RE: PH Heroes: Ferrari F355
Discussion
Before anyone gets carried away with all this and actually buys a F355, just take time to think about what you are really letting yourself in for. Yes, it's true that you do get a beautiful car that makes a heavenly noise, particularly with a Tubi; and, yes, it does get a lot of admiration on the road, which can be fun.
However, whatever anyone else says, I can tell you that they cost a complete fortune to run, you will always have difficulty selling on the private market and you will always be fleeced by the dealers. I owned two F355s over a 4-year period: a cabio and a GTB, so have some experience. Nobody will tell you that they eat exhaust manifolds, exhaust bypass valves, brakes, radiator relays and clutches. You really do need to have a large contingency fund for these repairs, which should be even bigger if you intend to do any trackdays.
It is also true that they handle very nicely. You should know, however, that they require considerable skill to drive on the limit or when it rains. The article gives the impression that it is easy to step the back out on public roads and catch it. I do not wish to be controversial, but this is wrong unless you are very experienced as being a mid-engined car, it is prone to spin very easily.
I know they don't have the same magic, but I have owned a BMW M3 CSL and a GT3 (which I still have) since getting out of Ferraris. Both are quicker, cheaper to run and handle better, but maybe I've just done the Ferrari thing and have grown old!
However, whatever anyone else says, I can tell you that they cost a complete fortune to run, you will always have difficulty selling on the private market and you will always be fleeced by the dealers. I owned two F355s over a 4-year period: a cabio and a GTB, so have some experience. Nobody will tell you that they eat exhaust manifolds, exhaust bypass valves, brakes, radiator relays and clutches. You really do need to have a large contingency fund for these repairs, which should be even bigger if you intend to do any trackdays.
It is also true that they handle very nicely. You should know, however, that they require considerable skill to drive on the limit or when it rains. The article gives the impression that it is easy to step the back out on public roads and catch it. I do not wish to be controversial, but this is wrong unless you are very experienced as being a mid-engined car, it is prone to spin very easily.
I know they don't have the same magic, but I have owned a BMW M3 CSL and a GT3 (which I still have) since getting out of Ferraris. Both are quicker, cheaper to run and handle better, but maybe I've just done the Ferrari thing and have grown old!
Slash1 said:
Just reading through the posts here and like many I reckon the 355 is by far and away the prettiest car Ferrari have ever made, if I was in a position to buy one I don't think I'd be too bothered that other cars can out-10th-of-a-second this and that.
Personally, I've never driven one, but I have had a ride in a friends yellow MR2 replica, and of course while it doesn't have the noise or the Ferrari feel, it does one have one very special feature - young ladies do not know it's a fake!!
What is it with the resurgence of the MR2 + Fibreglass = desirable car?Personally, I've never driven one, but I have had a ride in a friends yellow MR2 replica, and of course while it doesn't have the noise or the Ferrari feel, it does one have one very special feature - young ladies do not know it's a fake!!
Is there some sort of subsect of PH?
batfink79 said:
Slash1 said:
Just reading through the posts here and like many I reckon the 355 is by far and away the prettiest car Ferrari have ever made, if I was in a position to buy one I don't think I'd be too bothered that other cars can out-10th-of-a-second this and that.
Personally, I've never driven one, but I have had a ride in a friends yellow MR2 replica, and of course while it doesn't have the noise or the Ferrari feel, it does one have one very special feature - young ladies do not know it's a fake!!
What is it with the resurgence of the MR2 + Fibreglass = desirable car?Personally, I've never driven one, but I have had a ride in a friends yellow MR2 replica, and of course while it doesn't have the noise or the Ferrari feel, it does one have one very special feature - young ladies do not know it's a fake!!
Is there some sort of subsect of PH?
At first glance I thought he really did spend 35K and buy a 355, but after a proper look at the car it was clearly too short and too narrow, the choice of the MR2's chassis as the basis for these cheap imitations is irrelevant really as all the owner wants to do with his car is pretend to women (and maybe a few gullible mates) that he really is a Prancing Horse owner.
In my opinion he wasted 12K that could've been spent on a genuine sportscar like a Lotus Elise S2 - which the girls also love!
Speed Yellow said:
Nobody will tell you that they eat exhaust manifolds, exhaust bypass valves, brakes, radiator relays and clutches. You really do need to have a large contingency fund for these repairs, which should be even bigger if you intend to do any trackdays.
Don't quite agree with you on the above point.All these issues are well documented on www.clubscuderia.com and ferrarichat.net. Both have search functions.
I did my homework and was fully aware of all these issues prior to purchase and would encourage all potnetial owners to do the same.
You also missed out valve guides, roof issues and gooey interior.
Once you know what can go wrong, you can have a suitable sized contingency and make sure you have an independant inspection on any potential purchase.
P.S. selling privately and dealer fleecing isn't exclusive to an F355 or Ferrari.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/367145.htm
:Dribblemode[on]:
That is my perfect spec 355, what a stunner!
:Dribblemode[on]:
That is my perfect spec 355, what a stunner!
Just came upon this thread and thought I would share my experiances with such a car. I bought a F355 GTS in Rosso with Crema and red carpets from Greypaul Ferrari a few years ago as I promised myself a supercar before I was 40! I looked at Diablos but they do not fit in normal garages because of the doors. Insurance was very respectable at £700 fully comp. In the 13 months I owned the car the only problems I had was a replacement actuator for the suspension, two clutches (one was under warranty). The second clutch only lasted 7000 miles and I dont drag clutches so not very impressed, and the normal paint problem on the C pillars where the roof meets the body.I have to say I drove this car very hard for the 13 months I had it and ended up doing 12000 miles in that time ! I just couldnt stop driving it.I did get the occasional remark asking if it was an MR2 but as soon as you start the engine enough is said. I found I could park up in Tescos car park with the roof off and no trouble ever came to it, It seemed not to spawn any envy from people only lust (not like a porsche which gets parking dings and dents each time the same is tried). Performance was ok. To be fair its not the quickest car for your money. One time an enthusiastic M3 driver decided he wanted to play and to be fair I was in a bit of a rush so I pushed on. I had to do an indicated 170 mph before I left him, and I wasnt happy doing that but I had Ferrari pride at stake. the only time I was beat was by an Audi S8 in the rain late one evening on the M1. I decided to let him go as it just didnt feel safe at the speeds we were doing, where I am sure he felt perfectly fine. Let me also tell the truth about Ferraris and the ladies. I dont care what people say about them being c*ck extensions etc. When you own one and use it you get known in your area. Doors open and girls talk to you. I have had offers of marrige and casual sex just because of the car. At the time I was a manager for a Skoda dealership, and on a night out you chat with the ladies and tell them who you work for you get ridiculed. You should see their faces when you come out the club and drive off in a Ferrari!! Ha ha how I used to laugh as they tried to get back in with you. I was never a snob with the car. If someone shouted accross the road "give us a lift mate" I would stop and take them up the road for a quick blast. I had people asking to take thier sons out for a go as they were Ferrari mad and I used to oblige. All my friends drove the car (with me in it of course). I was never precious or posesiveabout it as I never really felt the car was mine. I was only borrowing it for a while so I wanted as many people as me to enjoy the car. The only other downside was servicing which cost £3500 in a year, oh and a set of new Pirellis, oh and mpg was 10. Well that about it, all I can say is that if you fancy a Ferrari you cant go wrong with one of these. So go on take the plunge (especially if you are single as I was at the time !!!)
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