Discussion
it will be soon be time to get the my new purchase out of storage when i finally manage to get out of the rented house i am living in that has no garage and i had a few q's..... i realise that these might sound odd but i have never driven the car as i had it inspected as i didnt trust myself to make the right decision.... its a 355 spyder....
1) first of all can anyone recommend a good ferrari independent near-ish ilkley in yorkshire, martin at rardleys used to look after my other one but clearly not an option now....
2) i am thinking of putting a capristo on, question is what level should i go for and whats the going rate for a new one or 2nd hand one? also would my local spanner man be able to do a job like that.
3) is there any tips or info that would be good to know for a novice 355 driver?
thanks in advance
andy
1) first of all can anyone recommend a good ferrari independent near-ish ilkley in yorkshire, martin at rardleys used to look after my other one but clearly not an option now....
2) i am thinking of putting a capristo on, question is what level should i go for and whats the going rate for a new one or 2nd hand one? also would my local spanner man be able to do a job like that.
3) is there any tips or info that would be good to know for a novice 355 driver?
thanks in advance
andy
andyleeds said:
3) is there any tips or info that would be good to know for a novice 355 driver?
thanks in advance
andy
Most important - Be very careful in the wet, it is twitchy and has no traction control. thanks in advance
andy
Powerful modern cars can give you a false sense of security and you have to think carefully about your throttle inputs in a 355.
andyleeds said:
Cheers guys, have had a few cars like that in the wet !
So a normal spanner monkey should be able to do it then?..... Should I buy 2nd hand or new exhaust ?
They are prone to aquaplaning at the rear even with new tyres caused by a high camber angle, avoid truck ruts/ standing water etcSo a normal spanner monkey should be able to do it then?..... Should I buy 2nd hand or new exhaust ?
They are low but will straddle common speed humps however brake early and then off the brakes before you arrive to allow the nose to come back up, in any event fit a set of Hills skid plates
There was a used capristo level 1 for sale a short while back, but it was full of what I assume was someone's exploded cat and couldn't be cleaned out...I guess the only time someone sells a capristo is when its knackered.
After rejecting that I bought brand new from scuderia systems...for around £400 more I got brand new with lifetime ownership warranty...same price for level 1, 2 & 3.
I went for level 1...quite enough kicking about at low speeds, same amazing noise as level 2 & 3 at full tilt ...most whom have level 3 get fed up quickly.
I had a tubi on my last 355...the droning noise got pretty draining on runs...capristo is the choice for 355.
There was a few small alignment issues when fitting the exhaust but no real drama.
As previous post it can catch the unaware with kicking out on a damp surface which I thought was exaggerated even more with the crap p-zero's.
Lots of parts now obsolete or on 'back order'...not many decent breakers so always keep an eye out for the usual bits that go wrong and keep hold off...you will sell at a profit if you don't use them.
finally...enjoy!
After rejecting that I bought brand new from scuderia systems...for around £400 more I got brand new with lifetime ownership warranty...same price for level 1, 2 & 3.
I went for level 1...quite enough kicking about at low speeds, same amazing noise as level 2 & 3 at full tilt ...most whom have level 3 get fed up quickly.
I had a tubi on my last 355...the droning noise got pretty draining on runs...capristo is the choice for 355.
There was a few small alignment issues when fitting the exhaust but no real drama.
As previous post it can catch the unaware with kicking out on a damp surface which I thought was exaggerated even more with the crap p-zero's.
Lots of parts now obsolete or on 'back order'...not many decent breakers so always keep an eye out for the usual bits that go wrong and keep hold off...you will sell at a profit if you don't use them.
finally...enjoy!
I'm in the same boat as you I'm yet to drive her, just had brand new level 2 Capristo fitted, I got it from scuderia systems in Surrey, shouldn't be long now before I get paperwork back from DVLA then I will let rip that unmistakable beautiful F1 sound that the 355 has! Enjoy! I know I will
cgt2 said:
Most important - Be very careful in the wet, it is twitchy and has no traction control.
Powerful modern cars can give you a false sense of security and you have to think carefully about your throttle inputs in a 355.
I have to be honest, I have had my 355 spider for 15 years and I have never found it to be twitchy. It hasn't got TC for a reason, that being its probably the best handling Ferrari of its era. I find driving it like being on rails.Powerful modern cars can give you a false sense of security and you have to think carefully about your throttle inputs in a 355.
Might be obvious, but since no one else mentioned it: watch the temp gauges on the way up to make sure you're not beasting it before it's warm, and keep an eye on them since I gather if one of your fans or radiators fails then it will overheat pretty quickly. Also don't worry if the covering on your internal door releases (and other bits of switchgear) feels distinctly tacky. They all do. At some point you'll get it stripped off and painted in something that actually sets at room temperature. Apart from that, enjoy!
Birkin1932 said:
I have to be honest, I have had my 355 spider for 15 years and I have never found it to be twitchy. It hasn't got TC for a reason, that being its probably the best handling Ferrari of its era. I find driving it like being on rails.
I only had mine for 5 years but drove it in all sorts of weather (including snow) and found it to be beautifully balanced. I did come from Lotuses though, which are twitchy and very hard to catch when they go...There's only one rule really. As with any powerful, rear wheel drive car without any sort of driver aids: don't take the piss.
67Dino said:
Might be obvious, but since no one else mentioned it: watch the temp gauges on the way up to make sure you're not beasting it before it's warm, and keep an eye on them since I gather if one of your fans or radiators fails then it will overheat pretty quickly.
One of my rad fans gave up half way down Italy one summer and despite my paranoia (as I say, coming from Lotus a cooling problem equals instant head gasket failure) it was fine, actually. It'd get a bit hot* and struggle to cool itself down with the (one) fan running sitting in traffic with the AC on full blast, one traffic jam in the midday sun outside Parma was a bit touch-and-go, but on the move and in your average UK weather you're absolutely fine. The 355 has a very efficient cooling system (seriously!) when it's all working as it should but even with one fan you're good for a while if you need to get it home.
The thermostat sticking open is more of a problem as you're f
ked either way then 
\* before anyone jumps on this, I considered 'a bit hot' to be 12 o'clock on the coolant temp dial, which is where the fans will kick in normally.
Jex said:
A question for 355 owners, when I switch the damper setting I don't really notice any difference. Should I? I'm wondering if the switch isn't working.
No! 
If the motors aren't working to adjust the springs you'll most likely have a suspension warning light on (unless someone's pulled the bulb...). There's some trick to test them I seem to recall, but I've forgotten it now. Try searching the 355 section of ferrarichat if you're interested or want to spend the next 3 months worrying about your suspension.
tomtom said:
No!
If the motors aren't working to adjust the springs you'll most likely have a suspension warning light on (unless someone's pulled the bulb...). There's some trick to test them I seem to recall, but I've forgotten it now. Try searching the 355 section of ferrarichat if you're interested or want to spend the next 3 months worrying about your suspension.
ThanksIf the motors aren't working to adjust the springs you'll most likely have a suspension warning light on (unless someone's pulled the bulb...). There's some trick to test them I seem to recall, but I've forgotten it now. Try searching the 355 section of ferrarichat if you're interested or want to spend the next 3 months worrying about your suspension.
tomtom said:
67Dino said:
Might be obvious, but since no one else mentioned it: watch the temp gauges on the way up to make sure you're not beasting it before it's warm, and keep an eye on them since I gather if one of your fans or radiators fails then it will overheat pretty quickly.
One of my rad fans gave up half way down Italy one summer and despite my paranoia (as I say, coming from Lotus a cooling problem equals instant head gasket failure) it was fine, actually. It'd get a bit hot* and struggle to cool itself down with the (one) fan running sitting in traffic with the AC on full blast, one traffic jam in the midday sun outside Parma was a bit touch-and-go, but on the move and in your average UK weather you're absolutely fine. The 355 has a very efficient cooling system (seriously!) when it's all working as it should but even with one fan you're good for a while if you need to get it home.
The thermostat sticking open is more of a problem as you're f
ked either way then \* before anyone jumps on this, I considered 'a bit hot' to be 12 o'clock on the coolant temp dial, which is where the fans will kick in normally.
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