How realistically quick is a 355?

the car is not a torque machine. compared to a 550, for example, when you mash the pedal you get roughed up - pushed back into your seat. the 355 on the other hand isn't torque-less, but it won't give you that sensation (imo). what it does give you is a glorious response curve and noise at the higher RPMs that is like nothing else on earth.

if you're a torque slut, make sure you get some seat time in the 8s to make sure you're comfy with their performance.

doody.

 

By modern car standards its not quick off the line if you want to preserve the $6K clutch assy. You have to learn to drive a stick, but in traffic its very quick because you don't have to shift, just drop a couple of gears and put your foot into it and the 8500 redline has got your back. If you want quick get a F430. A F355 is about the look and the sound - NOTHING - IMBO looks our sounds better than an F355 Spider with the top down, with a Tubi with Hyperflow Cats-that's why you own a F355 and pay the outrageous maintenance costs.

 

Yeah baby I'm a torque SLUT!!

 

Agreed that it looks and sounds awesome. About maintenance costs, you have to decide whether to cut your losses and sell or keep it, bc you've sunk so much into it that you can't EVER recoup your money so might as well keep it (me).

355s are very quick, but there are a LOT of cars out there today that smoke them, but the driving pleasure is fantastic!

Warning: don't try to race even a Subaru STI or Mitsu Evo, bc you'll probably lose. If you're buying a 355, it better not be solely for the speed or acceleration.

 

Well I've got to say, I have friends with both EVO's and STI's ( both of wich are stock) and neither of them will keep up with my 355. After about 80 the 355 really starts to pull away. Remember I'm talking about stock cars. The 355 may not be the fastest car around, but it certainly cannot be considered slow.

Darrell.

 

I find that the 8s will push you back but only if you hold the revs at say 5 and then mash it. Its more of a huge jolt but it will slam you back in your seat.

 

Alex I agree, not much happening below 5k. Being in the right gear is critical to get anywhere quick.

Darrell.

 

Without a doubt!! here....here.

Exactly why I have mine setup the same way.

 

355 is a dog. Modded mine with headers, no cats, exhaust, enlarged air boxes and air filters, and still lost to a bone stock 2004 Z06. Bone stock 2000 Lotus Esprit was also faster than the 355.

 

I'm the hugest f-car fan there is, but almost all f-cars are out-performed (straight line at least) by similar priced cars, not to mention the cheap but modifield Suburus and Toyotas.

F-cars are hand-built, rolling pieces of art (I knew a guy who had an F-40 in his living room, next to grand piano, as a showpiece).

For the record, I currently own a 355, which I traded a Porsche 996 TT x50 on (lost my ass on depreciation) and the Porsche would run circles around it. It was not the piece of beauty that I believe my 355 is (but the build-quality was very high, no doubt).

Bottom line- don't but a 355 thinking you'll be a fast on the street- but I think you'll still like the driving experience compared to just about any other car.

Eric

 

I did the exact same thing...and never looked back. If "fast" is all you need, a Z06 or Porsche TT will do quite nicely, for less and with more reliablility and less maintenance.

If you want the best looking and best sounding Fcar in that price range,then get the 355 and don't sweat the 0-60...its plenty fast enough for the real world...

 

The 355 is a car that was tops in the 90's, compare it to the top vette of that period, not a new one. It's plenty FAST!!!!

 

12.9 1/4 mile bone stock. Thats huuuuuge performance. It might not be quick compared to modern sports cars or tuner cars but it aint slow

 

Good luck trying to replicate that. I gave it a shot, and wasnt remotely close, even with above mentioned mods.

355 is a dog, and inmo, the styling hasnt aged very well. Not very exciting at this point. Inmo, for the driving experience, you are much better off with a 348, and keeping tha cash in your pocket. For 40K it has an excuse for being slow.

 

Allan, I read many of your posts on the viperboard as well. Just curious if 'Ferrari's don't do it for you', why are you here?

 

Wow, I'll take it off your hands if it's such a pita!!

I love the styling, the sound-- and the acceleration is enough to make me smile. I've only ridden in one, but it was great! But yeah, race it prepare to lose. Even F40's lose to crap cars sometimes. The doesn't make it any less attractive from a mechanical or stylistic point of view!

 

He needs to stir some **** every now and then.

 

I sold it long ago. As for the looks, i too felt it was a very nice looking car, but honestly after a few months for me, the looks wore thin. So for me, so-so looks, bland performance, high maintenence costs, and crappy build quality just didnt do the job.

 

Well you certainly have a minority view. Too bad. The rest of us love the car for more than just it's (rather meaningless in the real world) raw acceleration times...!

 

So what Ferrari DO you like??

 

Who cares that its not as quick as them sh*tboxes you mentioned?? The 355 is a classic car and much more popular than the vette and lotus will ever be. If you wanna have a quick car,buy a $30K,10sec 1/4 mile Jap car that would smoke all the cars that you have had in your garage. But thats not what its all about.

 

Are you really? With what car? Maybe I missed them, but I would love to see pics of your Ferrari. If you have one...

 

If anyone thinks the 355 is slow or a dog they are lost. I dare anyone to step inside my car's passenger seat while I hammer the F1 in sport mode, shifting through the gears at 8500 rpm...the car will jolt you back in your seat upon every shift. I can be at a light, pull away slowly in 1st gear, then let off the gas pedal and then quickly rug the gas pedal to the floor and my car lights the tires up every time while the car is already in motion...and then chirps the tires with the back end twitching in 2nd and 3rd while shifting at high rpms in sport mode. Absolutely 100% true with no exaggeration.

I was laughing at some of the comments posted here...

Todd