355 Fiorano Handling Pack
Discussion
Hi
My question is whether you think having the Fiorano handling pack outweighs the (generally agreed) downside of not having a manual? I know it was much more popular on the F1, but the word ‘dog’ is used quite frequently with this box! Having driven an F1, I don’t think it was that bad though...
Best
My question is whether you think having the Fiorano handling pack outweighs the (generally agreed) downside of not having a manual? I know it was much more popular on the F1, but the word ‘dog’ is used quite frequently with this box! Having driven an F1, I don’t think it was that bad though...
Best
The fiorano pack is quite rare to find from factory. I drove both manual and F1 and held out 18 months to find a manual one (in 2003) as there are only 18 manual RHD. The F1, was quite brutal in the upshifts at full revs as fiorano cars have the challenge ECU.
Having said that, and of course I am biased, I would prefer a fiorano car (even ones that have been subsequently converted) predominantly for the steering rack which is 2.4 turns vs the standard 3.8 turns which in comarison is more vague. Benefits of less roll and lower springs etc are good but only on track. In fact, the lower ride hight is a pain if you live in the city as the front overhang in a 355 is long and riding lower means you scrape it enve trying to get in and our of petrol stations if there is a dip at the roadside.
Having said that, and of course I am biased, I would prefer a fiorano car (even ones that have been subsequently converted) predominantly for the steering rack which is 2.4 turns vs the standard 3.8 turns which in comarison is more vague. Benefits of less roll and lower springs etc are good but only on track. In fact, the lower ride hight is a pain if you live in the city as the front overhang in a 355 is long and riding lower means you scrape it enve trying to get in and our of petrol stations if there is a dip at the roadside.
I think you can still buy most/all of the fiorano parts (not sure if there are not better after market parts available now - steering rack and ecu excluded - but brakes and suspension components)
I would go manual over f1 and then modify to taste
And as pointed out above the overhang is quite long and it does scrape quite a bit even at normal ride height
I would go manual over f1 and then modify to taste
And as pointed out above the overhang is quite long and it does scrape quite a bit even at normal ride height
I sold my previous manual 355 spider as I managed to find one of the last of the line manual 355 spiders that came from the factory with the Fiorano handling pack.
Going straight from one to the other you noticed the changes that the handling pack (consisting of lowered uprated suspension, uprated roll bars, quicker steering rack, uprated brakes, red calipers and i think the challenge ecu) made immediately, also, the tyres specified back then were Bridgestone Expedia S01 which were an improvement over the Pirellis, however, running on modern sticky tyres such as Michelin Supersports give remarkable grip and handling now.
Cars spec'd with the option from the factory had the full upgrade, some of the retro fitted cars had selected parts of the kit fitted rather than the full pack.
Factory Fiorano cars are easily verified with a quick Vin check at the dealership.
Fitting titanium skid plates from hill engineering at the underside front corners of the bumper eases speed hump damage due to lowered stance.
As mentioned before, they are a bit thin on the ground but well worth sourcing....not seen one for sale for a while though.
Going straight from one to the other you noticed the changes that the handling pack (consisting of lowered uprated suspension, uprated roll bars, quicker steering rack, uprated brakes, red calipers and i think the challenge ecu) made immediately, also, the tyres specified back then were Bridgestone Expedia S01 which were an improvement over the Pirellis, however, running on modern sticky tyres such as Michelin Supersports give remarkable grip and handling now.
Cars spec'd with the option from the factory had the full upgrade, some of the retro fitted cars had selected parts of the kit fitted rather than the full pack.
Factory Fiorano cars are easily verified with a quick Vin check at the dealership.
Fitting titanium skid plates from hill engineering at the underside front corners of the bumper eases speed hump damage due to lowered stance.
As mentioned before, they are a bit thin on the ground but well worth sourcing....not seen one for sale for a while though.
There were 100 numbered Fiorano spider cars and were only sold in the US at the end of the 355 ptoduction. They also had an alcantara steering wheel. In UK and Europe, the fiorano pack was an option which I think cost £9k (carbon seats another £4k as not part of the pack)
For UK I believe there was 1manual spider and 4 spider F1's speced with a fiorano pack.
For UK I believe there was 1manual spider and 4 spider F1's speced with a fiorano pack.
Edited by 355fiorano on Monday 27th November 10:17
MDL111 said:
I think you can still buy most/all of the fiorano parts (not sure if there are not better after market parts available now - steering rack and ecu excluded - but brakes and suspension components)
I would go manual over f1 and then modify to taste
And as pointed out above the overhang is quite long and it does scrape quite a bit even at normal ride height
A lot of the parts are NLA unfortunately. If anyone has a steering rack or rear ARB I'd be interested I would go manual over f1 and then modify to taste
And as pointed out above the overhang is quite long and it does scrape quite a bit even at normal ride height
Bacchus
Is the 2.7 that much better than the 5.2 (objectively!)? There are quite a few claims of 10-30 bhp more, but does that mean that the 5.2 has 10-30 less, or the 2.7 is pushing 400 bhp?? I also understand the 2.7 is prone to more electrical issues?
Best
Is the 2.7 that much better than the 5.2 (objectively!)? There are quite a few claims of 10-30 bhp more, but does that mean that the 5.2 has 10-30 less, or the 2.7 is pushing 400 bhp?? I also understand the 2.7 is prone to more electrical issues?
Best
Edited by NSC79 on Saturday 2nd December 16:37
Bacchus
Is the 2.7 that much better than the 5.2 (objectively!)? There are quite a few claims of 10-30 bhp more, but does that mean that the 5.2 has 10-30 less, or the 2.7 is pushing 400 bhp?? I also understand the 2.7 is prone to more electrical issues?
Best
Is the 2.7 that much better than the 5.2 (objectively!)? There are quite a few claims of 10-30 bhp more, but does that mean that the 5.2 has 10-30 less, or the 2.7 is pushing 400 bhp?? I also understand the 2.7 is prone to more electrical issues?
Best
Edited by NSC79 on Saturday 2nd December 19:31
NSC79 said:
Bacchus
Is the 2.7 Thady much better than the 5.2 (objectively!)? There are quite a few claims of 10-30 bhp more, but does that mean that the 5.2 has 10-30 less, or the 2.7 is pushing 400 bhp?? I also understand the 2.7 is prone to more electrical issues?
Best
I think it is fair to say in case of the 355 it means less. Most figures I have seen were in the 330-350 range from memory. Is the 2.7 Thady much better than the 5.2 (objectively!)? There are quite a few claims of 10-30 bhp more, but does that mean that the 5.2 has 10-30 less, or the 2.7 is pushing 400 bhp?? I also understand the 2.7 is prone to more electrical issues?
Best
Some useful info here from a recent thread resurrection with some part numbers too on FHP
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/fiorano-...
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/fiorano-...
I think the difference between 2.7 and 5.2 is more than bhp figures.
The 2.7 has the nicer steering wheel and engine bay.
less 2.7 cars were produced,
air ducts in the C-pillar,
two airflow meters (Mas Air Flow Meter (MAFF) area for a 5.2 is 5.1 square vs 9.0 square inches area for a 2.7. This should probably signal a greater HP increase than 5hp that the factory had stated,
all Challenge cars are 2.7 - there must be a reason!
The 2.7 has the nicer steering wheel and engine bay.
less 2.7 cars were produced,
air ducts in the C-pillar,
two airflow meters (Mas Air Flow Meter (MAFF) area for a 5.2 is 5.1 square vs 9.0 square inches area for a 2.7. This should probably signal a greater HP increase than 5hp that the factory had stated,
all Challenge cars are 2.7 - there must be a reason!
I have a spider with FHP. I cant say what its like without as I have never driven a non FHP.
What I will say is the handling is quite nice, similar to a Caterham in feel but with a tinge of Boxster. You can provoke low speed oversteer in second quite easily and it feels balanced at high speed too. Initial turn in is not that sharp though by modern standards. In sport its pretty hard.
Its low. Bumper skids are a good idea!
The gear changes on WOT are pretty "out there". Certainly bangs through the gears. Down change is granny style and can be difficult to actually down change fast enough to try and get the desired engine speed.
Brakes seem good and up to the job although I have not tracked the car although I doubt I would want too!
What I will say is the handling is quite nice, similar to a Caterham in feel but with a tinge of Boxster. You can provoke low speed oversteer in second quite easily and it feels balanced at high speed too. Initial turn in is not that sharp though by modern standards. In sport its pretty hard.
Its low. Bumper skids are a good idea!
The gear changes on WOT are pretty "out there". Certainly bangs through the gears. Down change is granny style and can be difficult to actually down change fast enough to try and get the desired engine speed.
Brakes seem good and up to the job although I have not tracked the car although I doubt I would want too!
In my experience turn in is much sharper with the FHP. Also it stays flatter than the standard car. When the suspension in "normal mode" is in fact the same as the "sport mode" on the standrd cars and when you put it on the "sport mode" it uses the challenge suspension settings which is harder. In fact it is very noticeable, I have tried this in fast long sweeping bends and when you put it in challenge mode it seems to suck the car in the tarmac.
As for the brakes, they fade easily on track days, even with the X-drilled brakes. I have used fast road pads and uprated brake fluid which make it a bit better but after about 15-20 min of hard tracking there is brake fade.
I must say that I have never driven a non FHP 355 around the track but I have taken some out on the road and I think the differences even on the road are substantial. Also I've never driven a 2.7 to compare vs a 5.2. My personal bias is for better handling vs power
As for the brakes, they fade easily on track days, even with the X-drilled brakes. I have used fast road pads and uprated brake fluid which make it a bit better but after about 15-20 min of hard tracking there is brake fade.
I must say that I have never driven a non FHP 355 around the track but I have taken some out on the road and I think the differences even on the road are substantial. Also I've never driven a 2.7 to compare vs a 5.2. My personal bias is for better handling vs power
Gassing Station | Ferrari V8 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff