Let’s talk about one-owner cars.
The comments section of today’s 348 is aflutter over its single-ownership since new, but does that matter? Why do some buyers value a car with just one or two owners?
In theory, the fewer owners a vehicle has the more likely complete maintenance documentation has been retained with the car. Logic also might dictate that someone with the means to buy an exotic new implies the car has never wanted for care or maintenance. Whereas, especially with a depreciating Ferrari, there can come a time when models like the 348 were far cheaper to buy than to maintain, resulting in a build up of expensive deferred maintenance. Lastly, single ownership can suggest a vehicle was a prized possession and only used for pleasure, carefully.
I take a different view. Reference the concept of Hedonic Adaptation. You can google it for a deep dive but basically, when applied to big purchases like homes and exotic cars, a human can stay enthralled only so long before returning to stasis – this is generally referred to as “the honeymoon phase”. Eventually, your new house becomes your home and your new exotic becomes “just a car”. You stop parking it at the end of the lot and eventually fight over the closest spot to the mall’s entrance like everyone else.
Ideally then, you’d want to buy a car that trades hands every time its owner leaves the honeymoon phase, though that seems unrealistic. Which is why I don’t care about the number of owners. I care about condition. So let’s evaluate today’s 348 on its own merits, not by the number of states it’s been registered in.
I’ll be honest and to the point: nothing about the condition of this car would make me think it’s in any way special. If I saw it on a lot and the carfax said it had seven owners I wouldn’t flinch.
Let the nitpicking begin!
VIN: ZFFRG43AXR0096734
Leave a comment and tell me what you think!
My thoughts:
- Unless you’re in love with being the second owner I say skip this one. It’s very scruffy.
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