360 vs C2

[rob05]

I had my mates 360 for half a day this weekend,it was my first drive in any ferrari,i regret to say i was'nt that won over.Its been a lifetime of wanting thats come to an abrubt end for me.From the outside the car has the dream going for it,apart from the bus tyers and the small looking wheels.Closer inspection of the pannels and paint job resembles more fiat than ferrari workmanship and its much the same inside cheap sprayed on silver plastics with a dashboard more X19 than anything else.Driving the car is much like any good sports car it takes time to master.In my brief six hours i found the gear change cement like and the driving position difficult to adjust to.The perfomance was the biggest disapointment of the day 400bhp and it felt no quicker than my C2 with 320!The ride was firm but ok,but it was the handling that was the best part for me the feel through the steering and grip levels were unreal.He paid 80k for a 03 model with 5thmls.Am i being to harsh?Anyone driven one,or has one but also drives a 911 too and maybe could give me a different opinion of the car?At the end of the day i wanted one but now i dont and for that money id rather have a 997 C2s and save the rest.PS my friend changed his 4s for it and likes it very much????

>> Edited by rob05 on Monday 19th September 14:59

[spenny_b]

A mate of mine had one a couple of summers ago, but moved it on pretty quick really. He's had a number of 996's (C2's, TT, TT X50) beforehand, and has now (after a couple of other exotic-mobiles in between) gone back to a 996 GT3 Mk2....Guess he feels that all-round the Porker can't be beat?

He took me out for a test blat in the Fezza once, and have to say I agree with you Rob about the 400hp, it just didn't *feel* like 400 ought to, certainly didn't have to excitement of my Type-R Impreza which I had at the time (no, I'm not trying to draw a comparison between the two, before anyone starts). The V8 sounds FANTASTIC...from the outside. From the inside, even with windows down, it was just a tad underwhelming. He had the "Sports" leather interior (think thats what they call it) which I have to say, was v nice, but I didn't live with it for the day, so not best positioned to comment.

I know the blooming fuel bills were becoming prohibitive, and thats before it needed a service!

Like you, kind of a "dream car" in a generic sense rather than a model-specific sense, but I dunno, rather have a different classic marque now...maybe Fords GT will be sensible money in 10yrs time??!!

BTW, said friend also had a Gallardo after the 360...that didn't last too long either, shoddy build quality ruining the experience, must be an Italien thing (or "not"

[johnfm]

Brother in law had 360 Spider. I personally didn't like the high pitch, 'tinny' rasp of the exhaust - except in long tunnels!! Always preferred the low rumble of my de-catted 964. His 360 was pretty highly specced and I thought the interior (bot the cabin and the engine bay) were very well designed - mini works of art. Clearly, the 360 gets more attention than 99% of 911s as there are far fewer on the road.

He now has a 1988 Lambo Countach. Half the price and 10 times the physical experience, and 100000 times the attention of any Porsche or Ferrari - we went to the 'ring in it and I have never seen anything like it - EVERYBODY was photographing it. I personally hate the looks of the Lambo, but the sound and feel of 5 litres of V12 just behind you is pretty incredble. Its 'real' old fashioned engineering too - carbs, the smell of petrol, vibration and noise. If I can find a 'good looking' car with a mid mounted 5 litre V12, I may just have to sell the kids and get one!

[flemke]

rob05 said:

In my brief six hours i found the gear change cement like...

Manual box or paddles?

[Thunderfoot]

I currently have a 996 C2 and was thinking of changing to a 360 in a year or so. I think they don't feel that quick because of the lack of torque, the fezza V8 has never produced any significant torque in relation to it's bhp output. I understand the V12 (550 etc.) solves this problem quite nicely!
Infact I think the 360 and 996 have a very similar torque figure of 270ish.

My friend's 360 spider can only pull a cars length on me from 0-120/130. Maybe down to driving ability (I don't have much!), but my 996 (with sports pack) out performs the 360 in handling.

Even considering all these things, I'd love a 360 in black. I'm torn between the 360 and 996TT as my next car, looks wise the 360 wins hands down for me, but, a 996TT with a GT2 kit may just keep me loyal to Stuttgart's finest yet.

[rob05]

Its seems that we are all broadly of the same opinion,i think for me anyway when it comes down to all round ability the,porsche is just the better car to live with.Still very dissapointed though and having italian blood does'nt make it any better,my heart really did want me to come on this forum and lie to you all and say how great the car was,but i'm affraid i just cant,because it was'nt!The car is a manual and is in black.

[flemke]

rob05 said:

The car is a manual...

In that case there must be something wrong with the linkage (I presume that he's not damaged the box).
The 360 has the same gearbox as the F50 and although it requires some guidance by the driver it is one of the nicest-shifting boxes around. Indeed it is one of the best (perhaps there are only a few) things about the 360.
The 360 box when set up properly is definitely nicer than what's in the C2. It is as nice as the GT3's, which when properly set up is excellent.

[Raven Flyer]

Torque figures are very similar but the Fezza shows more power because it revs higher. bhp=torque/5250

So the pull would be broadly similar but the 360 would carry on pulling for a bit longer, if both were taken to the limiter.

That said and I don't have the figures to hand, but I think the 360 is slightly heavier. This would level the acceleration or even tip it slightly in the 911's favour. Top speed will be determined by ultimate power, hence the Ferrari's better figure.

The last factor is that Ferrari never seem to quite make the claimed figures, when put on the rollers.

[Harris_I]

Agree re Ferrari's quoted figures being slightly over-stated, but nevertheless I have no doubt the 360 should always be quicker in a straight line than a C2. Against a GT3, I would suggest there's nothing in it.

Am interested in flemke's comment about a "properly set up" box. flemke: what does this mean?

[flemke]

Harris_I said:

Agree re Ferrari's quoted figures being slightly over-stated, but nevertheless I have no doubt the 360 should always be quicker in a straight line than a C2. Against a GT3, I would suggest there's nothing in it. Am interested in flemke's comment about a "properly set up" box. flemke: what does this mean?

Referring to adjustment of the linkage.
Some are done right; some, for whatever reason, are not.
It can make a huge difference to one's driving pleasure, and potentially to the longevity of clutch and even gearbox.

[nbetts]

Hi,

I recently went down this road, so to speak... Have always seen Ferrari as a dream car, I love the 355, 550, 456 and all models going way back...

Made my mind up to leave the Porsche brand and get a 360 Modena... So I went down to a certain Ferrari Main Dealer and had a good look and drive, now as far as the looks go the Ferrari does it for me. I love it, but after a drive it left me a bit cold. Sure I love the engine note and I am sure I would get used to the 'feel' of the size of it.

I chickened out in the end and bought a 996 TT X50 for 8k less than the 360...

I guess for me... I know the running costs of the 996TT, I know how Porsche are on backing up warranty claims etc... The Ferrari for me looked a bit delicate... especially when the dealer tells you that a F1 clutch lasts about 8k miles....

Also the fact that I want to drive about 12k miles a year in it would seem to be insane according to the good old dealer.

Anyway, the car is still a pin up for me, if money was not such a large factor for me I would have one.

Knowing full well that the 911 probably is a better choice of the head but not the heart,

[verysideways]

I was recently torn between a 550 and a 993tt as my daily driver - as everyone knows i bought the 993tt, but the biggest problem for me was the 550 running costs for the 20k miles a year i do.

And the 348/355 - build quality? You're having a laugh aren't you?
The best place to enjoy a 348/355? Watching it drive past and hearing it roar up the road.

550 was delectable but simply not practical for every day use purely on the grounds of maintenance costs.

[rob05]

Perhaps thats why the shift felt so stiff and thats what i meant when i said it felt like cement.The only real power difference i felt was from 100 onwards,it pulled harder,but not by much.Never driven a GT3,but had plenty of time with a 996tt with the x50 option,and that really would make the 360 look a bit silly in any gear.Maybe i have missed the point of the car and maybe i'll need to have a drive of another one to confirm or change my opinion,i just expected a bit more from a 110k supercar thats all.

[DanH]

Harris_I said:

Agree re Ferrari's quoted figures being slightly over-stated, but nevertheless I have no doubt the 360 should always be quicker in a straight line than a C2. Against a GT3, I would suggest there's nothing in it.

9.1 0-100mph GT3
10.2 0-100mph 360

Thats a sizeable difference.

I've not compared a GT3 to a 360 directly, but when I had my Noble I compared against that, and the 360 was disappointingly slow. I had to keep lifting off to not go into the back of it when we dropped the hammer. I know he'll have had the brunt of the drag being in front, but we weren't going so quick that it would be a major factor.

I think the 10.2 is optimistic in a standard 360. The 360 CS only does it in 10.1 according to this head to head in motortrend :

http://motortrend.com/features/performance/112_0404_race/index11.html

I appreciate using magazines as some kind of bible is rather tedious, but short of doing the tests ourselves theres not much choice.

My other beef with the 360 is that awful sprayed silver plastic mentioned above.

[rich1231]

I had a 360 Spider alongside my 996TT for a while.

The 360 is more exciting to be in and drive, it gets more attention (not saying thats a good thing) but faults with mine left me upset and disillusioned.

Speedwhise they are not superfast, granted they are quick but there is no feeling of awesome power.

Im hoping the 430 has resolved some of the issues, oh and the build quality stinks.

[DanH]

flemke said:

Harris_I said: Agree re Ferrari's quoted figures being slightly over-stated, but nevertheless I have no doubt the 360 should always be quicker in a straight line than a C2. Against a GT3, I would suggest there's nothing in it. Am interested in flemke's comment about a "properly set up" box. flemke: what does this mean? Referring to adjustment of the linkage. Some are done right; some, for whatever reason, are not. It can make a huge difference to one's driving pleasure, and potentially to the longevity of clutch and even gearbox.

Do you know anyone competent to do this in the UK?

[s3am]

Harris_I said:

Against a GT3, I would suggest there's nothing in it.

At Vmax the GT3 mk 2 and the 360's always end up about the same, with 172-175 depending on the conditions. The RS gets a 2-3 mph more on any given day IIRC.

[rob05]

Now i can see why it felt slow.Handling apart it felt much nicer at high speed than my C2 but then again most performance cars do that better and really its my biggest gripe with my own car it really does'nt fill me with the desire to drive it anywhere near its top speed.Regardless of this i paid 48k less than my friend paid for his car and for me i dont think his car is worth that much more than mine

>> Edited by rob05 on Monday 19th September 17:08

[flemke]

DanH said:

Do you know anyone competent to do this in the UK?

Porsche or Ferrari?

[DanH]

flemke said:

DanH said: Do you know anyone competent to do this in the UK? Porsche or Ferrari?

Porsche. I'm wondering if my RS's shift is optimally setup. Its by no means bad, but I'm curious if it couldn't be better - I have no real frame of reference as to what is achievable.