Curse the gods, I'm losing the ability to have self control (Ferrari)

[InternetMeme]

Since I was a kid the only car that has ever mattered to me was/is and always will be the Ferrari F40. I have made it my (car world) life goal to one day own one- and I am in a financial position now where the dream could become a reality. BUT- I simply don't have the garage space/parking space with my current home and with a newborn in my life it isn't the right time to purchase another weekend toy.

My friends do enjoy torturing me though- and recently a 1992, one owner, 4900mile, all original F40 hit the open market... and it's less than an hours drive from me. It even has the visible kevlar weave and factory original coded adjustable suspension arms

Comes with full records/receipts and has recently been re-commisioned by Ferrari for a 20 year complete vehicle check and repair. In other words... it's quite possibly the best condition F40 on the planet and one of the few to have adjustable arms and one of the only 1 owner examples in existence. It's....

Called the dealer and left a message requesting a return call. The price isn't listed anywhere and my two friends have given me quotes that have a 50k swing. So the actual price is unknown to me. If the price is market fair and not outlandish then I might just pull the trigger (and have no idea where to store the car until I move in the fall).

[ATL_Av8r]

I have a 4-car garage with 2 open spaces. I'll give you the opener code and the keys to both my and my wife's cars, in case you need to move one. Hell, I won't even charge you rent.

[EnIgMa '06]

I hate you.






Adopt me (children often tell their parents they hate them...right?)
If you can do it, I wouldn't let anything stand in your way. It sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity for a once in a lifetime car.

[Oh_My_VR6]

Jelly as can be. Let's be friend's so I can somehow try to live vicariously through your car adventures.

[SnowGTI2003]

[brad@fifteen52]

I have a 4-car garage with 2 open spaces. I'll give you the opener code and the keys to both my and my wife's cars, in case you need to move one. Hell, I won't even charge you rent.

Think it through, Mike.

No doubt OP will truly have the ability to win every internet battle ("Oh yeah? I have an F40..."), but guess who'll be on deck to provide photographic evidence each and every time?

[tgodbout]

If you can swing for a minimum 400,000 pound car, and can't pull off rented garage space somewhere for a few months, you can't really afford a 400,000 pound car.

There are also a shameful multitude of sub-1000 mile cars floating around out there. Maybe not in this exact spec, but they come up regularly.

Regardless, I say buy it.

[ATL_Av8r]

Think it through, Mike.

No doubt OP will truly have the ability to win every internet battle ("Oh yeah? I have an F40..."), but guess who'll be on deck to provide photographic evidence each and every time?

I'll subscribe to the newspaper solely for the purpose of providing a response to "take a picture of it with today's paper" type requests.

[DawnsKayBug]

Im in East England. You can store it @ my house Gated community with about 200 armed guards.

[InternetMeme]

If you can swing for a minimum 400,000 pound car, and can't pull off rented garage space somewhere for a few months, you can't really afford a 400,000 pound car.

There are also a shameful multitude of sub-1000 mile cars floating around out there. Maybe not in this exact spec, but they come up regularly.

Regardless, I say buy it.

It isn't a matter of price. London garage parking is pretty difficult right now with the Olympics (I could always rent a 1 car garage but they're mostly in dodgy areas). Worst case scenario I could just store my Subaru in my friend's garage outside London and keep the F40 in my garage.

[TisforTurbo]

Parking space is whats hold you up? It's an F40, make space.

[warren_s]

My friends do enjoy torturing me though- and recently a 1992, one owner, 4900mile, all original F40 hit the open market... and it's less than an hours drive from me.

You live in London, right? An hour away is.... what.... six blocks?


If you don't have a place to put this car, then why bother getting it? A car like this deserves a proper garage where you can make a nice environment around it. You aren't going to be driving it every day or anywhere near close, so all you'll end up doing is dropping half a million pounds into being able to say you own something but not be able to enjoy it.

It'd be like dating a hot supermodel who won't let you fu-k her.


Plus you're going to be a father shortly -- if you give half a sh-t about doing that correctly, you simply won't have enough time for yet another a fancy new car.

[dieselraver]

never has a thread been more appropriate for this annoying slang born of the interwebz.



YOLO

[QWKDTSN]

If you're really serious, take your queries to FerrariChat.com. They will know the entire life history of the car if you can provide the serial number.

[brad@fifteen52]

I'll subscribe to the newspaper solely for the purpose of providing a response to "take a picture of it with today's paper" type requests.

Well played

[Eightysixturbo]

it's beautiful

[Obin Robinson]

You don't mind that the fit and finish of this thing looks like a kit car built by chimps? If not then go for it. The engineering under that poorly fit bodywork is pretty amazing.

obin

[JettaGT8V80]

i cant believe im saying this but sell the 22b for effs sake its an f40 man id sell my liver and my family members livers to own one

[clutchrider]

I would sell all my toys and my DD and convert to taking a beater Corolla to work for the rest of my life if I could have the room/finances to buy one of these. It is definitely my all time favorite car and if I had the means would get one without question.

[InternetMeme]

If you're really serious, take your queries to FerrariChat.com. They will know the entire life history of the car if you can provide the serial number.

Been a member there for 3-4 years now

I already know the entire history of the car as well. The two price I got were from members there and the car is pretty well known in the circle of owners.

You don't mind that the fit and finish of this thing looks like a kit car built by chimps? If not then go for it. The engineering under that poorly fit bodywork is pretty amazing.

obin

It's called character Obin

All the Ferrari's before the 360 suffered from poorly painted body panels, wavy paint, etc. Ferrari finally got it together when they modernized their facilities and put it all under one roof.

If you don't have a place to put this car, then why bother getting it? A car like this deserves a proper garage where you can make a nice environment around it. You aren't going to be driving it every day or anywhere near close, so all you'll end up doing is dropping half a million pounds into being able to say you own something but not be able to enjoy it.

It'd be like dating a hot supermodel who won't let you fu-k her.


Plus you're going to be a father shortly -- if you give half a sh-t about doing that correctly, you simply won't have enough time for yet another a fancy new car.

I have a place to store the car, my home has a garage. Just need to store one of the others cars in a garage. And I'm already a father- Emma loves the Subaru

I work a lot. And by a lot I mean 12-14 hours a day 7 days a week right now. The only time I have to myself is when I'm driving my car- so I enjoy having fun cars. I also view them as art and enjoy having a beer and just staring at them while decompressing from the day. My daughter is my world though- I make time for her no matter what.

A couple of posters on this forum know about my F40 obsession and It's been my dream for a long time to own one. This is simply of the cleanest examples to hit the market in over a year. I sit around now and play pros and cons, but get me in the dealership and I'll be writing a check in 5 minutes.

[BRealistic]

Wow- beautiful car.

My luck- I would buy it and on the drive home the engine would regurgitate the valve train, or I would miss a shift and spin out in to a ditch.

How durable are these?
I know there was a time when Ferrari meant fragile (*just like all Italian exotics used to be*).

Still, it is a beautiful car.

[InternetMeme]

Wow- beautiful car.

My luck- I would buy it and on the drive home the engine would regurgitate the valve train, or I would miss a shift and spin out in to a ditch.

How durable are these?
I know there was a time when Ferrari meant fragile (*just like all Italian exotics used to be*).

Still, it is a beautiful car.

I wouldn't say any pre 2000's Ferrari is exactly durable. The F40 was a showcase car and the last hurrah for Enzo. It encompassed Ferrari's ultimate vision of performance, speed and agility. As with any high end sports car it isn't without high maintenance costs and scheduled repairs but I would say the F40 is one of the more 'reliable' of the older Ferrari's. But when you have to repair/replace a part it's pretty unbelievably expensive due to the age of the car, limited production of parts and lack of certified mechanics. But... it's not the most unreliable car Ferrari ever made.

The F40 is a bear to drive though. Massive front tires, no power steering and a large turning radius means it's not the easiest car to drive on the streets or even park. The power is also instantaneous in spool and acceleration is ferocious. Aside from the F50 it's easily the most purpose built car Ferrari ever built and in my opinion their best.

[Old Windy]

Jelly that's it. I have only seen one of this once. Didn't you recently get the BMW for family hauling purposes. Just saying that If it was up to me I would make this happen.
In for a comparison between the Subaru vs the F40.

[BRealistic]

The F40 is a bear to drive though. Massive front tires, no power steering and a large turning radius means it's not the easiest car to drive on the streets or even park. The power is also instantaneous in spool and acceleration is ferocious. Aside from the F50 it's easily the most purpose built car Ferrari ever built and in my opinion their best.

And I think that's the appeal for me.... it hearkens back to when you had to really drive a super car. The car was not designed/compromised so 90 lb debutantes could wear them as an accessory.
The manual steering basically guarantees nobody is going to drive an F40 to an event just for the style.
And that also explains the typically low mileage- well that, and the high cost of maintenance and repairs.
Driving the car is an experience to be cherished without distraction.
It's the exact opposite of a daily driver.

[bbk]

What's the chance of finding another in this conditon and low miles?

Buy it.

[kiznarsh]

Here's my take on it: I'm in my early 30's and have spent only 25% of my life with my dad as he lives in another country. But when I was a teenager he taught me how to drive on a '76 Fiat, so deep down I have always liked them, despite their poor reliability.

Last year I knew he was coming to visit for a few weeks and with his health deteriorating, I intensified my search for a vintage Fiat and ended up finding a real gem in terms of looks, lack of rust, and interior quality. I didn't need to get it then and I didn't have the space, but I pulled the trigger which allowed me to take several photos of myself and dad in the car, on Christmas morning as it turned out. Now I'm not sure when I'll see him again, but at least I have those memories.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer or make any direct comparison, but if you like the F40 as much as it appears, then the real question is when you'll buy it, not if.

[RQ1]

Wow that's beautiful, jump on it!

[spockcat]

Im in East England. You can store it @ my house Gated community with about 200 armed guards.

But do they have any tanks or even Harriers to fend off an attack by the jealous hoards?

[elementpb]

There is honestly no reason not to buy it.

Here is a thought. Is it being sold by a private owner or a dealership?
If its a dealership, you might work something out where they can still display the car, but you own it and can take it out on short notice. If they have certified mechanics to service the thing, it might be better to have it stored at their location anyway for when things go wrong.

[71DubBugBug]

if you have the cash, GO FOR IT!
personally, my all time favorite

regarding servicing them. I have seen the threads about how expensive 355s are to service, with engine builds and all

how bad are the f40s?

[StudiousPete]

Only live once my friend and you can't take it with you. There's probably not too many F40 owners out there that think to themselves, "Damn, I should've never bought that car."

[surefooted]

Can I come to London and get a ride?

[spockcat]

The F40 looked cool but its a death trap and a maintenance nightmare. Oh and a lot caught on fire.

[helement2003]

"It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

-Ferris Bueller

[MB_Fahrer]

The F40 looked cool but its a death trap and a maintenance nightmare. Oh and a lot caught on fire.

Skip to 0:30 and enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YPabCzxMXM