Month: January 2020

Maserati Service: What’s The Real Story

Is a Maserati cheaper to buy these days because the service cost is so high? Is the service cost similar to that of a Ferrari? Adam Merlin details more on what you can expect when you purchase a Maserati.

What is the cost of ownership for a Maserati?

Over the last few years, the values of used Maseratis have fallen quite a bit; actually, they have fallen so far that many people who previously found the price tag unattainable are now considering purchasing one.  Are they so cheap because the cost of a Maserati service is so astronomical? Is the cost of ownership so high that the value of the Maserati has dropped?  These are questions I get asked a lot and, interestingly, I enjoy answering them because I believe in value, and I think a Maserati is one of the best values in the exotic car space.

Maintaining a Maserati, while certainly more expensive to maintain than a Toyota or Honda, is not cost prohibitive. By and large, Maseratis are terrific automobiles.  What you can expect is a luxurious, Italian, sports car with a gorgeous interior designed with style and convenience in mind.  The unique design of this vehicle is stunning and comfortable, making it a great daily driver.  And, let’s not forget about the engine!  The Maserati will deliver all the speed and performance that you would expect of such an engine, while at the same time delivering a smooth and gentle drive.  Considering all this car offers, I find it to be great for a single person as well as for a family with kids.

Now, let’s talk about what you can expect on the service side.  An annual Maserati service is recommended and, as you have probably guessed, it will cost more than your typical Hyundai service, but much less than a Ferrari service.  You can expect the cost to compare to the service of a standard AMG Mercedes or Porsche.  What you will find is that Maserati parts such as, brakes and rotors are not prohibitively expensive, they just need to be maintained regularly to avoid larger, more costly services.  A Maserati will last many years, trouble-free if it is properly maintained.  It is important to qualify that this applies to the newer generation Maseratis, 2014 and later; the  earlier models, while still not cost-prohibitive to maintain, can certainly pose some different challenges.

There are a few issues that all Maseratis have that are important to point out, especially to a first-time buyer, because they are not common problems in other cars.  Maseratis do have issues with “sticky buttons” and shrinking leather components that their sister company Ferrari is famous for.  To elaborate, “sticky buttons,” are when the buttons in the Maseratis start to develop a tacky feel over the years.  This stickiness has been an issue for decades and there is no easy solution out there.  In addition to the buttons and leather shrinkage, there are electrical issues, like broken window regulators,  that are much more common in these vehicles.  However, aside from these items, you will find the Maserati to be a reliable vehicle that will not take you to the poorhouse.

Vintage Used Ferraris With Resto Mods

Resto Mod is not a new phenomenon, but there are more and more Ferraris examples out there in the market today. Is this a good or bad thing? Read more here.

As the technology and performance of cars continue to change year over year, what effect does this have on older, classic, collectible Ferraris? This is a very interesting question that can be looked at differently in the used Ferrari market.

On one hand, many people appreciate the simplicity and mechanical nature that make up the older, classic Ferraris. These are the people who get almost more enjoyment out of staring at their beloved Ferrari 308 or displaying it at car shows as opposed to driving it.  Sounds crazy, right?  Actually, this is very common for many Ferrari enthusiasts.  It is also not uncommon to hear somebody talk about how underwhelming of an experience it is to drive a vintage car, whether it is a Ferrari, Maserati, or Lamborghini. In fact, the “underwhelming experience† is so common that there are companies that will take a portion of a car and try to make them more modern. This “resto mod†is not a new phenomenon, and has been around for a long time so that you can buy the classic, used Ferrari you love and enjoy the driving experience as well.

The “resto mod” seems to be in full force if you look at recent auction data such as the Barrett Jackson auction.  Many auction houses now feature collectible, vintage Ferraris and other classic vehicles with modern drive trains, engines, and  transmissions to make them more reliable and so they can perform like modern cars; many of these modified vehicles are bringing premiums as compared to the most pristine, original versions.

Naturally, there will be many who believe in modifying a Ferrari 308 or Testarossa and having it drive like a 458 or an F12, but there will also be many Ferrari lovers that will see this as sacrilegious and be strongly opposed to it.  Many enthusiasts would actually be incredibly upset because as time goes by there are fewer and fewer original Ferrari examples.  As with any situation, there will always be two views so it really just depends on your end goal and desire.  Now if you asked me, I would kill to have a Ferrari 308 that drives like a 458; however, I would only do this as long as I had my pedigreed and collectible 308 sitting under a cover, up on a lift and in my garage where not a thing could harm or disturb it.

Enzo Ferrari: The Man Behind the World’s Most Exotic Car Brand

If you can dream it, you can do it’s Enzo Ferrari.

Whenever many think of the name Ferrari, chances are they associate its founder with a level of wealth and prestige.

They may not think of a man who had all odds against him, one who had a tragic family life and the disapproval of those who he regarded in high standards.

This was a man who was constructed of nothing but passion, obsession, and raw drive. We are talking, of course, about Enzo Ferrari.

The Beginning

Alfredo and Aldegisa Ferrari would welcome Enzo Ferrari into this world in Modena, Italy, on February 18, 1898. Despite the legacy that would ensue, his parents predetermined that Enzo and his brother Dino would work within the family business. Alfredo was a structural steel contractor and would strive for his sons to join him.

As a boy, Enzo already knew work in his father’s shop was not the life he wanted. Despite what his romanticized imagination may have dreamt up for other career choices, Enzo still respected and loved his father. Perhaps Alfredo’s biggest blunder in raising his boys to follow in his footsteps? Taking both Dino and Enzo to their first automobile race in 1908.

Enzo initially had intents and dreams of living life as a journalist or an opera singer. He already knew that he wanted to be front and center in the limelight. Once he was exposed to the world of automobile racing, he had found his true calling.

During his very first visit to the track, Enzo would encounter the same addictive elements that many auto enthusiasts had experienced the speed, sounds, and smells of the racetrack. He quickly became addicted, nearly obsessed. The only antidote for this sickness could only be found in a troubling but triumphant future of the young Enzo Ferrari.

The World Wars

Before Enzo could follow or find his path, he and his brother would be exposed to the world wars that had stricken Europe. Before this, both Ferrari sons were being tailored for the family business. While Dino would follow his father’s dream, Enzo was resilient and would flunk out of school.

By 1915, Dino had enlisted in the Italian Army and served as an ambulance driver. In 1916, as the war waged on, Alfredo would pass away to pneumonia, and his brother would soon fall to typhoid fever.

Without Alfredo, the family business would fall, and Enzo was naturally sent into a whirlwind with the sudden losses of both his father and his brother. In 1917, Enzo was drafted into the Italian Army, and despite his claim of being a skilled auto mechanic, without any formal education or boastful background, Enzo was given the task of shoeing the mules.

The Ferrari Emblem

Despite a somewhat discouraging experience during World War I, Enzo would not walk away empty-handed. It was here he would be inspired by fighter ace Count Francesco Baracca, a man credited for 34 aerial victories. The black stallion painted on the side of Baracca’s fighter plane would result in the Ferrari emblem we know and love today.

Ironically, when Enzo had no choice, and the Fascist War Machine of WWII came to fruition, Enzo would serve again. Many historians are not sure exactly what the army initially wanted from Enzo, but they soon used him for his superb capabilities to manufacture and develop equipment.

Racing Career

After the war, Enzo had nothing left but to forge his way in the world. With a letter of recommendation from the colonel of his regiment and a dream in his heart, Enzo headed for Turin, Italy, to seek employment.

As a child, the Fiats on the racetrack had captured his soul, and he would look to the Agnelli Family for employment in the Fiat plant. However, much like those who turned him down in the war, they too would be unimpressed and turn Enzo away. It was then that Enzo would swear vengeance, and as a gentleman, he would settle this vendetta on the racetrack.

While living in Turin, Ferrari met a test driver who would get him a job with one of the small automakers in Milan. From the point of no employment and defeat, this was Enzo's first big break that gave the youngster the funds to purchase and race a used car. Ultimately, this car and Enzo's time on the track would land him the chance to race for Alfa Romeo.

The Birth of the P2

After several years of running with Alfa Romeo's racing team, Enzo and his fellow driver, the very one who landed him the job in Milan, would arrive at the European Grand Prix in Monza. Here, the Alfa Romeo P1 was planned to debut, however, with Enzo's dear friend Ugo Sivocci behind the wheel, the car had spun out, killing the driver.

Enzo felt the P1 was to blame for his friend’s death. This drove him to team up with engineers in the field to reimagine the car and develop what they had dubbed the P2, which would hit a top speed of 121 mph – an amazing feat for the 1920s.

With the P2, Ferrari and companions would reign victorious on the track, pushing the Agnelli Family off the track. From here Ferrari was backed by wealthy investors to develop racing cars for Alfa Romeo. For a man who was pushed to the proverbial gates of hell and back, this was the real birth of Ferrari as we know it today.

Ferrari

Not long after his steps to develop racing cars under his new business Scuderia Ferrari, WWII would postpone any further development into automobiles. Though, almost as soon as the war had ended, Enzo would develop the Tipo 125. This was a car with a massive V12 engine and was the first Ferrari car. Though in its very first race the fuel pump had broke, the Tipo 125 had held the lead with just three laps to go. Enzo took this as a promising failure.

With momentum under his belt and the attention of the world, Enzo was ready to grow from local hero to legend, but he needed more capital. It was an opportune time for Luigi Chinetti to approach Enzo for the exclusive rights to begin selling road cars under the Ferrari name in America. Enzo, a man obsessed with auto racing, had little interest in these vehicles, but it would provide the foundation necessary for him to continue to pursue his passion.

Life After Death

Enzo Ferrari never stopped pushing to develop the greatest racing cars of all time and always channeled his struggles, hurdles, and emotions into the desire to achieve excellence. Year after year, he would turn out more and more fantastic race cars that redefined what would be considered the standard of a racing automobile until his death on August 14, 1988.

In 2002, Ferrari would develop the Enzo Ferrari, also known unofficially as the Ferrari Enzo or F60.  Only 400 were produced between 2002-2004, and the F1-inspired, 651-horsepower Enzo Ferrari would become the pinnacle of Ferrari design.

At Merlin Auto Group we live and breathe Ferrari’s, and we owe it all to Enzo. Check out our latest selection of pre-owned Ferrari’s, as well as our expert-operated service center.