First Ferrari - F355
Discussion
So after securing a new property with extra garage space I've started looking for my long term supercar. I'm really struggling to fall for many of the new supercars and an F355 has been on the list for sometime.
Looking at the market there's not a lot of cars for sale and there's seems to be more love for manual cars however I'm tempted by an F1 Berlinetta or GTS.
I have a DCT and PDK car so have no issues with paddles and the way I see it, I can experience the F1 box until either it becomes uneconomical to repair or I get bored then convert to manual.
What's the status of F1 maintenance/repairs/parts currently? The only thing that would make me avoid the F1 is long downtime waiting for new parts.
TIA.
Looking at the market there's not a lot of cars for sale and there's seems to be more love for manual cars however I'm tempted by an F1 Berlinetta or GTS.
I have a DCT and PDK car so have no issues with paddles and the way I see it, I can experience the F1 box until either it becomes uneconomical to repair or I get bored then convert to manual.
What's the status of F1 maintenance/repairs/parts currently? The only thing that would make me avoid the F1 is long downtime waiting for new parts.
TIA.
Babw said:
What's the status of F1 maintenance/repairs/parts currently? The only thing that would make me avoid the F1 is long downtime waiting for new parts.
TIA.
If you live near a good indy specialist then I dont think its a really big deal. The biggest part in the system is the valve block / actuator and they are very, very expensive parts. But the rest of it is typical car stuff. The pump and accumulator for example is used of lots of other cars. The reservoir can be found in virtually all brands of cars from the 90/00s. The lines, as far as I know, can be made by most decent hose shops. TIA.
So its just the 2 big ticket items to worry about - and then having access to the computer to set it all up.
I have had 2 repairs done to my F1 trans. A new accumulator - cost c.£150 to replace and a leak fixed - cost c.600 (all labour). Thats in 5 years.
Babw said:
So after securing a new property with extra garage space I've started looking for my long term supercar. I'm really struggling to fall for many of the new supercars and an F355 has been on the list for sometime.
Looking at the market there's not a lot of cars for sale and there's seems to be more love for manual cars however I'm tempted by an F1 Berlinetta or GTS.
I have a DCT and PDK car so have no issues with paddles and the way I see it, I can experience the F1 box until either it becomes uneconomical to repair or I get bored then convert to manual.
What's the status of F1 maintenance/repairs/parts currently? The only thing that would make me avoid the F1 is long downtime waiting for new parts.
TIA.
Bought a F 430 because i wouldn't pay the £35K premium for a manual low mileage one at the time,Looking at the market there's not a lot of cars for sale and there's seems to be more love for manual cars however I'm tempted by an F1 Berlinetta or GTS.
I have a DCT and PDK car so have no issues with paddles and the way I see it, I can experience the F1 box until either it becomes uneconomical to repair or I get bored then convert to manual.
What's the status of F1 maintenance/repairs/parts currently? The only thing that would make me avoid the F1 is long downtime waiting for new parts.
TIA.
Absolutely hate it ,just can't get on with it but i am a dinosaur, wish i had either paid more for a manual
or bought a manual 360 which sounds so much better anyway, Never driven a F1 F355 so can't comment
but i should imagine it will be a little jerky with slow changes similar to the early e-gear.
You need to go and drive both a manual and F1, luckily i didn't p/ex my manual Gallardo or GTB so they keep me amused and only use
the 430 very occasionally .
I don't have a local independent which is always a concern with older cars. I think I need to drive both ideally back to back to try to figure out characteristics and determine whether the F1 is worth the potential hassle for the experience. Something about trying Ferrari initial F1 box offering to just have the experience.
Which specialists would be recommended on these forums for 355 and F1 issues? I'm based in West Wales so essentially Cheshire, Shropshire, Midlands, South Wales and Somerset would all be within 2 hours.
Which specialists would be recommended on these forums for 355 and F1 issues? I'm based in West Wales so essentially Cheshire, Shropshire, Midlands, South Wales and Somerset would all be within 2 hours.
Babw said:
I don't have a local independent which is always a concern with older cars. I think I need to drive both ideally back to back to try to figure out characteristics and determine whether the F1 is worth the potential hassle for the experience. Something about trying Ferrari initial F1 box offering to just have the experience.
Which specialists would be recommended on these forums for 355 and F1 issues? I'm based in West Wales so essentially Cheshire, Shropshire, Midlands, South Wales and Somerset would all be within 2 hours.
Carrs of Exeter would be the nearest i would have thought,Loads of them down here in the SE but probably to far.Which specialists would be recommended on these forums for 355 and F1 issues? I'm based in West Wales so essentially Cheshire, Shropshire, Midlands, South Wales and Somerset would all be within 2 hours.
Babw said:
No sorry, but love the colour, so much classier than the norm retail red.Edited by rat rod on Sunday 16th May 18:12
Babw said:
Had that exact colour combo but as a manual from ‘08 to ‘15. It was a fantastic experience and a wonderful car and would still own it if I hadn’t needed the cash to build a house. It is the only car in my ex garage that I’d have back in a heartbeat if prices hadn’t got away from me!
rat rod said:
Carrs of Exeter would be the nearest i would have thought,Loads of them down here in the SE but probably to far.
Used Carrs for both my 355 and Maser Spyder. Great service, will collect the car if needed (even when I was away abroad and deliver it back serviced for my return). See their covered lorry disappearing up the M5 or A303 all the time. Would recommend them to anyone with a modern or older car.
Babw said:
That looks lovely, very special.I see the dealer has a manual 355 in stock too, so I bet if you are judged to be a serious buyer you might be able to drive both.
Good luck
Babw said:
I'm also a fan of blue on a 355. I have a little on it but don't know it personally. I believe it was supplied new by Charles Hurst in Belfast and lived in NI for the first four years or so. It has been for sale for a while on and off. Last published asking price was £84995 in October last year.
I was a fan of the F1 box (had it in the Maserati, that was a later gen too) until I got a DCT (FF). No experience, but I’d worry you might find single clutch paddles a bit clunky in a 355 if you’ve had PDK.
Possibly the solution is to just rev the sh*t out of it and smile, but I’d try both F1 and manual.
Possibly the solution is to just rev the sh*t out of it and smile, but I’d try both F1 and manual.
Babw said:
Yeah same car.
There seems to be a strange Sony stalk thing glued into the steering column which I assume is to control the headunit?
There's also a lovely Le mans blue GTS on Autotrader with a manual box but it's got a 13 year gap in the MOT while also priced relatively high.
Either been out the country or been bought as a investment and not used on the road,There seems to be a strange Sony stalk thing glued into the steering column which I assume is to control the headunit?
There's also a lovely Le mans blue GTS on Autotrader with a manual box but it's got a 13 year gap in the MOT while also priced relatively high.
One other thing, that it was used as a corporate track day car but would be unlikely if low mileage unless
clocked or new speedo fitted and not documented, If it's got a full service history you just need a explanation.
Sounds like you are getting there, take your time and you will find the right car but be quick when you do as there seems
a lot of interest at the moment,
I’ve owned a F355 GTB F1 and it changes gear more quickly than I could have done in a manual so I don’t understand this paranoia about the 1st gen box being ‘slow’. It was better than the sportshift in the V8V which came along 10 years later. The F1 only feels ‘slow’ relative to the DCT boxes which came along 15 years later but I could argue that the DCT boxes lack the involvement and feel that the F1 gives you…
Babw said:
Illiterate trade seller withholding price and number of owners while taking pictures in his back garden. What could go wrong?Gassing Station | Ferrari V8 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff