drove, no odd sounds, rattles, engine knocks etc. I feel at 80-85k that yellow car is worth a shot, then get it looking more classy, like my own and that will only help value.

When I spotted it for sale in March I thought the car looked woeful, silly wing, carbon badges, tinted lights to me made it look bad, the worse element of that the wing is now gone, just sorted badges and tints out, it is then a much nicer car.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Thursday 2nd January 13:42

Thanks mate. I totally agree about the lights and wing shields although it turns out the shields were a ferrari factory option and are listed on the spec sheet lol. He won’t go any lower than 88k though which I’m now unsure about.

[BlackR8]

At £88k it would still comfortably be the cheapest 458 in the market and possibly amongst the cheapest I personally have ever seen a non-CAT 458.

[Gibbo205]

tempt8 said:

Thanks mate. I totally agree about the lights and wing shields although it turns out the shields were a ferrari factory option and are listed on the spec sheet lol. He won’t go any lower than 88k though which I’m now unsure about.

I feel at 88k it is relatively a bargain, maybe put 85k on the table and let him think it over.

Get rid of the tints and any other none factory modifications, hard to tell from pictures is the roof painted black or is it wrapped?

Anyway its a nice spec car, buckets, carbon etc. its only downside is miles and engine rebuild, if it was rebuilt by Ferrari I'd feel it was a value adder at those miles but as its an unknown entity then the risk is who are they, do they have a solid reputation or will potential new buyers just think the engine will let go again.

As its being rebuilt one has to assume there is a VAT invoice for that rebuild, if so is it included with the car and does that company have a good reputation. If no invoice and if no reputation then yes that would worry me.

End of the day there is a 458 on Ebay for 50k, a smashed up one, though its only body panels and they are willing to break and sell engine, gearbox separately etc, you have to simply consider and have a slush fund aside for what may break in the future for a car with no warranty. The 458 is quite a reliable motor but this one failed, albeit around 80k miles but why did it fail, guessing from what you said sounds like typically failure on high revving motors, rod bearings, crank etc.

I'd buy this car more based on keeping forever, rather than moving it on, if you got a spare 85k you can just essentially drop into a fun car and well there is not much more fun than what a Ferrari can deliver go for it, but if your worried, chances are you will have sleepless nights worrying over what may break or what its value may be with 100k miles in 2-3yr time.

As others said the Category car, if you can document repair and prove it was cosmetic and prove it was repaired with original parts to original standards and get that car for around 85k it is probably safer bet as in 2yr with say 40-50k miles it should still fetch you 75k region. Whereas a 100k mile car with engine rebuild is kind of tricky grounds.

[SRBA]

If the Red CAT D car is from the Bromley area, avoid like the plague!! (This has black comfort seats)

The owner will not fill you with confidence when you ask questions about the repair, no report available, not even sure he knows where it was repaired. Front right hand lines all out sync and not a great looking car in general, especially not up close!!

A CAT D Ferrari will always be hard to move on, especially at this sort of value. Unfortunately for us all, there are no cheap Ferrari’s, especially not 458’s, that’s why I bought an F430 🙃

[tempt8]

Gibbo205 said:

tempt8 said:

Thanks mate. I totally agree about the lights and wing shields although it turns out the shields were a ferrari factory option and are listed on the spec sheet lol. He won’t go any lower than 88k though which I’m now unsure about.

I feel at 88k it is relatively a bargain, maybe put 85k on the table and let him think it over.

Get rid of the tints and any other none factory modifications, hard to tell from pictures is the roof painted black or is it wrapped?

Anyway its a nice spec car, buckets, carbon etc. its only downside is miles and engine rebuild, if it was rebuilt by Ferrari I'd feel it was a value adder at those miles but as its an unknown entity then the risk is who are they, do they have a solid reputation or will potential new buyers just think the engine will let go again.

As its being rebuilt one has to assume there is a VAT invoice for that rebuild, if so is it included with the car and does that company have a good reputation. If no invoice and if no reputation then yes that would worry me.

End of the day there is a 458 on Ebay for 50k, a smashed up one, though its only body panels and they are willing to break and sell engine, gearbox separately etc, you have to simply consider and have a slush fund aside for what may break in the future for a car with no warranty. The 458 is quite a reliable motor but this one failed, albeit around 80k miles but why did it fail, guessing from what you said sounds like typically failure on high revving motors, rod bearings, crank etc.

I'd buy this car more based on keeping forever, rather than moving it on, if you got a spare 85k you can just essentially drop into a fun car and well there is not much more fun than what a Ferrari can deliver go for it, but if your worried, chances are you will have sleepless nights worrying over what may break or what its value may be with 100k miles in 2-3yr time.

As others said the Category car, if you can document repair and prove it was cosmetic and prove it was repaired with original parts to original standards and get that car for around 85k it is probably safer bet as in 2yr with say 40-50k miles it should still fetch you 75k region. Whereas a 100k mile car with engine rebuild is kind of tricky grounds.

Thanks mate :-) Tge rebuild was done by field motorsport and has a receipt for the rebuild at £18k. The chap with the red one won’t go below £95k but has no proof of repair due to it having been done before his ownership (so he says). If there’s a damaged one going for £50k I’d like to think I’d see £70k return for this in around 3 years time.

[tempt8]

SRBA said:

If the Red CAT D car is from the Bromley area, avoid like the plague!! (This has black comfort seats)

The owner will not fill you with confidence when you ask questions about the repair, no report available, not even sure he knows where it was repaired. Front right hand lines all out sync and not a great looking car in general, especially not up close!!

A CAT D Ferrari will always be hard to move on, especially at this sort of value. Unfortunately for us all, there are no cheap Ferrari’s, especially not 458’s, that’s why I bought an F430 ??

It’s on autotrader, red with cream bud. Looks decent in all fairness but he won’t come lower than 95k which I feel is a lot for a recorded car.

[dereksharpuk]

Personally forget them both. If you cannot afford a decent 458, buy a 430 or even a 360. Both are great and will not bring you aggro. If something is too good (or cheap) to be true, then it is not true. Without a full history, don't touch. If you are 100% aware of exactly what has occurred, then buy it, but only if you are not bothered about being able to sell it later.

[Taffy66]

dereksharpuk said:

Personally forget them both. If you cannot afford a decent 458, buy a 430 or even a 360. Both are great and will not bring you aggro. If something is too good (or cheap) to be true, then it is not true. Without a full history, don't touch. If you are 100% aware of exactly what has occurred, then buy it, but only if you are not bothered about being able to sell it later.

I agree 100%..I wouldn't touch either of these cars for any money..No real nice 458s to be had under £135k unless you compromise on spec..

[MingtheMerciless]

I agree. Just not cheap enough. I was thinking £75k for the yellow one and not bothering at all on the red one. There is a thread on the £50k McLaren in relation to a high mileage 12C. Have a read of that. The Ferrari premium on a car with an engine rebuilt outside the F network is not huge over that car.

[tempt8]

dereksharpuk said:

Personally forget them both. If you cannot afford a decent 458, buy a 430 or even a 360. Both are great and will not bring you aggro. If something is too good (or cheap) to be true, then it is not true. Without a full history, don't touch. If you are 100% aware of exactly what has occurred, then buy it, but only if you are not bothered about being able to sell it later.

Thanks mate. I’ve already had a 360, 430, California etc hence wanting a 458 but was looking for a cheap one that I could use and sell on cheap afterwards :-)

[tempt8]

MingtheMerciless said:

I agree. Just not cheap enough. I was thinking £75k for the yellow one and not bothering at all on the red one. There is a thread on the £50k McLaren in relation to a high mileage 12C. Have a read of that. The Ferrari premium on a car with an engine rebuilt outside the F network is not huge over that car.

I did have a read of that, it was interesting :-) I was considering a Mac 570 but they seem to depreciate big time.

[footsoldier]

Definitely wouldn’t buy either. If you can’t afford to wait for a better one, you can’t afford to get stuck with either of these.

If you have to choose, I’d go for the high miler, as at least it will be sellable at a low price. Other one might well not sell at all.

[dereksharpuk]

tempt8 said:

dereksharpuk said:

Personally forget them both. If you cannot afford a decent 458, buy a 430 or even a 360. Both are great and will not bring you aggro. If something is too good (or cheap) to be true, then it is not true. Without a full history, don't touch. If you are 100% aware of exactly what has occurred, then buy it, but only if you are not bothered about being able to sell it later.

Thanks mate. I’ve already had a 360, 430, California etc hence wanting a 458 but was looking for a cheap one that I could use and sell on cheap afterwards :-)

OK, if you want a 458 in any condition, then you will probably want to drive it. If you are sure that the 458 will not let you down anymore than any other 458 and if you are not at all bothered with how much you can sell it on for, then buy it. You will be able to sell it 'cheap afterwards'; the only question is 'How cheap'

[dereksharpuk]

footsoldier said:

Definitely wouldn’t buy either. If you can’t afford to wait for a better one, you can’t afford to get stuck with either of these.

If you have to choose, I’d go for the high miler, as at least it will be sellable at a low price. Other one might well not sell at all.

Probably true.

[Durzel]

footsoldier said:

Definitely wouldn’t buy either. If you can’t afford to wait for a better one, you can’t afford to get stuck with either of these.

This is the big problem in my opinion. If being able to release the money quickly is a priority, then perversely a cheap 458 probably won’t achieve that.