996 turbo to 360?

996 turbo to 360?

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Discussion

360Matt

34 posts

200 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
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I went from a manual 996 turbo to (egear) gallardo SL to manual 360. I have a few older 90s Jap sports cars for every day.

As has been mentioned before, the 360 gives much more of an occasion, it isn't as well built as the 996 and it shows given these cars are now c.20yrs old. You have to deal with "common" things that happen with the 360s, sticky buttons, door locks failing etc. which just doesn't happen with porsches.

I live in an apartment block and the parking space doesn't have charger points. If you are using the car as the odd weekend car, you can turn the battery off on the 360 as it has an in built kill switch (very useful to me). The 996 turbo used to go flat if not used for two weeks which is very annoying if you want to jump in it on a weekend, I found not much used to jump start it.....(this was about 8yrs ago before USB jump starters were common)

After all of the above said though, since selling my speed yellow 996tt I always thought I would get another one as for the money, nothing compares. The Ferrari is anywhere between £15-30k more so its in quite a different price range, but I understand it is an itch you should scratch... As for servicing, its the other side of you, but AV Engineering in Kent is the place to go for 360 servicing, the guys specialise in 360 and 430s (they even own them personally) so you could give them a call. I wouldn't take my car anywhere else for servicing.

A few months ago I had a chance to buy my old 996 back for £23k and had to do it....so now I own both! (The 996 has just been locked away for now though)


Edited by 360Matt on Wednesday 8th July 20:38


Edited by 360Matt on Wednesday 8th July 20:57

Order66

6,726 posts

248 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
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I've owned both - 360 first then 996TT if I can remember.

The 360 was an event (as are all Ferrari compared to Porsche). It felt special driving it.

The 996 was laughably quick and a great fun drive, but lacked the "special" that the 360 had.....although it was half the price.

Both had minor reliability issues, but on the whole decent cars. 360 issue was the clutch slave leaking. 996 was the waste gate actuators.

At current prices I think the 360 is fair. I feel the 996 hasn't aged well (looks wise) and is overpriced.

My 360 had a Tubi exhuast and the sound alone set it apart - the noise when it came "on cam" around 4/5k revs was incredible.

Roof down

301 posts

125 months

Thursday 9th July 2020
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Here’s my experience, my 360 spider in red/ cream was magnificent to behold in my eyes anyway , but if you have a red Ferrari make no mistake whether it’s old or new you will draw attention. In my 7/8 years of ownership it always had positive reactions, I was never personally comfortable with it , my wife even more so.
Maybe it’s my psychological problem from poverty and ignorance growing up in the sixties, I am by no means wealthy , but more so than many poor folk who would admire my car. Do downside 1, downside 2 , despite it being only two previous owners and low mileage 27k when I bought it, I had third gear synchro go, and as far as I know it was never tracked or abused, a year later the engine ECU failed, and finally after taking it out after last winter the rear main picked up and failed, all very expensive.
From a driving perspective I do not think they are very easy, they do not flow naturally in my view. The turn in and steering feel though are brilliant.
Thirdly every time I took it out was a worry, what’s that noise? Watching out for others when parking it , stones flying up, etc.
Then putting it away once back home to sit for days or sometimes weeks!
Now my Boxster S is under Porsche warranty, is easy to drive, better I would dare to say, it’s silver and under the radar , it gives as much as my 360 without the worry, but it’s not a Ferrari and never will be! I miss my 360 but will not have another or any Ferrari , at least I cannot see me having one, .
Ferrari are like a beautiful piece of art , you almost dare not mark them lest it detract from the mint beauty in front of you, and therein lies the Achilles heel for me.
Most threads on here speak of people scratching an itch, and that is what I think is the reason for purchasing your dream, but the itch unless treated and looked after soon becomes a rash, or worse and infection that’s needs to be gone.
To all those that can truly afford and justify them I salute you all.
Mike

davek_964

8,797 posts

174 months

Thursday 9th July 2020
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This thread does show how we're all different.

In the time I had mine - even including the unfortunate cam actuator issue - I consider my 360 was one of the most reliable cars I've owned. I never really expected it to break - as opposed to some other cars I've owned.
In fact - my first Ferrari was a 348, and I almost bought one 5 years before I actually did. All the scare stories put me off - but when I finally got one I realised how good they were and wished I'd done it earlier (and they are definitely less well put together than a 360).

I've owned two Ferrari and two 911s. I am absolutely sure I'll own another Ferrari - I'm equally sure I'll probably never buy another 911.

Kyodo

727 posts

123 months

Thursday 9th July 2020
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DamanC said:
The 360 is one of the worst and most disappointing cars I ever drove on the road and track all imho of course.
Laughable, imho

Kilsoj

163 posts

162 months

Thursday 9th July 2020
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I went the opposite direction - 360 to 996t (House renovations)

I love the 996 - but I do miss the 360

Have started looking at ferrari again, and thinking of buying again (although the hike in prices in last 7-8 years is crazy on some - imo of course)

I can’t see me getting rid of the 996 though, I enjoy it too much - and every time I think I will I drive again. It’s the longest I have ver kept a car.

For me the huge difference was the ferrari was an event to drive, but not the kind of car that took kindly to not being on trickle charge etc. The 996 you can just jump in at any point and it fires up.

So - If like me - you use the 996 as a partial daily then the 360 is more a weekend car.

Nice choice to have and sounds like an itch you will have to scratch. My 360 was manual and was excellent to drive, the extra attention it got over say the Porsche though was a slight downside for me

davek_964

8,797 posts

174 months

Thursday 9th July 2020
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Kilsoj said:
the extra attention it got over say the Porsche though was a slight downside for me
What colour was it?

My red 348 got a lot of attention (mostly positive) - enough so that I didn't want a red 360. Grigio Alloy was fairly neutral and although it did still get plenty of attention (and certainly more than a Porsche) - it wasn't too bad, and not much more than my AM Vantage got.

Kilsoj

163 posts

162 months

Thursday 9th July 2020
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It was Grigio as well, not all was positive whereas only have had positive reaction with Porsche - perception is strange - would be very very few “super cars” in our city

Bigred67

Original Poster:

18 posts

125 months

Tuesday 14th July 2020
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Interesting to see everyone’s views an experiences. However, it looks like I won’t be chopping in the Porsche for a 360. At 6.5”, it seems I’m just to tall!

Whilst I could fit in the car fairly comfortably, it would be a pain in the neck to drive any distance, as I found I had a great view of the sun visor and not much else. I also tried a 430, this was a little better, but still compromised on trying to see under the sun visor (and yes, they were folded up).

There is however a potential compromise. Whilst trying the 430, I had a quick look at a California and I do at least fit in these. I just now need to get a test drive sorted out and decide if I actually like them or not.