F355 Spider for tallish driver

[all2ofme]

Hi all,

I've narrowed down my search to a couple of cars, and before I get inspections done wanted to make sure that I'll actually fit in a 355 Spider!

I'm 6'2" and have driven two GTBs and a GTS (with the roof on, though). I'm hoping a 355 Spider (esp. with the roof down) won't be like the 328 GTS I've driven where I could choose to either see (head over the top of the windscreen), or to go into left-handers blind because of the rear-view mirror.

Anyone my size (long arms but short 32" legs) or local (London) and kind with something similar you could perch me in? Drinks furnished as thanks!

Regards,
Ben

[AndrewW-G]

One of the guys who posts on here is about 6'2" and is built like an outside privy with feet and he doesn’t seem to have any problems with his 355 spider

[F355GTS]

Ben

Sounds like you are the perfect shape for an early Ferrari, short legs and long arms. I'm 6', 31" legs, seat is all the way back for me but plenty of headroom. Happy for you to sit in mine if you want a trip out to the Reading area

[phib]

I am 5'11 32 inch legs and my 355 spider is a perfect fit.

Who is doing the inspection ? Only ask as there are very few decent indys that can do a good inspection.

Phib

[Mario149]

Ben, remember that you can also change the steering wheel and at the same time put a spacer in with the new boss. I did that with mine and it broughthe wheel a couple of centimetres closer to me improving the driving position a lot. New wheel also got rid of some of the steering lightness that some don't like on the 355

[all2ofme]

Phib - not sure yet. Possibly QV based on someone else's recommendation, but any of your advice greatly appreciated. South East preferred, unless travel's not an issue. It'd have to be someone who could visit the car rather than have it show up at theirs. Many downsides to not having the inspection done at someone's main place of work? Best up on a ramp etc.?

F355GTS - might be just the ticket! I've got a few things I'd like to do out Reading way (visit my 911, for example!), so it might be nice to head out that way, meet a PHer and find out for sure that a Spider'd be ok. When would suit, where are you etc? PM me if you'd rather, of course!

Marco - what sort of wheel did you go for in the end and why? The non-airbag Ferrari one, or something else?

[Mario149]

Went for a Momo Race 350mm and bought an OEM testarossa/348 horn push to replace the momo one. If you put the correct resistor between the now disconnected airbag wires, the warning light on the dash shouldn't come on and the passenger airbag should still work. Or you can just remove the warning light bulb from the dash, but then the passenger bag won't work I believe (if it was ever going to being Italian and 14 years old!)

[phib]

Mike at qv is fantastic, has looked aftervmy car for most of it's life. The other good guy is rob at Grimaldi engineering.

The car needs a proper ispection with compression test etcetc, it will need to go on ramps.

I looked at 22 before buying mine, happy to have a chat if you like drop me a pm and I will give you my details.

Bassed in surrey

Phib

[all2ofme]

Sounds great, Phib - have pinged you an email.

[Jonty355]

I have a 355 Spider and am 5'11'', and have tons of room. Seat has plenty of room behind me and and plenty of headroom. I reackon you'd be fine.

Adam (SCD) off here drove mine and he's quite tall but had no problem at all.

[all2ofme]

Well, I've tried one now. (Lovely to meet you today, F355GTS - thanks very much for the demo!)

On an F1 car at least, I'm perfectly ok with headroom and seemingly ok with legroom too, though a smaller non-airbag wheel would definitely make me more comfy still. I'm also ok sat in the car while the roof does its thing.

I can imagine things working out just fine with me and a Spider, in other words, in every respect but visibility at around 45º to the left of centre - the rear-view mirror obscures almost everything, much as it did in the 328GTS. Anyone got any experience of replacing them with some other way of looking behind you?

Ben

[Jonty355]

Yeah, drive faster than everyone else, and then it means you wont require one!!!!