Test drove F355...disappointed.

The first 355 I put a deposit down on was from a Porsche dealership and the saga of that no go is in my post history. Is this dealership in PA by any chance?

The salesman did not know how to operate the top in my case either and it seemed odd to me. If everything is working properly on the top and someone knows how to operate it it works fine.

There is a known issue with throttle linkage and stiffness on 355s and this may have also been what you were experiencing. It isn't a huge fix.

I can't comment on the comparison between your other cars. My daily driver is a CLS550 and there is nothing to talk about comparatively there.

 

I have to ask what year is your SL600?

 

Get a 348, no top issues.

The throttle cable maybe routed wrong after a major service, very easy fix.

If you want a car that has no quirks or annoying little characteristics, and has the performance you want, buy a Nissan GTR. But if you are looking for that ear to ear grin every time you blast a tunnel at 8000 rpm, Ferrari is the only way to go

 

Go test drive another f355 for comparison

 

Unless you keep the RPM high on the F355 it will feel very sluggish...

 

+1

I test drove four before I bought mine. It literally took that many to find one that felt overall great...but when I did, I fell in love with the car. A well sorted 355 is an absolute pleasure to drive!

 

1. Spider top: well known issue of overdesign, underachievement. Don't buy one.
2. Sticky on/off throttle: well known issue. Change the cable and live with it.
3. Underwhelming response compared to a 997. Different cars. You need 4500 RPM on the F car before it wakes up. After that all hell breaks loose. If that is not the case, then it needs a tune up.

 

Exactly.. and this goes for the 360 as well though it has a little more torque in the lower RPMS. It's not going to have the pull and low end torque that the SL600 has, you're going to have to wind it higher than you usually do. The Porsche will also feel more composed and refined by comparison.

The good news is, unlike the SL, nobody is going to confuse you with any other middle aged builder or south florida retiree..

 

So first post on a Ferrari forum is to complain about a Ferrari you don't own??

These cars aren't for everyone. Either you get it or you don't.

 

Right

Don't compare a 355 ...sorted or not ....with a North Europe anything.
Go play with your German!

They got no soul, character, beauty, allure or humour...but are wonderfully efficient..

Product of their environment

 

The OP is talking about trading in an MB SL which is a roadster and is obviously looking at a spider because he wants a top down experience. There is no comparison between a Spider experience vs. a fixed top or GTS experience vis a vis sound and wind in your face.

I can only speak from my ownership and I have had zero issues with my top and I have all the service records from birth and there has never been a hitch in it's history.

IMO to categorically say, "don't buy one" is really a bit much. There are threads in here to make it a manual top if you so choose to not deal with the mechanics as well.

 

I have a 355 spyder, and I love it.
The top can be persnickety. It can have issues. Mine does have its days. But generally the top is up all the time in cold weather and down during spring, summer, and fall.

Yes, the throttle cable is sticky.

Yes, keep the revs up. Where's the fun shifting at 4K?

I love the burbles coming off high RPM down to idle.
I love the sound as the Exhaust valve opens. I do have an X-OST & straight-throughs.

this model is 20ish years old. But its still incredible.

 

Not only perhaps should you drive another 355, but these engines really do need to live over 4500rpm if you really want to feel performance. They have nothing below that. Also, 355s are pretty maintenance intense at times so things can get crazy in a hurry if the valve guide and manifolds go bad, which they do. A 360 is a more driveable car with a more friendly torque curve, sounds like that might be the one to drive. A 355 is a bit of an animal, end of an era if you will.

 

I have a Spider. I know what I have and you know what you have. I won't argue with you about the top.

 

If your SL600 is of the late 90's a 355 would dust it in a straight line.
It makes me think there may be something wrong with the car you tested.

 

Hey, that's a shame you didn't enjoy it, but I can understand why,

FYI I own a 355 spider, 996 GT3RS and a 964C2 and have previously owed 360/355B and various other porsches.

The car you drove doesn't sound correct. They are sluggish till about 3 to 4000RPM then they are quite quick. It will never feel as fast as your 997 as both cars have a completely different torque curve. The Porsche has more torque and will therefore feel faster and in a straight drag wont be much different to the 355.

The 997 will probably feel a good bit more comfy (less rattles as much softer on the road).

The 355 is a classic car, old school feel which you either love or don't. The 360 will feel more like your 997 but much quicker.

360's and 355's are worlds apart. 360 is comfy, fast and cheaper to run. 355 is a classic that is one of the most beautiful cars ever built (I think).

Sticky throttles aren't uncommon (although neither of mine had those issues) should be very smooth. Roof design was a bit complicated but does work and so far other than topping up the oil I haven't had an issue.

A 997 for daily drive and 355 for weekend sunny days would be a good selection.

regards
Scott
Glasgow. UK

 

O/k if it's a 2004 SL600 much faster than late 90's . 0 to 60mph 4.5 sec
355_ 0 to 60 mph 4.6 sec seems pretty even to me .Thats why it makes me think the car you drove may have had a problem.

 

355's don't have that much power below 5000rpm as was said before. Most people when driving one for the first time shift at 5000rpm like it was a American V-8. The other thing is the travel of the accelerator pedal to full throttle is very long. If the pedal is stiff, you most likely don't depress the throttle far or fast enough to get decent acceleration. I often start form a stop in 2nd gear and the car is much faster when you are skipping 1st and I don't really slip the clutch much to get started.

 

Good enough my friend.