RE: PH Carpool: Ferrari F355 Spider

[Chris99]

Great article and beautifully sums up the justification and joy of owning one of these.

I'm into my second year with my rosso/creama spider and just thinking of driving it puts a smile on my face.

For all those who are thinking about taking the plunge - just do it. It's only money and you can always sell it if you really don't get on - but experiencing F car ownership should be at or near the top of all petrolheads bucket list

[david_h]

Very well written article and a refreshingly honest take on Ferrari ownership.

The negative reaction is what puts me off. I would seriously consider a 355 as one of the most aesthetically and aurally beautiful cars ever produced. Mine would have to be black, coupe with creama interior and a Tubi exhaust.

[RoyaleDetailing]

NSX Monkey said:

Still does not tempt me to dip a toe in Ferrari ownership as I have no faith in their longevity as I don't believe they are made to last.

Lol. Thats funny. You do realise they dont dissolve in the rain.

Plenty of high miler cars out there which have plenty of life in them.

[LotusOmega375D]

For a bit less Lire, what do you chaps think about this 348 spider alternative?

http://cms-gb.com/cars.php

Scroll down to the yellow car.

If I wasn't burdened with a parasitic family, I'd seriously consider dipping my garlic bread in.

[sinbaddio]

LotusOmega375D said:

For a bit less Lire, what do you chaps think about this 348 spider alternative?

http://cms-gb.com/cars.php

Scroll down to the yellow car.

If I wasn't burdened with a parasitic family, I'd seriously consider dipping my garlic bread in.

It's got an interesting speaker set-up going on in the passenger footwell

[markcollings7890]

LotusOmega375D said:

For a bit less Lire, what do you chaps think about this 348 spider alternative?

http://cms-gb.com/cars.php

Scroll down to the yellow car.

If I wasn't burdened with a parasitic family, I'd seriously consider dipping my garlic bread in.

Aren't these one of worst fezzas

[Martin 480 Turbo]

That dealer writes "Mercedez" and "Sun Beam".
Fits very well the boom box in the "Fezza".

???

[markcollings7890]

Martin 480 Turbo said:

That dealer writes "Mercedez" and "Sun Beam".
Fits very well the boom box in the "Fezza".

???

What is the question?

[f328nvl]

Pr1964 said:

There are 360's up for similar money.
I'm not a fan of the jellymold looks so leaving looks aside.
The questions are
Dont they offer
Similar running costs?
Better build quality?
Better dynamics?
Better performance?

Would you go 360 over a 355 £ for £ .?

Audrey Hepburn or Katie Price?

[sutats]

Great write up. The 355 is a beautiful car and still holds its own today.

Soundtrack-wise it is epic and very few can stir up as much sense of occasion.

[Baddie]

Remember following a 355 through London back streets a few years ago in my first 3.8 M5. The driver decided to nail it all the way through second gear - it is not a metaphor to say the noise tingled my spine. I'd always thought the M straight 6 very musical and rather quick till that day.

355 vs 360: I once saw a 360 from the vantage point of a Raw Striker (by miles the best car I've owned for garnering goodwill) and can never forget how blocky the front intakes and corresponding rear exhaust pods looked from that level. Apologies to any owners as it is the better car, but more Katie than Audrey.

Martin, I'd really like a 480 turbo. Very niche.

Edited by Baddie on Tuesday 30th October 21:02

[eldonj]

I just had to post a comment on this story, because the last sentence in this article is the funniest line I have read on PH in ages.

[nbetts]

I really enjoyed reading that article, so thanks very much.

The F355 is one of my favourite modern F Cars. I will own one at some time, preferably in GTB/GTS configuration.

[Chilliman]

Bugger, 355 or 360? Thought I'd made my mind up but having read the excellent article by Dan Trent and some of the observations above I'm back in dunno what to do land

Thoroughly good read, need more of this

[pSyCoSiS]

I loved reading this article!

Well done that man.

I love the attitude of not losing a silly amount of depreciation, and saying "fk it" - and it's so true!!

TOP WORK, and I love that 355 !!

Edited by pSyCoSiS on Wednesday 31st October 18:29

Edited by pSyCoSiS on Wednesday 31st October 18:29

[big_rob_sydney]

I absolutely agree with this man.

In some recent posts, a few Porsche owners couldnt seem to understand the depreciation aspect in one of the brand new 113k Carerras.

I personally think buying an older <insert favourite sportscar name here> which has already copped its depreciation, is a far better use of resources.

On these cars in particular, the prices seem to have stabilised for some time now, and I suspect will be unlikely to go down anytime in the immediate future. Cost of motoring here is absolutely awesome, AND, he gets to do it in a car that has some cachet.

Well done that man on the logic of the argument, and well done on the choice of car.

I salute you.

[tomtom]

Hooray, I'm famous! (Well, you can just about see my head under my bonnet)

[f328nvl]

tomtom said:

Hooray, I'm famous! (Well, you can just about see my head under my bonnet)

I deliberatley didn't identify you because now when you come to sell yours the buyer will spend two hours negotiating a discount for the dodgy windscreen wipers that were fixed in five minutes with a spanner!

I suggest a counter negotiating postion pointing out that the incident proves you don't normally drive it in the wet because only a real idiot would knowingly set off round the M25 in a downpour with the prospect of trying to keep his windscreen clear by hanging out the window manually pushing the widscreen wipers back and forth. Although it did look very funny from where I was sitting.