355: On the precipice
Discussion
This was my poster car in my childhood bedroom. I often daydream about what I would buy with what sum of money but the 355 is always in the discussion. I am now getting to an age where I think the window to buy one is rapidly closing and I’m seriously considering taking the plunge.
I currently have an N400 AM Vantage Roadster and a 5.0 SC Range Rover. The F355 really would be a toy. As for what I’m looking for, I think I want a GTS although could be persuaded by a Berlinetta. Not that fussed on exterior colour though I don’t want black/yellow. Would love a green but only ever seen one. Interior has to be light for me so no Nero. Bucket seats would be fab but not a dealbreaker. Manual for sure. Also desperate for a ‘95 to get the momo wheel and 2.7 motronic.
Full disclosure: I have never ever driven one. Partly because I was always scared that if I enjoyed it I would have to have one whatever the consequences and it’s not a small sum of money. I appreciate it may go the other way and I need to find out if it lives up to the teenage dreams. I am thinking of driving one in a spec I know I wouldn’t buy anyway to stay halfway objective.
What puts me off is that I know I’d need to store it and with young kids and an uninterested spouse it might get little use. However on the other side ive wanted one for over 25 years. Am well aware of general running costs so going in with one eye open. Can live with an average 5k/year running costs. Whatever anyone says I can’t see the capital value coming down massively from here on out. Read all the reviews and buyers guides I can find.
So really turning this over for general thoughts and opinions especially from owners. Is it time to go and scratch this itch or is it a case of never meet your heroes?
I currently have an N400 AM Vantage Roadster and a 5.0 SC Range Rover. The F355 really would be a toy. As for what I’m looking for, I think I want a GTS although could be persuaded by a Berlinetta. Not that fussed on exterior colour though I don’t want black/yellow. Would love a green but only ever seen one. Interior has to be light for me so no Nero. Bucket seats would be fab but not a dealbreaker. Manual for sure. Also desperate for a ‘95 to get the momo wheel and 2.7 motronic.
Full disclosure: I have never ever driven one. Partly because I was always scared that if I enjoyed it I would have to have one whatever the consequences and it’s not a small sum of money. I appreciate it may go the other way and I need to find out if it lives up to the teenage dreams. I am thinking of driving one in a spec I know I wouldn’t buy anyway to stay halfway objective.
What puts me off is that I know I’d need to store it and with young kids and an uninterested spouse it might get little use. However on the other side ive wanted one for over 25 years. Am well aware of general running costs so going in with one eye open. Can live with an average 5k/year running costs. Whatever anyone says I can’t see the capital value coming down massively from here on out. Read all the reviews and buyers guides I can find.
So really turning this over for general thoughts and opinions especially from owners. Is it time to go and scratch this itch or is it a case of never meet your heroes?
The best thing you can do is go and drive one, and my guess is any doubts will evaporate pretty quickly.
The 355 is a work of art, and there’s plenty of pride and pleasure to be had from just owning something that beautiful to look at. But then, perhaps just once every few weeks, you find an hour to take it out for a run, and you really get your money’s worth: the hidden handle opening that deep door, the simple luxury of leather and dials as you get in, that growl of the V8 as you start it up, the gentle clack of the metal gate as you swap the gears. the high whine behind your head as you work up the revs, the effortless way it takes the corners, the sense of being at the centre of the car... ah, I rather miss mine.
Compared to your Aston, I suspect the 355 will feel less powerful, and less cosseted, but much more visceral, with the handling more sensitive, almost delicate. Personally, I think they are worth every penny, and with prices well off their peak, I don’t think you’d regret owning one even if you later decide to sell. Just buy the best one you can, from a reputable dealer, and don’t forget to factor in that the cams need doing every 3 years without fail (regardless of mileage), which costs £3-5k.
The 355 is a work of art, and there’s plenty of pride and pleasure to be had from just owning something that beautiful to look at. But then, perhaps just once every few weeks, you find an hour to take it out for a run, and you really get your money’s worth: the hidden handle opening that deep door, the simple luxury of leather and dials as you get in, that growl of the V8 as you start it up, the gentle clack of the metal gate as you swap the gears. the high whine behind your head as you work up the revs, the effortless way it takes the corners, the sense of being at the centre of the car... ah, I rather miss mine.
Compared to your Aston, I suspect the 355 will feel less powerful, and less cosseted, but much more visceral, with the handling more sensitive, almost delicate. Personally, I think they are worth every penny, and with prices well off their peak, I don’t think you’d regret owning one even if you later decide to sell. Just buy the best one you can, from a reputable dealer, and don’t forget to factor in that the cams need doing every 3 years without fail (regardless of mileage), which costs £3-5k.
Edited by 67Dino on Saturday 22 February 05:17
I had the same itch a few years ago. Did it. Loved every minute of it. Highly recommend getting on with it pronto!!!
My car was a manual spider. 1994 car. Motronic 2.7. Red black. It was a magnificent car to peddle down some decent country lanes as it had enough performance to be plenty rapid enough and was agile enough to be entertaining without being too much for the road. Looked amazing when going nowhere. Best sound of any car I’ve ever owned. The only thing about it that i would have preferred to be different is the steering. It’s too light and has too many turns lock to lock, but you soon get used to it.
It had the biggest maintenance bills of any car I’ve ever owned but I didn’t care. It was worth it. It never let me down, but there are always things that need attending to each year and the bills quickly add up. Eventually sold it for a bit less than I paid for it, but I was happy. Sometimes I still find myself browsing the ads wondering if I should get another... Did I mention the sound? OMG...
My car was a manual spider. 1994 car. Motronic 2.7. Red black. It was a magnificent car to peddle down some decent country lanes as it had enough performance to be plenty rapid enough and was agile enough to be entertaining without being too much for the road. Looked amazing when going nowhere. Best sound of any car I’ve ever owned. The only thing about it that i would have preferred to be different is the steering. It’s too light and has too many turns lock to lock, but you soon get used to it.
It had the biggest maintenance bills of any car I’ve ever owned but I didn’t care. It was worth it. It never let me down, but there are always things that need attending to each year and the bills quickly add up. Eventually sold it for a bit less than I paid for it, but I was happy. Sometimes I still find myself browsing the ads wondering if I should get another... Did I mention the sound? OMG...
I just started looking at 355s again yesterday (Challenge in this case is what I would like, but too expensive even after a little correction). I owned a manual Berlinetta about 10 years ago for 2.5 years and 20k miles and can’t get that car out of my head (had to sell at the time). As others have said the maintenance bills can add up quite quickly, but it never left me stranded (well once with a blown tyre, but that is hardly the car’s fault) - buy one from an owner who maintained it properly and I suspect it can be relatively cheap/pain free (for an old Ferrari). They all cost money if you are unlucky (my 430 just had a 13k service bill as both manifolds and the backbox needed to be replaced).
The 355 is by far still my favourite car out of the ones I have owned to date, the engine sounds like nothing else, the gearshift is fun (while a bit slow), it is just about fast enough/not too fast, so you can enjoy driving it without feeling like you are in an Oldtimer or going so fast that you have to constantly worry about getting caught and being hung and quartered and it just looks so good in pretty much every colour - not bettered since by Ferrari imo
If you are in the UK with the lax MOT rules, I’d probably bin the very heavy standard backbox and preventatively replace the cats with some new ones (200cell) or evening straight pipes (might be a bit loud). If you take it on track, a couple of suspension mods might be sensible too and a new geo. The standard P Zero tyres are crap, would look for different ones.
Good luck with your search / if you test drive one - you will not regret it imo. Be aware though that on a test drive, if you don’t rev the car to at least 6k plus, it will hardly move compared to something with actual torque - which is what makes it so much fun imo
The 355 is by far still my favourite car out of the ones I have owned to date, the engine sounds like nothing else, the gearshift is fun (while a bit slow), it is just about fast enough/not too fast, so you can enjoy driving it without feeling like you are in an Oldtimer or going so fast that you have to constantly worry about getting caught and being hung and quartered and it just looks so good in pretty much every colour - not bettered since by Ferrari imo
If you are in the UK with the lax MOT rules, I’d probably bin the very heavy standard backbox and preventatively replace the cats with some new ones (200cell) or evening straight pipes (might be a bit loud). If you take it on track, a couple of suspension mods might be sensible too and a new geo. The standard P Zero tyres are crap, would look for different ones.
Good luck with your search / if you test drive one - you will not regret it imo. Be aware though that on a test drive, if you don’t rev the car to at least 6k plus, it will hardly move compared to something with actual torque - which is what makes it so much fun imo
I had a 355 Berlinetta about 10 years ago. Red/Cream, manual, decat pipes, tubi exhaust ... sounded ace. I was obviously the flip side of folk with big bills because, other than the standard servicing, mine didn't have any other costs over my ownership in 3 years. However, there always was the worry that a big bill might be just around the corner.
I've owned both early 2.7 and later 5.2, GTS and Berlinetta. From memory (was a long time ago);
2.7 sounded better and had as you say the much nicer steering wheel. Had a horrible generic looking Fiat/Alfa key that changed to the later design on the 5.2. It was a '94 car, the 5.2's came in with the introduction of the Spider.
You can upgrade the 'pillow' airbag steering wheel on a later car to a Momo if the kit is still available now 20 years later.
I guess I was lucky with reliability, no major issues other than regular servicing (which was expensive every year) but I drove my 355's a lot. They usually develop suspension or electronic niggles when they sit still. I do remember the early car generated an insane amount of heat when parking up in the garage after a run, much more so than the later one.
Check the recalls have been done and the important one is the fuel lines that cause risk of fire.
Sticky buttons can be sorted out these days.
I preferred the Berlinetta by far. The GTS feels much wobblier on bumpy roads, probably more so now being used to more modern cars and their chassis stiffness.
I am pretty sure the bucket seats were only available as an option from '95/'96 so an early car will be unlikely to have them unless fitted later.
I last drove a 355 about three years ago. I was surprised how slow it felt now, I never thought so in the 90's but that is the pace of evolution. I had both Tubi and Capristo exhausts on my 355's, that is a pretty much essential upgrade for you to get the maximum enjoyment from the car.
2.7 sounded better and had as you say the much nicer steering wheel. Had a horrible generic looking Fiat/Alfa key that changed to the later design on the 5.2. It was a '94 car, the 5.2's came in with the introduction of the Spider.
You can upgrade the 'pillow' airbag steering wheel on a later car to a Momo if the kit is still available now 20 years later.
I guess I was lucky with reliability, no major issues other than regular servicing (which was expensive every year) but I drove my 355's a lot. They usually develop suspension or electronic niggles when they sit still. I do remember the early car generated an insane amount of heat when parking up in the garage after a run, much more so than the later one.
Check the recalls have been done and the important one is the fuel lines that cause risk of fire.
Sticky buttons can be sorted out these days.
I preferred the Berlinetta by far. The GTS feels much wobblier on bumpy roads, probably more so now being used to more modern cars and their chassis stiffness.
I am pretty sure the bucket seats were only available as an option from '95/'96 so an early car will be unlikely to have them unless fitted later.
I last drove a 355 about three years ago. I was surprised how slow it felt now, I never thought so in the 90's but that is the pace of evolution. I had both Tubi and Capristo exhausts on my 355's, that is a pretty much essential upgrade for you to get the maximum enjoyment from the car.
I owned a F355 Berlinetta F1 for three years before trading it in for an FF a couple of years ago.
In that time, the only non service related expense I had was the cost of replacing some bad spark plugs. Even the servicing was reasonable. The first year of FF ownership has cost more than the three years of F355 ownership combined.
At the same time as I had the F355, my wife was running a V8 Vantage. Despite being a decade younger design, the V8V suspension and sportshift were nowhere near as resolved or finessed as those on the Ferrari. The Ferrari handled better in the corners and was more comfortable on the motorway. The Ferrari possessed a lightness of touch and a nimbleness of foot that the Vantage simply couldn’t match. The vantage had a nicer interior and was more practical. The Aston felt like it was hewn from granite but also drove like it was made of granite too. The Aston sounded good with the valves open but the F355 sounded epic with a tubi exhaust. Internet consensus (FWIW) seems to be that the F355 is one of the best sounding cars of all time. And I agree
Buy the F355. You won’t be disappointed. (And IMO, the F1 gearbox is great - you just need to learn how to drive it). When funds and garage space allow, I will be buying another one.
In that time, the only non service related expense I had was the cost of replacing some bad spark plugs. Even the servicing was reasonable. The first year of FF ownership has cost more than the three years of F355 ownership combined.
At the same time as I had the F355, my wife was running a V8 Vantage. Despite being a decade younger design, the V8V suspension and sportshift were nowhere near as resolved or finessed as those on the Ferrari. The Ferrari handled better in the corners and was more comfortable on the motorway. The Ferrari possessed a lightness of touch and a nimbleness of foot that the Vantage simply couldn’t match. The vantage had a nicer interior and was more practical. The Aston felt like it was hewn from granite but also drove like it was made of granite too. The Aston sounded good with the valves open but the F355 sounded epic with a tubi exhaust. Internet consensus (FWIW) seems to be that the F355 is one of the best sounding cars of all time. And I agree
Buy the F355. You won’t be disappointed. (And IMO, the F1 gearbox is great - you just need to learn how to drive it). When funds and garage space allow, I will be buying another one.
Thanks all. This is all great stuff and really helpful. The consensus seems to be going one way...
I do like the Aston but it often feels “heavy”. I am keen to drive something a bit lighter even if it’s not quite so quick. General feel and sound is much more important to me which is one of the reasons I went for the Aston over say a 911. I am keen to have more of a deftness of touch and also something a bit more raw.
One thing that does raise eyebrows are the US based commentary which discusses running costs at a level substantially higher than I read about here. Not sure how much of that is to do with US costs being higher or simply commentator “hype”. For example they quote an engine out belt change at “over 10k USD” whereas I understand here it is around the 3k mark.
I do take the point about a GTS being wobblier especially considered to the Aston but I really do enjoy the convertible aspect (but wouldn’t want the full spider). Maybe I wouldn’t miss too much with a Berlinetta but would need to drive. For me having a rarely used toy which I can expose to the elements when I do use it just makes it more special.
This is the one that has caught my eye at the moment and I hear good things about the dealer?
https://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/11038425-ferrari-3...
I do like the Aston but it often feels “heavy”. I am keen to drive something a bit lighter even if it’s not quite so quick. General feel and sound is much more important to me which is one of the reasons I went for the Aston over say a 911. I am keen to have more of a deftness of touch and also something a bit more raw.
One thing that does raise eyebrows are the US based commentary which discusses running costs at a level substantially higher than I read about here. Not sure how much of that is to do with US costs being higher or simply commentator “hype”. For example they quote an engine out belt change at “over 10k USD” whereas I understand here it is around the 3k mark.
I do take the point about a GTS being wobblier especially considered to the Aston but I really do enjoy the convertible aspect (but wouldn’t want the full spider). Maybe I wouldn’t miss too much with a Berlinetta but would need to drive. For me having a rarely used toy which I can expose to the elements when I do use it just makes it more special.
This is the one that has caught my eye at the moment and I hear good things about the dealer?
https://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/11038425-ferrari-3...
To echo the above comments (and being fully aware I’m going to jinx myself), I agree that the maintenance costs are well overstated. Even the major engine out service is only around £2k from a good specialist. So far with mine I’ve only had voluntary costs, fingers crossed long may that continue.
Key tips in my view are:
- I bought one with circa 40k miles on it, which I sense is a sweet spot for reliability because it’s been driven regularly and a lot of inevitable replacements will have been done already (you want a bit of a trigger’s broom car)
- Equally although flawless service history isn’t essential, you’ll want it to have not missed a service in the past 5 years minimum, so you know the kinks are worked through
- I got an expert to inspect all the cars I looked at in detail. This is a must I think- he stopped me from buying examples I otherwise would have
- When it comes to selling, red / cream RHD manual will shift fast. A lot of ppl say the market is slow, but I think it’s only slow with undesirable spec. I got gazumped twice in my search, so I can tell you the right cars are still moving
Only downside to all this is that you’ll take a higher mileage car over 50k, which thanks to the ridiculousness of the Ferrari market will cost you.
Key tips in my view are:
- I bought one with circa 40k miles on it, which I sense is a sweet spot for reliability because it’s been driven regularly and a lot of inevitable replacements will have been done already (you want a bit of a trigger’s broom car)
- Equally although flawless service history isn’t essential, you’ll want it to have not missed a service in the past 5 years minimum, so you know the kinks are worked through
- I got an expert to inspect all the cars I looked at in detail. This is a must I think- he stopped me from buying examples I otherwise would have
- When it comes to selling, red / cream RHD manual will shift fast. A lot of ppl say the market is slow, but I think it’s only slow with undesirable spec. I got gazumped twice in my search, so I can tell you the right cars are still moving
Only downside to all this is that you’ll take a higher mileage car over 50k, which thanks to the ridiculousness of the Ferrari market will cost you.
I think service costs in the US are a lot higher than in the U.K.
It might well be that they have to do a lot via main dealers and if hourly rates are anything like in Germany or possibly even higher (from memory I am paying 180 Euros an hour), then I can see an engine out service costing a 5 digit amount
My engine out in the UK with some other work incl engine detailing cost 3.5k (10 years ago though). I remember reading US forums a lot at the time and some of the costs they quoted were mind boggling, but did not reflect my experience in the UK
It might well be that they have to do a lot via main dealers and if hourly rates are anything like in Germany or possibly even higher (from memory I am paying 180 Euros an hour), then I can see an engine out service costing a 5 digit amount
My engine out in the UK with some other work incl engine detailing cost 3.5k (10 years ago though). I remember reading US forums a lot at the time and some of the costs they quoted were mind boggling, but did not reflect my experience in the UK
Old Skool said:
...This is the one that has caught my eye at the moment and I hear good things about the dealer?
https://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/11038425-ferrari-3...
If you like the look of that car, I would suggest it would be well worth checking it out. As the ad says, it has been with the last owner for 15 years and, whenever I have seen it, looks well cared for although I don't claim to have looked at it with a buyer's eye.https://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/11038425-ferrari-3...
jtremlett said:
Old Skool said:
...This is the one that has caught my eye at the moment and I hear good things about the dealer?
https://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/11038425-ferrari-3...
If you like the look of that car, I would suggest it would be well worth checking it out. As the ad says, it has been with the last owner for 15 years and, whenever I have seen it, looks well cared for although I don't claim to have looked at it with a buyer's eye.https://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/11038425-ferrari-3...
Only question would be over mileage. As previous poster mentioned, if you tip over 50k then Ferrari’s can be hard to shift. However, if you’re only an occasional driver (1-2k pa) then this won’t be an issue, and certainly you’ll be getting a discount now compared to a 10-20k car.
Good luck!
C’mon people. Are we really still obsessing about mileage on a 25 year old car?
Where is the tipping point when we start to buy on condition and not mileage? Even if the OP puts on another 10-15k miles over the next 5 years then we will be talking about c.50k miles on a 30 year old car. That’s an average of around 1,650 miles a year!
Thank goodness I live in Europe where high miles are acceptable due to the distances people cover. My F355 was 20 years old and had the equivalent of 55k miles on it when I sold it and it was not an issue.
Where is the tipping point when we start to buy on condition and not mileage? Even if the OP puts on another 10-15k miles over the next 5 years then we will be talking about c.50k miles on a 30 year old car. That’s an average of around 1,650 miles a year!
Thank goodness I live in Europe where high miles are acceptable due to the distances people cover. My F355 was 20 years old and had the equivalent of 55k miles on it when I sold it and it was not an issue.
Edited by ANOpax on Saturday 22 February 17:30
ANOpax said:
C’mon people. Are we really still obsessing about mileage on a 25 year old car?
Where is the tipping point when we start to buy on condition and not mileage? Even if the OP puts on another 10-15k miles over the next 5 years then we will be taking about c.50k miles on a 30 year old car. That’s an average of around 1,650 miles a year!
Thank goodness I live in Europe where high miles are acceptable due to the distances people cover. My F355 20 years old and had the equivalent of 55k miles on it when I sold it and it was not an issue.
Completely agree. But unfortunately the majority of 355s for sale in the UK seem to be about the 20k mark — which seems ludicrous to me, probably highlights the clocking problem.Where is the tipping point when we start to buy on condition and not mileage? Even if the OP puts on another 10-15k miles over the next 5 years then we will be taking about c.50k miles on a 30 year old car. That’s an average of around 1,650 miles a year!
Thank goodness I live in Europe where high miles are acceptable due to the distances people cover. My F355 20 years old and had the equivalent of 55k miles on it when I sold it and it was not an issue.
If the average was 40k, nobody would care about the 50k mark.
wyldstalyns said:
Completely agree. But unfortunately the majority of 355s for sale in the UK seem to be about the 20k mark — which seems ludicrous to me, probably highlights the clocking problem.
If the average was 40k, nobody would care about the 50k mark.
On a 355 many owners used to disconnect the speedo cable and connect it back up for the MOT. Not me I should add, sold my last one with 42k miles in 2010!If the average was 40k, nobody would care about the 50k mark.
Upperworks said:
fantastic cars. I've had/got a few Vantage variants and it's a different experience, very analogue and very rewarding even at slow speeds.
Here's mine. One of the rare green cars!
If it's an early one (M reg?) I think I have a photo of this car at a Goodwood track day in the late 90s somewhere. Can't be many in that colour.Here's mine. One of the rare green cars!
cgt2 said:
If it's an early one (M reg?) I think I have a photo of this car at a Goodwood track day in the late 90s somewhere. Can't be many in that colour.
the bloke I bought it from told me it's 7 owners were all careful ladies and it had never been tracked... it's a 96 so unfortunately not that one, would have been great to see pics of it from back in the day too.
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