Chimaera & F355?

[V8 Kieran]

Just a general waffle as bored this morning, but see where it goes.....

Didn't put this in Fezza forum coz they're going to be biased! Read Classic/Sports mag this month with lovely yellow F355 Berlinetta on front cover. Now I can't get it out of my head.

Can't do anything till next year, assuming financial plans work out, but really fancy one. Thought I'd get Berlinetta so have hardtop to go with Chim convertible so I've got something for rainy days!!

Really liked the yellow one, but would want black/crema interior so probably means a red/blue/black one, and deffo proper box, not F1 flappy paddles.

Wondering what it'd be like to live with, and whether worth the extra cash over F348. Reading suggests much more balanced, and lets go more progressively, and all round very much improved car. Think I prefer 355 looks, but both very beautiful.

Thoughts?............

>> Edited by V8 Kieran on Thursday 1st June 08:55

[Podie]

If you think a Chimaera is expensive to run... forget it...

Great cars though... on my "list to own"

>> Edited by Podie on Thursday 1st June 09:09

[V8 Kieran]

Hi mate

I appreciate there'd be higher costs, but then I'd be coughing up £40-£45k to purchase anyway. This is only if plans work out. Either I will easily afford it, or the mag will be the closest I get. Will not be buying unless my finances change. (This is alternative to V8 Vantage as better half considers £80k+ purchase to be obscene!!)

Running costs not an issue unless ridiculous. Of course right now, I'd baulk at the cost of a set of spark plugs - oh wait, there's only 8, so not so bad!

[The Surveyor]

V8 Kieran said:

Hi mate I appreciate there'd be higher costs, but then I'd be coughing up £40-£45k to purchase anyway. This is only if plans work out. Either I will easily afford it, or the mag will be the closest I get. Will not be buying unless my finances change. (This is alternative to V8 Vantage as better half considers £80k+ purchase to be obscene!!) Running costs not an issue unless ridiculous. Of course right now, I'd baulk at the cost of a set of spark plugs - oh wait, there's only 8, so not so bad!

Or you could buy a Sagaris, then you've only 6 plugs to worry about....!

[V8 Kieran]

Aha, and don't think I haven't been tempted - although Saggy/T350/Cerb rooflines bit too low for me. Previous thoughts were Tam/Tusc Vert.

However, I think I'll have trouble letting go the Chim (esp. with Cherrybombs) and considering something different to add.

Love new TVRs, but they can't quite make me upgrade - can't put finger on it (perhaps just V8 thing) but enough to make me look around....

[The Surveyor]

Or something a little more 'extream' also in this months Classic and sports Car.......:-

www.pistonheads.com/sales/77714.htm

If it's the same one, we camped next to this last year in Maison Blanche and it was truly stunning, and it's got the right number of spark plugs!!, Nothing against the Ferrari, lovely cars but i've just never really wanted to own one, they just seam the obvious choice, which is why i'm drawn to TVR. Everybody who's never been in one thinks you're woof barking crazy!

[rev-erend]

The 355 - one of my favourites..

They look superb, sound great, appear to be built well (compared to a TVR..)

But they just look so slow.. sound fast but accelerate slow.

My only grip ..

[V8Smith]

Keiran,
The 355 is a great car and sooooo far ahead of the 348 which was a bit of a pig, they are worth the money over the 348 for sure, as the 355 is actually worth buying, unlike the 348. If you want to know about running costs what they are like to own etc, give Kevin Secker a bell as he has both a Chim and a 355, nice guy Im sure he would give you the low down.

IMHO

Mike

[Podie]

I dunno... I quite liked Burriana's 348...

[V8 Kieran]

V8Smith said:

Keiran, The 355 is a great car and sooooo far ahead of the 348 which was a bit of a pig, they are worth the money over the 348 for sure, as the 355 is actually worth buying, unlike the 348. If you want to know about running costs what they are like to own etc, give Kevin Secker a bell as he has both a Chim and a 355, nice guy Im sure he would give you the low down. IMHO Mike

Cheers Mike

Had a look on Kevin's profile - the man has it all!! ..and he's a pilot, goddammit (just got my PPL) - deffo will have to have words.

[V8Smith]

Podie said:

I dunno... I quite liked Burriana's 348...

They look OK, in spider form they look great, but after driving a few, as I considered them myself a few years ago, I found them to be very poor, have you driven one Paul?

All IMHO

Catch you later

Mike

[Podie]

V8Smith said:

...have you driven one Paul?

Both the Spider and the Coupe. It's not an easy drive, but I think that's part of the appeal... kinda invokes Enzo's spirit in a strange way

I would agree that the 355 is a better all round car...

[gbbird]

I have recently been tempted with a 348 or a 355, ideally in addition to the Cerbera but depending on personal and financial situation, maybe as a replacement. I like the look of them both to be honest, it's just that from what i have read the 348 was not a great car, and the 355 a significant improvement. Also, i daresay the performance compared to a Cerb may not be as good

I'd like a yellow or blue one please.

[bob the tooth]

355 or 348??? It's a no-brainer... 355 every time.
The 348 was just an infill between the 328 and 355.
It was a hash job, that was not very well concieved and executed.

[cerby4.5]

The 355 is an excellent car!
I have not owned one (yet), but have spent a fair bit of time with them through family and friends. Yes the running costs can be a little shocking for major work, but as long as you are attentive with the 'pre-emptive' maintenance, you should avoid any major horrors! Beware of cars that have been imported from Europe (often Germany), as some can be real dogs. Also like TVR and most high performance cars, regular 'exercise' is what they prefer. I feel sorry for the cars that don't leave the garage between September and April!!
A friend bought his '98 GTS Manual from a specialist a year ago, and has used it regularly with no real problems. He has covered around 8,000 miles so far.
I know there is a real split between the fans of the paddle shift and the manual gearbox, but IMHO, whilst the F1 is nice, I'd buy the manual every time!
Our next car will be either a late model GTS 355 or a DB7 Vantage.
Cerby4.5

[V8 Kieran]

Thanks for all comments - I was fairly certain that the 355 was worth the extra, but journalists and hype go hand in hand so good to hear from real world.

I quite fancy a yellow one too. Red ones are sooo common! But hate black interiors - can you get crema with yellow? Not a classical mix but possible?

I've never driven a mid-engined car apart from test drives (never spun one/driven hard) and assume that breakaways (or even oversteer slides etc) although scary are likely to be not much worse than Chimaera slides as assume better handling will counteract the mid-engine let-go-fast thing....... or am I talking bollox?

[Polarbert]

rev-erend said:

The 355 - one of my favourites.. They look superb, sound great, appear to be built well (compared to a TVR..) But they just look so slow.. sound fast but accelerate slow. My only grip ..

0-60 in 5 seconds? Not exactly slow.