355 suspension switch

[rich1231]

Any of you lot have any idea the difference the suspension switch has on my spider?

Is for use on Trackdays etc?

Rich

[ninja_eli]

No, when its in the down position (i.e. with the dash light on) its in soft setting so it takes the bumps better. When its up (i.e. no dash light) its ready for combat. In London most of the time I drive with the setting on soft. Hard is the default setting, which:

1) makes you feel a little bit of a girl when you know you are set in "soft" mode.

2) when the corresponding dash light is on, I sometimes mistake it for the reserve light for the petrol.

Hard setting is better for large smooth roundabouts

[basher]

Oops - I thought with the sport light on (IE/suspension button engaged (down) that the springs were in sport mode hence a harsher ride ????? Makes more sense doesn't it...or is this an Italian quirk...sport mode for softer ride and no chance of messing up the barnet ??

[F355GTB]

In my car with the light on "switch down" the car is in sport mode with stiffer ride etc.....I think the hand book says that with the light off its in sport mode, but you can feel a very obvious difference between modes, and on my car at least, light on = stiffer settings.

[ninja_eli]

When I first got my car the dealer took me through the controls and its definitely down for a softer ride (i.e. light on). Actually feels softer for me with light on and harsher with light off. The difference is notable as I drive a lot around London and some of the roads are really bumpy. Also, when I want to cane it around roundabouts I use the switch in the light off mode. I don't know about you guys, but I can really feel the difference, but the opposite of what you say!

I think with the 355 Ferrari were thinking that the car could be made softer at will, rather than the car can be made harder at will. i.e. Usually it is a hard riding supercar, but you can transform it to be soft when you need to. On the later models this is reversed, with the switch being used to make it harder for combat mode.

[F355GTB]

Makes sense! Mines a '99 so falls into the reversed wiring! Light on is definately stiffer on my car!

[basher]

Same here...and mines a 98

[ninja_eli]

quote:
Makes sense! Mines a '99 so falls into the reversed wiring! Light on is definately stiffer on my car!

No no! thats not what I meant! I meant the newer models as in the 360! I don't think that there is a reverse wiring. I am sure the manual also says that the light on is the softer setting, and also reading an autocar review said the same thing! Perhaps this is proof that its all in the mind? The switch with the light on means comfort setting (i.e. soft suspension). Its on because its a warning light, telling you your car will not perform at peak. Isn't it only effective at under 50MPH anyway?

>> Edited by ninja_eli on Wednesday 2nd October 16:23

[F355GTB]

Oh well, I can only comment on my car, but light on = stiffer, very noticable on any road that has a less than smooth surface.