Have we destroyed the 355?

Jesus. Can we kill this thread? Can 355 owners agree to all understand that these cars are hugely desirable, with huge potential, and supremely beautiful? Can we take a note from the pages of the CS, 308 carbed owners and the Dino folks? When someone ask for values, why do people say a 95 is worth 50k, or that an F1 or spider is worth 10k less than a compraible car?

If you think we don't control the market, you're wrong. I personally don't care what my car is worth, but I'm so F'n tired of people beating those cars up. I'd suspect that 75% of the negative comments about these cars and their values come from non owners and perspective buyers.

Yes. There are issues. Headers, guides, stickies. That's really it. Other stuff is the same as any other exotic of similar vintage. Fix it, and move on. There are two markets for these cars. How many times do we have to point it out?

Oh, and guess what? The 348 (a little less so), the 360, (perhaps even more so considering the dangers of pre cat failure), and the 430 all have the same issues!!

I've said it 100 times... Buy a car with these things fixed with quality parts from skilled technicians. Yes, it will cost more up front, but much much less in the long term.

And, for the record, my fully serviced, one of one white on black 95 355 GTS is for sale now for 100k. Any other owners want to comment?

Feel free to PM me if you're interested.

 

$100k? Why? Mine's not for sale anywhere near that, I don't need the money and I don't want any other car under $100k (well, maybe a '95 355 challenge).

 

Because I too want a 95 challenge F355 with a VIN too.

 

They are a great car. They just take that little bit more from your wallet. You gotta pay if you wanna play, as with anything.

I think your taking this thread to Personaly. You didn't design or build the car, you just bought it. Your car, buy your accounts has been good. Congrats!! You scored a good one. But the ones that roll into my shop.. Well that's another story. Bought cheap for a reason. Big hits on the horizon for those. And I won't even fix them because of the band aid requests. I have kicked more of them out then I have fixed. Why? Not because of the car, but because of the owner.

It's such ashame. I really like the 355. But the majority of the cars have become basket cases because of the cheap entry fee. If it was a 100k car, you wouldn't see the amount of them I see in complete disrepair. It doesn't do the cars reputation any favors.

 

Thank you, Bob! Great insight. Is dealing with the headers/cats a one time fix? Or a chronic issue that needs to be dealt with every say 15,000 miles? If the valve guides and headers/cats are one time problems, a lot of the cars you could buy today should presumably have had them already done. The rest doesn't doesn't seem like a big deal.

 

Thank you, Dave. You rock!

 

Damn it GarageWarrior, now you've got me back on the fence about considering a 355...really wish the reliability of these cars wasn't such a polarizing topic.

 

Sorry to hear that. Sounds awful.
Please elaborate on what you mean by "well maintained" because, frankly, it doesn't sound like it was.

If you really want one, buy one. Just be sure to buy the best one you can afford.
Chances are you won't regret it.

 

Amen!

 

The ironic part is that most owners here are not the ones *****ing that there cars are problems and money pits. Most here seem to state they are not having major issues. I love my car, always will. If I have an issues, I'll fix it. Done! No different than my house which BTW was built new 13 years ago and I've replaced my furnace and hot water tank within the last 6 months. Should I sell my house because of that? LOL! The doom and gloom is all Bull Sh*t, don't buy into it!

 

How about those of us that do own and drive them start talking them up? Sure mine has had a few issues but so has my Mercedes, BMW, Infinity and Ford. Lets be the champions for these beautiful cars and talk the prices back up into the 6 figure realm. I remember when no one wanted a Dino 246 and look at them now.

Maybe those of us who actually own a 355 should start distinguishing ourselves on this forum from those who don't but continue to run them down. I'd like to see after our subscription status something like "verified owner" so we can have some idea if the person who is posting has any actual idea of what they are talking about. If you do own one and its really such a problem, sell it and get a Toyota.

 

That's actually a great idea, and i fully agree with what you suggest. We could have pages and pages of positive compliments and good news storys about our 355s. And then suddenly one of the usual forum consultants/experts join in and drip there usual poison.
Because one or two of these are perceived to have the proverbial sun shine beaming out of there bottoms, the whole positive thread consept is null and void. Just saying

 

Well said.

 

I didn't notice anyone else answer this yet so I will. Yes headers, cat and valve guides a one time fix.

 

Thanks for reminding me to go browse the owners forum I haven't been on there for a while

 

Started a thread in there for ya.

 

Cool, on my way over there

 

It did not need anything when I bought it - it was well maintained and fully serviced because year after year the previous owner would spend tens of thousands fixing it up (at an independent shop highly recommended here on Fchat). 12K just in the last few months - major, sticky interior, and a couple minor fixes; close to $50K in the last 6 years. I thought this was extreme, but just talked to an F355 owner local to me, and he spent $45K getting his F355 reconditioned.

 

Thanks for confirming, Cavlino. Much appreciated.

 

I have a 13 year old BMW and also a Ford that have 5 times as many miles as my F355 yet haven't had nearly as many issues. Also fixing them is about 1/10th of what it costs to fix a Ferrari. Just sold a 20 year old Honda that had 340 thousand miles - it needed it a CV boot replaced for the first time, my F355 needed CV boot for the 5 time in the last 6 years (inner right twice and inner lift 3 times) - wtf? My buddy has a Honda NSX that only needed oil changes for the last 5 years he had it. Ferrari's have MAJOR things wrong with them, plus a lot of small little issues that always creep up but people forget to mention.

I bought what would seem like ideal F355 - problem free, fully serviced, always maintained at a reputable shop - figured I can just enjoy life and drive it for a few years with routine maintenance. 2 thousand miles later I have ruined dates because the car needs a tow truck, it spends more time in the shop waiting for parts than on the road driving, and trying to figure out how and where to fix is a major annoyance daily. I can put needles in my eyeballs to experience the same amount of joy.

 

5 times in 6 years? Something else is wrong man, and it doesn't take a genius to see that. Do you have aftermarket headers with no heatshields?

I've put 9k miles on mine since I got it and it hasn't needed CV boots.

 

Almost 3000 miles on mine since purchased last February but really only started using it in April

Two overnight trips of 300+ each and no need for a tow truck and no breakdowns. Headers done on my watch and rt inner cv done at that time. That is the only shop related service done. Oh a comped re clamping of coolant hoses by Classic Coach as the shop that did the major from PO didn't get the clamps on all the way.

I did the brake fluid and oil change myself and sorted an issue with OBD plug also as a result of PO major faux pas. Car has started and ran perfectly every time.

My one year experience of ownership has been enjoyable and within my expectations.

 

Factory headers, factory heatshields, car is serviced by a highly regarded (as per Fchat) mechanic. I'm looking at receipts from the previous owner:
4/2006 Right inner CV Boot replaced
1/2008 Left inner CV boot replaced
9/2009 Right inner CV boot replaced
5/2013 Right inner CV boot replaced

In august I had to replace a torn left inner CV boot.

 

GarageWarrior, its a real shame that you have had to have that done more then once. The CV boot is a known weak point and it has been documented on here already that the use of a racing type boot will make sure you never need to replace it again. The original CV boots (inners) on my car lasted for around 48000 km and over 10 years. I replaced them (inners) myself with the racing type boot. Search on here CV boot replacement and either change them out yourself next time or at a minimum suggest their use at your shop.

 

+1
I have spent about 5 grand on repairs that did not need to be done just because they were not right. Same reason I did my own engine out service, was lucky there thou everything looked good and cam timing check out. I actually believe within the next ten years you will see prices go up because the remaining cars are in good shape due to owners such as ourselves who only repair things correctly since the uncared for cars will be disappearing. If it was not for this great group of guys on here thou a lot of this stuff would be more expensive.

I have about 30000 miles on original cv boots and engine mounts so I think that repair might be misstated.