Considering my 1st Ferarri

If you have the budget 360 coupe manual - if you want something closer to your 78 SC go 328 - read the buyers guide at the top of the relevant sections

 

The cars you listed should meet almost all of your requirements. I would say the "simple" requirement ends with the 328. For the "long trips" requirement, a 550 or 575 would be a better (more comfortable) choice (or a 456 if you want to take kids along).

Maintenance-wise, timing belt changes every 3-5 years tends to be the most significant expense, unless you do it yourself (the actual parts for a timing belt change are relatively inexpensive). If you do do it yourself, I believe the 355 and maybe the 328 require engine out to replace belts and I think 360/550/575/456 allow belts to be changed in situ. The 430 has chains, so no belts maintenance and a pretty significant step up in power from the 360.

 

Of those models which one do you reaaallly like the look of?

430 is out of price range. 355.. be careful unless you're really drawn to it.

328 or 360 imho. 328 for classic looks, 360 for more modern drive.

I have a 360 3 pedal and I love it. Came over from a 924, 928 and then a Boxster.

Porsche guys have no clue what they're missing... and have no idea how reliable a well kept FCar really is. I know I didn't.

 

Hi Bob

I'm assuming that you live in the Boulder CO. area. IF that's the case, you have a fantastic resource for Ferrari servicing and information. Dave Helms is a class act and can provide the pros and cons of almost any model. He led me straight on my 328 and helped me get into my Dino. Good luck.

JOHN

 

360 vs 550

 

*1

Dave is a good guy, and one hell of a wrench.

His intelligence and inventive, creative nature allowed him to "sort out" my '95 456GT to the degree it is now (get ready for it): "reliable."

Whoa, who knew?

 

I was in your situation last year. Never rode in or driven a ferrari. But wanted one forever. I narrowed my choices to the 550/575 and the 360 to keep within my budget. I ended up with the 360 Modena coupe. My first choice was a three pedal car but got the F1.. and, I like the F1 very much and my wife has an easier time with it. I don't have a recommendation on car, but will recommend that you try to get opportunity to test a few out. I have over the last year driven a 360 (my own of course), a 575, a 355, and a TR. I would never get a TR. Many people like the car, but in my opinion, if Ferrari ever wanted to make a truck, they could start with a TR. The 575 was the best by far for comfort and power. The 355 seemed (to me) to be the most sporty. The 360 gives me the best combo of comfort and sportiness, at the best price point. My 10 months of ownership has cost me a new clutch, which, although not anticipated, I did allow in my budget.

Good luck on your quest. Enjoy the journey.

Steve

 

360 coupe 6 speed.

Exactly what you're looking for. Lots of good ones out there to pick from in different color combos.

Best bang for the exotic buck. Get one that's had a recent major/belt service or is discounted already because it needs one.

 

If you want simplicity go with the 328. No engine out for the belts and it is easy to do. Bosh K-jet fuel injection. Most people know the car is a Ferrari at first look. I have a 3.2 Mondial which is the same engine with close to 75,000 miles and it still runs very good. Try to find a GTB and you'll have a nice and rare car for half your budget..

 

To me this is the most important factor. I thought of going the slightly more affordable route with an older 308 for my first, but the more I thought about it the more I came to the conclusion that if I only get the chance to have one, it should be the one that gets me weak in the loins.

355 for me is that car.

 

Count me as one that says "328". Although I own a 308QV, the 328 was the car I really wanted - meets all of your criteria.

If your budget is <100K, you can get a fantastic car. Very little issues compared to the others, and rather easy to DIY.

May not be as hairy performance wise, but who cares! My daily driver would shellack my 308, but guess which car I'd prefer to drive? The Ferrari hands down.

Good luck - no matter what you choose, you'll be happy!!

 

I was a long Porsche owner including 6 years with a 993S. Great car. Miss it. Recently bought a 328 and love it. Requires more attention than 993 but its also 10 years old. But not much. always starts and runs. Like to add a 360 pedal car next year but i like the 328 so much, i will probably just keep it. Like it that much. Comes down to older fun vs newer fun. Can't go wrong with either as long as you focus on finding a really well sorted and cared for car.

 

Mr. V, I am not sure that the quotation marks around "reliable" engender trust in the 456GT.

I think you wanted to emphasize the 456GT's reliability, thanks to Dave's efforts, but quotation marks around the key term cast doubt, instead of adds emphasis. It's like this sentence: "Last night at 3 a.m., Jacob Potts and his "wife" checked into the Notell Motel." Soooo, Jacob was with his real wife checking into the Notell Motel??? Yeah. Suuuure.

Underlining might help more in this case: "(h)is intelligence and inventive, creative nature allowed him to "sort out" my '95 456GT to the degree it is now (get ready for it): reliable."

Jacob

 

I was making the point that my car now seems to be reliable, as a direct result of Dave's efforts.

My car was essentially undrivable due to frequent CEL and SLOW DOWN lights.

I bought it in late 2010 and it never ran well, or for long, until I sent it to Scuderia Rampante.

Their gold pin connector kit, new custom manufactured fuse box, bearing upgrade and many other fixes seem to have done the trick.

 

If I had you budget, I would go after the best 328 GTB I could find.

 

+1...especially coming from someone who has owned 15+ Porsches.

This one made me chuckle.



To OP, I think you are on the right path. I still have Porsches as daily drivers and race cars, but there was no turning back once I started having Ferraris as street cars purely for driving enjoyment.

For your budget, I vote for 328 and 550.

 

I'm going to go away from the script a little and recommend "the next big thing" in the Ferrari world, a 512 BBi Boxer. You can just barely get one near your price range (not for long), and you can ride the appreciation curve. V12 mid-engine, much rarer than the other options, oozes class.

 

Hard to pick without knowing your taste, but fuel injected under $100k:

Most Reliable: probably 328, but they're all Ferraris and more important is to buy one that is well sorted than a particular model. Some need more sorting than others to be 'right' (ahem, 355), but once sorted they should all be similar and should all be fairly reliable.

Most comfortable: 550 or 360. The newer the better here, the older the worse it is.

Best sounding: 355

Best bang for the buck: Probably 348, cheaper than a 328 but significantly faster in all ways.

I bought a 355, it just hits the sweet spot of great performance, great looks (prefer it over the 360) and price. I was nervous about reliability but bought one that had a couple of the key issues fixed and it has been more reliable than my other cars in the 2 years I've had it. I'm not sure how complicated the 360 and 550 are, but can say the 355 is not difficult at all to work on and by all accounts, the older they are, the easier they are to work on due to less complicated electronics and systems. The 355 is simple compared to a new car.

 

Porsche and Ferrari, my two favorite brands of cars. My 328 is reliable enough for DD duty, although it needs more attention than my other daily driver the GT3. If $100K is my budget, i would not mind a Modena 3 pedals.

 

I think (like many others) a 360 coupe 6 spd 3 pedal car fits the bill very well. Just make sure you get a good one by not rushing it and make sure you have a pro check it out (ppi). If you need more than 2 seats your only option at your budget, more or less, is a 456, but they can quickly get costly if it has been neglected (I guess all cars can...).
Jes

 

Sounds like either a 360 or 328 to me, depending on how important your preference for simple over complex is. The more important, the more the needle leans toward the 328. On the other hand, you mentioned long trips and while I haven't driven a 360 and have enjoyed several 4 hour trips in my 308, I imagine that the 360 is a better long distance car.


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I regularly drive my F355 Berlinetta on 120 mile trips up to the mountains, and after sorting it the car is as reliable as my 2008 BMW 328i. Wouldn't hesitate to take it cross country.

Pretty sure there are a few 355 cars out there that have had most or all of the problems addressed, and can be a lot of bang for the buck. A well-sorted 40-50k mile 355 can be had for around $50k or so and leaves a lot of money on the table for upgrades and maintenance which isn't that bad once all the sewage is flushed out.

I love my sorted 46k mile F355 to death, and will only sell if I'm forced to. Most car guys can't believe the great condition/performance state it's in as a 1995 Ferrari with that many miles on it.

Just bought a 1999 Porsche 911 with 30k on the clock, and it's no where near as clean as the 355.