First trip across the US in my new F355

Hi all,

I recently imported an F355 from the UK to Texas and I'll be driving it across the country to Pennsylvania in a few weeks.

It feels to me an ambitious undertaking, given that I've only just acquired the car. Nevertheless, I'm excited.

Does anyone have any useful advice about any aspect of driving an F355 over 1,400 miles, across the US?

I've acquired an element fire extinguisher, and a Hulkman battery pack and jumper leads. The car was serviced in Feb this year and has only done a few miles since then.

Thankyou!

 

love the black with red carpets!


After seeing that silver on black sport seat 355 go up in flames in France (on the trip where he was going to buy it) I'd have a good inspection of anything fuel related for sure. That video was heartbreaking. Silver too!!!! So sad.

 

Bring a butt pillow: those seats are unforgiving over long distances!

 

Looks like a fun trip! If you want some fun roads come up to Arkansas. If you get close to Conway, AR let me know if you want a tour of a decommissioned nuclear missile complex. It's what I have instead of a 488. Or a house.

 

Oh, if you stop by you can get access to the Owner's forum. You have to be "verified" by 3 members or one moderator.

 

Thanks. Great tip! Shall do.

 

Thankyou! That would be an easy stop on my first day! Sounds incredible. What's the best way to communicate about that? Can I send you a message on here somehow?

 

Have a plan for tire replacement.

In 2017 I was planning to drive my Alpina B7 from DC to Colorado until I blew out a tire in the middle of rural West Virginia in the dark.

Well… 245/30-21s don’t grow on trees.

 

Private messaging here is through "start a conversation". Just click on a username to see that menu.

Edit: Where in TX are you?

 

Does it have a Motronic 2.7 engine management system? (i.e. has two SLOW DOWN and CHECK ENGINE lights)

If you have any engine issues, I'm not sure how you would interrogate the Motronic ECUs except at a service centre with a Ferrari SD1 tool. UK cars may not have the handy ECU self-test buttons (?).

Be sure to take the driver's handbook with you (so you can find fuses/relays). A copy of the Workshop Manual on a laptop or USB stick also might be handy.
Worst case (other than a fire): Did the car come with a took kit with a tow hook?

 

Excellent advice. I hadn't thought of this. Any suggestions here from anyone? I'd probably get a few cans of fix-a-flat. I don't have a spare wheel at this point, and I don't think I'd fit it with the luggage I'll have with me. If anyone knows of a wheel for sale or a solution, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!

 

Yes it's a 2.7 car. I have the tool kit and tow hook. Good call on the workshop manual etc. I'll store that.

 

Get the most expensive AAA plan they offer and keep in mind they make you wait A MONTH before you can use the longer tows. Sign up now.

Have an idea where you’d have your car towed (for any reason) at all points in the journey. AAA will tow you 200 miles if you do as I say above.

 

This might be an option.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334418678323?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=rbtf6u8dQJu&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=5lJOWFY0TJe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

PS, if you do all this planning you absolutely won’t need it, and if you don’t you will.

 

Absolutely! Always the way.
I wonder if I got a spare F355 front wheel, whether it would also fit on the back if necessary? There are a number for sale on eBay.

 

Personally I've never found the seats to be uncomfortable at all, driven several trips up to 8 hours in a day and no discomfort. But everyone's different.

I always thought having an AAA membership was essential with any older car; well, I have that and the one time the 355 left me stranded (turned out to be a bad fuel pump) not a single AAA place would touch me when they found out what kind of car it was. I also have Hagerty which offers roadside assistance and they fixed me up within 15 minutes. Maybe it varies by region, etc., but that was my experience that day, learned not to rely on AAA.

 

There are many potential failure modes.. Just have the right expectations and have an exit plan. Personally I'd want some really good seat time close to home to make sure she's up to the journey and shake out any bugs. You can't just roll into any service center nor any parts store. Pretty much plan on shipping her home if there are any issues.

But hey sounds like quite the adventure! Live is about the journey and the stories you'll be able to tell

 

This is good advice. If there's any way to get in even a few hours of driving time before you set out on the journey, do it. Especially since it was just serviced. Servicing can introduce new problems.

As for tires, I'd get a plug kit. Very easy to use roadside and if you catch the flat quickly enough, a much better fix than spraying glue all over the inside of your tire. (In my experience it's rare to pick up a nail from highway driving)

Good luck, sounds fun!

 

That is exactly what happened to me. I started my car after taking a break and it was skipping, so I just decided to call AAA instead of risking it (isn't that what I'm paying for?) and after 2 hours and no truck, they called me back and told me to abandon the car there and maybe they could get it moved the next day. So I got in it and started to head for home and after about 1/4 mile it cleared up and ran fine the rest of the way, and it turned out to be a bad spark plug. Now I'm just going to buy an enclosed trailer and do my own vehicle recovery, more reliable...

 

AAA low balls local tow companies to come get you. Slow day, and you’re out in the sticks a truck “might” come. Learned the hard way after waiting 4 hours then being told by AAA to spend my night in the car on a rural highway only 40 miles from SF. Called a tow place directly, flatbed was there in 30 minutes. Sure I paid a few hundred but better than sleeping in a car. Screw AAA.

 

Heck probably a good idea to have an extra $100 bill on you or in the car for the specific purpose of lining someone's pocket to take that extra special care in handling... just sayin

 

I have 3 hidden in my wallet and another stashed in iPhone case, pretty well covered! Great tip though.

 

Wow man, you still have that? I thought you were AirBNBing or something and moved somewhere else nearby?

 

For flat tires, I think cans of fix-a-flat are inadequate. Get a tire plug kit on Amazon and a cheap compressor for your cigarette outlet. Toss in a few pair of nitrile gloves and a pair of needle nose pliers. It all packs down smaller than those silly fix-a-flat cans and works a million times better.

Plugging tires is a skill you'll have for the rest of your life.