COVID-19’s Impact On The Used Ferrari And Exotic Market

COVID-19 has created a lot of uncertainty and unknowns in the world today and the exotic car market is no exception. Read more to learn what we are speculating.

Many people are wondering what kind of impact COVID-19 will have on the used Ferrari and exotic car market.   While none of us know for sure, history will tell us that we can certainly expect some volatility in values and the possibility of some great deals hitting the market.  We believe this to especially be true in the late- model, more mass-produced exotics like McLaren, Lamborghini and even certain model Ferraris, such as the California, Portofino, FF, etc.  People who stretched to buy these cars when times were great, could potentially be suffering now, and the huge car payment, upcoming service bills, and insurance obligations might result in some cashing out with a focus on quickly, as opposed to maximizing exit price.

That said, history also tells us that top examples of collector cars always seem to fetch top dollar, and we believe this will be the case today as well.  If you are buying a pre-owned Ferrari with the investment in mind, you need to think long term.  Unlike late-model exotics, the older and more collectible cars, have values that tend to be more stable so the value fluctuation is usually much less.   No doubt there will be some collectors who panic and that will create a few examples of top quality cars being sold for bargains, but it’s doubtful that there will be a mass liquidation resulting in any meaningful value reduction.

Our philosophy when it comes to collecting a Ferrari or other collectible exotic is simply “the longer you keep it, the more money you stand to make.”  Take Warren Buffet as your example, operate with a buy and hold strategy.   Watch for great deals and great cars being on sale and do not panic when you have invested in good cars.

 

Another aspect to consider is what you can do with your Ferraris as you are holding them.  Did you know that you can use collectible automobiles as collateral for loans? We all know that auto loans exist, but did you also know you can pledge your exotic car collection as collateral on longer-term loans or revolving credit lines that you can use for other purposes? Sometimes we all would like a little more cash in the bank or some available funds to invest whether it be in securities, real estate, our businesses, or anything else.  Some people are lucky enough to walk into their garage and see $1 million-plus worth in their exotic collection sitting there, but wouldn't it be nice to have those cars and access to the cash to invest in other areas to generate returns. There are several niche products in the market that will allow you to pledge cars as collateral and have operating lines of credit and lump sum cash payments that you will be able to use as needed.

With the state of the economy today and all that's going on with COVID-19, this is definitely something to consider when analyzing your financial situation and trying to determine how to plan for the unknown. This could also be a great alternative to dumping a car you never intended to dump and ultimately giving you the best of both worlds.

Maserati Service Decoded

Servicing an exotic vehicle is different than servicing most daily drivers. What exactly is involved in the service that can increase the costs, and why is this necessary? Read more about what is involved in a Maserati Service.

Where exactly do Maserati service costs lay in the gamut of car maintenance?  Are they similar to their sister company Ferrari, or are they more in line with a high-end vehicle?  And, for the buyer who really wants a better understanding, why and how is a Maserati service different as compared to other cars?

Ever since Maserati decided to increase the supply of Maseratis and flood the market, we have been getting more and more questions about Maserati service and what can be expected. Many people do assume that being an Italian exotic it is going to be pretty expensive to maintain, but that is not necessarily true for Maserati. The great news is that the service is much, much cheaper than a Ferrari, and more affordable than most people would guess.

Digging into the details a bit, what can you expect?

Annual Service

All of Maserati’s models, the Ghibli, the Levante, the Gran Turismo, and the Quattroporte do require an annual service. This service includes changing all the filters, all the fluids, and an overall inspection. For the yearly service, you can expect to pay about $1,000 assuming no issues arise from the inspection. Some may balk at this, especially if you compare it to a Honda service, but for an exotic vehicle, this really is in line, and quite frankly on the lower end of the spectrum for an exotic annual service. In fact, this cost actually falls more in line with an annual service for a high-line, vehicle such as a Porsche or Mercedes. Also, considering an average Ferrari service can run you thousands and sometimes tens of thousands, this really is a good deal.

Additional Services

Every other year the annual service is a little bit larger because there are additional requirements. Then, at the fourth or fifth annual, you should expect to have issues arise from the inspection such as, spark plugs that need to be replaced. These issues can increase your bill a few thousand. Again, this is in line with other luxury vehicles such as a Porsche or AMG.

One thing that is important to point out is what can be expensive when you own a Maserati. Maseratis, unfortunately, are known for a few reoccurring service issues. Window regulators and interior door handles will constantly be failing. Poor quality trim pieces and shrinking leather is usually a surprise to most who are new to Maseratis, but this will happen, and when it does, it can be expensive to replace.

Considering all of these service costs, we believe that Maserati represents a terrific, exotic value. If you also factor in the sporty, luxurious design, the Ferrari-inspired sound, and the fact that the cost of some Maseratis is similar to that of an Acura or Infiniti, then we believe that Maserati represents an excellent, exotic decision!