Discussion
I've been looking on autotrader at Ferrari's. They reference the 355 in two different ways, F355 and 355. What's the F mean? Is just Ferrari?
I am very interested in 355's at about the 50k mark. I don't want a left hooker though.
What would be the best model to look at? Am I kidding myself with the 50k for a good one?
Should I perhaps look at a differnt model?
I know these question have been all asked before, but I am interested in purchasing a car for about 50k and there are that many that I like, I'm finding it hard to narrow my search down.
Noble's, TVR's, Porsche's what do you do?
I'm going to spend some time trying each but would love some more background information about Ferrari's, so I at least look like I know what I'm talking about when I test drive one.
Cheers
The GMan
I am very interested in 355's at about the 50k mark. I don't want a left hooker though.
What would be the best model to look at? Am I kidding myself with the 50k for a good one?
Should I perhaps look at a differnt model?
I know these question have been all asked before, but I am interested in purchasing a car for about 50k and there are that many that I like, I'm finding it hard to narrow my search down.
Noble's, TVR's, Porsche's what do you do?
I'm going to spend some time trying each but would love some more background information about Ferrari's, so I at least look like I know what I'm talking about when I test drive one.
Cheers
The GMan
I am very interested in 355's at about the 50k mark. I don't want a left hooker though.
What would be the best model to look at? Am I kidding myself with the 50k for a good one?
Should I perhaps look at a differnt model?
The GMan
You will be able to find good F355s at the 50K mark. I know because I've been looking- take a look at Verdi or Kent High Performance for cars in this range. F355s look fantastic and they sound great (my head is still fcuked after driving Ninjas). The interior is looking a little dated now (note interior design changed quite a lot over the production period) and it won't feel terribly quick unless you're revving the tits off it.
It's a general rule to go for as late as possible, and at this price point you will be in early 94/95 cars with low or medium miles, or later cars 96, 97 etc with medium (10-24k) to high miles. What I would suggest is that you talk to Ajay, who's in charge of the "Sports Car Management" side of Scuderia Systems. Several of us on here use them, and it's saved us costly mistakes and/or saved us money. I'll give you three guesses as to who I've had looking for a 355 for me....
Kev
If you're a Ferrari nut, the 355 is a great car to own. If it's been a dream to own a Ferrari, you won't be disappointed.
However, my view on this was that I didn't want the dream to be sullied a couple of months after purchase by having a stonking bill to foot.
As a result, I wanted a car that had a decent warranty. After a lot of asking around, that really meant a Power warranty. These can only go on cars newer than 6yrs old. And that, IME, means you'll be pushed to find one at 50k.
You can get the Formula warranty on cars up to 15yrs old, but that has a single claim limit of 10k (maybe 15k). If the engine goes pop, and takes out some other items with it (say the gearbox somehow - perhaps not likely, but when you're revving the engine to close to 9krpm, your mind will wonder!), then your wallet's going to hurt.
No matter how cheap an older car was (I've seen some 355s at the 40k mark), I simply wouldn't have been comfortable driving it properly whilst thinking all the time that it could cost me dear.
I considered older Ferraris (including stuff like 328s, Daytonas etc), but my size and/or the potential running costs scared me off (though one day I will own a 250GT SWB
). The 355 is not only beautiful to look at and sounds great, but is also (when you ask around) deemed to be pretty reliable.
The interior is very simple and subdued, but none the worse for it apart from the crap airbag steering wheel on later cars. Don't rule out one with a cream interior and burgundy carpets - the thought of it made me ill initially, but when I saw one like this...I bought it.
Last point - I'm a car nut and like you love a lot of different motors. BUT, a Ferrari being attainable meant that the others were simply not options. The dream could be realised.
If you're seriously considering the other metal (perhaps for reasons of running costs etc), then keep thinking about the whole purchasing thing very carefully.
My car's been no trouble (touch wood), but any Ferrari will cost more than most cars to run and could leave you crying into your beer if the worst happens. It'd be a mistake (in my view) to go into it without your eyes 100% open.
I think what I'm saying is that the Ferrari is the choice of the heart. A Noble will be much quicker in real terms (as is a Caterham 7 mind!!), the Porsche options may be better built and TVRs might have more funky design touches. But the Ferrari has that added something that's hard to define, but if you "get it", then you won't be disappointed.
However, my view on this was that I didn't want the dream to be sullied a couple of months after purchase by having a stonking bill to foot.
As a result, I wanted a car that had a decent warranty. After a lot of asking around, that really meant a Power warranty. These can only go on cars newer than 6yrs old. And that, IME, means you'll be pushed to find one at 50k.
You can get the Formula warranty on cars up to 15yrs old, but that has a single claim limit of 10k (maybe 15k). If the engine goes pop, and takes out some other items with it (say the gearbox somehow - perhaps not likely, but when you're revving the engine to close to 9krpm, your mind will wonder!), then your wallet's going to hurt.
No matter how cheap an older car was (I've seen some 355s at the 40k mark), I simply wouldn't have been comfortable driving it properly whilst thinking all the time that it could cost me dear.
I considered older Ferraris (including stuff like 328s, Daytonas etc), but my size and/or the potential running costs scared me off (though one day I will own a 250GT SWB
). The 355 is not only beautiful to look at and sounds great, but is also (when you ask around) deemed to be pretty reliable. The interior is very simple and subdued, but none the worse for it apart from the crap airbag steering wheel on later cars. Don't rule out one with a cream interior and burgundy carpets - the thought of it made me ill initially, but when I saw one like this...I bought it.
Last point - I'm a car nut and like you love a lot of different motors. BUT, a Ferrari being attainable meant that the others were simply not options. The dream could be realised.
If you're seriously considering the other metal (perhaps for reasons of running costs etc), then keep thinking about the whole purchasing thing very carefully.
My car's been no trouble (touch wood), but any Ferrari will cost more than most cars to run and could leave you crying into your beer if the worst happens. It'd be a mistake (in my view) to go into it without your eyes 100% open.
I think what I'm saying is that the Ferrari is the choice of the heart. A Noble will be much quicker in real terms (as is a Caterham 7 mind!!), the Porsche options may be better built and TVRs might have more funky design touches. But the Ferrari has that added something that's hard to define, but if you "get it", then you won't be disappointed.
PS Which model? Depends what you want from a car.
I went for the GTB as to my eyes the lines are that bit more pure and the car as a whole is that bit better looking.
GTS' actually aren't far off in this respect with the roof colour coded (not sure if this was optional), but I also didn't need another open car. And it's hard for me to believe that you don't lose something in either rigidity or performance.
Spiders are lovely cars but I don't really like the way they look wit the roof up (i.e. most of the time in the UK). And I didn't need another open car. Same thing goes on rigidity (note that I'm not conviced the GTB is the most rigid car on the road) and performance too.
So an easy decision for me.
I went for the GTB as to my eyes the lines are that bit more pure and the car as a whole is that bit better looking.
GTS' actually aren't far off in this respect with the roof colour coded (not sure if this was optional), but I also didn't need another open car. And it's hard for me to believe that you don't lose something in either rigidity or performance.
Spiders are lovely cars but I don't really like the way they look wit the roof up (i.e. most of the time in the UK). And I didn't need another open car. Same thing goes on rigidity (note that I'm not conviced the GTB is the most rigid car on the road) and performance too.
So an easy decision for me.
Maybe yours is a myth, perpetuated by dealers who want to sell you a later model, or owners trying to justify their purchase ? (just ribbing you)
Thats a myth about the 5.2 Boschtronic (later F355)being under power compared to 2.7 (earlier F355.
Thats what I have been told by Ferrari UK and other owners.
I've heard the 2.7/5.2 difference from various sources. In particular, Damax who are well known for preparing F355s for races claim the 5.2 (and related induction differences) really chokes the car, robbing it of power.
Indeed the 1998(R) F355 I had (with 5.2) felt noticeably slower than the 1995 plate F355 I had test driven weeks earlier.
>> Edited by GT2man-2 on Friday 13th June 13:09
There is a power difference between the two. And having driven an earlier model recently one after the other with mine, t feels more driveable at the lower end of the revs, IMO. But, from driving it, and what I've heard, its no way near as much as what you claim (30BHP?). Ferrari themselves claim 5bhp difference.
ninja_eli said:
There is a power difference between the two. And having driven an earlier model recently one after the other with mine, t feels more driveable at the lower end of the revs, IMO. But, from driving it, and what I've heard, its no way near as much as what you claim (30BHP?). Ferrari themselves claim 5bhp difference.
Bringing a thread back from the dead here! What is the accepted bhp difference believe to be then?
AdvocatusDiaboli said:
ninja_eli said:
There is a power difference between the two. And having driven an earlier model recently one after the other with mine, t feels more driveable at the lower end of the revs, IMO. But, from driving it, and what I've heard, its no way near as much as what you claim (30BHP?). Ferrari themselves claim 5bhp difference.
Bringing a thread back from the dead here! What is the accepted bhp difference believe to be then?
I have asked around but got little or no hard evidence, only guesswork and 'Ferrari says' so I'm none the wiser. IIRC A 5.2 made 317 on a PH dyno day and a lightly modded 2.7 made the claimed 380 and then some (on another dyno, posted on here somewhere??). DTMPower reckon the 5.2's only actually make 320 in reality - but are selling tuning packages so who knows.
There just isn't enough dyno data posted to generate sound statistics IMO.
Im looking to sell my 355 GTS manual 1998 S reg, Rosso Red with black and red carbon sports seats, 23500 miles FMDSH every year since new, just had full service and belts at Graypaul, Colour coded roof, red callipers, 4 new tyres in mint condition through out for £48995, just bought a spider, only reason for selling, they are great cars and im on my 3rd!!
Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff