Are 355's selling?

[phib]

In my case (because I have one) I filtered by Red , RHD, Manual, Spider less than 50k miles

And there isn't one !!!

Phib

[Birkin1932]

My car same as above, had a service recently and my service guy said he could have sold it for 100k to three different peeps.

There are no decent cars out there, only LHD, high mileage and cars with stories.

Manuals are becoming the proverbial 'rocking horse st' rare

Glad mines safely tucked away

[F1Sean]

I know everyone talks about/prefers manual gearbox, but I really do like my F1 version. I was originally looking for a manual box (as I thought that was the thing to do) but since I really wanted a GTS bodied car more than the manual gearbox, I ended up "settling" for F1. Once you get used to it, it's decent enough to do the job. Turns out there were only 74 no. GTS/RHD/F1 cars produced so mine's a pretty rare beast. Not sure how that affects price (not sure how many are actually still in one piece either).

I'm not selling it though......

[priley]

The 355 is such a beautiful looking car with excellent performance and engine noise, how you change gear or which side the steering wheel is are relative non-issues. And people may be kicking themselves for not picking up one of the current £50k LHD/F1 cars in a ew years. However, just to play devil's advocate, when low mileage/manual prices are approaching 458's the switch might be tempting for some. I know a friend who recently switched his GTB for a lower mileage Spider is now eyeing up 458 Spiders...

[allister]

F1Sean said:

I know everyone talks about/prefers manual gearbox, but I really do like my F1 version. I was originally looking for a manual box (as I thought that was the thing to do) but since I really wanted a GTS bodied car more than the manual gearbox, I ended up "settling" for F1. Once you get used to it, it's decent enough to do the job. Turns out there were only 74 no. GTS/RHD/F1 cars produced so mine's a pretty rare beast. Not sure how that affects price (not sure how many are actually still in one piece either).

I'm not selling it though......

Regardless of manual or F1, a RHD GTS will always be a solid investment - I'm sure it'll give you much pleasure and a good return.

[phib]

I have to wonder where this will all end !! Not a being a doom monger but everyone is predicting a crash when interest rates go up in q3/4 2016.

I can see the lower priced over hyped stuff taking a bath but I wonder ( with rose tinted spectacles on !) if 355's and 550's will drop quite so much ?

Phib

[fullleather]

Is it not simply a growing number of enthusiasts who want the input of a manual gearbox, to be able to hold the revs and exploit the torque as they see fit?

[James P]

F1Sean said:

I know everyone talks about/prefers manual gearbox, but I really do like my F1 version. I was originally looking for a manual box (as I thought that was the thing to do) but since I really wanted a GTS bodied car more than the manual gearbox, I ended up "settling" for F1. Once you get used to it, it's decent enough to do the job. Turns out there were only 74 no. GTS/RHD/F1 cars produced so mine's a pretty rare beast. Not sure how that affects price (not sure how many are actually still in one piece either).

I'm not selling it though......

I was the same - I particularly wanted the GTS and had a preference for manual (being wary of a first attempt at an F1 box). For me a manual GTS came up first so that was what I got back in May 2004. I did waver about selling 5/6 years ago but am glad I kept faithful.

[phib]

I have to wonder where this will all end !! Not a being a doom monger but everyone is predicting a crash when interest rates go up in q3/4 2016.

I can see the lower priced over hyped stuff taking a bath but I wonder ( with rose tinted spectacles on !) if 355's and 550's will drop quite so much ?

Phib

[roygarth]

fullleather said:

Is it not simply a growing number of enthusiasts who want the input of a manual gearbox, to be able to hold the revs and exploit the torque as they see fit?

I agree. Look at prices of F430 manual V F1. I think if you are an enthusiast and are buying for a bit of W/E fun its got to be manual - especially as early F1 boxes (as in 355 and 575M) are not that good.

[F1Sean]

roygarth said:

I think if you are an enthusiast and are buying for a bit of W/E fun its got to be manual - especially as early F1 boxes (as in 355 and 575M) are not that good.

"Not that good" is entirely subjective. To be honest I would have bought a manual GTS if there was one available at that time (Jan 2013) for that price (circa 40K) in red. But the secondhand car market means you often have to compromise, which I what I did. In my car I got everything I wanted (including colour scheme) except the gearbox, which I have since grown to love. Had I waited.....well I might still be waiting now - for a car I could no longer afford!

Edited by F1Sean on Wednesday 25th November 12:47

[roygarth]

F1Sean said:

roygarth said:

I think if you are an enthusiast and are buying for a bit of W/E fun its got to be manual - especially as early F1 boxes (as in 355 and 575M) are not that good.

"Not that good" is entirely subjective. [/footnote]

Fair comment. But I wonder if as time goes by early F1 boxes might be viewed as a poor relation and be valued accordingly. But value is not everything and F1 box is a lot of fun!

[allister]

[quote=fesuvious]Or..

"Those who passed their test within last 5-10 years will likely only drive a sports or super car with paddles".

I'm not sure about that..... To this day, I would guess that at least 90% of young people taking their driving tests (and those within the last 5-10 years), do so in cars with manual gearboxes - Not in cars with flappy paddles or auto boxes.

As a result, these are most likely to be the type of gearboxes that young people will continue to drive from lets say 18-35 years of age. Therefore, what they will become used to and enjoy will be cars with manual boxes.

Some at the age of 35+ may perhaps decide to switch over to an easier auto box and I guess an extremely small fortunate few at this point, may be able to afford to buy their very own super car with paddles. However, because they will have spent the vast majority of their driving lives with a manual box, my thoughts are that they will choose to continue with them.

Until such a time, that the majority of 17-18 year olds start learning to drive with flappy paddles, in what would surely be under powered one litre flappy paddle Ford Fiestas, young people will continue to spend the majority of their young driving lives in cars with manual gear boxes.

Because of this, I think manual boxes will continue to remain the preferred familiar choice for young people passing their driving tests today and for the foreseeable future.

Edited by allister on Thursday 26th November 13:17

[allister]

fesuvious said:

As an employer of a few youngsters, running a company that offers financial incentives for advanced driving courses.....i.e I take driving seriously.

I think you're wrong. Paddles are a holy grail. Not for pleasure but because it's perceived as 'easier'. And 'the future'.

These kids will aspire to a Porsche or Ferrari or maybe an 'M' or AMG. Are they likely to be having a manual?

Plus, as we've seen constantly, tech always dribbles down to base models.

Don't mistake my view. I'm close to ordering an Evora 400 with a manual box! You couldn't pay me to have paddles in my 'driving car'.

It's interesting that you say that and I don't doubt what you say...... I was making my assumption based on my estimate, that approximately 90% of young people are still driving manual cars.

I guess the bottom line is this though - The manual gearbox simply won't be an option at all in new sports / super cars for much longer, so I guess everyone will have to get used to the paddles whether they like them or not - At the same time though, I think they'll always be a great demand for cars with a manual box, based on the low numbers available and the fact that they'll always be a reasonable number of people wanting one.

[Steve12NG]

People who spend a lot of time on car enthusiast websites often make the mistake of thinking that their opinion automatically represents the prevailing one.
Just because a number of people on here worship at the holy grail of three pedals, doesn't mean the general car buying populace does.
At this point there is no notable difference in sale price when it comes to 355s and gearboxes that I'm aware of.

[allister]

Steve12NG said:

People who spend a lot of time on car enthusiast websites often make the mistake of thinking that their opinion automatically represents the prevailing one.
Just because a number of people on here worship at the holy grail of three pedals, doesn't mean the general car buying populace does.
At this point there is no notable difference in sale price when it comes to 355s and gearboxes that I'm aware of.

At the end of the day, it's each to their own, whatever you prefer..... There's no right or wrong, it's personal preference.

As long as each person is happy with their choice and investment, that's fine..... The F430 Spider, 6 Speed Manual was perfect for me - A lot of fun and I believe a great investment.

Also, I think anyone who's lucky enough to own a 355 right now, whether it be an F1 or Manual, you're in a great place!

[Steve12NG]

allister said:

At the end of the day, it's each to their own, whatever you prefer..... There's no right or wrong, it's personal preference.

As long as each person is happy with their choice and investment, that's fine..... The F430 Spider, 6 Speed Manual was perfect for me - A lot of fun and I believe a great investment.

Also, I think anyone who's lucky enough to own a 355 right now, whether it be an F1 or Manual, you're in a great place!

Totally agree. It is down to personal preference alone.

Trying to pretend one is more valuable than the other at this point in the life of the 355 is silly.
Let's give it another 10 years at least.

And even then, who really cares?

[F1Sean]

Steve12NG said:

And even then, who really cares?

Quite! I suspect that owners of 355's in 10 years could well be sitting on a gold mine. The gearbox will be irrelevant if the car is in great condition with history.

Loads of valid points have made above both for and against the F1 box. I do think though that a lot of people who talk down the F1 box may not have driven one in much the same way as people who have never driven a 348 do the same. After all, both boxes are mechanically identical, the only difference being the bit between the fingertips and the cogs (replacement of gearstick with paddles and an actuator). The more modern machinery is very different of course.

I read somewhere else that a key point in being an appreciating classic is being technologically significant. The 355F1 is definitely that. But to compare that version of gearbox with a modern Ferrari F1 box would be like comparing a Clio Renault Sport with a Clio Williams. They both kind of do the same job, but the newer one is better in so many ways.

[red_slr]

355 pricing is confusing me at the moment. The average car has gone from £50k to £80-£90k in the space of a few months. I find that quite strange. The market is strong at the moment for all, I mean 360s that were 30-40k are now 50-60 but the 355 seems to have really shot up in a very short space of time.

[red_slr]

They are accelerating faster than the rest of the market that's for sure. If this carries on they will be more expensive than a nearly new 458 by next spring.
I see there is a 50k miles coupe up for over £100k - manual RHD.
I also worry that come 20-30 years down the line that the car may be genuinely collectable but RHD may not be so desirable as the rest of the world is LHD... and although the RHD market will probably be strong in the UK by which time prices may well be higher on LHD? Perhaps. Maybe....