LifeStyle – The Merlin Auto Group Blog

Ferrari Timing Belt Replacement Process: Nuances and Costs

Check out the Merlin Auto Group blog. Learn more about Ferrari timing belt replacement, and why it is so important to some models of Ferrari automobiles.

The State Of The Economy And The Pre-Owned Ferrari Market

When times are tough in the market, is it a good time to purchase a used Ferrari, Bentley, or other exotic vehicle? Many will be surprised to learn the correlation between the stock market and the exotic car market.

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.

Ferrari 355 Buyer's Guide To Avoid Costly Ferrari Services

Buying a Ferrari can be an intimidating process, especially if you are looking at an older, pre-owned one. Adam Merlin outlines the five main things to look for.

Used Ferrari Buyer’s Guide: What You Need to Know

Learn about buying a new or used Ferrari, from finding a fair deal to the brand's typical value appreciation. "In the quest for your Ferrari, you will have many factors to calculate into your decision-making process. A big one to keep in mind is how true to form the vehicle is and how that fits into your reason to own a Ferrari. A completely original model will have a major impact on the vehicle's current value along with the resale value."

Why Ferrari & Maserati Service is Crucial for Longevity

Learn about types of Italian luxury car servicing and expected cost of maintenance. "Even down to the simplest jobs like replacing worn brake pads, the processes are subjected to nuances such as sequential tightening of hardware. If things like this are overlooked or forgotten, you are not only at risk of parts wearing down prematurely but can often result in catastrophic results and even considerably higher Ferrari repair fees."

Ferrari Services Reduced Over The Years As Models Evolve

Over the years, small and big changes in manufacturing Ferraris have led to easier servicing of these cars. Read more to learn some of the specific changes that have helped reduce the cost of ownership.

Investing in Used Ferraris Vs. Traditional Portfolios

Investing in Ferraris may sound absurd, but when you look at the actual data and returns, and compare it to more traditional investments, you may start seeing things differently. Learn more about actual ROI's some Ferraris have been generating in the last few years and what opportunities are out there.

Used Ferrari 308 Standoff, Carbureted Or Quattrovalvole?

A carbureted or quattovalvole 308, which one is better? While they both have their advantages, Adam Merlin, true 308 lover, breaks down the differences through his eyes.

When Is Too Much To Spend On A Ferrari Service and Restoration?

Investing money in a Ferrari and knowing when you are spending too much can be challenging and scary. Learn how Adam Merlin has navigated this process over the years and some of the key things he looks at when he is buying Ferraris.

Can Geographic Location Affect Used Ferrari Values?

There are stigmas attached to certain parts of the U.S. and how climate conditions in certain areas can affect vehicle valuations. Be sure you know what to look for when you are looking to purchase a Ferrari so you can be assured you are getting the best valued vehicle.

How To Buy A Pre-Owned Ferrari With Paintwork

Investigating paintwork on a Ferrari before you purchase is a must because it can tell you a lot about the car and it can greatly affect the value. Read more to learn how to look for paintwork and when it should influence your purchasing decision.

Where Can You Buy A Certified Pre-Owned Ferrari?

Certified programs for extremely popular and provide a great piece of mind when shopping on the used car market. Are there certified programs for exotic vehicles? Yes, there are, but learn the importance of the certified programs so you are armed with all the information you need to make an informed buying decision.

Ferrari F1 Clutch Driving Tips For A Longer Clutch Life

An F1 Transmission is certainly different from a six speed transmission and sometimes it can be difficult to tell when you are adding additional wear to the clutch. A premature service to replace a clutch is an expense to avoid, so read more to learn tips from our Ferrari experts on ways to drive with the least wear on your F1 clutch.

Pre-Owned Ferraris Influenced By Movies and Television

Movies and television series can influence a brand in many ways. When looking at cars specifically, media doesn't just create iconic makes and models, but it can also increase the value of the actual vehicle. We examine how some Ferraris have increased in value decades later as a result of television and movies.

Ferrari Services Require Ferrari Technicians

Anyone can service a Ferrari, right? Learn more as to why it is pertinent to choose a technician with actual Ferrari service vs. someone with exotic service experience.

Pre-Owned Ferrari Sticky Buttons and Shrinking Leather

Ferrari owners know that sticky buttons and leather shrinkage on the dash is something that is inevitable. Many solutions are out there and we have tried most of them. Learn what we find to be the best products, some of the downfalls of certain products, and preventative care.

Ferrari Service Technicians of Today Vs. 30 Years Ago

Is there an advantage to having a Ferrari technician with decades of experience vs. a newer technician? Read more to learn the main differences and why it is critical if you own an older Ferrari.

Ferrari Service for Older, Classic, Antique Models

Service and parts can be scarce for some older, classic Ferraris. What to do when parts are discontinued and no one can seem to work on your model Ferrari.... read more to learn our advice on servicing older Ferraris.

Ferrari Service: Independent or Franchise?

Often, we find ourselves discussing with our clients the fears when it comes to owning a Ferrari, Maserati or other exotic, with the biggest fear being about service. Who is going to service their exotic?

Ferrari Car Clubs, Worthwhile or Not?

Believe it or not, this is a question we often get asked. The answer really depends on you and what you want your ownership experience to be like.  I, however, always advise joining the owner's clubs because most of the clubs are relatively inexpensive and the benefits can be big.

When Having Your Ferrari Serviced, How Important is it Who Services it?

When talking about servicing your Ferrari, or any exotic for that matter, how important is it who does that service? There are many schools of thought that an automobile is an automobile, an engine is an engine, a transmission is a transmission, they all work the same.

Ferrari Service: Timing Belt Service Intervals

Why are Ferrari timing belt services required so frequently as compared to other makes? We attempt to tackle the ever so common timing belt discussion.

Used Ferrari 360 Models Are More Affordable, But Not For Long

The launch of the Ferrari 360 in 1999 meant the introduction to sleeker, more subtle curve lines merged with an even faster engine, as one would only expect from Ferrari. Ferrari only made a total of roughly 16,000 of the Ferrari 360 in the Modena and Spider models for the 6 years they were in production until 2005...

Cost of Ownership for a Used Ferrari

Owning a Ferrari is almost every car fanatic's dream, and it's no wonder why. The essence of luxury, elegance, speed, and power... this Italian manufacturer has dazzled us with his cars since 1940, enchanting car enthusiasts on the race track, on the highway, and in the valet parking lot. Few can fathom driving such a supercar, and fewer can imagine owning one... even fewer actually do...

Kid-Friendly Ferraris

What Ferraris are kid friendly? Adam Merlin, President at Merlin Auto Group, confidently answers, "Every time I speak about Ferraris being kid friendly, people think I'm nuts. And for the most part, I am. After all, even Ferraris that do have back seats often require the rear passenger to sacrifice leg room, so you can imagine peoples' reactions when I allude to fitting car seats back there...

How Can a Ferrari Appreciate?

This is a question that baffles so many people. Automobiles are rarely discussed as appreciating assets, but when you are purchasing a Ferrari, this may very well be the case...

Used Ferrari 308: Then Next in Collectability?

Caring for an exotic vehicle is often a time-consuming and meticulous process. Especially for new collectors or luxury car owners, it's also a process that typically needs guidance and understanding, as they are not your typical cars; they are powerful, intricate machines that need...

Ferrari Timing Belts: Servicing Your Exotic

Caring for an exotic vehicle is often a time-consuming and meticulous process. Especially for new collectors or luxury car owners, it's also a process that typically needs guidance and understanding, as they are not your typical cars; they are powerful, intricate machines that need...

What to Consider When Buying an Older Ferrari

There are many things to consider when purchasing an exotic car, especially when purchasing a Ferrari...especially when purchasing an older, used Ferrari. There is the obvious to consider, of course, which is year and model--obvious, but important. Next you might consider something like, is...

What's So Special about the Ferrari 599?

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is an Italian sports car produced by Ferrari from 2006-2013, replacing the 575M Maranello in 2006 as a 2007 model, then was replaced by the F12 Berlinetta in 2013. The car takes its name from the...

Ferraris: Manual Transmission or the F1?

This topic seems to spark a heated debate about whether a manual transmission or an F1 is better. After hearing numerous opinions and arguments on the subject, we have determined that it is all a matter...

What Changed from the 360 to the F430?

The common misconception is that the F430 is pretty much the same as the 360 apart from a few styling changes, a slightly more powerful engine and an upgraded interior. While some of this may be true, it is important to look at each car as its own entity, celebrating their traits rather than attempting to prove one better than the other, as that is a matter of preference. Let's start by looking at some of the similarities and differences between the...

Financing Your Dream Ferrari

When it comes to buying your dream Ferrari, what a lot of people don't realize is that there are numerous ways to pay for the car. It is often assumed that you must have a net worth of seven or eight figures, prepared to wire transfer the full amount in cash in order to make your dream of owning a Ferrari a reality. Thankfully, this assumption is not true. In today's world...

The Ferrari F430 Scuderia

If you love the look of the Ferrari F430, but want to have something a little more special than everyone else, the F430 Scuderia is the car for you. Weighing a staggering 220 pounds less than a standard 430, this car is built for speed and performance. A bare-bones interior--no carpet, carbon fiber trim and alcantara seats instead...

Ferraris from a Woman's Point of View

Ferrari, 308, true six-speed, clutch life these words used to be non existent in my life. That is, until I married a Ferrari-osessed man with a passion for these European exotics. Suddenly, my world became flooded with a wide variety of terms I didnt understand. A few years into my marriage, I decided to...

What Do Ferrari Model Numbers Mean?

For most Ferrari-buffs, the answer to this question is elementary knowledge. To others, it may not be, as it is not a simple answer. Much like the English language, there are no real rules when it comes to Ferrari Model numbers--the moment you see a pattern or rhythm, it changes on you, goes...

Are Hot Ferraris Getting Cold?

We've been hearing quite a few people say that the 3-pedal, true-manual Ferrari market is soft right now. So, what does that mean for values? Many of those who are trying to buy these cars make the argument that there are a lot them on the market, perhaps too many, and as a result, the values are going to plummet. That may be true...but we believe that is only true for a small percentage of the vehicles. The reason for this is because the majority of...

Caffeine and Exotics

Caffeine and Exotics is more than just your typical car show. It is a gathering of the most luxurious and spectacular vehicles all in one place, drawing people from all over to see, in person, just how incredible these mechanical beasts really are. Caffeine and Exotics has quickly become a nationally recognized event dedicated to the passion and enthusiasm for exotic cars. There are typically over two hundred privately owned exotic cars on display, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Porsche, Lotus, Maserati, Bentley, Audi, GTR, Corvette, Viper, and much much more. Each show is...

Can You Drive Your Ferrari in the Rain?

Myth or Fact: You cannot (ever!) drive your Ferrari in the rain. We are happy to report that this is a total myth, concocted by exotic-car-enthusiasts years ago...we're actually not totally sure where this idea came from, but after hearing countless customers echo the same sentiment, we thought we'd set the record straight

How Color Can Affect Resale Value

People often ask us, "How important is color when it comes to resale value?" It's really one of the toughest questions I'm asked, especially depending on the kind of car the customer is looking at, and what the market is telling us. When you're dealing with exotics, especially Ferraris, there is definitely a vast majority of people that favor one particular color. Whether it's a later model 458 Italia or a classic Ferrari 348, color is hugely important to the customer. In our case, since most of our pre-owned inventory are Ferraris, a vast majority of people only want the color red. For first-time Ferrari buyers in particular, they say...

A Ferrari SUV...Really?

Dost mine ears deceive me? A Ferrari Utility vehicle...could it be true? According to Sergio Marchionne, Chairman and CEO of Ferrari (among other manufacturers), the production of a Ferrari SUV--or "FUV," as he calls it--is indeed, happening. After Marchionne alluded to reporters at the New York Stock Exchange that a Ferrari SUV is most likely on the horizon, Ferrari lovers and enthusiasts everywhere, were shocked.

How many miles is too many miles for a Ferrari?

When appraising a used car, one of the first things we look at is the odometer. Then, of course, there's the year, make and model of the car, etc.-- but how do we determine if the car is considered "high-mileage" or not?

Ferraris: Mid-Engine vs. Front-Engine

Front-engine and mid-engine Ferraris, what are the benefits and drawbacks? And possibly more important, what do they feel and sound like while karting around town?

Used Ferrari Market: Hot or Cold?

Is the Pre-owned Ferrari market hot or cold? How do we tell? What are the driving factors that make this market hot or cold? These are all questions that we are constantly asked and sometimes they can be very challenging to answer.

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.

Why Ferrari & Maserati Service is Crucial for Longevity

Learn about types of Italian luxury car servicing and expected cost of maintenance. "Even down to the simplest jobs like replacing worn brake pads, the processes are subjected to nuances such as sequential tightening of hardware. If things like this are overlooked or forgotten, you are not only at risk of parts wearing down prematurely but can often result in catastrophic results and even considerably higher Ferrari repair fees."

Ferrari Car Clubs, Worthwhile or Not?

Believe it or not, this is a question we often get asked. The answer really depends on you and what you want your ownership experience to be like.  I, however, always advise joining the owner's clubs because most of the clubs are relatively inexpensive and the benefits can be big.

Bentley Continental GT Flying Spur Models Fit for a Family

Exotic car, 0- 60 in under 5 seconds, 12 cylinder engine, aerodynamic design... these are not the typical features on the car shopping list for a family with children. However, Bentley is one ultra luxury car manufacturer that has considered the family and they have created a vehicle that combines luxury, speed and family into perfection...

The World of Bentley

When it comes to luxury in the automotive industry, there are certain manufacturers that come to mind. Only a handful of these companies, however, are known for setting the standard of excellence and opulence. The Bentley Motor Company is one of these prestigious brands that is now associated with the likes of Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Ferrari...

Rolls Royce: Ultra Luxury Defined

Rolls-Royce, a name synonymous with elegance and power, is perhaps the most well-known luxury brand of all time, coming into existence just over a century ago. Nothing makes the statement, "I have arrived," more than pulling up in a Rolls-Royce, especially when you're not the one driving it, you're the one riding in it...

Bentley State Limousine: Fit for a Queen

Bentley Motorcars is a brand associated with timeless luxury and everlasting elegance, so it should come as no surprise that the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, prefers to be chariot-ed around in none other than a Bentley...

Concours d'Elegance, the Best of the Best

The Concours d'Elegance is a car show unlike any other, considered to be of the most prestigious events in the automotive world. French for 'competition of excellence,' the Concours d'Elegance features the rarest and most beautiful automobiles from all over the world...

How to Navigate the Carfax

Buying a car is stressful, or rather, it can be a stressful process. There's a lot to consider when buying a car. Year, make, model, et cetera. Buying a used car unveils a whole 'nother level of stress because not only do you have the actual car to consider, you now have to...

Car Collections: How and Why They Came to Be

A Collector, by definition, is a person who collects things of a specified type, professionally as a hobby. A Collection, by definition, is a group of objects or an amount of material accumulated in one location...

What Has BMW Ownership Done for Rolls-Royce?

The Rolls-Royce brand is one synonymous with perfection, ever since it first came into existence in 1904. These cars have been identified with luxury, power and success, not only because they are of the most expensive cars in the world, but because of what they represent. A brand founded upon the pursuit of perfection, Rolls-Royce's...

Aftermarket Modifications: A Do or a Don't?

As a company that specializes in pre-owned cars, this is a question that comes up a lot. We take in customer trades all the time and help them get into the car of their dreams, whether its a 1987 Ferrari Testarossa or a later model Ferrari California, our mission is to do whatever we can to make the car-buying (or car-selling) experience enjoyable and exciting. That being said, a lot goes into this process. Evaluating a...

Hurricane Impact on the Used Car Market

The used car market is all about supply and demand--it is something we say over and over again about used cars in general, including the collectible car market. So, how will the recent hurricanes in Texas and in Florida affect the used car market? Two huge metropolitan markets have been severely devastated by the hurricanes, resulting in the loss of homes, possessions, and hundreds of thousands of automobiles. As it pertains to cars, the demand for new and used vehicles will sky-rocket, while the supply of used cars will go down. The new car manufacturers offer a plethora of cars, but Texas and Florida are incredibly large used car markets--not only...

Why Does A Car's Number of Owners Matter?

Why do people care so much about the number of owners that a car has had? It's an interesting question because in the exotic world, it is not uncommon for people to buy and sell their exotic cars regularly. They trade often, they buy a car for six months, keep it, get tired of it, and get rid of it. As a result, there's nothing to say that there is anything wrong with that car. However, the car that's had three or four owners in its life--is there reason to explore? Yes, absolutely. But is there reason to stay away from that car entirely? Does multiple owners mean the car is in bad shape? No. Here's why it can be scary...

Franchise Dealerships vs. Independent

When it comes time to buy a car, new or used, the dealership you buy from can determine what kind of experience you will have. The question people are often faced with when they've decided the kind of car they want is: Do I buy from a franchise store or an independent dealership? There are several differences between the two, pros and cons for each, and some could argue that they would never deviate from buying at a franchise store, no questions asked. Now, we may be a little biased, but...

Is it Easier to Buy a Car in Today's Market, or Harder?

Why does it take people so long to buy a car in today's market? Why are people spending so much time online prior to going to the dealership, before they even see the car they want? Simple: Analysis Paralysis and fear of making the wrong decision. With the broad offerings from every dealer, people...

Over-Production Diminishing Value of Used Cars

As new car manufacturers continue to broaden their line, and ramp up production in order to gain market share, it brings to mind the question: what does that do to the value to pre-owned cars? What does it do to the current cars on the pre-owned market and how does it change?...