Ferraris are designed for a certain kind of buyer. They are typically the most affluent members of society, and sure enough, they can afford the expenses associated with buying and owning a Ferrari car. It doesn’t mean, however, that Ferraris aren’t attractive to the rest of us—and Ferrari knows it. The company has manufactured lower end supercars possibly with the median-income populations in mind. Although they might seem like great buys at first, these Ferraris will likely run you up a fortune when it comes to upkeep. They’re just not made like the higher-end models. Still for the curious ones and those that like to dream, here are the five cheapest Ferraris that money can buy.
1. Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS
If you’re looking for a cheaper Ferrari, the first thing you’d probably have to do is look at older models. The best Ferraris are meant to withstand time; that’s why some older Ferrari models will still cost you a fortune. However, there were older Ferrari productions that don’t do as well with time. One of those is the Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS. You might find a 1985 model that costs about $55,000 today—maybe even less The 308 is a classic Ferrari model that was manufactured from 1975 to 1985. It features a 2.9-liter V8 engine that has a horsepower capacity between 240 and 252. If speed is what you’re after, the Ferrari 308 will get you going at a top speed of 152mph. It’s an incredible price for an iconic piece of machinery, which was popularized by the show, Magnum P.I.
2. Ferrari Mondial
You can stay within the 80s production timeframe if you believe you can afford the risk. Ferrari produced the Mondial between 1980 and 1993, and these Ferraris were actually highly successful during their production run. The Mondial had 4 models, each one distinct from the other. The models were the Mondial t, Mondial 3.2, Mondial QV, and the Mondial 8. Although manufacturing quality was always exceptional for Ferrari, these Mondials have proven to be quite maintenance problems today. If you happen to find a Mondial that’s pristine today, you are very lucky. Otherwise, you can settle for average ones—including one that was seen posted on Autotrader in 2017 for $33,995. The model was a 3.2, and it was from a private seller. As with buying any used cars, you’d need to make sure that you inspect every nook and cranny of the Mondial before you put your hard-earned money down. A $33,000 vehicle might also cost you $33,000 in repairs—be very careful and wise.
3. Ferrari 348
Sadly, so many other vehicles eclipsed the Ferrari 348 during its release in 1989. The Ferrari 348 may have looked amazing like all the other Ferraris in history, but it turns out that supercar buyers want more than just looks. The Ferrari 348 was in production until 1995, and it just didn’t do so well even to the very end. Today, you can probably spot a decent and well-kept Ferrari 348 for roughly $40,000, an amazing price for any sports car. However, you should know that even the best 348’s come with standard issues off the bat. For one, this car is infamous for its excessive understeer. It’s certainly not a great characteristic for any Ferrari. The 348 sure looks cool as a convertible; but if you want to guarantee safety in speed, this is not the car to spend money on.
4. Ferrari 360
You might feel more secure with a newer model, but we have to warn you that it doesn’t always mean much. Although the Ferrari 360 only saw 4 years of production from 2000 to 2004, there were a good amount of units made—a total of 16,000. This fact alone adds to their affordability. As with the case of the Ferrari 360, these vehicles were actually pretty impressive. For example, the Ferrari 360 Modena was the first-ever Ferrari to have an all-aluminum chassis. The result was a vehicle that was about 130lbs. lighter. All the other Ferrari 360 models have other impressive features, and it’s actually surprising how affordable they are today. You’ll probably find various 360 models that range in price from $70,000 to $90,000. If anything, that actually seems more reasonable for any supercar. However if you look closely and patiently enough, you’ll occasionally find Ferrari 360s sold privately for around $50,000 to $60,000. It would be a good buy regardless, since a newer 360 model could run you up anywhere around $180,000.
5. Ferrari 456 GT
If you like a touch of history on your side, look for a used Ferrari 456 GT on sale. Before Enzo Ferrari died in 1988, he approved a final project that was then called Type F116. Later on, this project would become the 456 GT. This car was the only Ferrari in the 90s that you can buy with automatic transmission. It boasts of a 5.5-liter V12 engine and enough seating for 4 passengers. The Ferrari 456 GT was an impressive vehicle. It reached top speeds of up to 180mph and had a 0 to 60mph time of 5 seconds. It’s a truly respectable vehicle from its time, and Enzo’s touch of approval is more than sentimentality. You’ll find some of these today in the $200,000 range, but you wouldn’t have to look to far to find models that are much cheaper. You can find varied prices for the Ferrari 456 GT from around $50,000 to $70,000. That’s incredibly cheap for such an impressive piece of Ferrari engineering. Even those on sale for around $90,000 are still worth the buy. If you can afford to shell out just another $20,000 to spend on a wonderful Ferrari, you might find yourself with a better car altogether.
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