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STRADALE said:
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devo said:
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Damian said:
Hi, Nick. I'm amused by the "get a Porsche, be like everyone else.." comment. Well, let's see... assuming 300 million Americans:
-In the year 2005, One out of 61 Americans drove home in a brand new General Motors car.
-In the year 2005, One out of 28,210 Americans drove home in a brand new Porsche 911.
He11, everyone's got one!!! 
Speaking of depreciation, hopefully someone can answer this question: if someone buys a slightly used F430 for $30K over original MSRP, do insurance companies have any problem with insuring for the full purchase price, even if that amount exceeds the official MSRP of the car? how would depreciation over several years be accounted for on an F430 or on a Ford GT for instance-- in the event that the car is totaled-- with the real market values of such a car swinging up and down in a volatile, unconventional pattern?
Very good point indeed.
Additionally, once the F-car unobtainium evaporates-and it will, the 430's value will take a significant drop, like any other car. I'd hate to be the guy who paid 30-50k over msrp, only to have to suffer a much more harsh fall. Love the 430, but in the end, we all suffer the same fate.
Mint 360 spider's are still selling over sticker. So are low mileage cherry Stradale's and we're almost midway into the next model's (430) production cycle. 430's will continue selling over msrp at least until mid-end of life for the NEXT model probably further. Somewhere around 2012 and even then the 430 will at least hold it's msrp value. Very possible mint 360 spiders will still be selling at premiums 2 models later, the chances of 430 Spiders dropping below MSRP in the pre-owned market even way into the next model are probably nill. The Spider's value will be even stronger. And the next model launched in 2009 will continue the 8cyl Ferrari trend in the US selling at huge pre-owned premiums. As long as they continue the current marketing and sales of new 8cyl models every 5 years and the world economy doesn't collapse it looks like the trend will continue. I know people that put down deposits for 360 spiders 4 years ago and STILL don't have cars and from everything I'm seeing it's only getting harder to procure a new 8cyl car at msrp, anyone in the US that's tried can attest to that.
Always amusing to see how much guys will pay for a used/obsolete/scuffed-up discretionary car of any brand, reflecting someone else's color/options choices....
Know many guys who get a new F every 6-12mos @MSRP, w/$0 down leases; drive it for near-free as part of several wkend/occasional commuter cars in their fleet...and repeat the game....
But these guys are also smart enough to know that it's just an amusing Ponzi scheme that, like most Ponzi schemes, will eventually unravel
....perhaps F ups global produc materially/incrs US alloc from 30% to 40-50% of global produc, etc etc, esp if F wants to maximize profitability in advance of perhaps a future IPO/sale to private equity guys/other Fiat "rationalization" scheme.....
