Discussion
Hi, I am expecting to change my 3200Gt early next year and may well go for a Ferrari. A Friend has just bought a 360 and he loves iyt, but I have always loved the 355 especially the GTS. Does anyone have experience of both or an opinion as to which is better and why? Also is the F1 box or gears the best option?
I had a 355 and changed for a 360 and it is sooo much better.
Try them both and I'm sure you'll prefer the drive of the 360. Much more torque, better interior space, better noise, nicer gearchange and so much more pleasant when not going for it.
I loved my 355, but things move on and it'd be very suprising is six years development by Ferrari didn't realise a better car.
All IMHO of course.
Try them both and I'm sure you'll prefer the drive of the 360. Much more torque, better interior space, better noise, nicer gearchange and so much more pleasant when not going for it.
I loved my 355, but things move on and it'd be very suprising is six years development by Ferrari didn't realise a better car.
All IMHO of course.
Depends on what you are after.Both are great cars, i must admit i do miss being able to take the targa top off on a sunny day.
With regards to the F1/Manual I quite like the F1 call me lazy but there is no way you can change gears quicker, slight downfall is clutch does not last as long as a manual and they can be a bit arkward in very slow moving traffic, but you get sed to it after a while
With regards to the F1/Manual I quite like the F1 call me lazy but there is no way you can change gears quicker, slight downfall is clutch does not last as long as a manual and they can be a bit arkward in very slow moving traffic, but you get sed to it after a while
Had a 355 spider, loved it. In terms of performance, they are not that different, yet very different. The 355 once rolling is a quick car, and its not like you could just overtake one in the 360. But in the 355 you have to be in the right gear in the power band, otherwise you won't keep up.
I wasn't sure whether my new car was worth double my old, but as it stands, I'm glad I got it, so I guess to me, it is.
Try both, see which you prefer. You won't regret either. 355 sounds the bollocks :-)
I wasn't sure whether my new car was worth double my old, but as it stands, I'm glad I got it, so I guess to me, it is.
Try both, see which you prefer. You won't regret either. 355 sounds the bollocks :-)
I went from a 355 GTS into the 360 - not sure I missed the roof sqweaking too much though!! Even though I had the 360 tubi-d and the cats out I think the 355 made a better noise. I recently changed to a 996 Turbo and have to say it's bloody quick - quicker on the roads than either 355 or 360 and subjectively better in most respects - but I'm left rather cold by it - it just doesn't have the F factor and sounds too much like a Dyson vacuum cleaner! So I'm thinking of coming back to the Ferrari camp and am personally a bit confused about whether to go 355, 360 or 550/575
charlie360 said:
I went from a 355 GTS into the 360 - not sure I missed the roof sqweaking too much though!! Even though I had the 360 tubi-d and the cats out I think the 355 made a better noise. I recently changed to a 996 Turbo and have to say it's bloody quick - quicker on the roads than either 355 or 360 and subjectively better in most respects - but I'm left rather cold by it - it just doesn't have the F factor and sounds too much like a Dyson vacuum cleaner! So I'm thinking of coming back to the Ferrari camp and am personally a bit confused about whether to go 355, 360 or 550/575
VERY nice 575 at Bramley - blue / sports seats - year old 600 miles - £120k.
SCARY depreciation!
Having had the pleasure of owning a 355 GTB and a 360 spider I think it is hard to compare the two. They are both very different.
When I took delivery of the 355 I was like a kid at Chrimbo........very ..very excited. I loved the car, the pure lines of the Berlinetta and that sweet sounding V8....pure heaven. I had no problems whatsoever and did approx 8k of troublefree motoring. Service costs were a little high due to a cambelt change(note every 3 years is essential irrespective of mileage) The 355 is starting to look a "little" dated now with pop-ups going out of fashion but I still love the glorious shape. The 360(I may be a tad biased here as I had so many problems with mine) is undoubtably a better car, more powerful, better equipped and the spider looks are simply stunning. The designers actually thought about the spider as a car in its own right rather than cutting the top off, say a 355B(and no ugly Tonneau cover). However for some reason I never got as excited in the 360, the stock V8 exhaust note is only good at full chat( The Tubi I had fitted was a vast improvement)and it felt twitchy at times. I never did get to like the front styling as much as the 355 either. I definately had more fun in the 355, it seemed as though I could throw it around more and it seemed quicker (its not)
Obviously depending on budget, if it is your first F-car for pure thrill seeking I would go for a late 355 Berlinetta, Rosso of course.
In terms of F1 vs manual, the purist in you should tell you to get the manual, more robust(F had alot of probs on early F1 boxes) and visually more appealing.
If you intend on doing lots of trackdays then the F1 will be more useful. Good luck and beleive me you will not regret buying an F.
"Were here for a good time not a long time!!!"
When I took delivery of the 355 I was like a kid at Chrimbo........very ..very excited. I loved the car, the pure lines of the Berlinetta and that sweet sounding V8....pure heaven. I had no problems whatsoever and did approx 8k of troublefree motoring. Service costs were a little high due to a cambelt change(note every 3 years is essential irrespective of mileage) The 355 is starting to look a "little" dated now with pop-ups going out of fashion but I still love the glorious shape. The 360(I may be a tad biased here as I had so many problems with mine) is undoubtably a better car, more powerful, better equipped and the spider looks are simply stunning. The designers actually thought about the spider as a car in its own right rather than cutting the top off, say a 355B(and no ugly Tonneau cover). However for some reason I never got as excited in the 360, the stock V8 exhaust note is only good at full chat( The Tubi I had fitted was a vast improvement)and it felt twitchy at times. I never did get to like the front styling as much as the 355 either. I definately had more fun in the 355, it seemed as though I could throw it around more and it seemed quicker (its not)
Obviously depending on budget, if it is your first F-car for pure thrill seeking I would go for a late 355 Berlinetta, Rosso of course.
In terms of F1 vs manual, the purist in you should tell you to get the manual, more robust(F had alot of probs on early F1 boxes) and visually more appealing.
If you intend on doing lots of trackdays then the F1 will be more useful. Good luck and beleive me you will not regret buying an F.
"Were here for a good time not a long time!!!"
jason360hasgone said:
...355 ....I had no problems whatsoever and did approx 8k of troublefree motoring
...ahem! what about having to get a jump start every time you needed to get the engine running during the 2001 trip to Le Mans?!?
jason360hasgone said:
"We're here for a good time not a long time!!!"
... in that case, you'd better get your skates on re. your next purchase then.
jason360hasgone said:
Tony,
Nothing major though!!! only a new battery required when I got back from Le Mans 2001!!
... and how much was it to remove the front wing just to get to the battery?
... and how much was that service when you got back?!? .. from memory I thought the figure started with a 5 or a 6, and that certainly wasn't hundreds
>> Edited by tony_996hasgone on Wednesday 15th October 19:16
Tony,
Yes the front wing need to be removed to change the battery so it cost me a cool 150 quid for fitting a new one! The service was a while after we got back from Le Mans and yes it was 5k BUT it was the cambelt change and full service along with new tyres and various other "minor" problems that needed sorting.......servicing bills have certainly come
down since then!!!!
Mal dont let any of this put you off owning one of the best feelings money can buy!!!
And Tony ..stop wasting time on PH, get out of that hellhole City bank office and lets get to the pub and "M"
Yes the front wing need to be removed to change the battery so it cost me a cool 150 quid for fitting a new one! The service was a while after we got back from Le Mans and yes it was 5k BUT it was the cambelt change and full service along with new tyres and various other "minor" problems that needed sorting.......servicing bills have certainly come
down since then!!!!
Mal dont let any of this put you off owning one of the best feelings money can buy!!!
And Tony ..stop wasting time on PH, get out of that hellhole City bank office and lets get to the pub and "M"
Such issues wont put me off after all I've lived with a Maserati for the last two and a half years which is not too far removed. Thanks for the advice. I think the answer is to go and drive them.
Also its not overall pace I am after as in everyday road driving they would struggle to keep pace with my RS6 Avant! It is that feel that you only seem to get with Italian cars.
>> Edited by mal on Thursday 16th October 08:36
Also its not overall pace I am after as in everyday road driving they would struggle to keep pace with my RS6 Avant! It is that feel that you only seem to get with Italian cars.
>> Edited by mal on Thursday 16th October 08:36
jason360hasgone said:
Tony,
Yes the front wing need to be removed to change the battery so it cost me a cool 150 quid for fitting a new one!
Let's not get carried away, the front wheel has to come off and then you remove an access panel in the wheel arch liner, I don't think the wing comes off.
It's a pain, but not that bad, unless I'm completely mistaken!
Ok I am alittle biased here but for me it is the 355.....why? Ok here we go
I was in the market for a ferrai and had enough to buy a 360 but despite the improved power and better cabin layout (it is much more comfortable I think the 360) and that lovely glass panel to see the engine, the rest of the car left me cold....
The design is - well - odd....for me in any case the shape is not pleasing to the eye...maybe from behind it looks the best..(no comments here thx Ali !!) It looks to big at the back end and to stubby at the fromnt..looks 'Japanese' in some ways from the front
Then I sepnt a few weeekndds driving a friends and a hired one.....quick yes - very....F1 box was smashing BUT how twitchy ???? It may be faster than a 355 but I would not keep up with one in the corners as the handling does not 'feel' as solid as the 355's - maybe it is all pshycological butit feels like it is going to snap out at the slightest touch of the throttle at speed....
Finally the most important thing for me is the sound - ok it barks but it does not give me any emotion to hear that......now the howl of a 355 makes the hair stand up on my neck...dont get me wrong a 360 sounds good but not emotional ..more of a snap and bark than a long piercing howl... 355 is like a tenor singer....keeps rising to a crescendo.....
Sure you can de cat and tubi them but then I have done that to the 355 and she is just like an F1 car now......and with the Gruppe M carbon ram box she is running the same horsepower as a 360......
Horses (scuse the pun !!) for courses...for me the shape the sound and the handling of the 355 outweigh the modern benfits of the 360 for the extra cash....
Bash
www.theratpac.com
I was in the market for a ferrai and had enough to buy a 360 but despite the improved power and better cabin layout (it is much more comfortable I think the 360) and that lovely glass panel to see the engine, the rest of the car left me cold....
The design is - well - odd....for me in any case the shape is not pleasing to the eye...maybe from behind it looks the best..(no comments here thx Ali !!) It looks to big at the back end and to stubby at the fromnt..looks 'Japanese' in some ways from the front
Then I sepnt a few weeekndds driving a friends and a hired one.....quick yes - very....F1 box was smashing BUT how twitchy ???? It may be faster than a 355 but I would not keep up with one in the corners as the handling does not 'feel' as solid as the 355's - maybe it is all pshycological butit feels like it is going to snap out at the slightest touch of the throttle at speed....
Finally the most important thing for me is the sound - ok it barks but it does not give me any emotion to hear that......now the howl of a 355 makes the hair stand up on my neck...dont get me wrong a 360 sounds good but not emotional ..more of a snap and bark than a long piercing howl... 355 is like a tenor singer....keeps rising to a crescendo.....
Sure you can de cat and tubi them but then I have done that to the 355 and she is just like an F1 car now......and with the Gruppe M carbon ram box she is running the same horsepower as a 360......
Horses (scuse the pun !!) for courses...for me the shape the sound and the handling of the 355 outweigh the modern benfits of the 360 for the extra cash....
Bash
www.theratpac.com
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