RE: PH Heroes: Ferrari F355
Discussion
phib said:
When you say the build quily is rubbish in what way ?
Just the quality of the materials in the cabin more than anything. Also, they whole thing just kinda felt like it was going to fall to pieces. You know when you drive a supermini at 100mph and it feels very, er... "She can'y take much more o' this cap'n!"? Well, that's how I felt in the 355 - all the time.It was more the ridiculously mid-engined handling that worried me though.
Ya see, that looks utterly mega - but the one I drove felt very KIA-ish on the inside. Maybe it was a very early and not particularly well cared-for example that I drove.
I'm always willing to change my opinion of a car - I'll have to try to get another drive.
Edited by MrKipling43 on Thursday 10th July 11:45
Interesting thanks for the reply.
It is amazing how people have such different views I had a similar experience with my old 968 sport / race car ( now running number 2 in the PCGB) I absoloutly hated it in my opinion dreadfull handling, slow and really really dull. Couldnt wait to get rid of it !!!
The new owner ( who had owned several) drove it loved it and is doing really well in the championship !!!!
Each to their own
It is amazing how people have such different views I had a similar experience with my old 968 sport / race car ( now running number 2 in the PCGB) I absoloutly hated it in my opinion dreadfull handling, slow and really really dull. Couldnt wait to get rid of it !!!
The new owner ( who had owned several) drove it loved it and is doing really well in the championship !!!!
Each to their own
Edited by phib on Thursday 10th July 11:53
phib said:
When you say the build quality is rubbish in what way ? I am just interested as people keep saying it but mine seems quite good ?
I am just interested not defending it
It looks great!I am just interested not defending it
Edited by phib on Thursday 10th July 11:42
Edited by phib on Thursday 10th July 11:43
However when I went in a friends, some of the materials on a close up tacktile basis didn't feel at home in a £100,000 supercar, more like a £10k supermini. Some parts where great some wheren't.
But I found the shaking and rattling and creaing more of a concern, plus some bits of trim around the door latches and hood fitment did again look out of place on such a car.
But I still think it's fab, just not that fussed about owning own.
Crimp a Length! said:
Great car but tooooooooo delicate for my liking which is a shame as looked at getting one last year when the 993 C4S went.
I think, apart from the heritage/noise/emotion, the issue with reliability and corosion coupled with astronomical repair costs put a lot of people off, that aside looks feckin fantastic
Delicate? What broke down on the car you sampled?I think, apart from the heritage/noise/emotion, the issue with reliability and corosion coupled with astronomical repair costs put a lot of people off, that aside looks feckin fantastic
If you go to FerrariChat, and do some reading in the Australia section, you'll find out about Tony in Melbourne who twin turbo'd his, without doing engine internals, and did numerous trips down the quarter mile. In his words, the car has been indestructable.
For my part. when I ship my 22b back to Aus to onsell it, I'll be right back to the UK to buy a Ferrari. I've been thinking a lot about 360's, though they seem to be getting a bad rap here. Maybe its because this article focuses on the 355, but either way, there will definately be a Ferrari on my drive in the near future.
And re: some other posters, as for whether or not other cars are faster, I'm not bothered about it. There will always be someone with a faster car, or stupid enough to try driving irresponsibly on a public road. Do you really want to compare yourselves to knuckledraggers like that?
most to the point and best post of the day!I think the review is a little rose tinted, or should I say Rosso Tinted.
Lots of torque? Good ride? I've driven one for an extended weekend and gave it a good workout - not really a practically fast road car as you really do have the scream the nuts off it as there is NO meaningful torque below 5000 rpm -- so unless you're in the mood for 100% concentration and racing it can be hard work.
For me the ride was jiggly and unsettled on anything other than smoothest tarmac which again meant you had to concentrate hard to keep it in a groove and be accurate at the limit.
It does look great and sound great and I know many people will say but of course it's meant to be driven 100%, I just think for day day or even regular weekend blasts many people will find it unrewarding to drive at 80-90% and not actually a great hooner compared to many alternatives.
Lots of torque? Good ride? I've driven one for an extended weekend and gave it a good workout - not really a practically fast road car as you really do have the scream the nuts off it as there is NO meaningful torque below 5000 rpm -- so unless you're in the mood for 100% concentration and racing it can be hard work.
For me the ride was jiggly and unsettled on anything other than smoothest tarmac which again meant you had to concentrate hard to keep it in a groove and be accurate at the limit.
It does look great and sound great and I know many people will say but of course it's meant to be driven 100%, I just think for day day or even regular weekend blasts many people will find it unrewarding to drive at 80-90% and not actually a great hooner compared to many alternatives.
phib said:
When you say the build quality is rubbish in what way ? I am just interested as people keep saying it but mine seems quite good ?
I am just interested not defending it
That looks a hell of a lot nicer than the one I drove. The whole dash was 80's thin black plastic with no leather. Maybe they improved.I am just interested not defending it
Edited by phib on Thursday 10th July 11:42
Edited by phib on Thursday 10th July 11:43
I'm pretty convinced people have been driving MR2's kitted up without realising by some of the comments...
plastic/rattle/Mk2 Golf interior comments - it's all bloody leather! I'm 95% sure the seats, door cards and dash layout/construction remained the same as the car was only available for about 5 years or so!
plastic/rattle/Mk2 Golf interior comments - it's all bloody leather! I'm 95% sure the seats, door cards and dash layout/construction remained the same as the car was only available for about 5 years or so!
fastgerman.com said:
I'm pretty convinced people have been driving MR2's kitted up without realising by some of the comments...
plastic/rattle/Mk2 Golf interior comments - it's all bloody leather! I'm 95% sure the seats, door cards and dash layout/construction remained the same as the car was only available for about 5 years or so!
Def not an MR2, it's not hard to tell the differenceplastic/rattle/Mk2 Golf interior comments - it's all bloody leather! I'm 95% sure the seats, door cards and dash layout/construction remained the same as the car was only available for about 5 years or so!
MrKipling43 said:
Don't think this really warrants being a PH Hero - given that it's rubbish.
Speaking - unlike, I suspect, many people offering their opinions on this thread - from the point of view of someone who's actually driven one, the handling's cack, the build quality is utterly terrible, the throttle sticks and the ride is shaky at best.
Looks and sounds great though.
I've driven one too......for just under 20,000 miles, so I've probably had just a tiny bit more time to form an opinion.......and the only thing that's "shaky at best" is your summary of one of the greatest cars ever made!Speaking - unlike, I suspect, many people offering their opinions on this thread - from the point of view of someone who's actually driven one, the handling's cack, the build quality is utterly terrible, the throttle sticks and the ride is shaky at best.
Looks and sounds great though.
The throttle has never stuck on mine in 20,000 miles and 9 years.....but then it's maintained EVERY year by a factory trained mechanic at a main dealer!Not skimped on by some backstreet cowboy who once bought a gallon of V-Max and thinks that that qualifies him to work on Maranello's finest!
The handling is far from "cack".....what are you comparing it to?
The ride can be a bit shaky......so that's why anyone who knows what they're doing presses the little button marked "comfort" which softens the suspension to allow it to cope with the rubbish British roads a little better!
As for build quality.....in certain areas it's not the best, but it's by no means the worst.....ask anyone who's ever been in a TVR!
As for my comment "Obviously it's not as fast as the others.....it's not as fast as a lot of things, !" The "others" were the 360 and 430.....and it's true!
Also, the only change to the interior during the life of the model was the addition of the passenger airbag.....so all the interiors looked like the one pictured above....except possibly in different colours!
phib said:
150 easy as doing 50 in the subaru
You make it sound dullNever felt as quick as the numbers to me, even despite the soundtrack. Certainly felt no quicker than my 996 C2, and didn't really reel in my mate's 3.2 NSX....
360 feels massively quicker, like another level up, much more involving to drive too.
I think there are lots of people who have driven a 355 on here that may be a real 355, BUT, its been one of those few laps on a track where you're limited on revs so cant get the best out of the engine, as you need to drive it differently. They thrive on revs. Remember it goes up to 8,500rpm, most poeple will want to change up at 7,000.
Also, the examples they have for the track are a little bit on the used and abused side.
Mine is solid as a rock, and is a Spider which doesn't sqeak or rattle, the interior is very high quality leather and its basic inside, but for a purpose of keeping weight down.
As for handling, you've obviously not had any confidence in it, or its been set up wrong. Mine has actually been set up by a previous owner, Damon Hill, and its spot on.
Also, the examples they have for the track are a little bit on the used and abused side.
Mine is solid as a rock, and is a Spider which doesn't sqeak or rattle, the interior is very high quality leather and its basic inside, but for a purpose of keeping weight down.
As for handling, you've obviously not had any confidence in it, or its been set up wrong. Mine has actually been set up by a previous owner, Damon Hill, and its spot on.
I bought one in February and have put about 5k miles on it since then. I didnt quite know what to expect of the build quality before looking at one, and being a 997 owner, thought that it might put me off. Alright, so some of the plastics look cheap by todays standards, but the finish on the car is really very good. No squeaks or rattles, which is more than can be said from my 911!
All the things that you get on modern cars, such as computers, gadgets and gizmo's mean nothing, and this car proves this whenever you drive it. They are just brilliant to drive, and the noise is just epic. I fitted a level 3 capristo to mine, decatted it, and whilst its probably too much for most, I couldnt be happier with the noise. Just about nothing compares to this car for noise with the right pipe on it. Handling is sublime, looks gorgeous. They really arent cheap to run, but its worth every penny.
Ok, some cars are quicker, and ive had quicker cars myself, but being the quickest thing on the road isnt what its all about, as this car proves with every mile i put on it.
All the things that you get on modern cars, such as computers, gadgets and gizmo's mean nothing, and this car proves this whenever you drive it. They are just brilliant to drive, and the noise is just epic. I fitted a level 3 capristo to mine, decatted it, and whilst its probably too much for most, I couldnt be happier with the noise. Just about nothing compares to this car for noise with the right pipe on it. Handling is sublime, looks gorgeous. They really arent cheap to run, but its worth every penny.
Ok, some cars are quicker, and ive had quicker cars myself, but being the quickest thing on the road isnt what its all about, as this car proves with every mile i put on it.
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