Where to buy a 355..

[GLENNH]

I'm looking for a mint 355 from a dealer for about £50k. Does anyone have any feedback from the likes of Talacrest, Nick Cartwright, Verdi and Foskers, as opposed to a Ferrari main dealer? From what I was told at Talacrest, they all bid for the same cars but main dealers have higher overheads and therefore charge approx £5k more. Is the pre delivery preparation better from a main dealer?

Any help would be really welcome!!

[ek993]

Glen, from personal experience, I have only good things to say about Verdis and Nick Cartwright. I didn't buy my car from Verdis, but Karl certainly made sure the one I bought was up to scratch, and I have been more than happy with the quality of work he has done on the car since I bought it.

Hope that helps.

[tonyhopkins]

Verdi comes out very well from the FerrariChat poll of specialist and main dealers.
Give him a call, you won't regret it.

[James P]

Glen
I bought my car from Jeff at Foskers about 3 months ago. I was not in position to go main dealer route so I don't know if they have better preparation but Jeff sorted everything on mine including new clutch and cambelts. It is early days but no problems yet!.

I know people who use other specialists it just happened that Jeff had the car I was looking for at about the right price.

[v12v8]

Try Kent High Performance Cars (ask for Simon on 07000 360 355). I have bought and sold cars through them. They are mint.

[GLENNH]

Thanks for your responses chaps..

I will definitely try KHP, Nick Cartwright, Foskers and Verdis then. It appears to me that Maranello etc do charge alot for the main dealer kudos. £65k for a 355 from Maranellos does sound a little steep. Thats almost 360 territory..

Glenn

>> Edited by GLENNH on Friday 30th July 20:22

[murph7355]

I paid a good chunk less than that from a main dealer 18mths ago!

360 money aside (if you like the 360 over the 355, then stretch to it), Maranellos have always been pricey but have always come down in price I believe.

PS presume you're talking about a GTB not a Spider.

[GI Jnr]

I may be letting our F355 GTS go for a good price soon. Drop me a PM if you'd consider private...

Purchased from a main dealer in Feb 2004, looks like I may be upgrading to a 360 Spider.

Tuan

[murph7355]

The one at Maranellos has been there a while I think. And there prices, when I was looking, were typically at least 3k heavier than even other main dealers!

Do you specifically want an F1? Nice idea for a box but I don't believe they started to perfect it until the 360CS. It also has a couple of extra parts on it that cost a lot to replace (10-15k I believe).

The manual box is nice to use and you get to hear the click-clack as you change up

Much as I would like to believe otherwise, I think 60k is plenty for a GTB or GTS, and many are now selling for a lot less. Very good cars have been up for less than 50k in the last 6mths.

I'm still of the opinion that the 355 is, and will be for a long while, a sought after model, but high 60s is a bit toppy.

360s are a different proposition IMO. So it will be no surprise when there's some overlap in prices.

[chwhite]

Glenn, I am also actively looking for a 355, but for a GTS or Spider in LHD. It appears we will not be competing for the same car, so perhaps we can share info/ contacts? I have tried to PM you, but it appears you have no contact info in your profile. Do send me a PM if you can and we can speak.

Anyone who is/ thinking of selling, please post here or send me a PM too. Thanks.

[GLENNH]

Charlie... sorry, I picked the hidden email address option but have changed it now. Anyhow, YHM.

I'm definitely going for a manual gearbox then. I would like one with sports seats, but they seem pretty rare.

>> Edited by GLENNH on Sunday 8th August 00:44

[murph7355]

If you mean the carbon ones, Nick Cartwright has one on at 53k. It's a very nice car (have sat in it and had a poke round). Search for "nick cartwright ferrari" in goodle and he'll come out near the top.

Note that the seats came in 3 sizes when the option was ticked, so you'd better make sure you fit in whichever size is fitted to the car you try.

I think the ones in NC's car are M's. I'm quite big and whilst I fitted in them, they would have been a pinch for long stints.

This factor *could* cause hassle at resale, no matter that they look awesome.

[bad company]

I'm about to sell my 355 Spider as the replacement 360 Spider will be ready next month.

Its Red, cream interior, 1999 manual, FFSH, 15000 miles and a Ferrari warranty!

[murph7355]

GLENNH said:

I am after a Berlinetta.

Glen might need to weld a roof on it

[GLENNH]

Andy

Cheers regarding the seat info. Yes, its the carbon seats I'm after and medium size should be ok for me! I have contacted Nick C re. the car you mention and I'm keen to view it. The only problem is that I'm down south and hes not, so it'll take a bit of planning to get up there. Whilst I'm up north, I'm also interested in the one here: www.classiccarshop.co.uk, but I have reservations about buying from a non-Ferrari specialist.

Glenn

>> Edited by GLENNH on Sunday 8th August 17:29

[ek993]

GLENNH said:

Andy Cheers regarding the seat info. Yes, its the carbon seats I'm after and medium size should be ok for me! I have contacted Nick C re. the car you mention and I'm keen to view it. The only problem is that I'm down south and hes not, so it'll take a bit of planning to get up there. Whilst I'm up north, I'm also interested in the one here: <a href="http://www.classiccarshop.co.uk,">www.classiccarshop.co.uk,</a> but I have reservations about buying from a non-Ferrari specialist. Glenn >> Edited by GLENNH on Sunday 8th August 17:29

Glenn, I am also down South (London), and went up to see that car at Nick Cartwright. It really was very simple, got on a train from St Pancras to Derby then had to catch a local train a couple of stops... I did however have some help at the other end in getting from the station to NC's (Still owe you a beer for that one Andy )

The car is very nice indeed, most tidy. The seats are gorgeous. I went to look at it in early April, so has been there for a while now.

Good luck in your search!

Eric

[GLENNH]

Cheers Eric

Are you still looking for a car then?

Glenn

>> Edited by GLENNH on Sunday 8th August 21:14

[ek993]

GLENNH said:

Cheers Eric Are you still looking for a car then? Glenn >> Edited by GLENNH on Sunday 8th August 21:14

No, I ended up getting mine in a private sale from a very young chap in Chelmsford (23yrs old or something!!). Was exactly what I was looking for - UK car, Berlinetta / Rosso / Crema with only 25k miles.

[spice]

bought a prestine 355 gts from foskers ,brands hatch, well worth a look,full 12 month in house warrenty

[mal]

I bought my Dino from Foskers. I have had one of two problems with it as you would expect for a 30 year old car, but all of them have been sorted quickly and efficiently under their in house warranty. So far I would happily recommend them.