ANYONE HERE DRIVE A 355 THROUGH THE Winter??
Discussion
Well - anyone drive these things in the chilly months or does everyone wrap them up and put them away?? If you do use them are they ok or do they hate the cold ??
Need to know soon really as if they should really be inside then I must start making arrangements for my wife to move into the garage to make room for the spider in the house
>>> Edited by basher on Tuesday 22 October 17:58
Need to know soon really as if they should really be inside then I must start making arrangements for my wife to move into the garage to make room for the spider in the house
>>> Edited by basher on Tuesday 22 October 17:58
Basher,
I'll be driving the 355 through the winter as much as I can. Drove it yesterday and the day before even though it was still raining, so it needs cleaning now. But as said by Rich, keep it clean from salt etc. Also, I have to admit if its snow, then I ain't taking it out, else I'll try taking it out every other day. I agree with Rich, its only a car, and I think they are built well enough to take it. Keep the heaters on though, as it loses heat very quickly in the spider. Here's to a winter with a Ferrari. Got to be more fun than one without?
I'll be driving the 355 through the winter as much as I can. Drove it yesterday and the day before even though it was still raining, so it needs cleaning now. But as said by Rich, keep it clean from salt etc. Also, I have to admit if its snow, then I ain't taking it out, else I'll try taking it out every other day. I agree with Rich, its only a car, and I think they are built well enough to take it. Keep the heaters on though, as it loses heat very quickly in the spider. Here's to a winter with a Ferrari. Got to be more fun than one without?
Having had two winters with these cars, and talked to several people with different models, it appears the answer to whether you use your car in winter is a function of how old it is. Earlier models such as 308, 328 mondial etc. seem to be more prone to rust; at least, their owners seem more paranoid about it. Some of this attitude carries through to the more recent models, but the people in the service centres have, to a man, told me to use them.
Personally, I don't lay my cars up, I just use them less frequently and hose them down thoroughly afterwards (including the underside) to get rid of any salt. A liberal coating of WD40 on the nether regions probably wouldn't come amiss either (on the car, but not on discs etc. of course). That's the logical bit. Having these cars in the garage but not being able to use them would drive me crazy. Today's a good example- window in the weather = car out.
Personally, I don't lay my cars up, I just use them less frequently and hose them down thoroughly afterwards (including the underside) to get rid of any salt. A liberal coating of WD40 on the nether regions probably wouldn't come amiss either (on the car, but not on discs etc. of course). That's the logical bit. Having these cars in the garage but not being able to use them would drive me crazy. Today's a good example- window in the weather = car out.
A well looked-after modern Ferrari CAN even take snow - don't be afraid - just don't let conditions catch you out - by that I mean the obvious - it's harder to see potholes/speedbumps and other road surface problems which you'd drive around during the better weather.
Give it the standard warm up time and don't whack it for the first 10-15 mins. After that it's down to you -
Oh and keep ASR on.
Give it the standard warm up time and don't whack it for the first 10-15 mins. After that it's down to you -
Oh and keep ASR on.
I used my 348 all of last winter to no ill effect at all.
I just made sure it was always waxed and washed clean of salt, good service before really harsh weather sets in, keep the interior spotless & seats well moisturised in case of the odd water drip on the leather. No problem so far. Touch wood it has never failed to start apart from a flat battery (and that was Maranello's fault!)
I just made sure it was always waxed and washed clean of salt, good service before really harsh weather sets in, keep the interior spotless & seats well moisturised in case of the odd water drip on the leather. No problem so far. Touch wood it has never failed to start apart from a flat battery (and that was Maranello's fault!)
I'm going to give it a proper wax too, preparing it for the winter. I used it yesterday to run errands and it was all done in roof down fashion. Used her for about 2 hours and loved every minute of it. I agree with what has been said here regarding putting it in storage and then having a bout of great weather for a couple of days. It would positive drive me insane not to have the little red car with me. Definitely wax her up though, that Zymol stuff seems brilliant to me. Tar spots wash off so easily with this stuff on.
Thinking of having my 355 Spyder professionally stored for the winter. Otherwise there are not enough dry weekends to take it out and I don't want to take it to work.
Apparently they store them dry and de-humidified. I can also suspend the insurance for the winter months and just take out a fire & theft policy.
Roll on spring!
PS
I'm in Essex to. Albeit North Essex on the border with Suffolk. Lots of nice twisty country roads.
>> Edited by bad company on Friday 25th October 13:24
Apparently they store them dry and de-humidified. I can also suspend the insurance for the winter months and just take out a fire & theft policy.
Roll on spring!
PS
I'm in Essex to. Albeit North Essex on the border with Suffolk. Lots of nice twisty country roads.
>> Edited by bad company on Friday 25th October 13:24
Putting the car in storage is wholly unecessary - 355s are not that wild that they cannot be used at all in the wet and in actual fact you can have a quite a bit of fun (if you've got the balls) when it's a little slippery. (Not applicable in 550/360)..
As long as you get to redline it a once a week and can use it for a very short quick blat when it's not icy every couple of days then they'll work fine - put 'em long term storage and IMO you'll screw them.
As long as you get to redline it a once a week and can use it for a very short quick blat when it's not icy every couple of days then they'll work fine - put 'em long term storage and IMO you'll screw them.
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