Does anyone here own a 355 F1?

[birdcage]

I would be really interested in how the gearbox/paddles are to use.


I can imagine it will be different to the CSL/GranSport I have owned but is it a question of getting used to it and the best out of it etc

People will say get a manuel etc but I am curious to hear from people who live with this particular model

[andy355]

i used to have a 355 f1, then a maser spyder cc and now a 430. same thing really, the 430 is more refined but i wouldnt say it is a massive difference over the 355 - from memory you needed to time the changes more in the 355 to make it smooth whilst the 430 seems to tolerate more casual behaviour. the auto mode seems better but i never use it. none of them are any good at getting up the ramp out of my garage without burning the clutch

specifically regarding the 355 i think clutch wear was something of an issue though will depend on driving conditions. another worry was the f1 actuator pump which is an expensive part if it fails, not sure how common that is

[bromers2]

A 355F1 is miles behind the SMG II in the CSL.

IMO I wouldn't touch it particularly if you've driven later paddle shift systems - the 355 technology is 12 years old now.

[lambo_xx]

Haven't driven one, but from what I was told It wasn't very good, Slow and jerky. What you could try and find out is whether it could be upgraded? Now I don't know much about this and to be honest I haven't ever heard of anyone having it done on a 355, but hey it's worth looking into. I know that early 360s can be upgraded to the challenge stradale gear changes, so it may be possible to do the same to a 355.

Anyway, although the gearbox isn't very good from what I've been told, I'm sure you would get used to it. guess it's whether you want to or not.

Hope that helps and good luck with your search. They are brilliant cars.

[cappsy]

ihave a 355 manual but when i was looking at 355s was told to steer clear generally beacuase is was clunky and slow,not at refined as in the 360 and the later cars

[here]

lambo_xx said:

Anyway, although the gearbox isn't very good from what I've been told, I'm sure you would get used to it.

Both the gear boxes on the manual and F1 355s are exactly the same. The difference is that the F1 cars have solenoids bolted onto it, to allow for gear changing.
The F1 cars are not so bad, although naturaly the newer cars are better. But thats to be expected.

[yellowgriff]

i have driven approx 6.... 355 F1 all & i do mean all where horrific .Every gear change your head waved backward then forward bit like a mexican wave.
I must admit this was all in town traffic driving, have seen them on B road being driven hard & they sounded great changing up & down..
From what ive been told as well they eat clutch the rate of 3 to 1 above manuel cars..IMHO F1 is for you if you live in the country...LOL

[Need For Speed]

I used to own a 1998 355F1 back in 2000 and it really wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. Sure, it's not as good as the 360/430 system, but it worked well and never went wrong whilst in my ownership. It was a bit brutal in sport mode under full throttle, but that was the nature of the beast. Oh yes, and you looked cool for owning the first paddle shift road Ferrari ever (with the F1 moniker on the back)!

Edited by Need For Speed on Sunday 17th May 14:24

[andy355]

you have to drive them with a bit of thought. yes they are jerky if you dont know what you are doing, more so than the 360 or 430 but they can be driven smoothly. i doubt many owners would say they are that bad, most oppinions on here are from non owners

[yellowgriff]

andy355 said:

you have to drive them with a bit of thought. yes they are jerky if you dont know what you are doing, more so than the 360 or 430 but they can be driven smoothly. i doubt many owners would say they are that bad, most oppinions on here are from non owners

Yes the car might of been in development & not as good as the 360 or f430, But in the day it was still a ferrari with a really bad box,, I drove at least 3 before i bought a 360 manual. Only people who own the cars stick up for them.them same as people who bought BMW SMG.. as you said picking the right moment to change gear,Not that jerky, Whats that all about, 100K ish NEW..P.S Im a ferrari fanatic not dogging the car just the gearbox should have been sorted before selling it to the public

[here]

I know is a hard idea to grasp for some But the F1 gearboxes are not the problem, because they are the same as on the manuals cars. Its the actuator/solenoid system that lets the F1 down. Not the gearbox. The Ferrari 355 F1 pump can be substituted with the better uprated F360 unit. This makes the changing process better than the standard 355 f1.

Edited by here on Sunday 17th May 16:59

[Need For Speed]

yellowgriff said:

....Only people who own the cars stick up for them...

So why did Autocar magazine give in 5 stars and call it a great gearbox?

Edited by Need For Speed on Sunday 17th May 17:19

[here]

Need For Speed said:

yellowgriff said:

....Only people who own the cars stick up for them...

So why did Autocar magazine give in 5 stars and call it a great gearbox?

Edited by Need For Speed on Sunday 17th May 17:19

Agreed as did every one of the motoring magazines back when the new ground breaking Ferrari F1 system was tested.
Its easy for people to slate old technology years later, but back in its day it was a revelation...
Thinking about it, today's current 599 technology is totally crap.....compared to what Ferrari will be producing in another 10 years time
I bet you that the same conversation will be had then that we are having today, but with the 599.

[yellowgriff]

Not worried about top gear, car magazines. Does it not jerk in gear, slip on slopes. youve both got proper cars don't tell me this changes Gears properly;;
Im not stupid. Cant understand the argument. Have a look at the OWNER above saying that " it isnt that bad" I bought a MERC 55 SL New Listening to CLARKSON what a bucket of st that was...

[here]

yellowgriff said:

Not worried about top gear, car magazines. Does it not jerk in gear, slip on slopes. youve both got proper cars don't tell me this changes Gears properly;;
Im not stupid. Cant understand the argument. Have a look at the OWNER above saying that " it isnt that bad" I bought a MERC 55 SL New Listening to CLARKSON what a bucket of st that was...

Huh? Now say that again in english so we can all understand.