1. 1Cycle the electric fabric top fully open and closed and watch it seat and latch cleanly; it's the one system the coupe doesn't have. Check the top's condition and the surrounding seals.
2. 2The Spider shares the Modena's known issues: inspect for cracked exhaust manifolds and worn hydraulic engine mounts, and on F1 cars check the single-clutch and its pump. Budget for the cam-belt major service.
3. 3As with the coupe, manual cars are the ones to seek and the later cars can have sticky soft-touch trim. Get a full history and a specialist pre-purchase inspection.
4. 4The Spider shares the coupe's non-header issues too. On earlier cars confirm the cam-timing variator was updated under Ferrari's factory campaign (the early part can cause valve-to-piston contact), and expect fast-wearing front ball joints and rear tie rods, ignition-coil misfires, and a leaking alarm-siren battery that can blow fuses. 2003 cars also fell under the power-steering hose recall (NHTSA 04V294000), so confirm it was done.

• 04V2940002003
  The hydraulic power-steering delivery hose could leak and gradually reduce steering assist; remedy replaced the delivery hoses.

US NHTSA campaigns for this model. A listed campaign may not apply to a particular car, and may already have been remedied — check a specific car by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.