360 buying tips,advice
Discussion
nickson said:
I do like 355. But tbh its just getting a little bit old now. I would prefer slightly newer 360.
Although that doesnt say I will discount the 355. You never know I may drive one and love it!
Tbh the running costs mentioned above dont worry me one bit! I have had cars worth a tenth of the price of a 360 with similar running costs lol.
Yeah, I would def give a 355 a go given that they're similar prices. Performance wise there's very little in it as my mate and I found out in France over many tollbooth drag races Although that doesnt say I will discount the 355. You never know I may drive one and love it!
Tbh the running costs mentioned above dont worry me one bit! I have had cars worth a tenth of the price of a 360 with similar running costs lol.
So it basically comes down to looks, noise, interior and how you like your car to drive. FWIW 355s are more benign in the handling stakes from what I can gather (I certainly had no problem on track with mine) but you could always take the car and have it set up how you want it to drive anywayGreat thing about the 360 is that it's very reliable. The 355 is clearly a modern classic but it is quite a bit more fiddly by all accounts. Not to take away from it. I think the 355 is more manageable on UK roads. The 360 is no boxster, but it's not too hard unless you hit width restrictions etc.
For me, the great thing about either the 360 or the 355 is they scream like a Ferrari should (noise is important to me). The 430 sounds good too but it's a more guttural sound, perhaps because the engine has less valves/is DFI (?), bigger capacity, and is derived from a Maserati block unlike the older Ferraris.
I think the 430 also has an extra set of cats in the manifolds which change the sound (and when they crack it's said they can cause issues with metal fragments). The 360 only has cats before the muffler, and switching out these to decat (not for me, but I have heard cars with this done) makes it sound like an F1 car - incredible!
I know it's more a discussion on the 355/360, but interesting to compare to the 430 too...
For me, the great thing about either the 360 or the 355 is they scream like a Ferrari should (noise is important to me). The 430 sounds good too but it's a more guttural sound, perhaps because the engine has less valves/is DFI (?), bigger capacity, and is derived from a Maserati block unlike the older Ferraris.
I think the 430 also has an extra set of cats in the manifolds which change the sound (and when they crack it's said they can cause issues with metal fragments). The 360 only has cats before the muffler, and switching out these to decat (not for me, but I have heard cars with this done) makes it sound like an F1 car - incredible!
I know it's more a discussion on the 355/360, but interesting to compare to the 430 too...
Edited by TB303 on Monday 20th January 08:43
nickson said:
Tbh the running costs mentioned above dont worry me one bit! I have had cars worth a tenth of the price of a 360 with similar running costs lol.
Whilst the servicing costs may seem cheap, remember that it is likely that other bits may need doing either now or in the future. I have only owned mine for 2 months so not as well placed to comment as others, but there always seems to be something that needs doing, whether its a light on the dash or a minor paint imperfection, Ferrari's seem to take over your life. This is a good thing on the whole, I love finding an excuse to go into the garage, just so I can catch a glimpse of the V8 under that glass engine cover.Buy on condition and paperwork. On the opposite end of the scale to many others, I bought the first one I saw without a test drive. It's easy to get carried away and buy with your heart, because you will probably be sold as soon as you see one, but try and be sensible and look past that as much as possible
Finally, while a 911 may be a better every day proposition, and other cars may be faster, it's hard to beat that sense of occasion you get with a Ferrari. The 360 feels like such a delicate car with precision engineering, whereas a 911 in my opinion feels a little duller with many of the senses taken away.
topless360 said:
Whilst the servicing costs may seem cheap, remember that it is likely that other bits may need doing either now or in the future.
OP...this^^. You really have to go in with your eyes open about running costs. There have been numerous threads where this has been "argued" before (here's a recent one: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
but the long and the short of it is that if you want to do sensible miles in it (say 5k a year) and keep it in top condition, you're going to be spending £2k-£3k per year most years (for something like a 355, a bit less for say a 360) on servicing/maintenance/consumables with potential for a larger bill every now and then. You may get lucky, own it for 3 years and only have basic servicing and tyres
But I def would not want to be the person buying the car from you when you came to sell it!I have just returned from a full Ferrari factory tour and a couple of days in Modena and marranello, I was having a nice chat with a knowledgeable ferrari gentleman who drives for them, he said that the 355 was in his opinion the last pure factory produced car but only in manual, he further said that the 360 in manual was its best successor. He had no kind words for the F1 either on the 360 or in the 430, but he did say that its now fully sorted in the 458, further he said that in his humble opinion the 360 was simple and pure and exactly what ferrari is all about. As a trained apprentice served motor engineer I knew he knew his stuff and he knew I knew mine. I have a 360 spder in manual and it is superb and having seen firsthand the levels of engineering at Marranello I was most reaassured, buy your self a manual with good provenence and you wont go far wrong, there is a car adbvertised on here I believe for 53k in red manual in London, its private nad looks good, good luck Mike
TB303 said:
For me, the great thing about either the 360 or the 355 is they scream like a Ferrari should (noise is important to me). The 430 sounds good too but it's a more guttural sound, perhaps because the engine has less valves/is DFI (?), bigger capacity, and is derived from a Maserati block unlike the older Ferraris.
interesting info, i hadn't realised that the 430 has lost some of the scream!i'm just embarking on my own 360 hunt and i'm trying to shut out the temptation of a 430
Mike Brown said:
I have just returned from a full Ferrari factory tour and a couple of days in Modena and marranello, I was having a nice chat with a knowledgeable ferrari gentleman who drives for them, he said that the 355 was in his opinion the last pure factory produced car but only in manual, he further said that the 360 in manual was its best successor. He had no kind words for the F1 either on the 360 or in the 430, but he did say that its now fully sorted in the 458, further he said that in his humble opinion the 360 was simple and pure and exactly what ferrari is all about. As a trained apprentice served motor engineer I knew he knew his stuff and he knew I knew mine. I have a 360 spder in manual and it is superb and having seen firsthand the levels of engineering at Marranello I was most reaassured, buy your self a manual with good provenence and you wont go far wrong, there is a car adbvertised on here I believe for 53k in red manual in London, its private nad looks good, good luck Mike
Mike, let's not turn this into an F chat style F1/manual debate (or opinionated battle as it usually is over there)..... Some love them, some hate them but it is all personal preference. I set out looking for a manual 360 (after reading a lot of nonsense about F1 on forums) but ended up with an F1 360 and love it. The later 430 F1 system is brilliant IMO.Back on topic for the OP, you said it had to be manual but if not done already try both and buy what you actually prefer after driving. Both systems have their pros and cons and don't be put off by stories of expensive maintenance as it's actually a pretty bullet proof system. You will also open up a greater choice of cars.
Edited by mike01606 on Monday 20th January 20:31
Gokartmozart said:
Slightly O/T, but for owners with an F1 box.
How often, or if at all do you use the Auto function.
How often do you use sport mode.
Both features never seem to me to get much of a mention in relation to
the overall driving experience.
Auto never ( well once when the Missus first drove it). Works Ok but not in the slightest bit fun or as good as a modern auto.How often, or if at all do you use the Auto function.
How often do you use sport mode.
Both features never seem to me to get much of a mention in relation to
the overall driving experience.
Sport - most of the time. Makes for sharper gear changes and a completely different experience on down changes with more throttle blips and engine braking. Only issue is on the 360 (and 430 I think) you cannot separate gear change from suspension settings, so if the road is uneven, normal is better.
Edited by mike01606 on Monday 20th January 20:27
im sorry but im really not interested in the f1 box, for me it has to be a manual! i have driven many semi auto cars and they just dont do it for me at all. as said its down to personal preference, and many will enjoy the f1 box, but i just have to have a clutch and a gearstick!
just chatting with a friend who worked as a technician at joe macari for a few years, to get some insight into the car from someone who worked on them every day!
just chatting with a friend who worked as a technician at joe macari for a few years, to get some insight into the car from someone who worked on them every day!
Sorry gents and ladies I did not mean for it to go into a what verses what, only saying what I heard, point taken, its all down to personal preference, what I really was saying is in answer to the op , its probably less expensive and easier on a manual, if things go wrong, regards Mike
Nano2nd said:
interesting info, i hadn't realised that the 430 has lost some of the scream!
i'm just embarking on my own 360 hunt and i'm trying to shut out the temptation of a 430
For balance, I did enjoy driving the F430 - they are great cars, and clearly "better" (more refined, easier, faster) than the 360 in some ways! The engine has quite a bit more low down torque. The fun comes in these cars from higher up the rev range anyway.i'm just embarking on my own 360 hunt and i'm trying to shut out the temptation of a 430
The 360 is somehow a bit more raw I felt. If you go for a 360 then there's always the 430 for the future too!
But it's definitely a different sounding beast....
Another vote for Tim at Walkersport. Bought my 360 from him last year. He was a pleasure to do business with, knew his onions and sold me an absolute peach of a 360. He's always been at the end of the phone if I've have any questions. If he doesn't have what you are looking for he's definitely worth speaking to and doing an inspection,
Done 3000 miles in 3 months months and no issues at all. Apart from being a bit thirsty, and wanting to hear the engine scream means you are doing more than you should...got me in trouble with plod when the 911 turbo never did!!
Don't listen to the endless arguments on manual or F1 - drive them both and make your mind up. Thought I wanted manual and ended up with F1.
Agree entire with comment about buying on condition and paperwork. But still, there are loads of dogs out there that look pretty. Buy with head and heart!
Good luck - it's worth the wait
Done 3000 miles in 3 months months and no issues at all. Apart from being a bit thirsty, and wanting to hear the engine scream means you are doing more than you should...got me in trouble with plod when the 911 turbo never did!!
Don't listen to the endless arguments on manual or F1 - drive them both and make your mind up. Thought I wanted manual and ended up with F1.
Agree entire with comment about buying on condition and paperwork. But still, there are loads of dogs out there that look pretty. Buy with head and heart!
Good luck - it's worth the wait
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