Trying to convince the wife on the purchase is just the beginning! Hiding the reciepts of the repairs will be ongoing! You do know distributor caps are $200+ each, and you'll need two? How about $2700 dollar exhaust systems? I'm not trying to scare you away, but if you think BMW parts are $$$...
I also suffer from having too many cars, and had to sell my 911 after a few years of Ferrari ownership. Although their characters are different, I saw more redundancy between the Ferrari and the Porsche than with my Mustang and Alpine. I did manage to convince my wife recently we needed a pickup truck, so all is not lost!
Tom
Lurker intro: need reality check
I've found it best to try to make an offer on the altar of marriage-after my wife got the audi convertible she wanted, she stopped being so critical of my "hobby".
Check out that 330gtc! I know mine isn't as pretty (or as rusty!), but what a price differential. I'm taking out the back seats and putting in a parcel shelf with leather tie downs.
Check out that 330gtc! I know mine isn't as pretty (or as rusty!), but what a price differential. I'm taking out the back seats and putting in a parcel shelf with leather tie downs.
The advice is greatly appreciated! I suspect the BMW will eventually get the boot, but it sure is nice having a convertible down here. To complicate matters, my daughter will be turning 16 in about a year and a half and will need a safe little tank to drive...
My wife does drive manual transmission. She's about 5' even, so I hope she'll be able to reach the pedals.
Tom - I used to think BMW parts were expensive, that is until I looked at some prices for vintage Ferraris. I budgeted $200 a month for the BMW (not including gas or insurance), which has turned out to be too much. I expect to increase the amount considerably.
Which brings me to another question: are suspension parts, bushings, bearings, coils and shocks readily available?
My wife does drive manual transmission. She's about 5' even, so I hope she'll be able to reach the pedals.
Tom - I used to think BMW parts were expensive, that is until I looked at some prices for vintage Ferraris. I budgeted $200 a month for the BMW (not including gas or insurance), which has turned out to be too much. I expect to increase the amount considerably.
Which brings me to another question: are suspension parts, bushings, bearings, coils and shocks readily available?
I wind up spending around $3K per year on my 330, farming out everything but screwdriver-level work on it, at this point.
Good anonymous survey questions:
1) How much does your 330 cost per year in maintenance and repair?
2) How many miles per year is it driven?
3) Does your wife enjoy your 330 / like it / tolerate it / ??
Good anonymous survey questions:
1) How much does your 330 cost per year in maintenance and repair?
2) How many miles per year is it driven?
3) Does your wife enjoy your 330 / like it / tolerate it / ??
Deane
'67 330GTS (gone but not forgotten)
'67 330GTS (gone but not forgotten)
-
Dr. Ian Levy
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2002 1:16 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
- Contact:
Lurker intro: need reality check
Hello Deane
What do you get done for $3k & what sort of guy does the work?
In the UK labour rates are anything from $85-$170 an hour plus 17.5% VAT
Here are some examples of prices from non Ferrari dealer specialists
Testarossa/Mondial/348/355 cambelt +18k service $2300
Major service 360 Modena $1700
Major service 308/328/Mondial$1300
How do these numbers compare with the rates charged in the US
Regards
Ian L
Manchester
England
UK
What do you get done for $3k & what sort of guy does the work?
In the UK labour rates are anything from $85-$170 an hour plus 17.5% VAT
Here are some examples of prices from non Ferrari dealer specialists
Testarossa/Mondial/348/355 cambelt +18k service $2300
Major service 360 Modena $1700
Major service 308/328/Mondial$1300
How do these numbers compare with the rates charged in the US
Regards
Ian L
Manchester
England
UK
Hi Doc,
My car was completely restored, every nut and bolt, about five years ago. So $3K is about an average for yearly fluids change ($400 maybe), and the minor surprises and tweaks ($2700): fuel pump rebuild, warped brake rotor, cracked transaxle mount from a previous marginal repair, minor restoration fettling, etc.
My car is old enough to use chains rather than belts, and it turns out I only drive it about 800 miles per year, so I've only done one "major" service (incl. valve lash, spark plugs plugs, ignition timing, carb adjust) so far.
The work is done by Patrick Ottis in the San Francisco bay area: a local-grown Francois type who has been rebuilding Ferrari engines for about the last 25-30 years, I think he does several engines per month. He's an outstanding craftsman specializing on older cars. He charges around $100 per hour.
My car was completely restored, every nut and bolt, about five years ago. So $3K is about an average for yearly fluids change ($400 maybe), and the minor surprises and tweaks ($2700): fuel pump rebuild, warped brake rotor, cracked transaxle mount from a previous marginal repair, minor restoration fettling, etc.
My car is old enough to use chains rather than belts, and it turns out I only drive it about 800 miles per year, so I've only done one "major" service (incl. valve lash, spark plugs plugs, ignition timing, carb adjust) so far.
The work is done by Patrick Ottis in the San Francisco bay area: a local-grown Francois type who has been rebuilding Ferrari engines for about the last 25-30 years, I think he does several engines per month. He's an outstanding craftsman specializing on older cars. He charges around $100 per hour.
Deane
'67 330GTS (gone but not forgotten)
'67 330GTS (gone but not forgotten)
labour costs
i have just had the cylinder heads completly rebuilt on my 64' mk1 330 GT #6201 by the Reeder bros. here in the uk at an hourly rate of £35.00 which is v. good in my opinion..........altough with some other minor work also done there was a 100 hours all told....lol, usually they charge £40 p/hour...so was v. kind of them to give some discount.They did an excellent job and i strongly recommend them.They race and work on their own ferrari's and seem to really know their stuff.
here's their number if anyones interested
01980 630327
gcreeder@aol.com
here's their number if anyones interested
01980 630327
gcreeder@aol.com
330 2+2 on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 89949&rd=1
This car is pretty typical of what's out there in 330 2+2's.
Looks decent and well cared for, private owner. High miles would be a concern.
This car is pretty typical of what's out there in 330 2+2's.
Looks decent and well cared for, private owner. High miles would be a concern.
Current: 1983 308 GTS
R.I.P: 330 2+2 s/n 5409
R.I.P: 330 2+2 s/n 5409
Check it out by serial number on Kerry Chesbro's 330 Registry, as well. It's probably the most comprehensive listing and general information resource in the world for the 330 2+2 and 330 America models. Kerry gave me lots of advice when I was looking for a 330.chamm wrote:Thanks for the heads-up. I have been watching the auction. Guess I need to register on Ebay so I can ask the owner a few questions.
Charles Hamm
No Ferrari to put in sig...
http://www.parrotbyte.com/330GTRegistry/
Current: 1983 308 GTS
R.I.P: 330 2+2 s/n 5409
R.I.P: 330 2+2 s/n 5409
Reading between the lines in my registry:
Auction 2003/01/18 $34500 Rob Peacock Sold, but evidently the sale fell through because the car was in another auction a month later.
FMLV28#02 For sale at $34500 (probably same as reserve/final price in previous auction. The date of 2003/01/25 says that this ad was in the works before the auction.
Auction 2003/02/14 $31100 Didn't meet reserve, thus no sale.
Auction 2004/05/17 Currently at $33600, very close to what was asked a year ago. Presumably the same person from the description about the ownership, though the city referenced in the auction (Santa Barbara) is quite a ways from Rob's La Jolla address.
High mileage isn't necessarily a problem. Most low mileage cars are that way because they get stored for years on end. This is death on a Ferrari. The best low mileage car is one that is driven 50 miles a month, with most being at highway speed and has an annual maintenance including all fluids being changed. But that doesn't happen! The major issue with a high mileage car is the engine and how worn the valve guides and rings are (read smoke). If that issue has been taken care of and the compression and leak down tests are OK, the other mechanical systems don't necessarily wear out from use. The suspension bushings do, but I've seen them well worn on a low mileage 330 just because they weren't greased regularly. At least with a well-used running car like this, one can assume that the cooling, electric, brakes, clutch, transmission or differential won't need immediate attention.
As always, expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a independent, competent Ferrari mechanic to inspect the car. Make the offer subject to that inspection. If it's clean, you have good peace of mind. If not, either the deal gets renegotiated factoring in the problems found or you go on searching. In any case, it's money well spent.
You might also look at Tony Fuisz's car (6413). It's another driver with fewer miles and near the same price range.
If you have questions you want to ask privately, you can contact me through the registry website (http://www.parrotbyte.com/330GTRegistry).
Regards, Kerry
Auction 2003/01/18 $34500 Rob Peacock Sold, but evidently the sale fell through because the car was in another auction a month later.
FMLV28#02 For sale at $34500 (probably same as reserve/final price in previous auction. The date of 2003/01/25 says that this ad was in the works before the auction.
Auction 2003/02/14 $31100 Didn't meet reserve, thus no sale.
Auction 2004/05/17 Currently at $33600, very close to what was asked a year ago. Presumably the same person from the description about the ownership, though the city referenced in the auction (Santa Barbara) is quite a ways from Rob's La Jolla address.
High mileage isn't necessarily a problem. Most low mileage cars are that way because they get stored for years on end. This is death on a Ferrari. The best low mileage car is one that is driven 50 miles a month, with most being at highway speed and has an annual maintenance including all fluids being changed. But that doesn't happen! The major issue with a high mileage car is the engine and how worn the valve guides and rings are (read smoke). If that issue has been taken care of and the compression and leak down tests are OK, the other mechanical systems don't necessarily wear out from use. The suspension bushings do, but I've seen them well worn on a low mileage 330 just because they weren't greased regularly. At least with a well-used running car like this, one can assume that the cooling, electric, brakes, clutch, transmission or differential won't need immediate attention.
As always, expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a independent, competent Ferrari mechanic to inspect the car. Make the offer subject to that inspection. If it's clean, you have good peace of mind. If not, either the deal gets renegotiated factoring in the problems found or you go on searching. In any case, it's money well spent.
You might also look at Tony Fuisz's car (6413). It's another driver with fewer miles and near the same price range.
If you have questions you want to ask privately, you can contact me through the registry website (http://www.parrotbyte.com/330GTRegistry).
Regards, Kerry
I would agree with Kerry.
One thing I don't get about E-bay is that there is rarely enough time to inspect the car and decide to buy before the auction ends. If I were to buy, I would much rather deal with a private party where we could negotiate on the price, and there is no bidding against other people who probably never intend to buy the car!
For those who need the link, here's the original posting on Tony's car.
http://www.tomyang.net/cars/phpBB2/view ... light=sale
One thing I don't get about E-bay is that there is rarely enough time to inspect the car and decide to buy before the auction ends. If I were to buy, I would much rather deal with a private party where we could negotiate on the price, and there is no bidding against other people who probably never intend to buy the car!
For those who need the link, here's the original posting on Tony's car.
http://www.tomyang.net/cars/phpBB2/view ... light=sale
'63 330 America #5053
Hey,and it will even come with new wheel bearings! I think it was the starter of this thread that asked about driving my car home to Alabama. I have it in for its spring service and asked the guys to check the wheel bearings as someone elses 330 (Yale?) had a not so delightful experience on a long trip. Well, they could be repacked but apparently better off being replaced so thats happening now. The silver lining is my garage problem is solved temporarily because its there-good because I 'll be in Japan for a while.
I think followers of old ferraris on ebay will agree that is common to see the same car appear again in a few weeks after a sale-likely the result of a less than satisfactory inspection.
At the same time ebay is a nice forum to reach alot of people, and at least for ferraris helps to show what a bargain these cars are compared to others.
I think followers of old ferraris on ebay will agree that is common to see the same car appear again in a few weeks after a sale-likely the result of a less than satisfactory inspection.
At the same time ebay is a nice forum to reach alot of people, and at least for ferraris helps to show what a bargain these cars are compared to others.
64 330gt 2+2 #6413