Looking for a replacement for my F355 - but which car?

[Bacchus]

Gentlemen,

I feel that I need a change, before the F355 I had an Alfa Romeo 1750GTV which I loved... the Ferrari lacks the
oldtimer feel/smells, and it is too flashy for everyday use..

what would you buy?

some cars I like:
I thought about a Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 ? Apparently it is a pain in the ar.. to sell it ...
456GT?
308 GTB?
Lotus 340R?
Maserati? I love them... Ghiblis/Mistral/3500 are too expensive,

the problem is I don't want to spend more money than the value of the F355...

cheers

Yves

[ANOpax]

308 GT4 - Bertone styling very different from the 308 GTB and therefore less flashy as a result. Also less costly to buy so you'll have change left over from the sale of the F355.

Video Here

[johnnyreggae]

308GTS (to have the choice of fresh air) or if the budget will stretch 575F1 to experience V12

[The Surveyor]

Bacchus said:

Gentlemen,

I feel that I need a change, before the F355 I had an Alfa Romeo 1750GTV which I loved... the Ferrari lacks the
oldtimer feel/smells, and it is too flashy for everyday use..

what would you buy?

some cars I like:
I thought about a Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 ? Apparently it is a pain in the ar.. to sell it ...
456GT?
308 GTB?
Lotus 340R?
Maserati? I love them... Ghiblis/Mistral/3500 are too expensive,

the problem is I don't want to spend more money than the value of the F355...

cheers

Yves

Easy, an Alfa Romeo Montreal

[MDL111]

How about a 911 from the early 70s / long hood
Also, you will regret selling your 355 - I know I still do and I visit the classifieds every month to look at used ones

[priley]

I have a 355 GTS and bought a 308GTB a couple of years ago. The 308 is a fantastic drive, looks understated-I think most people think it's a kit car-and sounds the business. Not the scream of the 355 though. And I suspect you'd regret selling the 355, especially if you know it's been well looked after. The 308 is huge fun though as its power feels so useable on today's roads.

I also long for a 456. And I wonder what a 365 2+2 would feel like? I imagine the engine noise would be pretty special but possible a bit wafty? Especially after the 355?

308GTB gets my vote.

[anonymous-user]

Bacchus said:

what would you buy?

Have you ever tried the Americans?

Corvettes of all generations are a decent ownership prospect and, unless you buy a new mid-engine C8, the front engine and LHD will be a different experience from your recent car. Coupe or convertible. Manual or auto. All the advantages of thorough engineering and mass production yet not a common sight on UK roads. Puts you on the road in a real car rather than track/summer specials from the likes of Ariel, KTM, Lotus.

[rat rod]

Bacchus said:

Gentlemen,

I feel that I need a change, before the F355 I had an Alfa Romeo 1750GTV which I loved... the Ferrari lacks the
oldtimer feel/smells, and it is too flashy for everyday use..

what would you buy?

some cars I like:
I thought about a Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 ? Apparently it is a pain in the ar.. to sell it ...
456GT?
308 GTB?
Lotus 340R?
Maserati? I love them... Ghiblis/Mistral/3500 are too expensive,

the problem is I don't want to spend more money than the value of the F355...

cheers

Yves

Owned four 365 GT4's (400 shape) great cars for the money, More vintage than the F355 but feels

and sounds like a 2nd World War fighter plane going through the gears on the open road, sort of poor mans Daytona,

Only thing now is that it's old and would not to want to ring it's neck like the V8's as is expensive if things go pear shape

mechanically, Inclined to drive with one eye on the gauges and the other on the road.

A old skool Ferrari mechanic can get you out of trouble but still not cheap , best not go any where near a main dealers with one.

Had a 400 auto for a short while, hated it completely different car to the 365.

Currently got a F430 which i like but should have bought a manual but they were £30k more at the time of buying , just thought i'd try a paddle

shift before i get to old.

also have my modified 308 GTB track car on Webbers and open exhaust , owned it for 26 years and it's not going anywhere

soon, feel more connected with that than the 430, no slouch but not as quick as the modern Ferrari's but like the 365 more theatre and

drama, same applies to the 308 GT4 which might feel slow by modern standards.

Was disappointed in the L.H.D 456 GT i had for a short while, think it was the fact i had to let a Jersey registered E 46 M3 BMW go by and

watch him disappear in front of me while on holiday in Spain , then had a job to pass a mad Italian driving a very smoky diesel Merc ,

Maybe i was expecting to much from it as we were four up with luggage.

If your concerned about being flash l got almost unnoticed in the 365 and the GTB gets more positive reactions than the 430

which can get the finger or the wker sign from white van drivers.

Had a lot of Lotus's before my Italian obsession but don't know much about modern ones,

Still have my 230 bhp HPC Caterham when i want to upset super car owners but that might be a little primitive for some.

My manual Gallardo Gen one is what you would expect if Caterham made a super car but maybe a bit flash for you but gets more positive

reaction than the 430.

Good luck with your search but the F 355 is a hard act to follow

Edited by rat rod on Wednesday 24th February 11:45

[andy97]

Personally I would keep the 355 for high days and holidays and buy a low(ish) price Boxster/ BMW 125i or 130i/ MX5 Mk3/ Audi TT/ Elise/ VX220/ Porsche 944 or 68 for “everyday wear”.

[TonyAM66]

MDL111 said:

How about a 911 from the early 70s / long hood
Also, you will regret selling your 355 - I know I still do and I visit the classifieds every month to look at used ones

Yes!! ..Agreed! ...before you sell it ….. Think .. think and think about it .. .walk away and think some more!! I had a 1995 355 Berlinetta ..... ! have regretted selling it almost every day since i did!

Like you MDL 111... I look at the cars advertised with a sense of regret for selling mine ..... I sold it in 2014 and even then at almost 20 years old the car felt quick and sufficiently modern with performance that still felt almost contemporary. The 355 is one of the last ‘old-school’ analogue performance cars and IMHO a car that perfectly combines that ‘old-school’ {now almost classic} Ferrari factor with almost current day performance and reliability and is so usable and still somewhat understated.

In fact, as I type this.. I am struggling to think of a more perfectly ‘balanced ‘ all round classic / modern performance car …. Is there one ?!?

Maybe, it is time to have another look at the 'Classifieds' ......

[MDL111]

TonyAM66 said:

MDL111 said:

How about a 911 from the early 70s / long hood
Also, you will regret selling your 355 - I know I still do and I visit the classifieds every month to look at used ones

Yes!! ..Agreed! ...before you sell it ….. Think .. think and think about it .. .walk away and think some more!! I had a 1995 355 Berlinetta ..... ! have regretted selling it almost every day since i did!

Like you MDL 111... I look at the cars advertised with a sense of regret for selling mine ..... I sold it in 2014 and even then at almost 20 years old the car felt quick and sufficiently modern with performance that still felt almost contemporary. The 355 is one of the last ‘old-school’ analogue performance cars and IMHO a car that perfectly combines that ‘old-school’ {now almost classic} Ferrari factor with almost current day performance and reliability and is so usable and still somewhat understated.

In fact, as I type this.. I am struggling to think of a more perfectly ‘balanced ‘ all round classic / modern performance car …. Is there one ?!?

Maybe, it is time to have another look at the 'Classifieds' ......

Fully agree - I think it is only a matter of time before I buy another one. And as it would be a weekend car without track use, I might even consider one of the convertibles

[Bacchus]

ANOpax said:

308 GT4 - Bertone styling very different from the 308 GTB and therefore less flashy as a result. Also less costly to buy so you'll have change left over from the sale of the F355.

I had a look at them, they are quite expensive nowadays, I prefer the GTB

johnnyreggae said:

308GTS (to have the choice of fresh air) or if the budget will stretch 575F1 to experience V12

I'm in love with this one : (althought I think it is not in that good shape) and wrong seats....

https://mo-vendi.de/de/fahrzeuge/879-ferrari-308-g...

this spec in GTB form would be my choice!

[Bacchus]

MDL111 said:

How about a 911 from the early 70s / long hood
Also, you will regret selling your 355 - I know I still do and I visit the classifieds every month to look at used ones

sorry I was never a Porsche guy! I look at the classifieds, and shortly after I return to the italians

[Bacchus]

priley said:

I have a 355 GTS and bought a 308GTB a couple of years ago. The 308 is a fantastic drive, looks understated-I think most people think it's a kit car-and sounds the business. Not the scream of the 355 though. And I suspect you'd regret selling the 355, especially if you know it's been well looked after. The 308 is huge fun though as its power feels so useable on today's roads.

I also long for a 456. And I wonder what a 365 2+2 would feel like? I imagine the engine noise would be pretty special but possible a bit wafty? Especially after the 355?

308GTB gets my vote.

Interesting that you have both! That would be my dream garage! Is the 308 rewarding to drive? The F355 lacks a bit of steering feel. I'm possibly spoilt, because my 2nd car at the age of 22 was a Lotus Elise

[rat rod]

Bacchus said:

I'm in love with this one : (althought I think it is not in that good shape) and wrong seats....

https://mo-vendi.de/de/fahrzeuge/879-ferrari-308-g...

this spec in GTB form would be my choice!

Love the wheels and the after market steering wheel, the seats don't look to bad either considering there not standard.

Looking at the regret coming from past F355 owners maybe you should add instead of replace, you can always sell later.

I have many regrets car wise and there a long time gone.

[Bacchus]

rat rod said:

Owned four 365 GT4's (400 shape) great cars for the money, More vintage than the F355 but feels

and sounds like a 2nd World War fighter plane going through the gears on the open road, sort of poor mans Daytona,

Only thing now is that it's old and would not to want to ring it's neck like the V8's as is expensive if things go pear shape

mechanically, Inclined to drive with one eye on the gauges and the other on the road.

A old skool Ferrari mechanic can get you out of trouble but still not cheap , best not go any where near a main dealers with one.

Had a 400 auto for a short while, hated it completely different car to the 365.

Currently got a F430 which i like but should have bought a manual but they were £30k more at the time of buying , just thought i'd try a paddle

shift before i get to old.

also have my modified 308 GTB track car on Webbers and open exhaust , owned it for 26 years and it's not going anywhere

soon, feel more connected with that than the 430, no slouch but not as quick as the modern Ferrari's but like the 365 more theatre and

drama, same applies to the 308 GT4 which might feel slow by modern standards.

Was disappointed in the L.H.D 456 GT i had for a short while, think it was the fact i had to let a Jersey registered E 46 M3 BMW go by and

watch him disappear in front of me while on holiday in Spain , then had a job to pass a mad Italian driving a very smoky diesel Merc ,

Maybe i was expecting to much from it as we were four up with luggage.

If your concerned about being flash l got almost unnoticed in the 365 and the GTB gets more positive reactions than the 430

which can get the finger or the wker sign from white van drivers.

Had a lot of Lotus's before my Italian obsession but don't know much about modern ones,

Still have my 230 bhp HPC Caterham when i want to upset super car owners but that might be a little primitive for some.

My manual Gallardo Gen one is what you would expect if Caterham made a super car but maybe a bit flash for you but gets more positive

reaction than the 430.

Good luck with your search but the F 355 is a hard act to follow

You are my hero I have a small daughter, the 365 would be an ideal cruiser for short weekend trips! I need something with sounds, so the 365 would be ideal!

I saw a nice (grey) 308 but it is in qv form, I fear it lacks the sound everyone talks about? Can they be converted into tbs?

[andy97]

rat rod said:

Looking at the regret coming from past F355 owners maybe you should add instead of replace, you can always sell later.

I have many regrets car wise and there a long time gone.

My thoughts exactly

[anonymous-user]

Or better still, just keep it and use it.

[andy97]

Bacchus said:

sorry I was never a Porsche guy! I look at the classifieds, and shortly after I return to the italians

Keep the 355 then, and buy an Alfa GTV or GT or 147/56 GTA?

[Bacchus]

andy97 said:

Personally I would keep the 355 for high days and holidays and buy a low(ish) price Boxster/ BMW 125i or 130i/ MX5 Mk3/ Audi TT/ Elise/ VX220/ Porsche 944 or 68 for “everyday wear”.

that's what I have (Lotus Elise)

TonyAM66 said:

In fact, as I type this.. I am struggling to think of a more perfectly ‘balanced ‘ all round classic / modern performance car …. Is there one ?!?

.....

they are called "Lotus" I know what you mean!

My "problem" is that I spend a small fortune in 2019 during the cambelt service to rectify/find the check engine light madness, last season the
car started again to misbehave! I'm fed up! Imagine next year or the year after, it is in for another cambelt change and I never used it how I
intended!