| Author |
Message |
EFWUN (Efwun)
New member
Username: Efwun
Post Number: 11
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 4:25 pm: | |
John Lee:
I had 2 355B's; first a '98 #11607, then a '95 #100073. I had "solo-tubo" Tubis on each, a mufflerless Tubi (not the standard Tubi with muffler). My Modena came up for order, and I had driven them extensively. I chose to get a 550. I did miss the scream of the 355, so I replaced the mufflers on the 550 with a venturi pipe and solo-tubo Tubis. The 550 is still far less extreme than the 355 or the 360, but also significantly faster, particularly over 80mph.
My 355s' steering had a slower ratio than the 360, but they had significantly less understeer, and commensurately more oversteer. In short, they were much more "kart-like" near the limit, but felt less darty than the 360 because of slower steering and longer throttle travel. The 360 has a much more comfortable seating position, and is far less aggravation to get into! (After several months, that became more important to me than I thought it would!)
Finally, the 355 has a certain "compactness" that appeals to me, it is significantly smaller appearing than the 360; I miss that part too!
In summary, my 355s couldn't compete with the 360 in terms that are supposed to matter, but they had a charm that is somewhat lacking in the 360. This is similar to how a 996 will clobber a 993, but the 993 has that certain something!!
If there comes a day when I can afford a nice 355 Berlinetta to sit near my 550, I would do it all over again. brad |
John Lee (Gjockey)
New member
Username: Gjockey
Post Number: 10
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 1:56 am: | |
Hey Robert,
I read your post with great interest and hope you see this. What you wrote was of particular interest to me because I see from your profile you owned a 360 spyder. Currently, I have a 360 spyder 6-speed and was thinking out loud to myself about getting a 355 hard top. My only consideration in purchasing another car is about how much of a grin it puts on my face driving it. If you had both a 360 spyder and a 355 hard top in your garage, do you think you wind up driving just one primarily or do you think they are both different enough and both fun enough in their own respective ways that you would drive them both. Thanks--- John |
DMC (Machinnes)
New member
Username: Machinnes
Post Number: 45
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 7:56 pm: | |
To much refinement takes the life out of a car and most people feel all this refinement makes for a better car. I love my 355 but when I get in to my 73RS Porsche its loud has great suspension and power which lets you feel every inch of the road. The 500w radio, the GPS, backup sensors and any traction controls just seem to take the the fun out of it. |
Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member
Username: Mitch_alsup
Post Number: 346
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:01 pm: | |
"It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."
Indeed it is! |
robert biscan (Tn_ferrari_bob)
New member
Username: Tn_ferrari_bob
Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 7:16 am: | |
I have owned a TR a 355F1 and a 360F1. The 355 was the most fun to drive and to me the sound with a tubi was great. The 355 was a great track car but it did suffer with a little lag at low rpm's. My 360 was not mechanically sound and after 6 months I sold it with mixed feelings. There is no question the 360 is faster at every driving application. That is right off the line speed, passing power at a 50mpn roll on, or top speed. The 360 is bigger and more comfortable. I feel it was designed to be more of an American size since we are such a large market share. It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. I found that at normal operating speeds the 360 was not exciting. It is so refined that some of the involvement is lost. I am going to buy a 360 with a manual trans. having drove one. With a 6 speed the car felt more enjoyable to me. I am also thinking I may buy a 355 as prices continue to fall. I am wondering about a Daytona in the future but my concern is the maintenance costs and my ability to detect a good one from a not so well sorted out car. I have a friend with a Daytona conv. that loves it. I have read the info on site and know the pros and cons to the model. Having said all this lets get the cars out and go for a ride,Spring is right around the corner. |
Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Member
Username: Davewapinski
Post Number: 491
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 8:55 pm: | |
Thanks, good point! |
Willis Huang (Willis360)
Intermediate Member
Username: Willis360
Post Number: 1130
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 6:46 pm: | |
You don't need a lot of speed to enjoy the 360 on a twisty road. |
Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Member
Username: Davewapinski
Post Number: 489
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 5:52 pm: | |
I have been told that the advantage of a 328 (or earlier) over a 360 is that one can get thrills from a 328 at lower speeds where to get the same thrills from a 360 one has to be going much faster. Sometimes the faster speeds are not possible due to cops, safety, etc.
Do you agree with this, especially the people who have owned both? |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
Member
Username: Mw360
Post Number: 795
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 5:51 pm: | |
I miss my 355 just like I miss the hernia I had repaired! |
noel smith (Noel)
New member
Username: Noel
Post Number: 38
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 4:50 pm: | |
i just traded my 355 for a 360(see thread "my new car" from yesterday for pics), other than the exhaust no regrets, the 360 is better in every way. |
john (Johnwto)
Junior Member
Username: Johnwto
Post Number: 54
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 10:14 am: | |
the 360 is far superior to the 355 in just about every way. the overall feeling of the 360 feels more sure-footed on the track and on the road. the 360's steering is much quicker than the 355 so to me the 360 feels more 'go-cart' like than the 355.
i really liked the looks of the 355 and loved the sound but i don't think too many 360 owners would go back to a 355 |
van mollenberg (Vanny)
Junior Member
Username: Vanny
Post Number: 107
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 9:05 am: | |
i have owned a 328,348,355 and now have a 360f1-loved the 328-disliked the 348-loved the 355 for its style,sound/tubi-all of these were reg. shift cars-for the 360f1-i get excited every time i drive -i loved stick, but flipping those paddles its a total different feeling-the 360 is bigger -it also has a tubi and the sound is enticing.just my thoughts-van |
John Lee (Gjockey)
New member
Username: Gjockey
Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 8:18 am: | |
Brian,
I'm trying to see if there is some character about the driving experience -outside of the exhaust- that the 355 has that could make it more fun to drive at times than the 360. Maybe a better way to put it is, does anybody have both cars (355 and 360) and still find much reason to drive the 355, and if so, why? --- John |
ken rentiers (Rentiers)
New member
Username: Rentiers
Post Number: 47
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 7:05 am: | |
The same progression from 'intense experience' to 'more refined' is true as far back as you care to go in the Ferrari line. The early cars took no prisoners. Partly due to safety regs, partly due to market trends.
See the excellent comparision of Brandon Wang's new 360 Spider .v his California in a FORZA of the recent past for much more on this subject. |
s.c.davis (360c)
New member
Username: 360c
Post Number: 6
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 6:57 am: | |
In my case I miss my old 355 because it was a Challenge and it had an overload of character. I doubt that I would feel the same if my old 355 was the standard road version. The 360 is a much better car in pretty much any department you care to name. The one disappointment was the sound of the 360 compared to the 355 Challenge. My 360 has a Tubi; but it still is a poor comparison.
I have had a few reliability issues with the 360 as well. I'm not thrilled with being tied to the dealer for servicing, as my experience has been less than confidence inspiring at times. |
Brian Jackett (Brian_jackett)
New member
Username: Brian_jackett
Post Number: 15
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 5:06 am: | |
Why leave exhaust tone out.
That is a major part of any car, the exhaust sound.
|
John Lee (Gjockey)
New member
Username: Gjockey
Post Number: 8
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 2:15 am: | |
Hi, was searching around a bit and stumbled on an old thread where a 355/360 owner mentioned he felt the 360 was more refined than the 355 and felt the 355 was (to paraphrase) more intense. With so many people now having owned both cars, was curious what opinions were. It's obvious that the 360 is a more advanced car and certainly produces better stock track numbers... but I'm wondering if the 355 has a bigger fun factor than the 360 at sub extreme speeds (where most driving is done). Does the 355 have more of a "go-kart" fun factor than the 360 when say just squirting round the block? BTW- let's leave exhaust sound out of the equation, we all know the 355 exhaust tone is much preferred and it would be great if people could voice opinions on apples vs. apples, ie. stick vs. stick etc... --- John
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