Ok I am thinking about adding a spider and its a F1

Let me throw you a pointer: to the door, exit.

 

Nobody REALLY knows how the top works. Honest.

The F1 needs to be in neutral. Foot on brake to start. Pull both paddles at the same time and "N" is displayed.

If the indicator is shot, or partially shot, that has no impact on the function of the tranny. Ricambi rebuilds the indicators for $195.

You can figure all this stuff out though.....no problems.

For the record, once the 360 pump conversion is done, there F1 is manageable...so far.

There is no better experience than a top down drive in a 355.

 

To lower the top you need to have the hand brake up. I would operate it with the engine running since it draws quite a bit of power. Unlatch the top and push it a little bit manually until you hear a beep. Once it beeps, hold the switch to lower the top the rest of the way. Your seats will move forward automatically so be ready to have your knees up to your ears. Starting an F1 car just requires pushing on the brake pedal and turning the key. Once started you can shift into gear/reverse. As stated above you can flick both padles to put it in N. The tonneau cover stores away in the front compartment. Ask for service records and see if the clutch has been replaced recently. These tend to wear quickly on the F1s from what I've read.

 

Let me tell you how the automatic top on the 355 works:

Slow down with your right foot on the brake, pull over to the side of the road
Left hand, pull up on the hand brake
Right hand, unlatch the top latch overhead
left hand push back on the top until it beeps
Right hand, reach down and push the top button backward
The top ecu lowers the windows IF the microswitch works
The top ecu pushes the seats forward IF the potentiometers work
The top ecu finishes the complete top down cycle IF it has enough fluid, and IF the rubber bands have enough force
The the top ecu moves the seats back to the previous locations
Left hand, open the door, unlatch the trunk.
Get out, open the trunk, retrieve the top cover.
With both hands, splay the cover on the top
Attach the rear snap on the left,
Walk around the car, attach the rear snap on the right
Attach the left of the snaps on the right
Walk back to the other side, attach the remaining snaps on the left.
Tilt the seats forward, attach the snaps inside the car
Get back in the car
Left hand, release hand brake.
Now, drive off.

And that is how the Automatic top works.

 

Sounds convenient! ^^^

 

One correction (see above bold).

And don't forget the top up routine. Same steps in a slightly different order but also,

Get the towel out of the trunk and dry off the interior.
Dry yourself off.
Get back in and drive off screaming che cazzo because the rain already stopped.

 

While we are on the topic of spider tops I though I might share an experience with you.
This happen last spring after my first top down drive of the season when I tried to put the top up? Windows were down. All I got was beep, beep, beep. On a hunch I put the windows up manually. Tried the top again. Windows went down an inch as they should. Top functioned correctly. So I put the top down again. Lowered the windows. Tried to put the top up. Beep, beep, beep. Though it must be a micro switch. But first I though I'd check for a bad fuse. Checked the manual. Noting listed in the manual. Got back in the car. Started it and backed it out of the garage. Tried to adjust the mirrors, don't know why. They would not work. Looked for a fuse. Nothing in the manual. Went for a short drive. Noticed the turn signals were not working. Manual says fuse for turn signals and back up lights. Checked the back up lights. They were not working. Replaced the turn signal/backup light fuse.

Back up lights > working. Turn signals > working. Mirrors > working!!! Put top down and lowered windows. Tried to put the top up. Worked perfectly!!!!!!.

Apparently if you back up with the turn signals on and try to adjust the mirrors at the same time the fuse blows which, for some reason, is also in the top "window down" check circuit. I can almost understand that Ferrari would not design for that except for one thing. It just seems like backing up with the turn signal on while adjusting the mirrors to see if you might hit anything so you can take the turn you just missed is a very Italian thing to do. Obviously, I must have done it, and I'm only 1/2 Italian.

 

3 years I still have not put my top up, hope its still in thar

 

One other thing with the top. The second bar (front to back), has a short elastic strap that must be in good working order for the top to fold properly. If the elastic is not working properly, then you need to push that bar to the rear manually or it will fold in a crazy manner and make you panic. Or should I just say "not fold as designed" because it folds crazy when working properly!

The top is one of those things I would never allow a non Spyder owner to operate. Just too wacky. Mine works most of the time, especially in the garage testing it. It is shy and doesn't like crowds. When it breaks, I will go manual. No biggie.

 

I have to say that other than that weird turn signal fuse thing I have never had a problem with my top.

 

Yes, it is important to add that step involving the middle bar. After you unlatch the top and push it back until you get the beep. Then, push middle bar UP, before you press the button to put the top Down. This helps the top fold correctly and prevents it from binding.

 

I own an f1 and if you understand it its fine in all respects. Kinda like nit understanding a stick. My clutch went 10000 miles for me and i dont know how long for first owner. My second clutch will last a min 15000 maybe 20 we will see. I still have original pump and i am at 30000 no sign of failure. Really depends on its history. F1 display burnt out a light at 15 years and i just got it fixed last year. The rest of my maintanance is similar to other 355s. Cant give any input on spider on,y owned one for short time and roof would stick comming up had to help a little.

As long as the f1 works well when you test drive it should be ok. If you do get it do lots of reading on the f1s. Good luck

 

Oh almost forgot
REMEMBER. The only thing better that a 355 or 348 is two of them or even three. Juat ask robb or tim they are living proof.

 

113577?

 

Grant is on the button.

Three is a great number for the F355...

Robb

 

LOL

I'm a crackhead

 

Johnny,
I can't speak about the F1, but the Spider is great. It has less wind than my old Porsche Targa, and is very solid for a 20 year old 'vert. I 'manualized' my top to make it more dependable and save some money getting it working. It goes down easily, but takes two people and some time to convince it to go up.

 

Priceless.

My 348 spider was about the same except for all the automatic stuff was done manually. Probably took the same amount of time.

 

Missing one very important part of the backing up scenario; half smoked cigarette hanging from the mouth.