355 & Granturismo or California
Discussion
I've been looking at that option with my missus for a couple of weeks!(although I didn't tell her my348 is going nowhere)
I'd hang onto the 355....you'd seriously miss it. You'll need to be sure it's now the time to let it go.
The California is a great car, my missus would love me to trade up, but it's not as engaging(in the way my 348 is) It's still a fantastic car though but I am reticent so i will hold off for a few years. As for the grand tourismo ? It's now top of my shopping list. It's not a world beater,, but still bl00dy good and it's a great place to be in everyday....and IMO looks absolutely stunning.+ you get the fun of 2, cars with this option.
I'd hang onto the 355....you'd seriously miss it. You'll need to be sure it's now the time to let it go.
The California is a great car, my missus would love me to trade up, but it's not as engaging(in the way my 348 is) It's still a fantastic car though but I am reticent so i will hold off for a few years. As for the grand tourismo ? It's now top of my shopping list. It's not a world beater,, but still bl00dy good and it's a great place to be in everyday....and IMO looks absolutely stunning.+ you get the fun of 2, cars with this option.
My vote is for 355 and GT, originally had a 4.2 about a year after launch and then 4.7mc as well as the 355.
Both GT's are gone now (replaced by a 550 and a diesel barge) but the 355 stays, had it the longest I have ever owned any car, cant ever see me selling it
Gt and 355 best combo I had, drove the cali but it was just too much of a compromise and too normal if that makes sense, more Maserati than Ferrari. But that's what it was designed as first anyway.
Only one car solution for me would be a DBS volante or Vanquish volante but couldn't part with 355 !!!
Phib
Filthy 550 after 600 miles across Europe in one day !!
Edited by phib on Saturday 4th July 08:59
Edited by phib on Saturday 4th July 08:59
I've gone the other way. Having had my 355 for 7 years, its on its way out. Usually my cars last a couple of years at most. It has been a fantastic car and very reliable, not the cheapest to run but good value just for the love of it. It is still one of the best looking F cars around.
I wanted to keep it and a couple of years ago thought about adding a DB9, even getting to offer on one. However I realised that with another toy alongside, both would get even less use and it was stopping me moving onto cars that remained on my bucket list. Also the rapid increase in value worried me a little as mine approached 45k miles, this stupid Ferrari obsession with low mileage. As well, approaching £90k, to me, great as they are, they are not than special.
Thus the money is going to go into either a very late 4200 Spyder, if I can find one, or a Granturismo S MC, Carrs gave me a go in a 4.2 a couple of years ago and very nice it was too. Having been to both Wilton and FoS, they look great but sound immense, way better than the 355 and that was decatted with a Tubi. A different car being a GT I know, but we all have to grow up eventually.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has made a similar change
I wanted to keep it and a couple of years ago thought about adding a DB9, even getting to offer on one. However I realised that with another toy alongside, both would get even less use and it was stopping me moving onto cars that remained on my bucket list. Also the rapid increase in value worried me a little as mine approached 45k miles, this stupid Ferrari obsession with low mileage. As well, approaching £90k, to me, great as they are, they are not than special.
Thus the money is going to go into either a very late 4200 Spyder, if I can find one, or a Granturismo S MC, Carrs gave me a go in a 4.2 a couple of years ago and very nice it was too. Having been to both Wilton and FoS, they look great but sound immense, way better than the 355 and that was decatted with a Tubi. A different car being a GT I know, but we all have to grow up eventually.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has made a similar change
ric p said:
I've gone the other way. Having had my 355 for 7 years, its on its way out. Usually my cars last a couple of years at most. It has been a fantastic car and very reliable, not the cheapest to run but good value just for the love of it. It is still one of the best looking F cars around.
I wanted to keep it and a couple of years ago thought about adding a DB9, even getting to offer on one. However I realised that with another toy alongside, both would get even less use and it was stopping me moving onto cars that remained on my bucket list. Also the rapid increase in value worried me a little as mine approached 45k miles, this stupid Ferrari obsession with low mileage. As well, approaching £90k, to me, great as they are, they are not than special.
Thus the money is going to go into either a very late 4200 Spyder, if I can find one, or a Granturismo S MC, Carrs gave me a go in a 4.2 a couple of years ago and very nice it was too. Having been to both Wilton and FoS, they look great but sound immense, way better than the 355 and that was decatted with a Tubi. A different car being a GT I know, but we all have to grow up eventually.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has made a similar change
If you are thinking of a late 4200 Spyder, you really ought to consider holding out for a GranSport Spyder and don't discount a GranSport Coupé as they are much sportier than the Granturismo.I wanted to keep it and a couple of years ago thought about adding a DB9, even getting to offer on one. However I realised that with another toy alongside, both would get even less use and it was stopping me moving onto cars that remained on my bucket list. Also the rapid increase in value worried me a little as mine approached 45k miles, this stupid Ferrari obsession with low mileage. As well, approaching £90k, to me, great as they are, they are not than special.
Thus the money is going to go into either a very late 4200 Spyder, if I can find one, or a Granturismo S MC, Carrs gave me a go in a 4.2 a couple of years ago and very nice it was too. Having been to both Wilton and FoS, they look great but sound immense, way better than the 355 and that was decatted with a Tubi. A different car being a GT I know, but we all have to grow up eventually.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has made a similar change
You're right. Nuvola have a black/red GS Spyder on the way in but will want plus of £40K, a better car but, to me, not £15K better than a 05 / 05 4200 Spyder. However the main difficulty is finding either!
The Granturismo is much more of a GT but look great and can get both my kids in, unlike the lovely but useless rear-seated DB9. I imagine myself crossing continents with the misses in it to arrive at a suitable hostelry in time for dinner. As I say, much more grown up than red-lining the 355 like a hooligan!
The Granturismo is much more of a GT but look great and can get both my kids in, unlike the lovely but useless rear-seated DB9. I imagine myself crossing continents with the misses in it to arrive at a suitable hostelry in time for dinner. As I say, much more grown up than red-lining the 355 like a hooligan!
The California to me is a much much better car than the 355 or maser gt
Much more expensive proposition though relative to a potentially appreciating 355 and presumably stable gransport or largely deprecated Gt.
Driving California this time of year is quite special. I am hoping the new one depreciates soon
Much more expensive proposition though relative to a potentially appreciating 355 and presumably stable gransport or largely deprecated Gt.
Driving California this time of year is quite special. I am hoping the new one depreciates soon
California and Maser GT are very different cars and depends where your priorities lie. In extremis the California will out gun and out handle the Maser and is also a Ferrari! That said, the Maser is far more practical in that you can fit real people in the back with their luggage in the boot and go off to Italy for 2 weeks as I am doing on Friday!! it cruises effortlessly on the motorways but when you get to your destination you can unload all the luggage and family and then take it out to play where it will be as much fun as, if not so fast as, the California. It also has the best sound of pretty much anything on the road, the California doesn't even come close in that respect.
I cannot understand why there aren't more GT Sports on the road, they are a really special car that delivers on so many different levels. The California is also a wonderful car, there is really no "wrong" answer to this, but for me it does not have the same appeal. Now if you were considering a Ferrari FF.........
I cannot understand why there aren't more GT Sports on the road, they are a really special car that delivers on so many different levels. The California is also a wonderful car, there is really no "wrong" answer to this, but for me it does not have the same appeal. Now if you were considering a Ferrari FF.........
The GranTurismo is a wonderful practical reasonable to run car. The California however is another level. I recommend you have a drive in one if you haven't already. A very different (read special) experience.
I do have a strong soft sport for the GranTurismo. The MC Shift in particular.
Residual Cali values only going one way at the moment though... Up.
I do have a strong soft sport for the GranTurismo. The MC Shift in particular.
Residual Cali values only going one way at the moment though... Up.
Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the replies, I test drove the California today which I found to be awesome, I do love the 355 and know that I will regret it in the long term as the prices are only going one way, I have had so much fun in it taking it to Monza for the GP in 2014 and to the Mille Miglia earlier this year, the Granturismo for me is brilliant, but as an earlier response said "do you want to live with 2 Italian thoroughbreds" Not really!!!
So I have decided to push the button and am offloading the 355 this Friday to a dealer who was sniffing around it and then will start the search for a California, hopefully in time to get some summer use from it.
I would have gone for the Grancabrio which i found also to be awesome (for me not quite as good as the California)but not enough to justify the £40-£50K difference in price, but it has no boot space and the main use my cars get are on trips to Europe.
Thanks once again for all the replies, I will post some pictures once I have found the right car.
Drive safely!!!
Thanks for all the replies, I test drove the California today which I found to be awesome, I do love the 355 and know that I will regret it in the long term as the prices are only going one way, I have had so much fun in it taking it to Monza for the GP in 2014 and to the Mille Miglia earlier this year, the Granturismo for me is brilliant, but as an earlier response said "do you want to live with 2 Italian thoroughbreds" Not really!!!
So I have decided to push the button and am offloading the 355 this Friday to a dealer who was sniffing around it and then will start the search for a California, hopefully in time to get some summer use from it.
I would have gone for the Grancabrio which i found also to be awesome (for me not quite as good as the California)but not enough to justify the £40-£50K difference in price, but it has no boot space and the main use my cars get are on trips to Europe.
Thanks once again for all the replies, I will post some pictures once I have found the right car.
Drive safely!!!
qwerty21 said:
Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the replies, I test drove the California today which I found to be awesome, I do love the 355 and know that I will regret it in the long term as the prices are only going one way, I have had so much fun in it taking it to Monza for the GP in 2014 and to the Mille Miglia earlier this year, the Granturismo for me is brilliant, but as an earlier response said "do you want to live with 2 Italian thoroughbreds" Not really!!!
So I have decided to push the button and am offloading the 355 this Friday to a dealer who was sniffing around it and then will start the search for a California, hopefully in time to get some summer use from it.
I would have gone for the Grancabrio which i found also to be awesome (for me not quite as good as the California)but not enough to justify the £40-£50K difference in price, but it has no boot space and the main use my cars get are on trips to Europe.
Thanks once again for all the replies, I will post some pictures once I have found the right car.
Drive safely!!!
Just out of curiosity, can you give a ball-park you are getting for your 355? I have been looking for a while now, seen half a dozen over the last few weeks and just can't believe some of the prices out there! Just need to know the 'real-world' price.Thanks for all the replies, I test drove the California today which I found to be awesome, I do love the 355 and know that I will regret it in the long term as the prices are only going one way, I have had so much fun in it taking it to Monza for the GP in 2014 and to the Mille Miglia earlier this year, the Granturismo for me is brilliant, but as an earlier response said "do you want to live with 2 Italian thoroughbreds" Not really!!!
So I have decided to push the button and am offloading the 355 this Friday to a dealer who was sniffing around it and then will start the search for a California, hopefully in time to get some summer use from it.
I would have gone for the Grancabrio which i found also to be awesome (for me not quite as good as the California)but not enough to justify the £40-£50K difference in price, but it has no boot space and the main use my cars get are on trips to Europe.
Thanks once again for all the replies, I will post some pictures once I have found the right car.
Drive safely!!!
Hi all,
The 355 has now gone,very sad to see it go especially as the prices are going up!!! But as I explained earlier the most use it got was on European trips with some days being in the car for 10+ hours, it was great fun just way too uncomfortable for me,
Previous poster asked what it sold for ball part figure!! 65-70k, but it needed butresses sorted,front spoiler had a number of stone chips which needed painting, service and an MOT, I reckon the auctions will give you a guide as to the price of these cars, but for a well looked after average mileage 355 in decent condition you will be looking i think around £80k, excluding the garage queens with hardly any mileage which i have seen advertised at well into six figures.
The 355 has now gone,very sad to see it go especially as the prices are going up!!! But as I explained earlier the most use it got was on European trips with some days being in the car for 10+ hours, it was great fun just way too uncomfortable for me,
Previous poster asked what it sold for ball part figure!! 65-70k, but it needed butresses sorted,front spoiler had a number of stone chips which needed painting, service and an MOT, I reckon the auctions will give you a guide as to the price of these cars, but for a well looked after average mileage 355 in decent condition you will be looking i think around £80k, excluding the garage queens with hardly any mileage which i have seen advertised at well into six figures.
Keep the 355, values are still heading north and will continue to do so.
On the subject of a GT, the preferred engine and noise combo comes from the latter 4.7 block with active oval exhaust. 47's are a little more expensive to get into however you won't regret it. I just sold my Maserati QP GTS to buy a 612 HSTC One to One and the QP was great. No issues in the 16 months I owned the car and what a noise!
As a second occasional car I'm going old school with an Aero 8, may even take a punt on the new one for 2016.
Good luck with the decision.
Charly Sparrow
On the subject of a GT, the preferred engine and noise combo comes from the latter 4.7 block with active oval exhaust. 47's are a little more expensive to get into however you won't regret it. I just sold my Maserati QP GTS to buy a 612 HSTC One to One and the QP was great. No issues in the 16 months I owned the car and what a noise!
As a second occasional car I'm going old school with an Aero 8, may even take a punt on the new one for 2016.
Good luck with the decision.
Charly Sparrow
Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff