Whats 'high' mileage on a 355?
Discussion
I know we all have differing views as to the psychology of the different mileage areas on these - personally over the past few years, I've tended to consider 40s as perfectly reasonable and 50's upwards as being 'high'....
However, time is passing, and mileages are increasing of course. Possibly a greater proportion of cars are now being 'tucked up' and used very sparingly (which is a great shame imo)
And as time passes, how does sensitivity to mileage on a modern classic like a 355 reduce? For example, I recently looked into getting a 328 and 80k mileage didn't put me off. Likewise, 90k on a 308 GTB didn't put me off. Will there come a time when 60/70k mileages are much less important than the condition and history of a car? When is that going to be?
So who out there is running 355's with 60k+? 70k+? or even higher??
However, time is passing, and mileages are increasing of course. Possibly a greater proportion of cars are now being 'tucked up' and used very sparingly (which is a great shame imo)
And as time passes, how does sensitivity to mileage on a modern classic like a 355 reduce? For example, I recently looked into getting a 328 and 80k mileage didn't put me off. Likewise, 90k on a 308 GTB didn't put me off. Will there come a time when 60/70k mileages are much less important than the condition and history of a car? When is that going to be?
So who out there is running 355's with 60k+? 70k+? or even higher??
Mine's got 52k on it. I think that's considered high mileage for these cars, even though it works out less than 3k per year. Cars with higher mileages do exist but are very much the exception rather than the norm. The ease with which these older cars can be clocked means that some will never tick over whatever the market considers the high mileage watermark - and I agree with you that the market currently thinks that anything over 50,000 is getting on a bit. To be honest, I think mileage sensitivity has increased with age on the 355, as the lower-mileage ones are bought as an investment, resulting in an even bigger gap between the high-milers at the bottom and the garage queens at the top of the market.
To be honest, I'm umming and arring over whether to sell it this year, as I barely drove it last year, although that was due to spending a lot of time out of the country rather than any concern about adding miles.
To be honest, I'm umming and arring over whether to sell it this year, as I barely drove it last year, although that was due to spending a lot of time out of the country rather than any concern about adding miles.
DarkHorseTerence said:
And as time passes, how does sensitivity to mileage on a modern classic like a 355 reduce? For example, I recently looked into getting a 328 and 80k mileage didn't put me off. Likewise, 90k on a 308 GTB didn't put me off. Will there come a time when 60/70k mileages are much less important than the condition and history of a car?
This is correct. When you get into Daytona's or even 250's, most buyers are not concerned about mileage. Even if it's zoomed past 200K on the odometer, good provenance is the order of the day 
DarkHorseTerence said:
And as time passes, how does sensitivity to mileage on a modern classic like a 355 reduce? For example, I recently looked into getting a 328 and 80k mileage didn't put me off. Likewise, 90k on a 308 GTB didn't put me off. Will there come a time when 60/70k mileages are much less important than the condition and history of a car?
This is correct. When you get into Daytona's or even 250's, most buyers are not concerned about mileage. Even if it's zoomed past 200K on the odometer, good provenance is the order of the day 
What I am bemused by is how many 355's had around 35-40,000 miles ten years ago and there still seem to be the majority of cars with similar mileages around today.. yet we see them out and about and being driven..??
On the 355/348 it is extremely easy for someone with naughty intent to disconnect one cable and this will prevent the odometer clocking up numbers. I remember a Ferrari specialist encouraged me to do this on mine many years ago as he said it was a 'no brainer' and he would reconnect the cable in 5 minutes. I declined of course..
I may be cynical but I suspect the majority of 355's out there are not indicating true mileages.
On the 355/348 it is extremely easy for someone with naughty intent to disconnect one cable and this will prevent the odometer clocking up numbers. I remember a Ferrari specialist encouraged me to do this on mine many years ago as he said it was a 'no brainer' and he would reconnect the cable in 5 minutes. I declined of course..
I may be cynical but I suspect the majority of 355's out there are not indicating true mileages.
I think as others have said, mileage on 355s is not really to be taken seriously. Mine had 52k on it when I sold it in 2009, which was the highest mileage for sale at the time.
I once was on the highway and suddenly the speedo just stopped working and came back on about 20 miles later - I assume it is very easy to disconnect the sensor prior to taking a long trip and then reconnecting it again at some point prior to MOT / service etc.
Also the cars are now getting to an age, where a proper reconditioning/engine rebuild etc would mean more to me than a certain mileage figure
I once was on the highway and suddenly the speedo just stopped working and came back on about 20 miles later - I assume it is very easy to disconnect the sensor prior to taking a long trip and then reconnecting it again at some point prior to MOT / service etc.
Also the cars are now getting to an age, where a proper reconditioning/engine rebuild etc would mean more to me than a certain mileage figure
Mine is an early car, May 1995 and the speedo sensors at the time were prone to water ingress and failure. The car did a bit less than 500 miles before it was fixed but having had the dash out to replace the gauges with metric from imperial ones, I know it's a simple connector. Mind you, you wouldn't have a speedo either.
In the end and especially with an older car, it's condition which counts more than some arbitrary mileage. So mine is 20 years old now, 22000 miles and it's showing its age. The paintwork is good though after I crashed it and it had a full respray. Pretty much unsaleable now, though it drives well.
In the end and especially with an older car, it's condition which counts more than some arbitrary mileage. So mine is 20 years old now, 22000 miles and it's showing its age. The paintwork is good though after I crashed it and it had a full respray. Pretty much unsaleable now, though it drives well.
"High", for me, is over 75k now these cars are c.20 years old.
But, most people want them under 50k. And I suspect that's a number that will hold fast for a while now.
20k being the magic number I seem to hear people talking about. Which is 1k a year... hmm.
F355 has gearbox ECU logging real miles btw....
But, most people want them under 50k. And I suspect that's a number that will hold fast for a while now.
20k being the magic number I seem to hear people talking about. Which is 1k a year... hmm.
F355 has gearbox ECU logging real miles btw....
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