Does the 360 look gawky-eyed?

[Mark_Blanchard]

I read the Pistonheads Expert Opinion and it describes the 360 as having a "gawky-eyed thin-lipped face . . a bit lizard-like from some angles."

Do you think this is a fair description of the 360 or has it started to age better now and it's time Pistonhead heads revise this description?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/ferrari/360

[Hoofy]

It might still be their opinion but that doesn't matter, does it?

I think the shape has grown on me. The reason why it took ages is probably because (1) it doesn't have a mouth (2) it has holes in the haunches. Both things are for practical/design reasons but it did make it harder for me to appreciate the overall design. The indented wheels add to the slightly awkward design. However, when I understood the point of these 3 decisions, I began to appreciate the car as a whole - it's a modern interpretation of a 1960s Ferrari.

[Batfoy]

Mark_Blanchard said:

I read the Pistonheads Expert Opinion and it describes the 360 as having a "gawky-eyed thin-lipped face . . a bit lizard-like from some angles."

Do you think this is a fair description of the 360 or has it started to age better now and it's time Pistonhead heads revise this description?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/ferrari/360

It's a funny one, I've never really liked the front of the 360 mostly because of the headlights. I just think they look 'blobby.' However, once behind the wheel and pressing on, anyone driving a 360 won't care what anyone else thinks, they'll just be revelling in the experience. I know this because I have an F430, a car that seems to polarise opinion more than any other.

[Hoofy]

Batfoy said:

Mark_Blanchard said:

I read the Pistonheads Expert Opinion and it describes the 360 as having a "gawky-eyed thin-lipped face . . a bit lizard-like from some angles."

Do you think this is a fair description of the 360 or has it started to age better now and it's time Pistonhead heads revise this description?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/ferrari/360

It's a funny one, I've never really liked the front of the 360 mostly because of the headlights. I just think they look 'blobby.' However, once behind the wheel and pressing on, anyone driving a 360 won't care what anyone else thinks, they'll just be revelling in the experience. I know this because I have an F430, a car that seems to polarise opinion more than any other.

I feel like I'm reading about the 996.

As for the F430, really? I didn't know that. I imagined it was a dramatic improvement in every way making it more modern on all fronts? Are people criticising the lights? (I guess they were quite new at the time across car design.)

[Batfoy]

Hoofy said:

I feel like I'm reading about the 996.

As for the F430, really? I didn't know that. I imagined it was a dramatic improvement in every way making it more modern on all fronts? Are people criticising the lights? (I guess they were quite new at the time across car design.)

Lol, the 996 - of course! They really weren't very pretty.

I think my comment was more aimed at the whole design of the F430 which seems to be either yes or no. People either love the design cues to the Enzo and the Sharknose or hate it because it's not cohesive. I'll be the first to admit the it's not the prettiest Ferrari but when I'm out on a hoon I really don't care how it looks, it's just an absolute riot of fun.

I suspect any 360 owner will feel the same. I personally think the 360 headlights are a weak spot in the design although I've never heard it being called lizard-like which is kind of funny. In answer to the OP's question, I think yes, that description is a bit off the wall and needs updating.

[Quickmoose]

Elements of flat-fish to me the 360, that doesn't stop it being a damn fine bit of design overall.

[Olivera]

Hoofy said:

The indented wheels add to the slightly awkward design.

I quite like how the 360 looks, particularly the rear. However I've always found the factory wheel offset looks pants - hard to show in pictures but in person it's obvious.

[Hoofy]

Batfoy said:

Hoofy said:

I feel like I'm reading about the 996.

As for the F430, really? I didn't know that. I imagined it was a dramatic improvement in every way making it more modern on all fronts? Are people criticising the lights? (I guess they were quite new at the time across car design.)

Lol, the 996 - of course! They really weren't very pretty.

I think my comment was more aimed at the whole design of the F430 which seems to be either yes or no. People either love the design cues to the Enzo and the Sharknose or hate it because it's not cohesive. I'll be the first to admit the it's not the prettiest Ferrari but when I'm out on a hoon I really don't care how it looks, it's just an absolute riot of fun.

I suspect any 360 owner will feel the same. I personally think the 360 headlights are a weak spot in the design although I've never heard it being called lizard-like which is kind of funny. In answer to the OP's question, I think yes, that description is a bit off the wall and needs updating.

Ah, I suppose so. Again, I think the 430 design was a nod to the 1960s racers. As you say, there's a certain incoherence about the design which bugged me slightly but I suppose for me it's about understanding the design.

[blueg33]

Mark_Blanchard said:

I read the Pistonheads Expert Opinion and it describes the 360 as having a "gawky-eyed thin-lipped face . . a bit lizard-like from some angles."

Do you think this is a fair description of the 360 or has it started to age better now and it's time Pistonhead heads revise this description?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/ferrari/360

I don't agree



For me I wasn't that keen on the looks until about 10 years ago when I followed a yellow one for a few days on a road trip, since then to my eyes it has started to age very well, its a classic svelte shape that isn't messed up by lots of angles and storm trooper helmet styling.

[Mark_Blanchard]

Maybe the Pistonheads article was written 10 years ago when the 360 design was looking dated amongst the angular designs at the time (R8 facelift, Lamborghini Huracan).

I personally don't think the 360 looks gawky-eyed and thin-lipped. And if it looks like a lizard, then it's a nice looking lizard.

[Andy_67C]

Personally, I still think the 360 was one of the best looking 'modern' Ferrari's although it's completely subjective. Challenge Stradale is still a dream car for me. I think they nailed the proportions & the soundtrack.

[cholo]

I'm also in the camp of not liking the 360 when released, but it has grown on me so much to the point whereby i bought one last year.

I think one of the resons why it has grown on so many people (and wasn't generally as liked back then) was the fact it was so much different to what came before.

At the time it was such a departure from the pretty 355, but when you look at the general shape of the 360, it pretty much set the president for all mid engine v8 Ferrari's even up to today. I peronally think that there are some styling cues even with the 296 (i know it';s a v6), that can be traced back to the 360, that the 360 is still seen as a relatively modern design and fits will within the current modern supercar design fashions of today.

[matlotus]

Hi Mark

I always remember the first one I ever saw in the flesh, in the players car park at Southampton FC (The Dell) belonging to Kevin Davies. Everyone was milling around it looking at it. It was like an alien spaceship had just arrived, jaw dropping good looking.

Like a lot of cars, it’s a car that looks different (extraordinarily good looking) in the flesh as opposed to in a photo.

Mark_Blanchard said:

Maybe the Pistonheads article was written 10 years ago when the 360 design was looking dated amongst the angular designs at the time (R8 facelift, Lamborghini Huracan).

I personally don't think the 360 looks gawky-eyed and thin-lipped. And if it looks like a lizard, then it's a nice looking lizard.

[NigelTVR]

I love the 360, had mine around 3 years now and no desire to change yet. I do think it’s aged well, the sound is wonderful.

Edited by NigelTVR on Saturday 1st February 07:42

[MDL111]

When it was new I thought it looked "not great" compared to the 355. Then they launched the newer models and I started to think it looks great. The 430 is not a pretty car imo, although the Scuderia looks much much better than the base model. And then they started with these ugly elongated front lights - the 812 (I know not a V8) takes the cake on that with the stupid kink at the bottom. The 296 is the first one that looks good again imo after 2 decades of underwhelming designs. The 360 is also the last one with a small capacity engine and therefore the last V8 that sounds properly nice and raspy imo.

[Batfoy]

NigelTVR said:

I love the 360, had mine around 3 years now and no desire to change yet. I do think it’s aged well, the sound is wonderful.

Edited by NigelTVR on Saturday 1st February 07:42

That colour suits it really well, better than Rosso in my eyes!

[ratrod 2]

Batfoy said:

NigelTVR said:

I love the 360, had mine around 3 years now and no desire to change yet. I do think it’s aged well, the sound is wonderful.

Edited by NigelTVR on Saturday 1st February 07:42

That colour suits it really well, better than Rosso in my eyes!

Best colour by far if either on a 360 or 430 in my opinion,

Many Ferrari owners once they have had a red one ,usually their first Ferrari will

choose another colour for the next ones that come along, having had 2 in green, 2 gold , 3 white , 2 Rosso Rubino , 4 yellow,

3 in black and many in silver and various shades of blue plus even a brown one along with many in red .

With the exception of the F40 and 288 GTO's which for me look wrong in any other colour than red i do prefer

other colours , come to think of it the Testarossa does look stunning in the traditional red,