Found this on the web recently....brings a smile to my face reading this. February 2, 2003 Ferrari F355 GTS This car is the best - I can't believe I'm giving it away The best letter I ever had arrived last week. A chap wrote to say my performance on Question Time was dismal and that I had expressed too many opinions. I rather thought this was the point but next time Ill be sure to keep my mouth shut. The second best letter I ever had was from a small boy who wrote to tell me about the noise a Ferrari 355 makes. I couldnt believe it, he wrote. Ill never forget it. It was amazing. It wasnt exactly John Donne, but think about this. Normally you need a nail gun and some duct tape to get a child to write a letter. But the sound of eight metal pistons whizzing up and down in eight metal sleeves had caused this boy to put down his Clearasil for five minutes and put pen to paper. Its why the greens will never win. So long as there are cars out there that sound like Pavarotti ripping up calico through the Whos speaker system, Ken Livingstone doesnt stand a chance. A Ferraris exhaust bark is something that stirs the soul, soufflés the heart and causes people to break both the second and the 10th commandments. And all Ken can muster is an adenoidal drawl. It was the noise that first turned me onto the 355. For seven years I hadnt owned a car. I tested a different model every week and while some were quite nice, nothing put its hands up my trousers and squeezed. I wasnt expecting much of the new Ferrari either. Id driven the old 328 which was, well, small actually, and the 348 which felt like it was made out of elm. In fact, with Ferrari out of the running in grand prix racing, which it was at the time, I couldnt see what the fuss was about. Prancing horse? Donkey, more like. You cant claim to be great because of something you did. Or Greece would still claim to rule the world. You can only be great for something you do now. And back then Ferrari wasnt doing much. Styling-wise, the 355 was a 348 with the side-mounted foot scrapers removed and round rear lights instead of oblongs. So I wasnt expecting the Red Sea to part and trumpets to burst from the clouds when I set off for a drive one sunny afternoon in May. I had a cameraman in the passenger seat to record my impressions and I still have the tape. Im twittering on about this and that, reciting my prepared script, when for no reason I stop talking. A few moments pass then you hear the camera guy say: You all right? My reply says it all: F--- me, this things good. It is the noise that gets you first. Its good from inside the car with the roof on and even better with it off. But for the full effect you need to be listening from half a mile away. At full chat, a 355 sounds like God shouting. Some say the 360 is better but Im not so sure. It sounds artificial somehow, like Ferrari accidentally created this wonderful soundtrack with the 355 then used electronics to try to improve it on the new model. As a result, the 360 sounds like Rory Bremner doing an impersonation of God shouting. And while were on the subject of the 360, there are other things you should know. Yes, it has 25 more brake horsepower, but its heavier. If you look at the more important figure bhp per ton youll see that its exactly the same as the 355. They took one step forward but, curiously, were no further along the road. It is, of course, hard to improve on perfection. And I knew, on that sunny day nine years ago, that the nut had been cracked. In terms of grip, handling and poise, the 355 was Torvill and Dean. A clean sweep of perfect sixes. VITAL STATISTICS Model Ferrari F355 GTS Engine type V8, 3496cc Power 380bhp @ 8250rpm Torque 265 lb ft @ 6000rpm Transmission Six-speed manual Tyres (front) 225/40 ZR18; (rear) 265/40 ZR18 Suspension (front and rear) independent, double unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, pressurised gas dampers with electronic control (two settings), anti-roll bar Fuel 16.7mpg (combined) Acceleration 0 to 60mph: 4.6sec Top speed 183mph Value £60,000 Mileage Under 9,000 Verdict The love of my life. Enjoy!
It was given away in a competition by the UK Sunday newspaper that Jeremy writes for(The Sunday Times)
Wow,.............. where was I................??? This has to be the most important and scientifically accurate thread EVER!!!! The 355 is the best of two worlds, the classic styling and the modern record breaking powerplant!!!! It possesses the greatest sound since the "big bang" at the begining of our very existence, which of course served to create the platform on which the 355 would be quickened. Yes.................. the 355 is that good........................ !!!!!
I believe there is a consensus on this........ ................. here is a thread from the 360/430 section of which a few owners are wanting their 360s to sound like 355s !!! http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161896 There is no question............ the 355 rocks!!!!!
I remember years ago at the USGP they had the Ferrari Challenge cars racing, and it was the year the F355 and 360 were both on the track together for the first time. The F355s would shriek past and I would just smile and say, 'Man I love that sound,' and was anxious to see what the new 360 sounded like. Well...a 360 passed and I was just like, 'Well...I guess that is nice...when does the next F355 come by again,' and I would wait. There really is nothing like that sound.
Is that the Col du Vance? I'm pretty sure it's where one of the Sean Connery Bond films were shot (Goldfinger?). Bond girl was driving a mustang convertible. He ripped her tires to shread with those spike things on his DB5 (nice to have when some ****** cuts you off).
Explain to me how a 348 feels like wood & a 355 is God. They're the same chassis (unless I'm missing something in all the photos). Maybe he's comparing a first model year 348 with the more quiet muffler, his driving abilities were weaker back then and he did too much coke? My '94 is close to what he describes the 355 experience as being.
You would have to question Clarkson's agenda. Guilt, doubtful. There is a story behind the story I am sure.
I wonder what he would have said had he driven a 1994 348 Competizieone. In Europe this is the ultimate 348. Hell, maybe he should try out Andy's car for a taste of what can be done to these cars.
