Ferrari 360 Spider
Discussion
I thought I d do a post on my latest car, and see if I can keep on top of it as some kind of car diary.
2001 360 Spider, in Rosso with Crema, some very rare carbon racing seats, and importantly for me - with the manual gearbox. It had done 33k miles when I bought it, and had plenty of service history (a whole box of paperwork and a model of the car came with it).
I hadn t specifically been looking for a 360, but only because ones I d tried before with the regular seats had been too tight for the legroom, and I felt I was sitting on the car, rather than in it. Other options had been a McLaren 600lt (couldn t find the right one, and my ownership of my 570s had sadly lived up to some of the horror stories that you hear about the brand), or a Ferrari 355 Spider (even tighter inside than the 360, which meant that going for the F1 was my only option). I d arranged to see a couple of 355s the same week that the advert for my car came up.
As soon as I went to see this car I knew it was the right one for me. It is in fantastic condition for the age, and the seats are incredible - I am actually a good fit behind the wheel now, and they are comfortable but provide great support. I also think the seats look brilliant.
In the month or so that I ve owned it I ve managed to put on a few hundred miles. Being honest, I didn t fall in love with the drive straight away. Collection day involved a lot of traffic, and then a torrential downpour on the motorway. The very old tyres made the car feel nervous. However, a new set of tyres later, and plenty of fun drives out in the car, and I love it! The car feels old - but to me that s a good thing. It is a very different experience to some of my more recent cars (California and 570s), but does remind me in a few ways of my TVR Tuscans. The car has more than enough power to enjoy on the roads, and because it feels more classic, I don t feel the need to drive at ten tenths like I did in the McLaren.
I have just ordered a Capristo exhaust for the car. The standard exhaust makes a great noise above 4k rpm, but it is oddly quiet below that. As this is purely a car to drive for fun, I might as well hear more of that V8! I will try to post some clips when the Capristo is fitted!
2001 360 Spider, in Rosso with Crema, some very rare carbon racing seats, and importantly for me - with the manual gearbox. It had done 33k miles when I bought it, and had plenty of service history (a whole box of paperwork and a model of the car came with it).
I hadn t specifically been looking for a 360, but only because ones I d tried before with the regular seats had been too tight for the legroom, and I felt I was sitting on the car, rather than in it. Other options had been a McLaren 600lt (couldn t find the right one, and my ownership of my 570s had sadly lived up to some of the horror stories that you hear about the brand), or a Ferrari 355 Spider (even tighter inside than the 360, which meant that going for the F1 was my only option). I d arranged to see a couple of 355s the same week that the advert for my car came up.
As soon as I went to see this car I knew it was the right one for me. It is in fantastic condition for the age, and the seats are incredible - I am actually a good fit behind the wheel now, and they are comfortable but provide great support. I also think the seats look brilliant.
In the month or so that I ve owned it I ve managed to put on a few hundred miles. Being honest, I didn t fall in love with the drive straight away. Collection day involved a lot of traffic, and then a torrential downpour on the motorway. The very old tyres made the car feel nervous. However, a new set of tyres later, and plenty of fun drives out in the car, and I love it! The car feels old - but to me that s a good thing. It is a very different experience to some of my more recent cars (California and 570s), but does remind me in a few ways of my TVR Tuscans. The car has more than enough power to enjoy on the roads, and because it feels more classic, I don t feel the need to drive at ten tenths like I did in the McLaren.
I have just ordered a Capristo exhaust for the car. The standard exhaust makes a great noise above 4k rpm, but it is oddly quiet below that. As this is purely a car to drive for fun, I might as well hear more of that V8! I will try to post some clips when the Capristo is fitted!
Edited by ollyh1988 on Wednesday 11th March 15:19
NDA said:
Brings back memories - a good friend of mine had one when they were first launched. I didn't think Ferrari could make a better car - it just seemed 'peak' Ferrari at the time. Very beautiful. Enjoy! 
I think that’s part of the reason I wanted a red and cream one - a friend’s neighbour had one back when they were new, and I remember staring at it across the road whenever I was at his house. It feels crazy to actually have one now! ollyh1988 said:
I really hope so. I nearly went for a Challenge Stradale exhaust but like the fact the Capristo has the valve controller to quieten it down when needed.
I was only saying to a mate at the weekend that now I have had a switchable exhaust I wouldn't go back to one without. Never realised I needed one as I thought I was happy for a constant noise, but the ability to mute it on longer or dull motorway runs is a godsend. Crucially, the car seat fits!
The bucket seats are just wide enough to be a perfect fit for the car seat. I m not sure how many will be interested, but for me I had to make sure the car would be able to take my daughter (petrol head in the making). It is one of the reasons I ruled out the 600lt bucket seats - way too narrow!
The bucket seats are just wide enough to be a perfect fit for the car seat. I m not sure how many will be interested, but for me I had to make sure the car would be able to take my daughter (petrol head in the making). It is one of the reasons I ruled out the 600lt bucket seats - way too narrow!
Edited by ollyh1988 on Wednesday 11th March 17:56
TheJimi said:
I bloody love the 360, especially in Spider guise 
If it was me though, I'd change the wheels for CS versions.
Potentially an option, but at the moment I m really liking the clean design of the 5 spokes. If I added the CS wheels I feel like I d want the CS body kit but that is probably a step too far.If it was me though, I'd change the wheels for CS versions.
Congratulations on the purchase of a fantastic looking 360 with a wonderful spec. For me this was one of my many poster cars as a child. The seats look interesting, I don’t recall having seen them before.
Enjoy the 360 as much as you can, perfect purchase time now that, hopefully, the weather is on the turn.
ollyh1988 said:
Crucially, the car seat fits!
The bucket seats are just wide enough to be a perfect fit for the car seat. I m not sure how many will be interested, but for me I had to make sure the car would be able to take my daughter (petrol head in the making). It is one of the reasons I ruled out the 600lt bucket seats - way too narrow!
I am interested! How old is your daughter and what seat is that? I’ve currently got a Graco in the front of my [cough]MX5[cough] and at 2, I think she might need something a bit more compact. Out of interest, does the 360 have a passenger airbag off switch? The bucket seats are just wide enough to be a perfect fit for the car seat. I m not sure how many will be interested, but for me I had to make sure the car would be able to take my daughter (petrol head in the making). It is one of the reasons I ruled out the 600lt bucket seats - way too narrow!
Enjoy the 360 as much as you can, perfect purchase time now that, hopefully, the weather is on the turn.
OGDB said:
I am interested! How old is your daughter and what seat is that? I ve currently got a Graco in the front of my [cough]MX5[cough] and at 2, I think she might need something a bit more compact. Out of interest, does the 360 have a passenger airbag off switch?
Enjoy the 360 as much as you can, perfect purchase time now that, hopefully, the weather is on the turn.
Thanks. I had a Graco when we had the California - sadly her legs outgrew the rear seats. She is only 5, but very tall. That’s why I was happy to go back to 2 seats, as we just weren’t using the rear seats much. Enjoy the 360 as much as you can, perfect purchase time now that, hopefully, the weather is on the turn.
Not sure about the airbag, will check next time I go in the garage. But with a baby due any day now, I’m not sure I’ll be putting them in the 360!
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