F355 Berlinetta - Questions
Discussion
Howdy Guys and Gals,
I currently own a 4 litre Chimaera and have been looking at upgrading to a Saggy or Tuscan 2 4.0S...
So why are you on this forum I hear you all scream?....Well....
With the way TVR is at the moment it has got me looking around at what else is out there!....Hence I came across an absolutely stunning 1995 F355 Berlinetta in Giallo Modena with black wheels. It is spotless, done 43k and is approx £35K
.
Basically I need to know what to look out for in owning a fezzer, what are the pitfuls and running costs, how are the residuals on these cars? (owning a TVR I am no stranger to having a fighting fund!), typical Service costs. This will be a second car so would look to be doing around 4-6k miles a year.
Any help would be greatly appreciated..I look forward to joining the fold...
Regards,
Deano
I currently own a 4 litre Chimaera and have been looking at upgrading to a Saggy or Tuscan 2 4.0S...
So why are you on this forum I hear you all scream?....Well....With the way TVR is at the moment it has got me looking around at what else is out there!....Hence I came across an absolutely stunning 1995 F355 Berlinetta in Giallo Modena with black wheels. It is spotless, done 43k and is approx £35K
.Basically I need to know what to look out for in owning a fezzer, what are the pitfuls and running costs, how are the residuals on these cars? (owning a TVR I am no stranger to having a fighting fund!), typical Service costs. This will be a second car so would look to be doing around 4-6k miles a year.
Any help would be greatly appreciated..I look forward to joining the fold...
Regards,
Deano
Steve,
Check this out..
http://ww6.ukwebsites.net/vehicle-details.asp?new=...
May not be everyones cup of earl gray....But I think its stunning..
Regards,
Deano
Check this out..
http://ww6.ukwebsites.net/vehicle-details.asp?new=...
May not be everyones cup of earl gray....But I think its stunning..
Regards,
Deano
Sorry but check this previous thread
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
edited - tidy link
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
edited - tidy link
Edited by Feldspar on Wednesday 27th June 21:58
Olie,
I know what your saying, which makes it all the stranger when absolutely everyone so far that I spoke to has said the same thing....Its stunning....
On an emotional level I want it like yesterday but I need to find out what its like to use, I do not fancy a car thats always overheating or needing to be tended in a garage for this and that...Being a TVR fan I have had my fair share of this...I am also a car enthusiast so I do not mind niggles but I want to enjoy the car without fear of it breaking down everytime I take it out...
Deano...
I know what your saying, which makes it all the stranger when absolutely everyone so far that I spoke to has said the same thing....Its stunning....
On an emotional level I want it like yesterday but I need to find out what its like to use, I do not fancy a car thats always overheating or needing to be tended in a garage for this and that...Being a TVR fan I have had my fair share of this...I am also a car enthusiast so I do not mind niggles but I want to enjoy the car without fear of it breaking down everytime I take it out...
Deano...
Deano,
I know what your saying (cant say from previous experiences). Ferraris are not known for thier reliability but my god its sweet. I cant give you any advice lol because im looking for a 1.2 16v (must add) Corsa. lol. Little way to go before a Ferrari m8.
Anyways if you do get it, feel free to pop down to West Parley anytime.
Olie
I know what your saying (cant say from previous experiences). Ferraris are not known for thier reliability but my god its sweet. I cant give you any advice lol because im looking for a 1.2 16v (must add) Corsa. lol. Little way to go before a Ferrari m8.
Anyways if you do get it, feel free to pop down to West Parley anytime.
Olie
Deano 4.0 Chimp said:
Tony.....
Sorry have no Idea where David came from.....
Thanks anyway..
Deano
When you say you want to upgrade, are you expecting the 355 to be much faster than you Chimp? Although the 355 is certainly a fantastic car in nearly all aspects (apart from some of the running costs/common issues!) I doubt it will be noticably faster than your Chimpy.Sorry have no Idea where David came from.....
Thanks anyway..
Deano
Ade,
Yeah when checking out the specs of the F355 against the chimp, they are very comparable in 0-60 times although whereas the 4.0L chimp tops out at around 150mph the Fezza goes on to 180mph if I am not mistaken....But I still think a fezza to a TVR can be classed as an upgrade....
The Sagaris is a beast and is gorgeous but the SP6 engine is notorious for having to be rebuilt every 15k-20k miles plus with TVR not producing anything then spare parts for the newer cars are not so good. I have heard of a T350 owner having his car off the road for the last two months or so because he cannot find anywhere for a replacement window....I am sure if you had the correct template you could have one made...but still a pain...
On a little more reading it seems that the F355 is a pretty reliable machine, known issue with the manifold and valve guides, cambelt being changed every 3 years I think are the major parts. Please correct me if there are more as this is the whole idea of the thread....Should I take the plunge??
After reading about Richard Lukins (what a piece of work) I believe I will just go for a nice F355 Spider (in red)
Deano
Yeah when checking out the specs of the F355 against the chimp, they are very comparable in 0-60 times although whereas the 4.0L chimp tops out at around 150mph the Fezza goes on to 180mph if I am not mistaken....But I still think a fezza to a TVR can be classed as an upgrade....
The Sagaris is a beast and is gorgeous but the SP6 engine is notorious for having to be rebuilt every 15k-20k miles plus with TVR not producing anything then spare parts for the newer cars are not so good. I have heard of a T350 owner having his car off the road for the last two months or so because he cannot find anywhere for a replacement window....I am sure if you had the correct template you could have one made...but still a pain...
On a little more reading it seems that the F355 is a pretty reliable machine, known issue with the manifold and valve guides, cambelt being changed every 3 years I think are the major parts. Please correct me if there are more as this is the whole idea of the thread....Should I take the plunge??
After reading about Richard Lukins (what a piece of work) I believe I will just go for a nice F355 Spider (in red)
Deano
The link Tony sent you has all the common issues to look out for (there are lots of them!!). As long as you get the car inspected and look out for this issues, then you will be fine.
Where you will have a problem is if you naively go and buy one without reading every word on the website that Tony has linked to. Seriously, no exaggeration, read the lot.
I personally would not class the 355 as a VERY reliable car, its not bad... but not great on the reliability side of things. I was left stranded 6 or 7 times over 20,000 miles in mine.
Nearly everyone will be let down by either the clutch release bearing, overheating and coolant leaks, valve guides, fire, ECUs faulty and shutting down one bank etc etc or some other critical issue at some stage. Unless you buy a peach of a car. Yeah the other stuff you can drive the car still (manifolds going, suspension actuators failing etc etc) but it still costs to fix.
BUT that is not to say it is not worth it. I loved every second in my 355 and would have another one in a heart beat!
Where you will have a problem is if you naively go and buy one without reading every word on the website that Tony has linked to. Seriously, no exaggeration, read the lot.
I personally would not class the 355 as a VERY reliable car, its not bad... but not great on the reliability side of things. I was left stranded 6 or 7 times over 20,000 miles in mine.
Nearly everyone will be let down by either the clutch release bearing, overheating and coolant leaks, valve guides, fire, ECUs faulty and shutting down one bank etc etc or some other critical issue at some stage. Unless you buy a peach of a car. Yeah the other stuff you can drive the car still (manifolds going, suspension actuators failing etc etc) but it still costs to fix.
BUT that is not to say it is not worth it. I loved every second in my 355 and would have another one in a heart beat!
Also do a search on www.clubscuderia.co.uk
Plenty of hints and tips on there.
You are doing a wise thing avoiding RL.
Plenty of hints and tips on there.
You are doing a wise thing avoiding RL.
As has been said above ... do not go anywhere near the ex-owner of a certain sales house mentioned on a certain other thread. A lot of people have lost a lot of money.
A shame because there seems to be some nice cars there, albeit some very expensive ones.
As for Chimaera performance versus F355 performance ... take the books, rip them into little pieces, and when you drive the 355 and see how it absolutely leaves the Chim for dead in the way it goes and handles, you will understand.
I went from a good Griff 500 to a 348 Spider ... the Griff couldn't hold a candle to the Ferrari, even though some optimistic book or other said that it should.
I now have another Griff 500 (following a spell with a 911), and have just sold it after 5 months to do what i should have done in the first place ... go back to Ferrari.
Go for it, but make absolutely sure you get a good one
A shame because there seems to be some nice cars there, albeit some very expensive ones.
As for Chimaera performance versus F355 performance ... take the books, rip them into little pieces, and when you drive the 355 and see how it absolutely leaves the Chim for dead in the way it goes and handles, you will understand.
I went from a good Griff 500 to a 348 Spider ... the Griff couldn't hold a candle to the Ferrari, even though some optimistic book or other said that it should.
I now have another Griff 500 (following a spell with a 911), and have just sold it after 5 months to do what i should have done in the first place ... go back to Ferrari.
Go for it, but make absolutely sure you get a good one
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