A Ferrari 355 after a TVR T350
Discussion
About 3 years ago I was thinking very seriously about buying a 355 berlinetta. However, in the end I didn't buy one for a combination of reasons, one of them being that the car didn't really get under my skin.
The 355 is just so beautiful and I so wanted to love the car but the drives I had were underwhelming, the car wasn't as quick as I thought it might be and I found the interior a little bit cheap for what was once a car that cost £100k. Those weren't the only factors that led to my ending up in a T350 instead, but they're the ones that matter for the purposes of this post.
Maybe the car felt slow (I use the word in comparison to a chipped Porsche Turbo and a TVR) because I hadn't driven it in anger? I would assume you need to wring the engine's neck to see the best the car has to offer at the top end of the revs?
The purpose of this post isn't to undermine a seminal Ferrari but rather to get some convincing going again! I was in the rather nicer parts of Esher last week and saw an beautiful Tour de France blue 355 behind some gates... that set me off again!
Anyone here gone from TVR T350 or Sagaris to F355? Tell me that the Ferrari won't be underwhelming! I'm in no hurry to get rid of my TVR which I am thoroughly enjoying, but I do want to scratch that Ferrari itch.
The 355 is just so beautiful and I so wanted to love the car but the drives I had were underwhelming, the car wasn't as quick as I thought it might be and I found the interior a little bit cheap for what was once a car that cost £100k. Those weren't the only factors that led to my ending up in a T350 instead, but they're the ones that matter for the purposes of this post.
Maybe the car felt slow (I use the word in comparison to a chipped Porsche Turbo and a TVR) because I hadn't driven it in anger? I would assume you need to wring the engine's neck to see the best the car has to offer at the top end of the revs?
The purpose of this post isn't to undermine a seminal Ferrari but rather to get some convincing going again! I was in the rather nicer parts of Esher last week and saw an beautiful Tour de France blue 355 behind some gates... that set me off again!
Anyone here gone from TVR T350 or Sagaris to F355? Tell me that the Ferrari won't be underwhelming! I'm in no hurry to get rid of my TVR which I am thoroughly enjoying, but I do want to scratch that Ferrari itch.
AdvocatusD said:
Anyone here gone from TVR T350 or Sagaris to F355? Tell me that the Ferrari won't be underwhelming! I'm in no hurry to get rid of my TVR which I am thoroughly enjoying, but I do want to scratch that Ferrari itch.
I drove my mates rather special griffith a lot... its felt so much faster than the 355, but when I bought a 355 and we went head to head the 355 was quicker.It wont give you a thump in the back like a TVR will. These engines liked to be revved and they deliver the power in a completely different way. The TVR is just there from the bottom then fades, the ferrari is smooth and increses with revs. Not to mention the fancy suspension that absorbs some of that. Most TVRs I've driven, I hit the throttle and I'm looking up at the sky!
I think you'd besuprised if you were to try the cars out round a track. The TVR is more fun, but the 355 would be quicker I would think.
If you like that thump in the back though, stick with your TVR or look at a V12 Ferrari like a 550.
Jonty355 said:
AdvocatusD said:
Anyone here gone from TVR T350 or Sagaris to F355? Tell me that the Ferrari won't be underwhelming! I'm in no hurry to get rid of my TVR which I am thoroughly enjoying, but I do want to scratch that Ferrari itch.
I drove my mates rather special griffith a lot... its felt so much faster than the 355, but when I bought a 355 and we went head to head the 355 was quicker.http://www.youtube.com/user/hairyarsephillips?feat...
TVRMARKUB said:
Equity i have also been up against Grifs and Sags at Vmax my self and beat them. It all depends on the start and driver. Any videos of any situation can easily be found and posted. Heres an example of me against a Sagris (1.30 into the vid), i took of faster and finished down the straight to the timing lights ahead by 3-4 car lenghts ahead. And thats with me whos a 19 stone guy with a passenger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5nCdyyhkMYBut back to the original question of the OP. Stay with the TVRs i say, you will be under whelmed with the Ferraris.
Edited by ferrari spider on Thursday 1st April 09:09
AdvocatusD said:
About 3 years ago I was thinking very seriously about buying a 355 berlinetta. However, in the end I didn't buy one for a combination of reasons, one of them being that the car didn't really get under my skin.
Did exactly the same 3 years ago too. Except in my case it was down to a dealer also having a Lotus Sport 350. Maybe the 355 didn't feel as quick or maybe the feedback wasn't as good but as you say, the cars I tried just didn't do it for me. Well maybe there was the 355 with a Capristo that had an engine noise to die for but other than that it seemed to me that the Esprit V8 had the edge.A 355 in TDF blue would be my ideal too and the idea has not gone away completely but I have a itch for a Diablo that may need to be scratched first.
Whichever way you go the margin of difference is TBH quite small and how you feel about the marque will be more important.
ferrari spider said:
TVRMARKUB said:
Equity i have also been up against Grifs and Sags at Vmax my self and beat them. It all depends on the start and driver. Any videos of any situation can easily be found and posted. Heres an example of me against a Sagris (1.30 into the vid), i took of faster and finished down the straight to the timing lights ahead by 3-4 car lenghts ahead. And thats with me whos a 19 stone guy with a passenger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5nCdyyhkMYBut back to the original question of the OP. Stay with the TVRs i say, you will be under whelmed with the Ferraris.
Edited by ferrari spider on Thursday 1st April 09:09
If I might chime in, I owned a 4.0L Tuscan for a while, before getting the M3 and the 355. I've also got a good mate who has a Tuscan S and we go for drives regularly.
There's no doubt about it, the TVR is the faster car however the 355 noise (mine has a Capristo on it) is just something else entirely.
The thing I find about the 355 is that its not the fastest car I've ever owned by a long shot(mind you, its not slow. You DO need to rev it though). Its arguably one of the best looking (albeit that is subjective). Its one of the best handling (my GTR had more grip and higher levels of adhesion but you had to be going pretty fast to make it unstick). I've had my 355 apart and the build quality isn't astounding, but nor is it poor either, and there's oddles of uprated replacement parts available (remember, they're old cars now so need some TLC).
What the 355 seems to do, in my opinion, is deliver just the right amount of everything, every time you drive it. Speed, noise, occasion, looks, feedback etc etc. It'll do a shopping trip to ASDA, a 2,000 mile tour around Europe and half a dozen laps of the nurburgring all without missing a beat, and you'll feel a million bucks doing each of them.
It is quite simply the most rewarding and flattering car (in terms of driver ability) I've ever owned.
Oh, and TDF with tan IS the way forward.
There's no doubt about it, the TVR is the faster car however the 355 noise (mine has a Capristo on it) is just something else entirely.
The thing I find about the 355 is that its not the fastest car I've ever owned by a long shot(mind you, its not slow. You DO need to rev it though). Its arguably one of the best looking (albeit that is subjective). Its one of the best handling (my GTR had more grip and higher levels of adhesion but you had to be going pretty fast to make it unstick). I've had my 355 apart and the build quality isn't astounding, but nor is it poor either, and there's oddles of uprated replacement parts available (remember, they're old cars now so need some TLC).
What the 355 seems to do, in my opinion, is deliver just the right amount of everything, every time you drive it. Speed, noise, occasion, looks, feedback etc etc. It'll do a shopping trip to ASDA, a 2,000 mile tour around Europe and half a dozen laps of the nurburgring all without missing a beat, and you'll feel a million bucks doing each of them.
It is quite simply the most rewarding and flattering car (in terms of driver ability) I've ever owned.
Oh, and TDF with tan IS the way forward.
Cactussed said:
It'll do a shopping trip to ASDA
Took mine to asda last night for a massive shop....was a hoot +++ Got a few slightly incredulous looks which was funny! And I reckon my multibuy savings even paid for the fuel 
Only downside was that I got chatted up by a 50-odd year old woman in a Mini Cooper S 
+++= Ferraris impractical? Pah! It's got a big boot (compared to my 911) and I seem to be getting 17-18mpg even with a bit of town driving and a pretty heavy right foot
To the OP: I think you're going about this the wrong way. You need to ask yourself not if a 355 is suitable for you but can you handle a 355. The 355 is a manly car, if it was a guy it would be the kind that had a hairy chest, gets drunk and shags birds with big tits. Thus it takes a manly driver to be about to handle the 355.
Now the TVR is a reasonably manly car so at a first glance it appears you may be suitable. Most TVR drivers I know are reasonably manly and some are even certifiable (Hi Del!). But there are TVR owners that are exceptions to this rule.
So it depends on what kind of man you are. If you are an example of above said manly man species then go for gold my son and you will be welcomed to the world of 355 ownership. If however you are the kind that likes to go clothes shopping in the weekend and colour co-ordinates his outfits maybe you should think about buying a 360.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
BJ
Now the TVR is a reasonably manly car so at a first glance it appears you may be suitable. Most TVR drivers I know are reasonably manly and some are even certifiable (Hi Del!). But there are TVR owners that are exceptions to this rule.
So it depends on what kind of man you are. If you are an example of above said manly man species then go for gold my son and you will be welcomed to the world of 355 ownership. If however you are the kind that likes to go clothes shopping in the weekend and colour co-ordinates his outfits maybe you should think about buying a 360.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
BJ
BrendonJ said:
To the OP: I think you're going about this the wrong way. You need to ask yourself not if a 355 is suitable for you but can you handle a 355. The 355 is a manly car, if it was a guy it would be the kind that had a hairy chest, gets drunk and shags birds with big tits. Thus it takes a manly driver to be about to handle the 355.
Now the TVR is a reasonably manly car so at a first glance it appears you may be suitable. Most TVR drivers I know are reasonably manly and some are even certifiable (Hi Del!). But there are TVR owners that are exceptions to this rule.
So it depends on what kind of man you are. If you are an example of above said manly man species then go for gold my son and you will be welcomed to the world of 355 ownership. If however you are the kind that likes to go clothes shopping in the weekend and colour co-ordinates his outfits maybe you should think about buying a 360.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
BJ
Now the TVR is a reasonably manly car so at a first glance it appears you may be suitable. Most TVR drivers I know are reasonably manly and some are even certifiable (Hi Del!). But there are TVR owners that are exceptions to this rule.
So it depends on what kind of man you are. If you are an example of above said manly man species then go for gold my son and you will be welcomed to the world of 355 ownership. If however you are the kind that likes to go clothes shopping in the weekend and colour co-ordinates his outfits maybe you should think about buying a 360.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
BJ
ferrari spider said:
TVRMARKUB said:
Equity i have also been up against Grifs and Sags at Vmax my self and beat them. It all depends on the start and driver. Any videos of any situation can easily be found and posted. Heres an example of me against a Sagris (1.30 into the vid), i took of faster and finished down the straight to the timing lights ahead by 3-4 car lenghts ahead. And thats with me whos a 19 stone guy with a passenger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5nCdyyhkMYBut back to the original question of the OP. Stay with the TVRs i say, you will be under whelmed with the Ferraris.
Edited by ferrari spider on Thursday 1st April 09:09
k off Del 203 said:
ferrari spider said:
TVRMARKUB said:
Equity i have also been up against Grifs and Sags at Vmax my self and beat them. It all depends on the start and driver. Any videos of any situation can easily be found and posted. Heres an example of me against a Sagris (1.30 into the vid), i took of faster and finished down the straight to the timing lights ahead by 3-4 car lenghts ahead. And thats with me whos a 19 stone guy with a passenger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5nCdyyhkMYBut back to the original question of the OP. Stay with the TVRs i say, you will be under whelmed with the Ferraris.
Edited by ferrari spider on Thursday 1st April 09:09
TVRMARKUB said:
ferrari spider said:
TVRMARKUB said:
Equity i have also been up against Grifs and Sags at Vmax my self and beat them. It all depends on the start and driver. Any videos of any situation can easily be found and posted. Heres an example of me against a Sagris (1.30 into the vid), i took of faster and finished down the straight to the timing lights ahead by 3-4 car lenghts ahead. And thats with me whos a 19 stone guy with a passenger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5nCdyyhkMYBut back to the original question of the OP. Stay with the TVRs i say, you will be under whelmed with the Ferraris.
Edited by ferrari spider on Thursday 1st April 09:09
But the point is that i posted that video to show you that we all can find videos of cars leaving the line at a quick rate. You posted your TVR beating a F430 of the line, i posted a 355 beating a Sagris of the line. swings and round abouts baby.
Edited by ferrari spider on Thursday 1st April 15:51
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