NEED ADVICE ON PURCHASE

just got the 355B havent heard anything good about the power roof on the 355. Ask around. Good luck I'd wait for the 360.

 

IMO. trade up as the 355 Spyder is awsome and should hold its value. You can always trade up to a 360 when the 430's are are more prevanent.

 

Wait for the 360 I love my 355 Spider but would trade it for a 360

 

Have you driven both cars? I was shocked by the difference when I drove the two back to back. I'd wait for the 360 to come down a bit.

 

The 355 is without a doubt better than the 348 but not better than the 360. The choice is urs. Take them both for a spin and see what you personally think because we all have our own opinions

 

See what you like to drive more.
Other than that, there are fewer 355's around. Around NYC on the spring/summer weekends, you are likely to see a half a dozen 360 on any given day.

 

I am in the same boat so to speak with a 348 spider (not up for sale) but pondering my next move and studying the 360. I would definitely wait. The 355 is a modification of the 348, which even the chief Ferrari engineer admitted in a recent issue of Forza was limited in scope and effectiveness while the 360 is a completely new design and generally acclaimed. The 360 will likely proove to be more reliable and less costly to maintain over the long haul. Besides the performance, the 360 interior eye candy and ease of ingress and egress (important at my age!) are way ahead of the 348/355.
For someone just getting into the brand and yearning for a 3XX design, certainly the 355 is to be recommended but for an existing 348 owner and think two steps up are needed for a significant upgrade. Too bad we all can't keep and support all the cars we have ever owned.

The last few issues of the Asking Price Index in FML suggest prices of 348 spiders have stabilized within the past year while 355 spiders continue to depreciate slowly. While there seems to be no price break in sight for the 360 spiders, the coupes are depreciating at about 10K per year and should continue to do so from here on out, so the 360 coupe/348 differential will continue to narrow over time. I believe in the last FML there are only three 348 spiders listed! a few more on Dupont Registry but not many and low mileage cars are becoming rarer. I would think your car would go in the low to mid 60s is offered by a dealer. The 348 spider is a fairly rare car (only about 500 ever imported to the US) as modern Ferrari's go with a well known love-hate following but with enough love following to bolster the value over time for clean low mileage samples.

 

If you really want 360 spider now, and can live w/ paying $40K more, go for it.
If paying $40K more is too much factor to overlook, wait to buy 360 spider. Meantime a price may drop & you'll be able to add more money to your saving,too.

I think you know by your heart which decision you won't regret later.

Hope it'll turn out best to your satisfaction.

 

Can you elaborate? I have a 348 and would really like to know how much difference the 355 is in comparison. I've heard some say it's not really different at all (sure stylistically it's updated, but even with the bigger displacement, adding the power steering, power top, ...) and I've heard some say it's radically improved.

Based on the fact that you're saying hold out for the 350, I presume you imply that there isn't really enough difference to warrant the $40k premium?

 

I have driven all three of these cars (348,355, and 360), and I must say I think there is a much bigger difference between the 348 and 355 vs the difference between the 355 and 360. I realize on paper the 360 is a far better car, however I judge cars by how they drive, not what is written. Your 348 drives very go cartish, feels light and solid almost raw. The 355 is the same idea with better feedback and much more power. The 360 I drove over the three days I had it was a fantastic car, but felt heavy and somewhat disconnected compared to my 355. It was definitley easier to get in and out of, and I suppose was a little more traffic friendly, but didnt feel any faster than my car. The horsepower difference between the 355 and 360 is only 15 hp and even though the 360 is lighter it doesn't feel it. The power difference between a 348 and 355 is much greater 85 hp if I'm not mistaken. I guess you can see where I am going with this, buy a 355 and save yourself 20-30k, you won't be dissapointed. Oh and no offense to you 360 owners, you own a great car, there is a reason it is the highest production Ferrari ever.

 

Your post makes me laugh only because it is a pointer to how our impressions of these cars are so intensely personal and subjective. That's why I suggested that DrBill drive both cars. My experience relative to 355 v. 360 was exactly opposite to yours. I thought the 355 was an old, slow pig (no offense to you guys who own one - it's my opinion only - worthless to the rest of humanity) and that the 360 was a brilliant, scary-fast go-kart. One man's caviar is another's rotten fish eggs!

Btw, can't go wrong with Tubi's. Imagine the gentle swish and clink of 18 year old single malt being sipped from the finest crystal. It's like that - only different.

 

i have a 1999 360 listed on cars.com with 33000 miles,f1,ingrid/black,factory chrome wheels,complete 30000 service with variators for $110000.

 

I have a 91 348 and just bought an early model Euro 360. Low miles and below $100k. Don't believe the dealer hype on Euro cars. More HP and lighter in 99 and any dealer will work on them as they are not out of warrenty

Best car I have ever owned. Makes my 348 feel like a frickin go-cart

Good Luck,
Big Mike

 

The local Ferrari dealer in my area will work on US and Euro spec cars regardless of whether it is in or out of warranty so best to call your local Service Manager and check.

 

I would not even think about paying close to $ 100k for a 355. I picked up a 1995 with service and valve guides sorted in low to mid $ 60k. I like this car, but a 355 model of any year is not worth $ 95K to a $ 100k. I drove and looked at 98s and 99s and have driven 360s. At $ 60k, the 355 is great bang for the buck, good looking and fun to drive, but once you get in the $ 100k range, there are better options for the money than the 355 model. I love the 360 and if I was going to spend anything over $ 75k on a Ferrari, I would step up to and buy a 360. I also did like the 355 much better than the 1995 348 spiders I drove. I candidly did not like the 348, but I am a bit spoiled when it comes to performance by my other cars.

$ 58k is a very strong price for a 348. I would jump on that and pick up a fully sorted 1995 355 until you can swing the 360. I spent several months looking and paid for 4 PPIs before finally finding my car which was sorted and not much more than what you are getting for your 348.