Selling LHD 355's
Discussion
Has anyone here owned and then sold a LHD 355 ? Most of the 355's I see for sale are LHD and I don't have a problem with that, but I do worry that they may be harder to shift. I think a late LHD 355GTB (£50k ish)is the most I could stretch to.
Also are there any recomemnded independant dealers between Birmingham and Manchester ?
Andy
Also are there any recomemnded independant dealers between Birmingham and Manchester ?
Andy
Andy - they are no harder to shift, but LHD cars are more expensive to insure, and more difficult to maintain AND there's a major snob factor to be overcome too.
I've recently be riding around in a RHD F355 and it feels that were it to be LHD it would be a much more viable driving proposition than LHD 550.... i.e driving it itself should be OK.
I've recently be riding around in a RHD F355 and it feels that were it to be LHD it would be a much more viable driving proposition than LHD 550.... i.e driving it itself should be OK.
quote:
Andy - they are no harder to shift, but LHD cars are more expensive to insure, and more difficult to maintain AND there's a major snob factor to be overcome too.
I've recently be riding around in a RHD F355 and it feels that were it to be LHD it would be a much more viable driving proposition than LHD 550.... i.e driving it itself should be OK.
manu,
it is very interesting to hear about LHD/RHD driving differences.
Where does that snob factor come from?
I'm used to drive LHD (usually continental traffic), and when driving RHD, I must acclimate to left hand gear shift, which is quite unusual then.
If I imagine the sophisticated sticky gear change on Ferrari boxes with my left hand, I'd opt for an LHD.
Though, overtaking a van on a B-road is a tricky job sitting on the left and driving on the near side.
Bodo
dyb,
maybe your interested in something special :
www.uk.mobile.de/cgi-bin/search.pl?CountOff=38&DataNr=16&DisplayDetail=27539198
(I've posted that pic somewhere here already)
>> Edited by Bodo on Tuesday 25th June 03:38
Snob value does exist.I went to a dealer in Colchester and asked who converts the car to rhd , as it was designed lhd ( similar E30 BMW M3) is something lost in the transition to RHD and did the factory actually manually do the work themselves Was told "We don`t touch lhd because of warranty " I was in jeans , arrived in an `88 350 c.i. Overfinch and I`m 54 but sufficient funds . Have since gone abroad, Belgium to have a look around. £45,000 ( all taxes paid) buys a `97 Red lhd G.T.B with full history with 12,000 miles. I hav`n`t bought yet though as I think prices will fall.
If you haven't driven a 355 to compare with, the 348 is a very competant Ferrari dispite the lack of enthusiasm the press give it. >> maybe your interested in something special :
Most sports cars would look good in that colour (Astons especially) but not that one. Maybe a GTB.
Though, overtaking a van on a B-road is a tricky job sitting on the left and driving on the near side.
I do a lot of driving in France in a RHD car and apart from pulling onto motorways, looking over your shoulder it is no problem.
Andy
>> Edited by dyb on Friday 28th June 20:04
Most sports cars would look good in that colour (Astons especially) but not that one. Maybe a GTB.
Though, overtaking a van on a B-road is a tricky job sitting on the left and driving on the near side.
I do a lot of driving in France in a RHD car and apart from pulling onto motorways, looking over your shoulder it is no problem.
Andy
>> Edited by dyb on Friday 28th June 20:04
That green Ferrari is the worst looking F355 I've ever seen.
Abouth the LHD/RHD snob factor - it comes from this:
Put simply LHDs are cheaper than RHD's.
Now this SHOULD mean that LHDs are bought by those desperate for the Ferrari experience - namely lifelong Ferrari enthusiasts (LIKE ME) who don't QUITE have the means. Instead this doesn't happen - Strangely the reverse seems to be true (no offence meant to LHD guys (inc me)). Head for Central London and the pathetic poseurs parading up and down Edgware Road and Picadilly are all LHD Ferraris - They are desperate to POSE and have picked the first cheapest Ferrari they could find. This lot think that heeling and toeing is a new tantric sex technique....
Net reuslt is that all RHD guys get pissed that we're bringing their residual values down (more Ferrari LHD or RHD = more supply = lower price) whilst us LHD enthusiast guys (small contingent) who rightly buy LHD to actually GET the car of their dreams, get looked down on for basically having less money and are then seen incorrectly as posing tossers down the Kings Road. Major snob factor.....
Sorry about the rant - hope I've not offended anyone......
Manu
Abouth the LHD/RHD snob factor - it comes from this:
Put simply LHDs are cheaper than RHD's.
Now this SHOULD mean that LHDs are bought by those desperate for the Ferrari experience - namely lifelong Ferrari enthusiasts (LIKE ME) who don't QUITE have the means. Instead this doesn't happen - Strangely the reverse seems to be true (no offence meant to LHD guys (inc me)). Head for Central London and the pathetic poseurs parading up and down Edgware Road and Picadilly are all LHD Ferraris - They are desperate to POSE and have picked the first cheapest Ferrari they could find. This lot think that heeling and toeing is a new tantric sex technique....
Net reuslt is that all RHD guys get pissed that we're bringing their residual values down (more Ferrari LHD or RHD = more supply = lower price) whilst us LHD enthusiast guys (small contingent) who rightly buy LHD to actually GET the car of their dreams, get looked down on for basically having less money and are then seen incorrectly as posing tossers down the Kings Road. Major snob factor.....
Sorry about the rant - hope I've not offended anyone......
Manu
I always believe a true Ferrari is a LHD Ferrari. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the RHD examples, they just make sense for the UK roads and Earls Court Tesco (ticket machine on the right). I just prefer to change gears on the right.
The UK really takes the tea, biscuit, cake and coffee table with its pricing of Ferrari cars. Unless money is no object to you I'd go LHD as it handier when you want to explore Europe, leaving the tiny island of Gatso/parking ticket-land far behind.
As far as snob factor goes, most guys I know in London get the LHD because (a) it comes out first and (b) they like to use the car when they travel. I understand the posers buying a LHD and riding around Kensington and Chelsea but alot of the sons of the Arab sheiks do the same thing in a RHD. Pay no attention as most of those guys end up trashing their cars. If you care so much about what people think then don't buy the car. If you want a Ferrari buy a Ferrari and love every minute of it LHD or RHD. Forget depreciation and servicing costs on these cars as both will be higher than most things you could buy.
Good luck in your search. Oh and remember things like curb heights if you buy a LHD, especially in Kensington.
The UK really takes the tea, biscuit, cake and coffee table with its pricing of Ferrari cars. Unless money is no object to you I'd go LHD as it handier when you want to explore Europe, leaving the tiny island of Gatso/parking ticket-land far behind.
As far as snob factor goes, most guys I know in London get the LHD because (a) it comes out first and (b) they like to use the car when they travel. I understand the posers buying a LHD and riding around Kensington and Chelsea but alot of the sons of the Arab sheiks do the same thing in a RHD. Pay no attention as most of those guys end up trashing their cars. If you care so much about what people think then don't buy the car. If you want a Ferrari buy a Ferrari and love every minute of it LHD or RHD. Forget depreciation and servicing costs on these cars as both will be higher than most things you could buy.
Good luck in your search. Oh and remember things like curb heights if you buy a LHD, especially in Kensington.
quote:
That green Ferrari is the worst looking F355 I've ever seen.
Abouth the LHD/RHD snob factor - it comes from this:
Put simply LHDs are cheaper than RHD's.
Now this SHOULD mean that LHDs are bought by those desperate for the Ferrari experience - namely lifelong Ferrari enthusiasts (LIKE ME) who don't QUITE have the means. Instead this doesn't happen - Strangely the reverse seems to be true (no offence meant to LHD guys (inc me)). Head for Central London and the pathetic poseurs parading up and down Edgware Road and Picadilly are all LHD Ferraris - They are desperate to POSE and have picked the first cheapest Ferrari they could find. This lot think that heeling and toeing is a new tantric sex technique....
Net reuslt is that all RHD guys get pissed that we're bringing their residual values down (more Ferrari LHD or RHD = more supply = lower price) whilst us LHD enthusiast guys (small contingent) who rightly buy LHD to actually GET the car of their dreams, get looked down on for basically having less money and are then seen incorrectly as posing tossers down the Kings Road. Major snob factor.....
Sorry about the rant - hope I've not offended anyone......
Manu
Top rant, Manu!
Poseurs seem to be a common problem to enthusiasts, as they influence public positions. For every type of car, not just Ferrari.
I know a lot of people who hide their Porsche/Ferrari; because they care for their public appearance and do not want to be confused with new richs or swanks. Their car is often kept in a closed carport and they'll only take it out after dark for tunnel rides or for longer holidays to the Alps.
I expect the olive green 355 to be ordered by somebody who used it in public. Can't tell if it was used for posing or shocking, though.
Bodo
On the subject of posing.....Ninja and I were in Leicester Sq on sat night and saw a Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 (blue).
Windows down, with rap music blaring out, the driver was feeding in 4000rpm launching forward for 1 metre before stomping on the brakes.... But what really made me laugh was the fact that he was trying desperately to lean out of the window with his face darting erratically right and left hoping somoene would notice him..... Instead he managed to do an excellent impression of a thirsty dog dribbling out of the side of a caravan....
I apologise in advance for this post - people should drive their cars however they want..I'm just jealous.... what a waste though...
Windows down, with rap music blaring out, the driver was feeding in 4000rpm launching forward for 1 metre before stomping on the brakes.... But what really made me laugh was the fact that he was trying desperately to lean out of the window with his face darting erratically right and left hoping somoene would notice him..... Instead he managed to do an excellent impression of a thirsty dog dribbling out of the side of a caravan....
I apologise in advance for this post - people should drive their cars however they want..I'm just jealous.... what a waste though...
maranellouk; right on. could not agree more with your post.
i bought a lhd 512tr, not only because it was cheaper and i am not stupid (why spend more for less functionality everwhere but here?), and because precisely as was said earlier, the only place you can really let it go is on the continent anyway. the other reason is that, god willing, i won't ever sell it, and when i finally move away from this lovely island, it will likely be to a lhd drive country.
rhd snobbism is a product of uk dealers efforts to justify their higher mark-up vs continental dealers. anybody who buys into this bs, deserves to pay more.
i bought a lhd 512tr, not only because it was cheaper and i am not stupid (why spend more for less functionality everwhere but here?), and because precisely as was said earlier, the only place you can really let it go is on the continent anyway. the other reason is that, god willing, i won't ever sell it, and when i finally move away from this lovely island, it will likely be to a lhd drive country.
rhd snobbism is a product of uk dealers efforts to justify their higher mark-up vs continental dealers. anybody who buys into this bs, deserves to pay more.
At the FOC meeting I saw a lot of LHD drives, especially 355's. To be honest with you what you say about the "snobbism" sounds true in principle but in practice a lot of the LHD 355s seemed pretty battered and looked like they hadn't had the right level of care and attention. This could be synonymous with the fact that the LHD cars are a lot cheaper to buy and hence bought by people who can't stretch to RHD money.
They therefore cannot always afford the maintenance of these cars and also costs for repairs. 85% of the RHD cars I saw looked new, 60% of the LHD cars looked a little tired, although this was more true of the 355's than any other Ferrari.
I am not saying that this is the case all the time, the truth of the matter is that I too would always consider a LHD Ferrari as it still is a Ferrari and you save money into the bargain. What is important is the history of the cars and (to me) the all important Ferrari warranty. I don't give a toss what anyone says about LHD dealers(good or bad experiences), but the warranties that they offer are just not the same, thats if they are worth anything at all.
Plus, when you want to sell your Ferrari, if its LHD then the official Ferrari dealers won't sell it on for you, so you either use the specialists or you sell it privately. I for one would never buy a Ferrari privately unless it was a real bargain, I am pretty sure most potential purchasers feel the same.
They therefore cannot always afford the maintenance of these cars and also costs for repairs. 85% of the RHD cars I saw looked new, 60% of the LHD cars looked a little tired, although this was more true of the 355's than any other Ferrari.
I am not saying that this is the case all the time, the truth of the matter is that I too would always consider a LHD Ferrari as it still is a Ferrari and you save money into the bargain. What is important is the history of the cars and (to me) the all important Ferrari warranty. I don't give a toss what anyone says about LHD dealers(good or bad experiences), but the warranties that they offer are just not the same, thats if they are worth anything at all.
Plus, when you want to sell your Ferrari, if its LHD then the official Ferrari dealers won't sell it on for you, so you either use the specialists or you sell it privately. I for one would never buy a Ferrari privately unless it was a real bargain, I am pretty sure most potential purchasers feel the same.
RPK - what you say about dealer attitudes regarding LHDs is absolutely right - they'll find anyway they can to con you.
Mind you a LHD 512TR - bloody hell! - Fabulous car but it cannot be easy piloting such a huge wide car on such narrow UK roads.
They actually say that LHD Ferraris feel more 'natural' that RHD ones and are built better also but then that could be BS too. Either way I don't know.
But there are quite a few tired LHDS around the UK and I really think that a warranty of some kind is essential. But if you're saving 15k on with a LHD choice then that can pay for a lot of repairs......
Mind you a LHD 512TR - bloody hell! - Fabulous car but it cannot be easy piloting such a huge wide car on such narrow UK roads.
They actually say that LHD Ferraris feel more 'natural' that RHD ones and are built better also but then that could be BS too. Either way I don't know.
But there are quite a few tired LHDS around the UK and I really think that a warranty of some kind is essential. But if you're saving 15k on with a LHD choice then that can pay for a lot of repairs......
Yep.
15k towards looking after your Ferrari!
15k towards keeping your ferrari's thirst quenched!
15k towards some first class flights and tickets to a G.P with change for a tubi exhuast from Manu!
By the way Manu, I saw a 550 by Queen's Gate when I was last in town. Looked a little different with 6! pipes (3 on each side). Where, what, why and how?
15k towards looking after your Ferrari!
15k towards keeping your ferrari's thirst quenched!
15k towards some first class flights and tickets to a G.P with change for a tubi exhuast from Manu!
By the way Manu, I saw a 550 by Queen's Gate when I was last in town. Looked a little different with 6! pipes (3 on each side). Where, what, why and how?
My thoughts exactly. When I got home I told my Father-in-law about it. He simply said "some people have nothing better to do other than ruin their cars".
Beefy looking slick backed(Euro style)blonde-hair guy with a pair of those shades you see old time movie stars tottering around in. Made him look like a bit of a ass.
Probably a just a nice guy with a strange fetish for exhuast pipes. They did sound awesome however.
Beefy looking slick backed(Euro style)blonde-hair guy with a pair of those shades you see old time movie stars tottering around in. Made him look like a bit of a ass.
Probably a just a nice guy with a strange fetish for exhuast pipes. They did sound awesome however.
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