Driving TB303's Ferrari 360 Spider and Porsche 981 Spyder
Discussion
There are I think some issues with that 360. 2nd and sometimes 3rd gear syncros I am informed by a well respected independent are starting to prove an issue for many cars now and gearbox rebuilds are becoming more common. The 'box should be silky smooth in all gears.
There should be zero lag in the steering or suspension. Worn ball joints, flamblocs, or slightly off geo are possibilities. Handling should be razor sharp - in fact, it should be s a stand-out attribute of the car.
This is always the rub when comparing an older car with a new one. Depending on the level of maintenance it's rarely truly equal.
There should be zero lag in the steering or suspension. Worn ball joints, flamblocs, or slightly off geo are possibilities. Handling should be razor sharp - in fact, it should be s a stand-out attribute of the car.
This is always the rub when comparing an older car with a new one. Depending on the level of maintenance it's rarely truly equal.
Excellent stuff, really interesting.
I've also driven (short test-drive on nice roads) a manual 360 Spider - it was the first (and only) Ferrari I've driven (or indeed sat in) and I was impressed with the engineering as much as anything. I agree it wasn't a polished thing, but some of the detailing when you look underneath or open the engine cover was just lovely.
It also had a comically loud exhaust (Capristo I think) - you couldn't stand next to the car and hold a conversation with the car idling. As to the drive the steering didn't really make a negative impression, although it was a pointy-feeling thing, the engine was mega and I thought the brakes were superb - powerful with very little travel, pedals spaced well and all that.
I've also driven (short test-drive on nice roads) a manual 360 Spider - it was the first (and only) Ferrari I've driven (or indeed sat in) and I was impressed with the engineering as much as anything. I agree it wasn't a polished thing, but some of the detailing when you look underneath or open the engine cover was just lovely.
It also had a comically loud exhaust (Capristo I think) - you couldn't stand next to the car and hold a conversation with the car idling. As to the drive the steering didn't really make a negative impression, although it was a pointy-feeling thing, the engine was mega and I thought the brakes were superb - powerful with very little travel, pedals spaced well and all that.
mwstewart said:
There are I think some issues with that 360. 2nd and sometimes 3rd gear syncros I am informed by a well respected independent are starting to prove an issue for many cars now and gearbox rebuilds are becoming more common. The 'box should be silky smooth in all gears.
There should be zero lag in the steering or suspension. Worn ball joints, flamblocs, or slightly off geo are possibilities. Handling should be razor sharp - in fact, it should be s a stand-out attribute of the car.
This is always the rub when comparing an older car with a new one. Depending on the level of maintenance it's rarely truly equal.
+1 There should be zero lag in the steering or suspension. Worn ball joints, flamblocs, or slightly off geo are possibilities. Handling should be razor sharp - in fact, it should be s a stand-out attribute of the car.
This is always the rub when comparing an older car with a new one. Depending on the level of maintenance it's rarely truly equal.
my 360 had zero gearbox issues
_Neal_ said:
Excellent stuff, really interesting.
I've also driven (short test-drive on nice roads) a manual 360 Spider - it was the first (and only) Ferrari I've driven (or indeed sat in) and I was impressed with the engineering as much as anything. I agree it wasn't a polished thing, but some of the detailing when you look underneath or open the engine cover was just lovely.
It also had a comically loud exhaust (Capristo I think) - you couldn't stand next to the car and hold a conversation with the car idling. As to the drive the steering didn't really make a negative impression, although it was a pointy-feeling thing, the engine was mega and I thought the brakes were superb - powerful with very little travel, pedals spaced well and all that.
I was with Neal on that test drive, as I was shopping for a 360 Spider manual in those days, and I asked him along as co-driver/second opinion.I've also driven (short test-drive on nice roads) a manual 360 Spider - it was the first (and only) Ferrari I've driven (or indeed sat in) and I was impressed with the engineering as much as anything. I agree it wasn't a polished thing, but some of the detailing when you look underneath or open the engine cover was just lovely.
It also had a comically loud exhaust (Capristo I think) - you couldn't stand next to the car and hold a conversation with the car idling. As to the drive the steering didn't really make a negative impression, although it was a pointy-feeling thing, the engine was mega and I thought the brakes were superb - powerful with very little travel, pedals spaced well and all that.
The car was on at £52k in TDF blue, manual with carbon buckets, Challenge Stradale wheels, Challenge grilles and ridiculously loud Tubi exhaust. It needed clutch, balljoints and a few other bits - about £8k worth to make it proper.
It was awesome. But I went looking for another one, and drove a lovely late one at Joe Macari: but it was test driving that car on the A3, and witnessing the way other road users treated you when driving a Ferrari in London, that put me off the brand, so I eventually ending up keeping my Morgan and buying a modified Defender, and then current V8 Vantage.
To this day, I regret not buying the first car, bitterly.
Very, very special thing - and now worth £100k. Not that the price matters, because I think I would have kept it for ever.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 29th March 13:19
Harry Flashman said:
_Neal_ said:
Excellent stuff, really interesting.
I've also driven (short test-drive on nice roads) a manual 360 Spider - it was the first (and only) Ferrari I've driven (or indeed sat in) and I was impressed with the engineering as much as anything. I agree it wasn't a polished thing, but some of the detailing when you look underneath or open the engine cover was just lovely.
It also had a comically loud exhaust (Capristo I think) - you couldn't stand next to the car and hold a conversation with the car idling. As to the drive the steering didn't really make a negative impression, although it was a pointy-feeling thing, the engine was mega and I thought the brakes were superb - powerful with very little travel, pedals spaced well and all that.
I was with Neal on that test drive, as I was shopping for a 360 Spider manual in those days, and I asked him along as co-driver/second opinion.I've also driven (short test-drive on nice roads) a manual 360 Spider - it was the first (and only) Ferrari I've driven (or indeed sat in) and I was impressed with the engineering as much as anything. I agree it wasn't a polished thing, but some of the detailing when you look underneath or open the engine cover was just lovely.
It also had a comically loud exhaust (Capristo I think) - you couldn't stand next to the car and hold a conversation with the car idling. As to the drive the steering didn't really make a negative impression, although it was a pointy-feeling thing, the engine was mega and I thought the brakes were superb - powerful with very little travel, pedals spaced well and all that.
The car was on at £52k in TDF blue, manual with carbon buckets, Challenge Stradale wheels, Challenge grilles and ridiculously loud Tubi exhaust. It needed clutch, balljoints and a few other bits - about £8k worth to make it proper.
It was awesome. But I went looking for another one, and drove a lovely late one at Joe Macari: but it was test driving that car on the A3, and witnessing the way other road users treated you when driving a Ferrari in London, that put me off the brand, so I eventually ending up keeping my Morgan and buying a modified Defender, and then current V8 Vantage.
To this day, I regret not buying the first car, bitterly.
Very, very special thing - and now worth £100k. Not that the price matters, because I think I would have kept it for ever.
The thing that was concerning to me was how well it drove despite needing that amount of work doing - silly.
Right choice at the time not to buy, hindsight always being 20:20.
A great read. Well done.
I am in the fortunate position of having a Ferrari 360 Spider and Porsche 987 Spyder. The Fezza is the full "in yer face" spec of Rosso Red, manual with silly-loud Capristo exhaust and sports cats. Never having driven a 981 Spyder I suspect the 987 is a bit more raw and a bit less polished than the 981 so possibly even a closer comparison to the 360.
Anyhow, no matter how much I enjoy the Porsche, I always end up smiling that little bit more after a run in the Ferrari but I can appreciate how that could easily be the reverse for others.
I am in the fortunate position of having a Ferrari 360 Spider and Porsche 987 Spyder. The Fezza is the full "in yer face" spec of Rosso Red, manual with silly-loud Capristo exhaust and sports cats. Never having driven a 981 Spyder I suspect the 987 is a bit more raw and a bit less polished than the 981 so possibly even a closer comparison to the 360.
Anyhow, no matter how much I enjoy the Porsche, I always end up smiling that little bit more after a run in the Ferrari but I can appreciate how that could easily be the reverse for others.
Nice work Cmoose !
I have the sister car to TB's 981 Spyder and I pretty much concur with your take on the Box.
I particularly agree about it being the perfect Euro tour machine.
Had a great drive down through Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy last summer.
Managed a few laps at Spa, some quick miles on the autrobahns and it was fantastic going up through the Alps and down to the lakes.
In fact I enjoyed it so much, I'm having another go this year. Hopefully taking on the Nurburgring, the Stelvio and a factory tour at Stuttgart.
I recently sold my 987.1 Boxster, but now plan on getting a 987.2 car as soon as the right car comes on the market.
I agree that the older cars just need a bit more driving and that's a good thing.
For my needs it's the perfect combo :-)
I have the sister car to TB's 981 Spyder and I pretty much concur with your take on the Box.
I particularly agree about it being the perfect Euro tour machine.
Had a great drive down through Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy last summer.
Managed a few laps at Spa, some quick miles on the autrobahns and it was fantastic going up through the Alps and down to the lakes.
In fact I enjoyed it so much, I'm having another go this year. Hopefully taking on the Nurburgring, the Stelvio and a factory tour at Stuttgart.
I recently sold my 987.1 Boxster, but now plan on getting a 987.2 car as soon as the right car comes on the market.
I agree that the older cars just need a bit more driving and that's a good thing.
For my needs it's the perfect combo :-)
Nice write up as usual I look out for these, thanks.
I had a 360 Modena, manual and as a first Ferrari it was of course Rosso red. It came with a Tubi exhaust which after while got too much for me so it was swapped for a standard one. It had multiple ball joints and gear linkage fettling amongst other things and was in tip top condition.
Last summer I had the Ferrari concurrent with a 987.2 Boxster Spyder, the Porsche was, by my comparison as well, far more polished and just easier to jump in and drive mostly doing the weekend errands. It meant it got used much more plus as I never really drove it when the sun wasn't out it never had the roof on.
After more than five years I decided that the Porsche had got right under my skin and although the Ferrari looked fab and meant so much I parted with it.
I haven't driven a 981 Spyder but faced with my two I chose the Porsche.
I had a 360 Modena, manual and as a first Ferrari it was of course Rosso red. It came with a Tubi exhaust which after while got too much for me so it was swapped for a standard one. It had multiple ball joints and gear linkage fettling amongst other things and was in tip top condition.
Last summer I had the Ferrari concurrent with a 987.2 Boxster Spyder, the Porsche was, by my comparison as well, far more polished and just easier to jump in and drive mostly doing the weekend errands. It meant it got used much more plus as I never really drove it when the sun wasn't out it never had the roof on.
After more than five years I decided that the Porsche had got right under my skin and although the Ferrari looked fab and meant so much I parted with it.
I haven't driven a 981 Spyder but faced with my two I chose the Porsche.
Edited by Frrair on Wednesday 29th March 21:43
Only just caught up on this one but another great write-up, moose.
I've had one brief experience in a 360, a few laps around Rockingham and I remember being surprised that they do feel a little softly suspended compared to the German norm, but that just reflects their setup as a road car and from a period when 'bodyroll' wasn't such a dirty word. It felt beautifully up on its toes, the engine was mega but I now recall the steering feel was a little (just a little) lacking.
I've had one brief experience in a 360, a few laps around Rockingham and I remember being surprised that they do feel a little softly suspended compared to the German norm, but that just reflects their setup as a road car and from a period when 'bodyroll' wasn't such a dirty word. It felt beautifully up on its toes, the engine was mega but I now recall the steering feel was a little (just a little) lacking.
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