And your statement is based on ???? - Oh, what other people, mechanics tell you---Not from personal experience, correct??? To the OP----I AM a 355 owner and I have spent less than $100 on any repairs for my car over the last 2 years.... Not counting regular maintenance or upgrades---just problems....$100....
I have owned my current 1998 355F1 Spider for more than 6 years without major repair requirements. I've had 1 belt service and that is about it.....
Funny how the majority of F355 owners who driven and maintain their cars rarely have problems. It seems that the reliability of the F355 has a bad reputation because of all the "my uncle's dogwalker's nephews BFF's dad had an F355 and it was ALWAYS broken down" Not sure why people who have no experience with the car even post.
Kevin, dude, you rock. I have to go get some hardware and pick up some hotwings for a party. Planned to take the Audi. Not anymore Best -J.
Don't feel that he's singling out the 355 and 360, this is what he said about the TR: Carguy: Even though the subject of TR values has been beaten to death, revived, and beaten again....I must agree with what is being said here. I'm constantly watching publications, ebay, word of mouth, etc. The values of TRs is going up - though slowly. If I had to quantify this increase, my gut tells me the increase from 3 years ago has been maybe 3% to 6%. This is good news for owners, and not so good news for potential buyers. Top notch cars are top notch money....maybe $68k and up. Bargain cars are about $43k to about $48k. Average cars range from about $55k to about $63k. This is just my opinion of course....I don't have written factual information in front of me to support it. I know the TR-Detractors out there will say otherwise, but believe me the values of Testarossas is going UP! And it's about time too. It will take a little time for the TR-Bashers to admit this though...so be patient...but don't be a patient. Just maintain and enjoy these wonderful cars. Wetpet: What a funny post. hate to piss on the tr lovefest, but if anybody wants an excellent, low mileage, just majored tr for 50-55, let me know. there are several available. I can get on here and tell you about the 328 that just sold for $125k at auction, but that won't change the sales price of my 328. Sorry to say-tr prices are in the ****ter and are destined to stay there for years. bpu699: Countaches aren't worth much either. Its not like it was a flagship car, or anything... Wetpet: You must have pretty high standards. Countaches are worth much more that tr's and dare i say, alot of money. they also have a much brighter future.
That is because wetpet is a polesmoker... Never met someone who can knock so many things that he has no firsthand knowledge of...We should go down into the Lambo section and start a debate on how terrible the Diablo is--that will get him going...
I am in the market for a F car also and have asked a lot of questions...I wanted a TR at first but they a too tempermental for my driving...and the cars that get driven seem to have much less problems..also the 1 question about 355 that I have not seen asked is, are the problem inherent or a 1 time fix ie valve guides and headers... also what type of driving will you be doing...track day, autocross, occassional burnouts(oops the kid in me)...
Manifolds depend on whether you replace them with OEM or aftermarket. If you use aftermarket it should be a one time fix. OEM manifolds WILL fail again. Valve guides are one time fix.
ok so look for a car with this already done or budget for it...how is the gearbox in these...it wont fall apart if you spin the tires?
Yep, most cars that will have had valve guide issues have had them by now, but budget for manifolds. Most people don't know about aftermarket solutions and just replace them with originals. Spin the tires? I launch my car at about 7000 rpm's about 8 or 9 times a week. The only thing falling apart is my tires. Gets expensive replacing them every 5,000-7,000 but I drive my car VERY HARD.
+1, exactly what he said In 2 yrs I had zero unexpected problems; put a new clutch in myself when I bought the car (cost about $700 IIRC in parts), and did the major a few months ago including new aftermarket headers with lifetime warranty. Yes if you plan to pay a dealer for every little thing it will get pricey. It's like politics, each side can quote some detail supporting their position. Yes there are some $20k service bills out there, but if you don't WANT to pay that much you can find much lower cost solutions. And I'm not talking all DIY necessarily, there's many excellent independents who, for example, will install higher quality aftermarket parts (like headers) for a fraction of dealer pricing. I'm just waiting for someone to say the F1 pump always goes and costs $16k to replace (one of the more commonly repeated 355F1 myths) I'm planning for $8k of service every 5 yrs...WELL worth the enjoyment of paddle shifting at 8500 rpm!!!
Spin the tires? I launch my car at about 7000 rpm's about 8 or 9 times a week. The only thing falling apart is my tires. Gets expensive replacing them every 5,000-7,000 but I drive my car VERY HARD.[/QUOTE] ABOUT TIME!!! someone who drives their car like a muscle car guy...if I cant leave "11s" onced in a while then the car is no good to me(but you do it more than I would but glad to know I can)...PS what is the budget for aftermarket/header manifolds
Aftermarket headers range from $2,500-$5,000. Installation is about 6 hours but if you do it while the engine is out for the 30k service takes about 45 minutes. That's when I'd recommend doing it, unless they fail before then.
let me see if i understand your reasoning here. Because you shopped around and bought the best condition 355 you could and you haven't had it break for one year you are an expert. And the mechanics i talk to, who work on them every day since they came out are wrong? If you disagree with anything i said about the 355, post a rebuttal. Not "i have spent $100 on my perfect 355 that i have owned for one year and never drive. Give me break robbie. your first hand experience doesn't refute anything i posted. and as jerrari said, i'm not just picking on 355's. 355's can have some expensive problems. they are rare but the happen regularly and you have to be aware of them. That is all i said in response to the OP. Do you disagree?
based on what I have read here, ferrari is not a drivers vehicle (flame suit on). I see alot of people putting on a few thousand miles a year and talking about how they just spent $30k on first year of ownership. Unfortunately I need something that I can drive instead of admire in my garage or mechanics garage. No disrespect to anyone but some people really need to get real and fess up to the obvious. The proof is in the pudding gentlemen!
The 355 is a junk box, plain and simple. I love the look and sound of it, but underneath that pretty exterior is a poorly, and cheaply constructed chassis. The interior parts are crap, the convertible top is crap, the exhaust is crap, the engine is crap (well some of the parts inside it anyway..the design is sound however), the steering wheel is the ugliest of any Ferrari out there, right on par with the old corvette steering wheel. The power steering is over assisted, and the electronics are a ticking time bomb in the F1 cars. Airbag modules are failing regularly now, which of course there is an updated harness you have to get along with a new module, and of course they are sold separately. That said, would I own one? yes I would. Once sorted and running and all the bugs are worked out with good quality aftermarket reliable parts, you will have one nice machine.
Not an expert by any means, but I do speak from personal experiences of my own car as well as the MANY PM's I get on a weekly basis about these cars. I am an frequent visitor to the 348/355 section, so I know firsthand what potential problems exist and they are no more or less than any other Ferrari model. A quick search can easily reveal potential problems of the 355 model. To say the 355 basically has more problems than any other car is not based on facts. Every car in the world has potential issues that may arise. I don't base my opinions off of what some guys, brother told his mechanic's wifes sister.. Those same mechanics you speak of have told me the 355 is a very good car for the value and they have seen many other models with much more expensive problems....So who do I believe--you or them? Your post comes across to the OP like the 355 is the worst Ferrari ever made and it is always in the shop. Maybe, I as well as quite a few others misunderstood your post. To just say the 355 are known problem cars is not based on fact. For every 10 cars you see with a problem, I can show you 10 cars that are basically maintenance free... Alot of the 355 problems are blown way out of proportion. Just like the F1 trans problem. I did a poll awhile back about it and less than 2% of owners here had any problems. I have also asked those same mechanics you speak of about it and they say the 355 trans is much less problematic than the 360 F1 trans.... So based on that--I would say that is not a widespread known problem.. Valve guide issues are probably the most expensive known problem to exist. Most, not all of those problems lie with earlier model cars, NOT the later ones. Telling the OP--the 355 has known problems and I see them in the shop more than other models---doesn't help him. If your going to make that statement at least back it up and tell him what exact problems exist, what models, years were effected, etc, etc... I certainly would never ramble on to someone about a car I had never had any personal experiences with, but that is me.... PS - See ya Sunday--I'll save you a seat in the pew behind me!!
my post comes across that way to you and rossa corsa cause you are super sensitive about your cars. get over it. let me give you a prime example why some of you guys are so hypersensitive about your 355's. You just said "To just say the 355 are known problem cars is not based on fact." Problem is, i didn't say that. That is what you read, because that is what you want to read. I said to deny known problems with the 355 is to stick your head in the sand. How do you speak from personal experiences of your own car when you just said it has never had a problem? What experience, an oil change? I think acting like the 355 doesn't have the potential for seriously expensive problems and they are not well represented at the shop doesn't help the op. I think me throwing in a little dose of reality does. and my point about some of you guys sticking your head in the sand is proven by some of the responses i got. So, in review, are you saying that the 355 does not have some expensive problems that could crop up? are you saying they are not very well represented in the repair shop? My statements are from personal observations. I have seen the motors out. That is all i have said. if you dispute what i said, dispute it. but don't think you can pull the old "i have one and you don't so you don't know what you are talking about". My original statement is either right or wrong. doesn't matter what my perceived experience is. one thing i do have personal experience with is church. and i know you won't be there
I see the glass as half full! Interior stickies are a DIY permanent fix, GTB doesn't care about the convertible top, headers are done once upgraded aftermarket, valve guides are a non-issue on later cars. Steering wheel is on par with other first gen airbag cars, and if it bothers anyone enough buy a 360 wheel. I do agree the PS is over assisted, oh well. The electronic ticking time bomb and air bag module is new for me, guess I'll wait and see on that. Most importantly...the conclusion! Once sorted and running with reliable aftermarket parts you have one nice machine. WOOHOO! As said before, EVERY car has known issues. Heck, my Japanese (translation - reputation for everything reliable) Subaru STi? GREAT machine! OEM issues? yep - inverted struts clunk, need to go aftermarket to fix permanently. Brakes have zero bite when they get wet. Just try engaging 2nd gear on a cold morning. Such is life, and the beauty of owner forums documenting problems and fixes for every make and model...
My point is the 355 have no MORE problems then any other Ferrari out there that is 10 years old.... I have seen motors out of 328's, 360's 456's 550's, TR's----I guess all those have known problems....Make sure you go thru every section and tell each user that asks about each model that the car could potentially have problems,,,cause that is the truth.... """"but don't think you can pull the old "i have one and you don't so you don't know what you are talking about""""" We can sit down and talk 355 anytime you wish------you know you want one....... I make the statement that Diablo's have known problems and are in the shop often....Based off a few threads I read and what George Evans told me one day.... OP don't buy one!!!
