355 or 360 for long term ownership ?

[phib]

At long long last I am in the lucy situation to buy either a 355 spider or a 360 spider, having now driven both they both have atributes that I like and I can't really choose between them.

Having changed cars every six months ish for the last 5 years bar my 911 I really want to buy something for long term ownership as I cant be bothered to keep changing cars and I don't really want anything bar a ferrari.

So assuming that you had had to keep one of the above for the next five - ten years which one would you choose and why ? Are there any major issues with either that might cost a fortune i.e. chassis work etc etc

The cars will be used as a third car and not tracked, I do like the 360 as its more modern but the 355 just looks classic just don't know !!

Thanks for any advice

Phib

[tony h]

355 gtb

[phib]

Has to be a spider I am afraid even though I realise there are roof issues with both !!

[pdavison]

F355 for me, but it really is personal choice.

My personal view is the 360 will look dated way before the 355 as the 355 is considered to be a very classic looking Ferrari.

[tony h]

phib said:

Has to be a spider I am afraid even though I realise there are roof issues with both !!

355's much rarer and better looking but the issues i had with hood means i wouldnt buy another

[5 wh]

tony h said:

355 gtb

Same for me

[Paracetamol]

vote for 360- it moved the game on and wont rust!

[flattotheboards]

355.

[Murph7355]

phib said:

Has to be a spider I am afraid even though I realise there are roof issues with both !!

B is the Better Bet.

Do it

[jonny5]

I'd love to find a late mint low mileage 355 in Rosso with Crema Sports Seats, manual and factory scuderia shields. This car I would keep And i'd Capristo Decat it

Edited by jonny5 on Wednesday 24th October 00:06

[jo5eph]

It has to be the 360, the 355 just looks too eighties imo despite being a 90's car

[phib]

Jonny 5 said

"I'd love to find a late mint low mileage 355 in Rosso with Crema Sports Seats, manual and factory scuderia shields. This car I would keep And i'd Capristo Decat it"

Exactly what I am thinking of

Re the rust comments on 355's and 360' what did they do differently to stop the rust ?

Thanks
Phib

[GreigM]

360 has an aluminium chassis which apart from the rust issue enabled it to be significantly stiffer and lighter (360 weighs less than a 355).

[phib]

Are the body pannels dipped or zinc coated or whatever they do to stop them rusting ?

A couple of the 355's I have looked have had rust on the front wings which dosent fill me with confidence, I am not sure this is normal or just baddly looked after ?

[neil-f]

F355 will rust if not looked after or if used in winter and not cleaned down after use.
360 can have issues with the aluminium seem welds joining the panels my local bodyshop makes a good living out of doing this work for Lancasters.
When I have visited this bodyshop and have seen F355's & 360's with the front/rear bumpers removed it is amazing at the corrossion on all the nuts bolts and pipe work etc ( mostly these are cars I see out all year round)thats why mine is a garage queen in winter.
When I bought my F355GTS I had the buttress joints repaired and after lots of track days and 4 years they never cracked again.

[Jules360]

Mine cracked and rusted every 6 months. Got so fed up with it, i sold it.

[habitualvoyeur]

5 wh said:

tony h said:

355 gtb

Same for me

I'm also considering this.....
I want a solid roof.....
Whats the "B" got the other 355's haven't ???
There appear to be a lot more 360's about than 355's, so more choice ??
I see there are 360's in the classifieds now for less than £50k,
so the price differential is getting smaller.
Presumably the depreciation on the 360's will level off once they reach the 30-40k bracket ??
Regards Neil

[5 wh]

habitualvoyeur said:

5 wh said:

tony h said:

355 gtb

Same for me

I'm also considering this.....
I want a solid roof.....
Whats the "B" got the other 355's haven't ???
There appear to be a lot more 360's about than 355's, so more choice ??
I see there are 360's in the classifieds now for less than £50k,
so the price differential is getting smaller.
Presumably the depreciation on the 360's will level off once they reach the 30-40k bracket ??
Regards Neil

The berlinetta has less potential problems than the ones with detachable roofs (leaks,seals,problems with the complicated mechanism(spider))Its considered by some to be the 'purest' uncomplicated version of the 355.

[jshell]

Pop-up headlights, just couldn't buy a car with pop-up's. Love the 355 and the 456 even, but the headlights are the killer....soooo 80's!

[habitualvoyeur]

jshell said:

Pop-up headlights, just couldn't buy a car with pop-up's. Love the 355 and the 456 even, but the headlights are the killer....soooo 80's!

Sooo 70's probably ??

I love the "see through" engine cover and the venturi tunnels on the 360.
But isn't the handling supposed to be a bit more "hairy" ?