Looking to buy my first

I've had a Euro 308QV and

I've had a Euro 308QV and it was a great car. I also have a 348 that is an absolute blast...I've had it for 14 years and have loved it most of the time.

The 308 was much more owner servicable...wheras the 348 is fairly labour intensive because you have to take the engine out to do a major. It is possible as I've done it twice...but its a real pain.

If you can get along with either the increased service costs and/or your own time involved...get the 348. Both are reliable if maintained properly. Get a car with a known history and don't be cheap.....there is no such thing as a cheap Ferrari. If you buy a sketchy car that has been abused and has no history...you will end up spending more $$ and in the end you'll have a car with a sketchy history that will be tough to sell.

A friend of mine wanted to buy my TR...but since it is a 10K mile car with a fresh service, no accidents, paintwork or stories I want top dollar for it (70's). He found a sketchy car with alot of miles (60K) for 45,000. I told him not to get it. He didn't listen. So far he has spent a little over $40,000 repairing bad crash damage, faulty electrics, major service, etc.....and he still has a car with no ervice records, books, tools, etc., that will be tough to move when the time comes.

I guess what I'm saying is be careful....and drive the hell out of it!!

Actually, if you choose the &#

Actually, if you choose the "pay later" method, it can turn out to be more expensive. Get the best you can afford unless you really enjoy restorations and such. I don't have much experience but the words above are consistent with advice I've heard from others including my dad who has owned more old cars than I care to count.

As for the car, learning how much things will cost is definitely a priority, but driving and getting a feel for the car is obviously paramount. One note I do want to add is that I have found that prices on these cars seem to be relatively similar across the board, but the condition of the cars is not. Given the age of the cars, I've seen a lot of beat up examples asking for whatever is on par in the market. When I went shopping for a 308 I found three in the same price range but the condition of the cars was drastically different. Get a PPI (Pre-Purchase Inspection), even if the car is for sale by a dealer. Cheap insurance to say the least. "Record history" is not enough to merit buying any Ferrari without having it thouroughly checked out by a qualified mechanic (key term being qualified).

Good luck in the hunt!

Cheers