RE: Top Marks for 355

RE: Top Marks for 355

Wednesday 12th December 2001

Top Marks for 355

Top Gear magazine rate 355 as most desirable sports car


Author
Discussion

thom

Original Poster:

2,745 posts

280 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
It may be a good car but it remains a fiat, er, ferrari

stevenrt

141 posts

277 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
like PetrolTed said, clarkson should get his fat butt into a Noble M12 and put his money where his mouth is

johnnystorm

168 posts

280 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Err strictly speaking Clarkson has put his money where his mouth is, he says he likes the 355, and well, hes got one.

No doubt the Noble would be subject to a kit-car gag and the cam covers would be compared as an example of why the ferrari was better:-)

bertie

8,566 posts

291 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Most of the snide comments are written by people who have never actualy driven one, can't afford one and who, if given one, would then rave about them.

I had one for 3 years and it was very very good.

domster

8,431 posts

277 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
I drove an F1 355 with paddle change and it was worth selling your mum for. Anyone who has experienced the exhaust note in hangar lane underpass can die a happy man.

Build quality seemed good as well.

Bertie - how reliable was yours? This is the issue I worry about.

marki

15,763 posts

277 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Did 2 stints in one at the Supercar expierience thaing at Snetterton , the best car i have ever driven with out any doubt, but it had a kind of fragile feel to it ,,, i agree its got the best sound track on the road

stevenrt

141 posts

277 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
i was referring to the fact that he reviewed the m12 and enthusiastically called it the best car he has ever driven in his life. hence my comment, since he actually drives a 355. sweet car, but they have that crazy thing going where you have to kneel on the floor in the ferrari dealership when you sign the order form (i've seen it portrayed twice so i don't think it's an urban legend, is it?), plus it's the car Mike Tyson bought, so even though it's a great car, who would want to drive something that attracts that type of person?

now the M12 - only your true afficionado will appreciate your good taste, and you never have to suffer guilt by association when some tastless newly rich ignoramus drives past.

same with porsches, by the way.

marki

15,763 posts

277 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
how the hell do they get Tyson inside a F355 , i mean its not that spacious as a motor is it

bertie

8,566 posts

291 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Well i never had any gymnastics when I bought mine or when I ordered my 360 Modena.
The dealer was extremely helpfull and were happy to spend all afternoon letting me drive any of the cars they had.

I'm sure the Noble is a fine thing to drive but...no residual value, will they be in business next year, a bit kit car still, and would you really choose one over an F355?

It's a braver man than me that sinks £45k into one.

And to answer one question mine was very reliable but I think the fact I used it everyday helped. Servicing can be a bit pricey though, annual £1100, cam belts every 3 years £3000 odd.

mel

10,168 posts

282 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Is the annual service a full on engine out job??

marki

15,763 posts

277 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Berti

i would love a 355 or 360 but is it not true that high mileage totally kills the residuals on them, and i mean whats the point in having an ultimate road car if you can`t use it as much as you want....

Edited by marki on Wednesday 12th December 16:18

mel

10,168 posts

282 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Oh and how long have you been waiting / got to go for the 360 is it still about 4 years with no q jumping (or should I say filtering in turn )

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
The comparison with a Noble is a strange one. I was fortunate enought to have another go in a Noble yesterday and it's a fantastic car and far from kit car like. The build quality is in fact fat better than many other sports cars I could name. Lee Noble is still giving the final quality sign off after driving each car himself.

To compare it to a Ferrari is a tricky one. It appeals to a different market than Ferrari buyers. It has a very different character to a Ferrari.

They're both fast, agile good looking cars, but appeal for different reasons.

bertie

8,566 posts

291 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
The 360 Modena waiting list is 2.5 years or 4 years for a Spyder.
I've got until mid 2003 to go, maybe a bit sooner.

And I agree, what's the point in having them if you don't use them, hence I did, every day.

mel

10,168 posts

282 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
One of my clients has just bought an X reg ice blue modena with about 3K on the clock and I was amazed he'd paid 7 grand over list just to "filter in turn" ahead of everyone else !!!! Oh yes he's from the use it school as well, he won't take it to work because of the jealousy syndrome but track days regularly.

bertie

8,566 posts

291 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
He must be mad, all the Ferrari dealers have them in now and they're not allowed to charge over list so he could of picked from any number at list price.

Basicaly they take them back in under list, 9 grand under in my friends case, and then cost them up with the options at list and sell for that.

marki

15,763 posts

277 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
A mate ordered a 360 spyder in June 2001, they say he will get it in April 2002, so its a wait but not totally out of the question , but 10,000 miles in 3 years is not that much , dont get me wrong i luvvv em but i have done 24,000km in the last year in my Shaguar and i woud recon the 355-360 would be a lot more tempting to like "Oh i just have to nip down the shop for some err fag`s " type thing Blatt

mel

10,168 posts

282 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Ah it might be the options that did it then ! its got the F1 paddles and the best looking carbon backed leather fronted and 4 point harnessed seats I've seen.

Captain Chaos

393 posts

283 months

Wednesday 12th December 2001
quotequote all
Sorry, but great cars that modern Ferraris may be, they tend to be brought by certain types of people with:

Too much money but little taste, e.g. footballers, showbiz stars, lottery winners, estate agents, showbiz agents, any agents.

Money doesn't buy taste, old chap.

One exception is the 456GT which is a fantastic GT in the best Grand Turismo tradition. This is exempt from my tirade.

But a classic Ferrari wins my approval any day - must be 328 or earlier.

Clarkson said he hated his 355 anyway as he brought the Targa and wishes he hadn't. So even Jezza doesn't REALLY like it either!!

bertie

8,566 posts

291 months

Thursday 13th December 2001
quotequote all
As I've said before, you've clearly never driven one.

Also old cars, who needs them, I don't get the fascination with old stuff.
Perhaps they all watch black and white telly wearing smoking jackets?

How do they log on here from their Commodore 64s?

Edited by bertie on Thursday 13th December 10:08