Ever since I can remember I have constantly had a passion for sports automobiles. Once I was a teenager I would view Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini doing press releases for their new vehicles at the end of the 80’s. These cars were frequently featured in films and television programmes. The common series Magnum P.I highlighted Tom Selleck rushing round the Ferrari 308 GTS.

It set the scene for a love affair with Ferrari which would endure for a long time to follow. I was brought up in a middle class family and didn’t possess the greatest start in life. However it didn’t cease me from being ambitious and wanting to accomplish my dreams. I came from a devoutly religious household so I constantly thought that if I attempted to be the finest man I could be after that one day God would allow me my wishes.

Anyway carrying swiftly on to 1999 immediately after the launch of the 360 Modena, I was still in University and the fantasy of owning a Ferrari was gradually disappearing as I was occupied with various meaningless pursuits.

As soon as I graduated I got a great job and I started to restore determination and become a lot more focused. I was 21 years old and set my sights on a Ferrari 355 Spider with a spending budget of close to £60,000. It was not going to be a brand new vehicle but was and still is the best looking car Ferrari have ever before produced in my humble opinion. More importantly it was all I could realistically afford to save.

I spent the next 3 years surviving on ends meat and saving every penny I had towards purchasing my dream car. I would commit hours searching through world-wide-web images of the 355 Spider. I was certainly not much of a socialite and highly considered that a automobile of this calibre may catapult me into the lime light. This was the reply to all my complications and quickly I may possess a crisp new image and be a new man.

As I got into my fourth year of saving I suddenly realised that I had saved a considerable amount of income and if I preserved for a little bit more I might in fact buy a Ferrari 360 Modena. I wasn’t sure whether to abruptly alter my dream car for this new launch.

The year was 2004 and I was in London’s Edgware Road, home of the affluent and elite Arab community. As I was traveling down the road I observed a red Ferrari 360 Modena parked outside of the shisha lounge on the main road. There was a young male sat in the automobile with the engine running. I witnessed people including myself with their jaw fallen open and not realizing whether to eye ball the car or the mysterious owner.

That was it my mind was made and I was going to buy a Ferrari 360 Modena whatever it took. The sheer road presence of that wide 3.6 litre beast of a car was ample to stun anybody fortunate enough to look at it.

Last but not least right after about 4 and a half years of difficult conserving I had assembled nearly £70,000 and was prepared to select my Ferrari. Now I couldn’t buy one brand new because I wasn’t a house proprietor and the financial institutions wouldn’t lend me the additional £35K required to acquire a new model out right.

I afterwards sought about to looking the world-wide-web and magazines like Top Marques to locate the car most appropriate to my price range. It was probably the happiest period of time out of the five years of continual misery conserving for it automobile.

Along came an advert for a W registration year 2000 model automobile which was being sold at simply shy of £67,000 by an independent seller in Park Royal London. I phoned them a number of instances and when they realised my age was only 25 these folks lost interest even though I guaranteed them that I could find the money for insurance coverage for the vehicle. These sellers are mindful of to time wasters looking for a quick joy ride with no intention to buy a vehicle. Anyway after quite a few cellphone calls and persuasion I was offered a day to attend and examine the car.

I showed up to the garage which wasn’t what one may say seemed like a standard Ferrari show room. There was a little back office with a few foreign employees who were not specifically friendly and appeared not to want to make eye contact.

The director of the company was an English man and asked one of his cronies to show me round the automobile. I was led into the show room which was a lock up hanger sort area with about two million worth of super cars inside. I was so shocked looking at these cars of every single make and model I became in the traditional kid in a candy store mode.

I was walked to my automobile and had a cursory look round. Yes it was a Ferrari and it seemed good. There was a few little scratches to the exterior but the vendor promised this will be definetely sorted out just before the day of collection.

I was so fired up I immediately agreed and a deposit was put down on the car pending collection. On the day before I showed up to collect my car I wire transferred the outstanding funds into the sellers nominated account.

On the day I showed up I was once again greeted by staff with a similar miserable, frigid looks. I after that was told that my automobile was undergoing a few final assessments and will be definetely ready soon. I waited 60 minutes or so and was afterwards told that the air conditioning canister was being replaced over and would take a couple more hrs. I was truly annoyed but tried not to let my anger spoil the day I had been dreaming of for a lot of years.

I was accompanied by a good friend who recommended we go down to the nearby restaurant and wait. Right after about 4 hours we were last but not least advised my car was prepared. The car was driven from the garage and sounded excellent. It looked good too. I then went to sign the paper work and finalise the deal. When I met the director who in hindsight was to be a well known criminal on the web forums, he stated that he didn’t have the log book for the car and that it was on its way from the DVLA. He produced a photocopy of the first log book as if to legitimise the sale.

Both my friend and I were thoroughly disgusted and my buddy recommended that we walk away from the deal all together. My heart sank realizing that I had just handed over £67K and probably would never see it again. The director spoke some crap concerning his brother being a top barrister in the city and that this was all kosher. I was left in such a tough place I was feeling unwell and just wished to get my documents, car and walk out and afterwards ponder it later.

I got into the Ferrari and suddenly started noticing things that I had formerly never spotted on my initial showing. The most note worthy point was that the car was advertised as having solely 19,000 miles but the electronic display showed 22,000 miles. The interior of the automobile was a total mess. The carpets were torn the interior seemed as if it had not been cleaned in years. Other items I realised was things like one of the CD player buttons had fallen off. The trade mark Pininfarina metal logo on the side skirt was half snapped off.

For whatever reason I just got in the car experiencing both enthusiastic, nervous and ill at a similar time. The initial issue I had to do was go get some petrol at the local forecourt. I suddenly became mindful that all eyes were on me. Park Royal is a toilet and I was so anxious that I was practically shaking. I managed to get my fuel, with looks of smiles from both the workers and customers alike. The drive home was the only pleasurable portion of my journey. It was exactly as I had anticipated it with vehicles following me down the motor way and individuals staring into find out who was at the driver’s seat.

When I got home I got directly onto my solicitor who suggested me to take the Log book matter up with the DVLA. As for the fact that the car was sold “not as described” the solicitor was of the belief that the car being 5 years old meant that it may not be really worth proceeding to the civil courts for damages. I was bitterly disappointed but that was it I was now trapped with this car.

In the end after quite a few cell phone calls and visits to the DVLA offices I managed to get the LOG book in my identity so that was a small relief. In part 2 of this write-up I will cover the following twelve months of my journey as a totally fledged Ferrari proprietor. The ups the downs and all thats in between.

If you are foolish enough to buy a 2nd hand Ferrari from any independent vendor for God sake don’t let your lust blind you into the predicament that I discovered myself.

Right here is a list of checks that the DVLA themselves advise earlier than obtaining any car but the suggestions is no different when it comes to purchasing a Ferrari. Remember that simply because you are having to pay fantasy deserving sum of money does not essentially imply you will be handed the kys to a dream deserving car.  

Step 1: Before seeing the vehicle 

• Here are some things to consider before you see the vehicle:
• be careful of mobile phone numbers – owners are hard to trace
• watch out for adverts giving a landline number and times to call – criminals often use phone boxes
• check the market value of the vehicle – if it’s offered much cheaper, ask yourself why
• check the Vehicle Identification number (VIN) and engine number against the registration certificate (V5C) – your main dealer can help you locate them
• arrange to see the vehicle in daylight at the seller’s home and not in a public car park; always consider your personal safety
• ask if the seller is the registered keeper, so you can view at the registered keeper’s address (shown on the V5C)
• be careful, some dishonest dealers pose as private sellers to offload unsafe and ‘clocked’ cars
• consider taking a qualified vehicle examiner with you – a number of companies provide this service if you don’t know anybody with sufficient knowledge of vehicles
• ask the seller for the registration number, make and model of the vehicle
• ask the seller for the expiry date of the tax disc, and the MOT test number
• check whether the vehicle has outstanding finance or has been stolen or written off
• You can check this information before you see the vehicle with a variety of companies. You’ll need to check with the companies what services they provide. 

Step 2: Checking the vehicle’s registration certificate (V5C)

• Thieves can change a stolen vehicle and its paperwork to make it look like a real one (this is known as ‘cloning’).
• Hold the V5C up to the light – there should be a ‘DVL’ watermark.Make sure the seller has the right to sell the vehicle. If the seller has had the vehicle for some time, they should have any of the following:
• a bill of sale (receipt)
• service records
• MOT certificate
• Remember, the V5C is not proof of ownership.
• Make sure the V5C matches the vehicle’s details and all other documentation provided.
• Look out for stolen V5Cs. If the seller has a blue V5C with a serial number in the following ranges don’t go ahead with the sale and contact the police when it’s safe to do so:
• BG8229501 to BG9999030
• BI2305501 to BI2800000
• The serial number is in a white circle in the top right hand corner of the V5C.
• Be careful, even if the serial number doesn’t fall within the above ranges. Don’t buy the vehicle if you think the serial number has been altered, or if part of the V5C is missing.
• There have been a number of changes to the V5C. These include a new colour and improved customer information.

 Step 3: Checking the vehicle

• Before buying a vehicle you should check:
• if the engine has been changed in any way
• that all locks open with the same key – thieves change locks that have been damaged
• if there are two keys available – clones are rarely sold with both
• that the VIN and engine number match those on the V5C and that the surrounding areas have not been altered or covered
• You should also check the condition of the vehicle.
• If you decide to buy the vehicle, avoid paying in cash. Pay by a banking system and get a receipt.
• You can print the checklist below and take it with you as a reminder of what to look for when buying a vehicle.

Step 4: Specific to the purchase a Ferrari or other super car 

• Make sure you get a full diagnostics check conducted and look over the report carefully
• The diagnostic check will reveal which grade individual parts and indicate which parts are perishing and need replacement.
• This will give you some idea of costs involved after you have purchased the vehicle. Beware parts and servicing alone can be a considerable expense if the vehicle has not been well maintained.
• Make sure that the service book shows stamps for each year since the vehicle hit the road.
• The stamps should from either Ferrari themselves or a Ferrari approved dealer.
• A break in service history will almost certainly affect the residual value of the vehicle.
• Inspect every inch of the exterior paint work especially the front bumper and side vents. If these areas have considerable scratches in indicates that the car has been driven pretty fast over a period of time.
• Check that the interior is in good order, carefully inspecting the upholstery, carpets and electrics.

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