Ferrari 360 spiders are they overhyped rubbish

[Mike Brown]

Well after owning a 360 spider for all of five weeks I am wondering if I missed something, was it me or are they extremely noisy ie engine gearbox noises , they sound sound like a Ducatti in the boot,the driving position is abysmal the handling I found very unsettling. Overall my dream car turned out to be so so disappointing. Or did I miss something, I would appreciate others views on my thoughts Mike.

[FerrariV8]

Hello Mike,

Without seeing your car and carrying out a health check no one can answer your question, The 360 is a very tough and capable supercar, I guess it also depends on your expectation and previous car experience.

T.

[markst]

they are great cars......

[andrew]

i quite like the sound of a ducati

[FisiP1]

Take another owner for a ride to see if they notice anything particular with your car that is off compared to their own.

Check you didn't buy an MR2 based replica

Otherwise possibly had your expectations set too highly?

[johnnyreggae]

Mike Brown said:

the handling I found very unsettling

Old or worn or unmatched tyres / wrong pressures / geometry : all double-checked ?

[lambo_xx]

Mike Brown said:

Well after owning a 360 spider for all of five weeks I am wondering if I missed something, was it me or are they extremely noisy ie engine gearbox noises , they sound sound like a Ducatti in the boot,the driving position is abysmal the handling I found very unsettling. Overall my dream car turned out to be so so disappointing. Or did I miss something, I would appreciate others views on my thoughts Mike.

Haven't driven a 430 so don't know what they're like. It might be worth getting your car checked over as there may well be something wrong with it and therefore it might not be performing the way it should!

[ewolg]

I've had mine for 18 months and love it. I did have a full geometry check which made it better (although it wasn't 'bad' in the 1st place). I find the driving position fine but maybe you are very tall (or short...)!!??
Drove up the Grand St Bernard pass in July and melted the number plate - could not have driven any faster (and those who know me can verify I can move on reasonably). I'm sorry to hear you didn't like it but there are rogue cars out there as with any make / model.

[Audi 525i]

ewolg said:

Just seen your car history. You've had more cars than I've had hot dinners.

And I'm a fat bd. A really fat bd.

[iandc]

Mike Brown said:

Well after owning a 360 spider for all of five weeks I am wondering if I missed something, was it me or are they extremely noisy ie engine gearbox noises , they sound sound like a Ducatti in the boot,the driving position is abysmal the handling I found very unsettling. Overall my dream car turned out to be so so disappointing. Or did I miss something, I would appreciate others views on my thoughts Mike.

Sounds like you bought a lemon. I had mine for 18 months, did 13,500 miles including trips around Europe and loved every minute of it.

[bromers2]

Get it lowered, it has adjustable suspension, geo checked and add some Pirelli Corsa's.

But firstly check tyre pressures.

[L33]

I initially felt the same after driving my first 2 when I first started looking to buy one. I simply didn't understand the hype. I checked out various forums and decided that there must have been something wrong with the 2 cars I'd looked at. I viewed and drove another at Walkersport Ferrari specialists and what a difference it made driving a good one.
There are LOADS of poor 360's on the market. All I can recomend is try a good one from a reputible Ferrari dealer or specialist and I'm sure you'll very quickly change your opinion.

[enzodino]

Hi i hope the following helps . 360's are prone to wear on the front Suspension Arms as anyone who has owned one will tell you .They are sensitive to the make of Tyre and drive well on Pirelli P Zero's so check the Tyres . Without driving you Car its impossible to know but they are also prone to wear on the 2nd Gear Syncro (assuming your Car is Manual) again its easy to get checked out

[PorkerSean]

ewolg said:

Drove up the Grand St Bernard pass in July and melted the number plate - could not have driven any faster (and those who know me can verify I can move on reasonably). .

Fantastic! This is on my bucket list.....when I get the right car Cue Matt Munro....

[70proof]

hi mike

you may not have brought a lemon, this is what a posted after a few days of gallrdo ownership...

early days yet, haven;t driven any twisties in anger.....and havent; really floored it...

loving the sound, above 4k rpm anyway....
e gear is nice, and easy, even in town.... haven;t tried corsa mode yet...
suspension is pliant and stiff at the same time, there;s a ridge in the middle of one roundabout which unsettles the alpina, the gallardo is planted....
makes you realise just how epic the s62 engine in the e39 m5 was...
not yet found a truly comfortable seated positon....
loving the colour and the looks, strange as i always preferred the nurci to the gallardo...

italian cars have the pedals offset to the left, and there have been numerous threads recently about how tall may not = comfortable fit in a gallardo
i can totally understand why maclaren made the 12c quiet <4k rpm, just idling around at 2-4k revs there are just way too many mechanical sounds from the back which explain why the audio system is so important, make it fun by trying to wrk out which sound is from what....

hopefully it will grow on you, good luck it is not a lemon as suggested...

[mattdaniels]

I've had my 360 spider a couple of months and love it. No problems with the driving position (apart from rear vis) but then only being 5'8" and having the carbon seats helps.

[RVIANT]

mattdaniels said:

I've had my 360 spider a couple of months and love it. No problems with the driving position (apart from rear vis) but then only being 5'8" and having the carbon seats helps.

either drive with the roof down or if you have not got eletrically adjustable seats get a cushion


had mine 5 years no complaints and its done 38k so no garage queen!

[Mike Brown]

Thanks all It must just be me, I bought it from Meridian Modena, and have to say it was mint and checked out perfectly, it just that the noises both from the exhaust and mechanically were a little irritating to say the least, i simply could not feel at ease with it both from the driving position which i found uncomfortable and the whole judging the width around our narrow country lanes, it also seemed all or nothing with the acceleration, ie pretty rapid and violent compared to the smooth delivery of power from my C4S. Strange thing is I am still hankering to own one again! Thanks Mike

[iandc]

Mike Brown said:

Thanks all It must just be me, I bought it from Meridian Modena, and have to say it was mint and checked out perfectly, it just that the noises both from the exhaust and mechanically were a little irritating to say the least, i simply could not feel at ease with it both from the driving position which i found uncomfortable and the whole judging the width around our narrow country lanes, it also seemed all or nothing with the acceleration, ie pretty rapid and violent compared to the smooth delivery of power from my C4S. Strange thing is I am still hankering to own one again! Thanks Mike

Sounds like you dont own it anymore. Sorry you could not live with it if that is the case as they are great cars and part of the driving pleasure is the noise and the fact that they are not as "digital" as modern Ferraris plus others.

[Jonty355]

Should have bought a 355