i might get lynched but.. anyone here own a fezza!

74rsman · Post by **74rsman** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:08 pm

in particular a testarossa.
are they really a money pit?

whats the closest fezza in useability similiar to a 964/993
(ignore the rear seats - not worried about them)

ive always fancied a 328 for everyday
am i mental?

I know I know im asking the wrong crowd here but who knows some of you might have been there.

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:15 pm

Someone on Impact Bumpers bought one earlier in the year, might be worth double posting on there.

If you've got the potential wedge to throw away then go for it.

you could always get one of these if practicality is an issue

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/cla ... arno/28785

Ian Gunney · Post by **Ian Gunney** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:18 pm

my little brother (he's 32) has owned a 355 for a year or so - done 8,000 miles in it with no big expense - makes a fantastic noise and looks fabulous (it's in Tour de France blue)

I'm sure that others won't agree with this - but much more interesting and fun to drive than the 993C4S I had previously had experience with.

Not sure about everyday use though...that may be a different thing all together

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:34 pm

I think that's always been the ace up porsche's sleeve - a ferrari with 30K on the clock is considered high mileage and a bit risky - a 911 with the same mileage is barely run in.

Love ferraris but if it's my own money porsche gives the best of both worlds

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:52 am

sladey wrote:I think that's always been the ace up porsche's sleeve - a ferrari with 30K on the clock is considered high mileage and a bit risky - a 911 with the same mileage is barely run in.

Love ferraris but if it's my own money porsche gives the best of both worlds

Agree, one of the designers here had a lovely 328, but virtually had to give it away as it had 80K on it.

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:46 am

and there was me getting all excited thinking this was going to be a post about fiestas

RichiRich · Post by **RichiRich** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:06 am

A friend of mine once owned a 348 spider, I even got the chance to drive it which was exhilerating to say the least.

Maintenance costs weren't a worry for him as he was/is an IT contractor/consultant. Rear tyres, an oil change, and a window seal cost him ~£1000. But that was nothing compared to a "full service", where they basically take the engine out - it cost him ~£11000!!!

That was equivalent to a third of his purchase price.

If you like the looks, but don't need the performance, you could always go for a replica

, but don't go telling everyone it's a Ferrari!!

http://www.dnaautomotive.com/

JAN · Post by **JAN** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:10 am

My bro in law had a 550 marinello. Lovely car, cost around £10-15k a year to keep on the road, would always overheat, cost him a fortune. Lovely thing though.

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:22 am

They're very good replicas RichiRich

I was expecting to see those horrible MR2 based ones, but those are on another level in comparison.

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:08 am

I've heard lots about ferrari improving reliability and designing the cars so you can actually service them without removing 1/2 the car, and I think they're making strides in the right direction.. however, recently i read a review on buying a second hand F430 and a specialist (think it might have been meridian) made a comment along the lines..

"the newer F1 paddle shift gearbox fitted to the F430 is far superior and infinetly more reliable than the previous generation. with sensible driving it should last around 40,000 miles before requiring a rebuild"

40,000 miles?!.. are you f'ing kidding?!.. the new M3 would only have had 2 oil changes at that mileage (yes, i know they're not really comparible)

this is my major problem with ferrari; its all very well producing 130bhp/litre from an N/A engine with an automated manual which can change gear in 70mS, but if its going to need rebuilding in 40,000 miles at a cost of 1/2 the cars value then why not produce a turbo engine with a DSG gearbox which produces exactly the same numbers (easilly) for 2/3 the money, and runs like a clockwork swiss faberge egg?..

"for that reason, I'm out"

Project 911 · Post by **Project 911** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:06 pm

I have (not Testarossa though), this is my 3rd.

( I have 348, then went for 360 (I kept 348 for a while and then made mistake and sold it) which wasn't my cup of tea and then got 348 again. This one will stay with me always.

)

First I recommend that you go to www.clubscuderia.co.uk , our excellent forum. They won't be money pits when you buy good one, and also (if) you can buy used parts they are cheaper than Porsche ones as less buyers around so it won't that crazy as with early 911's that everything is "super rare" even tens of thousans cars were made... Those parts are actually rare but still you can pick them up very cheaply often (like I bought spare e.g. engine ) And also you can get new parts fairly cheaply (not all, some are very expensive), often same parts were used in other cars as well.
Fezzas generally are reliable if WELL serviced (not all service places are good), and somethingg that they need rebuilt after 50k miles is utterly rubbish. And your car would be really dog if you get over 5k£ service costs. Often older models (pre 360) are actually serviced by owners themselves, I mean good cars but they rarely come for sale. In Testarossas/348's/355's you really remove engine but the whole craddle inc suspension will come off and its very quick job, you can do belts engine in as well but IMO to do proper job, you remove engine (it really isn't big issue, its desiged to be easily removed!)

But I woudn't get it for everyday use, then you are asking for bigger bills and I think it would take a away some of the magic about going for drive. Plus they do get attention so at least I rather take something less "flashy".

But do me one favour, DO NOT believe e.g. what Autocar etc sayw about used Ferraris, and I wouldn't trust sales people too much either. Better to ask from people who actually owns these cars...

Project 911 · Post by **Project 911** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:15 pm

JAN wrote:My bro in law had a 550 marinello. Lovely car, cost around £10-15k a year to keep on the road, would always overheat, cost him a fortune. Lovely thing though.

Few of my friend have 550/575 (and I was trying to buy as well before LHD prices went crazy), on average it costs maybe 2-3k£ per year so your brother must have owned real lemon.

Depends of course how much you drive.

(or if you include petrol, then he must have driven quite a lot)

kevdodd · Post by **kevdodd** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:15 pm

Wasn't there a top gear thing on owning super cars once. Basically the bloke with the ferrari had to spedn thousands each year even if he didn't drive it.

And they said that the carbon brake disks only lasted so long then needed changing at a cost of something like 10k!!

I would rather a Porsche anyday, but then thats typical German engineering for you - built to last. Not Itallian rubbish!

Mind you, I have always liked the 308 GTS, wheres my chest wig gone!!

sng45 · Post by **sng45** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:36 pm

I've had a 355 GTS, a 360 Modena and a 360 Spider - the 355 was ok but expensive a belt service was an engine out job £2,300 ish a fairly nice car to drive, probably comparable with a 993.
I thought the 360 Modena was a fantastic car, I bought it from an Independent dealer ( Nick Cartwright) and had it serviced by an Independent as well which kept the costs down but ensured the job was done properly, the 360 Spider was a great car (bought from a main dealer in the south west) until it went to a main Ferrari dealer in Leeds(on recomendation from the supplying dealer) for some work who managed to completely screw it up to the point where the I ended up getting a full refund on the car ! I would suggest the 360 is probably a 996 equivilent in terms of ease of driving and to me always felt special to drive!
I did try to buy an F40 a couple of years ago but got messed about by the dealer in Geneva - he may have done me the biggest favour of my life from the point of view of servicing costs ! I think buying from and having it looked after by an independent dealer is the way to go.
Definately a 430 Spider for me next !

kevdodd · Post by **kevdodd** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:46 pm

Am I right in thinking that Bernie Fineman (bloke from Chop Shop and Bangla Bangers) was a Ferrari mechanic?

I remember seeing a program a long time ago of some bloke who I thought was him, who had a really good exclusive servicing company for Ferraris?