RE: PH Buying Guide: Ferrari F355

[PompeyM3]

Fuelbrother DC said:

PompeyM3 said:

I'm taking this feature as a sign from above !!!

After much ummming and ahhhing these past few months on what to get next, my mind was more or less made up at Wilton House last weekend that I want to upgrade my Esprit to a 355. Now seeing this feature my decision is made.

Thanks for the info and I will be coming back to check on any tips any existing owners can point me to when going to look at cars.

Upgrade your Esprit to an S4 with some decent exhaust, mate. Half the cost, less 'being a ferraristi', same fun.... eerrr, almost, that is.

...first post ever.

Edited by Fuelbrother DC on Friday 20th August 14:38

Yeah, I did think about getting a newer Esprit as I do love the shape, but recently it's been between the 348 and the 355. Welcome by the way

[hogg968]

sainte foy

[GTCDI]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwls-0wxUVY&fea...

always good

[Dagnut]

Great new feature, keep it up.

[mikEsprit]

PompeyM3 said:

I'm taking this feature as a sign from above !!!

After much ummming and ahhhing these past few months on what to get next, my mind was more or less made up at Wilton House last weekend that I want to upgrade my Esprit to a 355. Now seeing this feature my decision is made.

Thanks for the info and I will be coming back to check on any tips any existing owners can point me to when going to look at cars.

Except for name recognition, I certainly would never, ever, ever call going from an Esprit to an F car an "upgrade". It's akin to calling Pamela Anderson an upgrade from Adriana Lima.

[BlueEyedBoy]

I use to adore this car...until I drove one. The drive back home in my Cerbera was so much more fun and felt so much more special.

[ferrari spider]

BlueEyedBoy said:

I use to adore this car...until I drove one. The drive back home in my Cerbera was so much more fun and felt so much more special.

LOL!!! ROTFLMAO!!!

[ferrari spider]

mikEsprit said:

PompeyM3 said:

I'm taking this feature as a sign from above !!!

After much ummming and ahhhing these past few months on what to get next, my mind was more or less made up at Wilton House last weekend that I want to upgrade my Esprit to a 355. Now seeing this feature my decision is made.

Thanks for the info and I will be coming back to check on any tips any existing owners can point me to when going to look at cars.

Except for name recognition, I certainly would never, ever, ever call going from an Esprit to an F car an "upgrade". It's akin to calling Pamela Anderson an upgrade from Adriana Lima.

I was thinking along the same lines. Both great examples of sports cars.

[BlueEyedBoy]

ferrari spider said:

BlueEyedBoy said:

I use to adore this car...until I drove one. The drive back home in my Cerbera was so much more fun and felt so much more special.

LOL!!! ROTFLMAO!!!

Why the LOL, if you like a cheap plastic interior, a horrid offset driving position and a gutless engine, laugh away. It was one of my cars I lusted after, the reality was it took it off the list.

[ferrari spider]

BlueEyedBoy said:

Why the LOL, if you like a cheap plastic interior, a horrid offset driving position

Were not talking about a TVR are we?.....when its running
If you hated that you should try an F40

Edited by ferrari spider on Friday 20th August 19:43

[BlueEyedBoy]

ferrari spider said:

BlueEyedBoy said:

Why the LOL, if you like a cheap plastic interior, a horrid offset driving position

Were not talking about a TVR are we?.....when its running

Coming from and old Ferrari owner, surely thats pot kettle black? I just didn't like it, obviously you do.

[ferrari spider]

BlueEyedBoy said:

ferrari spider said:

BlueEyedBoy said:

Why the LOL, if you like a cheap plastic interior, a horrid offset driving position

Were not talking about a TVR are we?.....when its running

Coming from and old Ferrari owner, surely thats pot kettle black? .

How does that make sense?? What do you mean?

[BlueEyedBoy]

Ferraris of that era are hardly known for low costs or reliabilty. My Cerbera let me down once in 3 years when the starter motor died.I don't think that is that bad. I think the 355 is a gorgeous looking car, I just didn't enjoy driving it as much as I thought I would.

[ferrari spider]

BlueEyedBoy said:

Ferraris of that era are hardly known for low costs or reliabilty. My Cerbera let me down once in 3 years when the starter motor died.

Yes they are expensive to service/run. But if one cant afford the running costs, then i would always advice anyone to steer clear.
Regarding reliability, you have the wrong era bud. I have had the 355 for 6 years and go all over Europe, and not once has it let me down. Even my Testarossa and 328 were great reliable cars.
There are good and bad in all models.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

The 355 spider was my dreamcar since they came out and I fianlly realised my dream a few years ago

Sadly though I have to say much like blue eyed the ownership didnt live up to the dream, the interior wasnt a nice place to be, the driving position just didnt feel right and overall it spoilt it for me.


Having said that I still think it is one of the prettiest cars ever made and with a nice exhaust on ( Mine had a Tubi ) it sounds as good as anything on the planet.


I wouldnt put anyone off getting one though.

[Mroad]

pinchmeimdreamin said:

The 355 spider was my dreamcar since they came out and I fianlly realised my dream a few years ago

Sadly though I have to say much like blue eyed the ownership didnt live up to the dream, the interior wasnt a nice place to be, the driving position just didnt feel right and overall it spoilt it for me.


Having said that I still think it is one of the prettiest cars ever made and with a nice exhaust on ( Mine had a Tubi ) it sounds as good as anything on the planet.


I wouldnt put anyone off getting one though.

That's a fair comment.
I wasn't hugely impressed with the driving position at first, typically Italian sports car, short leg long arm and the offset pedals take some getting used to but it can be tweaked.
I had to change the steering wheel and added a spacer, a common modification, as it would hit on my knees. It is now pretty good. I have the carbon seats in mine too, a lot better than the standard items.
As you say, the looks, the sound (and the handling as I upgraded the anti-roll bars too) are pretty special...and the "snick-snick" from 2nd to 3rd makes me smile every time which no other car ever has.

[r111gts]

I know its subjective. but I have to say that I just don't understand where some comments are coming from with complaints about the interior. In my eyes, it is one of the great interiors of all time, both in terms of being in my opinion the very best of Italian design (i.e supremely stylish but not overly fussy), but also in terms of quality of materials - to me, it seems like almost every surface is covered in either leather or carpet. The instrumentation is an absolute delight, the mirrors are just the most fantastic beautiful shape (I know that they are on the outside but I count them as being part of the interior experience), the smell is wonderful, the gear stick and gate is wonderfully tactile, the visibility is fantastic, the pedals are slightly offset but I can't see how this would seriously bother anyone? I haven't come across another car which I think beats it.

[PompeyM3]

ferrari spider said:

mikEsprit said:

PompeyM3 said:

I'm taking this feature as a sign from above !!!

After much ummming and ahhhing these past few months on what to get next, my mind was more or less made up at Wilton House last weekend that I want to upgrade my Esprit to a 355. Now seeing this feature my decision is made.

Thanks for the info and I will be coming back to check on any tips any existing owners can point me to when going to look at cars.

Except for name recognition, I certainly would never, ever, ever call going from an Esprit to an F car an "upgrade". It's akin to calling Pamela Anderson an upgrade from Adriana Lima.

I was thinking along the same lines. Both great examples of sports cars.

Yeah, perhaps the word "upgrade" is not the best in this case, perhaps "change" would be a better one. I love the Esprit, it's the car I wanted from when I was a boy, which is why I've owned it for 10 years. I guess I'd like to try something else. Saying all this I was behind a Elise on the way home tonight and that looks rather nice. !

[Wah]

PompeyM3 said:

I'm taking this feature as a sign from above !!!

After much ummming and ahhhing these past few months on what to get next, my mind was more or less made up at Wilton House last weekend that I want to upgrade my Esprit to a 355. Now seeing this feature my decision is made.

Thanks for the info and I will be coming back to check on any tips any existing owners can point me to when going to look at cars.

Ditto. This is a definitely a sign! My mind was made up at Maranello 2 weeks ago and Wilton House cemented that completely! We may well be fighting over 355s, Pompey.

[PompeyM3]

Wah said:

PompeyM3 said:

I'm taking this feature as a sign from above !!!

After much ummming and ahhhing these past few months on what to get next, my mind was more or less made up at Wilton House last weekend that I want to upgrade my Esprit to a 355. Now seeing this feature my decision is made.

Thanks for the info and I will be coming back to check on any tips any existing owners can point me to when going to look at cars.

Ditto. This is a definitely a sign! My mind was made up at Maranello 2 weeks ago and Wilton House cemented that completely! We may well be fighting over 355s, Pompey.

Hi Wah, Nice to meet you at Wilton House last weekend. Yes been looking in the classifieds again this week. This buyers guide has some good stuff in it, just what we were after yeah . I see the one in Bath that was mentioned in last months EVO magazine has now gone.