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

[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

[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?

[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!

[Bacchus]

Castrol for a knave said:

OP - have you thought about a Jalpa?

Not my cup of tea, sorry!

[Bacchus]

FezSpider said:

Never seen so much regrets In a single thread

rat rod said:

Did the QV thing but unless you fit throttle bodies to them they are a bit dull compared to the carbs and expensive to fit,

Lucky i kept my GTB and sold the QV instead,

Good you mention that! What makes them dull? The qv engine? Is the driving feeling the same?

I had my eyes on this one as well :

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/ferrari/308/1...

[Bacchus]

priley said:

...

The Dino Spider mentioned earlier is close to my heart too as I have one of those, after owning a couple of Coupe's. The sound and open-top motoring is unique but if you want something to throw around, whilst retaining the older mechanical qualities, the 308 wins again.

I'm really curious about the 365 now after Rat Rod's comments. I've never given them much attention but the sound must be epic, plus, like my old Dino Coupe's, the kids can come along too. Shame I'm out of garage space!

The Dino is quite expensive! I always loved them!!!

365 :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDVarNZWCMY

[Bacchus]

johns355 said:

Sold my 355 gts 8 years ago- yes just before the prices rocketed! Bought a noble which I had for 3.5 years, then an aston vantage roadster, which I must admit has been brilliant. So I'd suggest get a V12 vantage while you can, John

Good point! I like the styling of the V12 Vantage, but the interior is not what I like (prefer interior of italian cars)

I'm a fan of the 80s Vantage, but their prices are too high!

[Bacchus]

rat rod said:

If you have never driven a carb 308 you may be ok with the qv but it's the induction noise of the Webbers sucking in the air and coughing and

spitting back will help make it more special and feel like you are going faster than you are,...

I remember reading somewhere that RHD 308s in carb form make a better induction noise, because the driver is sitting on the side of the airscoop
I try to find a carb 308 and test it! But the 365 is very tempting, as you said, I could enjoy it with my family!

[Bacchus]

The Surveyor said:

If I was in the OP's position, looking for something Italian and V8 but not run-of-the-mill, I'd be looking at:-

a Maserati Shamal

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1128637

or

as my earlier ignored suggestion, a beautiful Alfa Romeo Montreal, race-bread V8 in a gorgeous coupe body, something like this

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1191844

I had a look in the classifieds, Montreal is tempting, but the handling is not that sharp... the Shamal is a great shout! I love them!!!
and they are apparently very very fast!!

[Bacchus]

I met a guy in Germany, who when he brought home his newly acquired Shamal lost his license, that sums it up

I ask myself if a very good looked after Maserati Biturbo would be sufficient? Maybe a Racing with 300bhp... (for half the price)
but if you are standing next to a Shamal, it is a car similar to most Ferraris, an engine with some bodywork (especially at the front of the Shamal)

[Bacchus]

Funny that you mention the 4200/Gransport, as I had been searching the classifieds for a Gransport before I found my 355...
I saw a Fujiwhite Gransport MC VIctory, I should have bought it, as they are very rare in that colour!

How are they in stop and go traffic? Did you put it in neutral on every occasion to save the clutch life? I imagine that
this procedure is very annoying?

[Bacchus]

Zippee said:

FezSpider said:

Never seen so much regrets In a single thread

At least they're regrets from owning one
My regret is agreeing an amazing deal on a black s plate 355 gts then deciding I preferred my TVR on the drive home and cancelled it. Made worse by the fact this was about 10 years ago and the 355 was 35k.

7 years ago, I planned to have a look at a 355 the day before my girlfriend announced that she was pregnant, I cancelled the visit... (car was 38k€ red/black '95 2.7) the same year my car was purchased by its former owner for 60k€ ! He sold it two years later to me for 86k€

Happy that I have a daughter

[Bacchus]

MaserCoupe said:

Enjoyed mine for 6 plus years and 9000miles, loved my car, BUT no regrets in selling it, don’t miss the maintenance, miss the engine sound, don’t miss the fettling and the wheel refurbing, won’t miss the parts expense but miss the exhaust valve opening in the tunnel. Wont miss the manifolds do miss the sound, Won’t miss the cambelts, tensioner bearings etc, but miss the sound oh yeah did I mention the sound!?? Won’t miss the MOT’s on the emissions but they are Tubi’s ffs!! Will miss the open top full fat experience but won’t miss the hood mechanism, miss the look of it but don’t miss how the parts that you need are NLA! Miss the look of opening the hood but don’t miss valve stem wear! Yeah love it, especially when she squirts clutch fluid in winter when not being used. Miss you but don’t miss getting under you to fettle, love you but you are a challenging cow sometimes. Xxx oh and the sound! That 8500rpm through the tunnel...but glad in a way that you’re gone for another Italian!

LOL exactly what I think! Your answer would make a great owners review!

[Bacchus]

I'm going to test drive a 308, probably the grey one I showed earlier in this thread (as soon as this Corona st is "over", I don't really like the colour, but
I'm in love with its stance!
many 308 I see in the classifieds seem to sit higher in the front than normal, don't know the reason.

here is something for the former owners regretting selling I have never read such positive lines about a car!!
It's like a love letter.

[Bacchus]

here is one (of many) with that comic stance...