Living with a 355 Spider?

[BrianDrought]

Hi folks, after some advice.

I was looking for a black/blue GTS, since to my eyes, I think it looks better than the Spider. *BUT*, is a Spider ok to live with ? It'll be a 2nd/3rd car to go with my Elise, and possibly Merc 500E (that I may sell though). Questions are:

1) Is the Spider noisy at speed with roof up/down
2) Is the roof mech reliable?
3) How long does it take to raise/lower roof ?
4) Is insurance higher than GTS? (I'm 24, so that matters!)
5) *if* someone slashed the roof <cringe>, what kind of money are they to replace?

Reason being, theres a very cheap LHD Spider at Rosso Corsa:

www.virtual-showroom.co.uk/scripts/stockList/vehicleDetail.asp?laf=EDWARDS&dealer=8629&vehicle=137&ss

Any opinions on that car itself? Too many miles?

Cheers in advance

Bri


>>> Edited by BrianDrought on Friday 31st October 09:12

[craigw]

Brian, email me offline if you get a second.

[BrianDrought]

Have mailed. If you dont't get it, my email addy is:

[e-mail]

Cheers,
Bri

[craigw]

I have it, just replied.

[foxy_chick]

That does look alright, find out some more info on what the warranty covers - It can prove VERY useful if needed!
Mileage-wise, It's high for a Ferrari, but that just show's that it's been driven! A good indication that the prev. owner/s brought it to drive and so it *should* be well looked after and you *shouldn't* experience many problems, if any

Foxy x

[craigw]

did you get my mail Brian ?

[355f]

well the issue with that particular car is the mileage.

Ok, a well used ferrari is better than a garage queen but there is a balance.
If you keep the vehicle for say 2 years and with only a small annual mileage yo will then have a ferrari with 60K miles up. It might still be reliable but as to resale you could loose your shirt!

remember the biggest problem with these cars is exhaust manifolds, which, even if they have been recently repaired will go again and again

[BrianDrought]

Yup, got the mail.

On the manifold front, do they always go? No fix for this issue?

As for mileage... the car is already relatively cheap, so depreciation is less of an issue imho.

[ninja_eli]

That car is the older type 2.7 system. I'd check what the warranty is like. As an indication, I sold my 355 spider R reg, rosso with crema, £50K to a dealer, with 27K or miles. Had it only had 20K miles, I would have got £55K for it. They are very mileage sensitive.

I'd probably say the car you are looking is worth circa £30K to me, but to be honest you can get LHD red cars for not much more than £7K more than the asking price, newer cars with less mileage in a better colour. 50K miles is about halfway through the cars life, depending on how its been treated. It has to have lots and lots of bills and history. I'd definitely check what the warranty covers and its ceiling (probably not a lot to be honest). cambelts should have been done 2002.

But otherwise a spider is fine to live with, IMO easier than a GTS, roof takes no longer than 30 seconds or so and isn't really a pain, just be careful not to throw the potentiometer out of synch, which is most common failure. Sound with the roof up is good, roof down fantastic. Insurance is no different, I was your age when I got mine, and it cost me £3600, and that was same for all 355s.

[355f]

there is no fix for the manifold problem.

You can buy tubi manifolds which are about 4K or get QV london to provide special built units about £700 per side.

Also with a 2.7 car look for evidence that the car has had valve guides replaced as this was a huge issue with these cars

[BrianDrought]

Thanks for the replys folks. I'd probably be using the car a fair bit and putting on say 10K miles a year <watches some of you cringe>. I guess with 50K on the clock already, it'll be a pain to sell in a few years with 70K plus.

As for the colour, I actually dont want a red one. Blue/black hides away a tiny bit better I feel.

In terms of the manifold problem... how common is it ? Do they *all* go? What kind of mileage do they last ?

[355f]

BrianDrought said:

Thanks for the replys folks. I'd probably be using the car a fair bit and putting on say 10K miles a year <watches some of you cringe>. I guess with 50K on the clock already, it'll be a pain to sell in a few years with 70K plus. As for the colour, I actually dont want a red one. Blue/black hides away a tiny bit better I feel. In terms of the manifold problem... how common is it ? Do they *all* go? What kind of mileage do they last ?

Firstly, on the cars manufactured up till 97 bronze valve guides were used which in some cases did not last at all well, from 97 on they used sintered steel resolving the problem. You should really have a compression test and more importantly a leakdown test especially in view of the miles you intend to put on the car.
The manifold issue is VERY common, and although the manifold design was changed in early 97 (the air pipes that feed air for cold start into the ex manifolds changed from a sort of v configuration to a straight one) I know of some owners that have had them repaired or replaced at as low as 5K miles, very few last more than 15K. The problem is that this part is made by ansa, of very poor quality stainless steel, two things happen, firstly, the welds break at the point the aux air pipes enter the ex manifolds and the manifolds themselves 'melt through' where the bends are in the design as at that point they are wafer thin. They can be welded but it does not last and they need to be removed from the car so its still expensive(1 days labour plus gaskets ) and new ones from ferrari UK are about 2500 per side. Make sure that the cambelt and tensioners were done within the last 2 years(it needs to be done every 3 whatever the miles) also the alarm battery backup only lasts for 2 years and its about £190 for a new one. Its a great car ive had 2 but quite honestly the miles you intend to put on the car is a lot so expect some VERY big bills! also look out for corrosion and some evidence that the car has had its dynatrol treatment ( as recommended by ferrari annually) in berlinettas check for corrosion on buttress seams (it needs to be repaired all the time) corrosion in the front battery section and the quarter panels by the radiators, the seam especially, also underneath windscreen rubbers)

There have been several recalls relating to fuel lines an other items so you need to ensure this has been done and that the catalysts are intact and work!!

You should def get a specialist to check any purchase out ( i can reccommend an independant one off line)