Buying a F355

Welcome mate,

I, as many other have on here went from a 996 to the 355, you will not be dissapointed, the Porkers feel sterile compared to Maranello's finest (the 355 before you ask Angelis). I wanted a manual because I thought the same as you (mainly due to Clarkson, the tw@t) but the right car came along with F1. I've had no problems, and now actually prefer it to a manual shift, when you learn how to use it properly its super smooth. My car has so far been 100% reliable and feels very well made, and it is looked after by Hollingsworth, top top people, very helpful, excellent people to deal with. PM me if you want any more details or even a spin in a 355 F1 without the pressure of a sale being there.

Adam

 

Welcome Ray hope you take the plunge

 

Get a 348....proper gears and no nampy-pamby power steering!! LOL

 

I went from a 993 C2S to a F355 Spider.

The Porsche was great for reliability. I knew that rain or shine it would never let me down. It handled great and was quite pokey really. Parts were relatively cheap and could be sourced easily enough. I'd love one again as a daily driver for these very reasons.

The Ferrari F355 is a monster next to the 993! Performance, sound, looks and most importantly soul! You won't be ready for what it feels like to own one of these babies, trust me! It'll have you grinning from ear to ear before, during and after.........basically all of the time....

but.........

the F355 has a handful of common problems which aren't as cheap as the Porsche to sort out. I've already experience one of the main faults (Slow Down light - replaced CATS) and as of this weekend I'm having to sort another one on the list (Manifolds...........****!). Servicing is much higher than on the Porsche, I could get away with allowing £1k for servicing and wear and tear items but on the F355 keep £3k per year to one side. You can't escape potential roof problems - Berlinettas (fixed roof) paint tends to crack at the rear buttress, GTS (targa) seem to wear due to storage behind the seats plus there's less room if your a big guy and the Spiders (soft top) are prone to seize up at inopportune moments. Watch out for the leather shrinking around the dash as well. The battery is supposed to be pretty **** but I haven't had problems with mine................yet! You'll find a interesting way to get to your battery when it needs replacing.......we'll let you find that out for yourself.

It's a definite trade off but if you're prepared for the minor upsets then there's no competition between a 993 and a F355.

Take the plunge, you won't regret it!

 

Hi Ray and welcome,
the excellent post below sums up likely probs and running costs. The diff between 993s and 355s are huge. You really need to drive a 355 and experience it yourself;


355 guide
0) Get a HPi check as Ade says, and make sure there is a history that makes sense. There are independent service places that are better than main Ferrari so a factory history isn't everything. My car hadn't been serviced for 4 years (but hadn't done any miles either) and I just got it back from belt/change major service and its fine.

1) Run your finger along all panel gaps to see if they are relatively equal and panels are mounted at the same level. There is usually some rust on the foot plates under the doors, its a pain to clean up as they are bonded and removing usually bends them. Can be replaced with carbon fibre panels (see eBay). There is usually cracks/ripples in the paint where the C pillar meets the rear wing. This is normal and is something that needs attention every now and again.

2) White powder in the tail pipes = new catalytic convertors. These are £400 each (x2) or can be replaced with pipes (£200 total) but they are loud and due to emissions require a friendly MOT chap. The standard cats do fail (ceramic). Fuchs in Germany will take your old Cat bodies and replace inner with metal matrix which lasts forever (£1000 I think - but one off payment). Note that if the Cats need replacing, either with other cats or pipes then each has 3 sensors (2 Oxygen and 1 temperature) and they sometimes cannot be removed so you need new ones (£160/£60/£100 each).

3) Interior black rubber dash covering cracks in centre console and breaks up. Starts on the ashtray - again carbon panels can be bought on eBay.

4) There should be NO oil leaks, no blobs under it at all. So dont accept the "Ferrari's always leak a little" argument.

5) When/if you check the engine oil level DO WITH THE ENGINE VERY HOT! ie not cold, if you check when cold (like I did) you could end up draining 14L out of the sump (holds 9.5) been there etc...

6) Rub your finger around the top of the dampers on the black rubber bushes, if there is any oil / damp then the damper is on its way. £600 each or about £200 as a recon from Bilstein. Also if rear dampers gone then you will see high wear on inside of rear tyres.

7) Gears selection should be heavy when oil cold (miss 2nd out to save the synchros) once hot the shift should be quick and smooth for all gears.

8) The paint should be even all over and a bit orange peally (normal Ferrari) if the paint finish is mega (no orange peel) then its either been professionally rubbed down and polished or its a re-spray. Look everywhere for overspray, lift the window rubbers etc.

9) Make sure wheels are not damaged, magnesium leaks air if it has hairline fractures and an impact can cause this. They are about £850 each to replace.

10) Exhaust manifolds crack and need welding / replacing at some point. Check for blowing in the exhaust system and adjust price as required. Ferrari manifolds are about £1650 each but there are alternatives that are probably better made (eBay again, .com, I love eBay ).

11) When you remove the petrol cap (make sure it dosnt stick when pressing button on dash, show lack of care) there should be a rush of air OUT (tank pressureised).

12) Check all the electrics work OK, and I mean all of them.

13) I have never seen a car with more than 30,000m on it that hasnt got signs of wear / cracking on the leather interior (seat sides etc) so if you see wear and the mileage is low be suspicious.

14) Throttle sticks a little bit on initial pickup (needs more pressure initially when pulling away then jolts as the pedal moves) this is caused by the throttle cable run not be properly adjusted/lubricated. Its a good indicator of how recently and how well its been serviced. After a service there should be no jolt, but it gets gradually worse the closer you get to the next service.

15) Be careful to check aftermarket warranty details, I havn't found one that was worth the money / gave worthwhile cover.

16) Servicing should be about £600 a year, with £2000 every 3rd year (depending on mileage). I am budgeting on £4000 a year which should cope with the big bills when/if they arrive. I would imagine its not far off the running costs of a GT3.

 

Welcome to Ferrarichat.

I can't help with car advice, but be very ware that if you join the Ferrari franternity (particularly Ferrarichat), it will infest you with a mental condition that you will forever carry with you.

So beware as you stand at the threshold of ownership; it will only ever be uphill and/or downhill from here, and you will love it with that peculiar kind of love, tinged with a dread, that comes from the very best rollercoaster rides.....

Good luck.

 

Ray

hope you get one - if you do, and want to get together with like minded idiots, PM me. I live about 9 miles from Tewks and often get the local fcar boys together. There's always the Cotswold FOC too - that's more of a relaxed pace, but I guess you'll want to stretch the lungs of the 355 beast!

 

I went from a 996 c2 cab to the 355spyder. Much older car but better in every way.

 

I echo "Hazy" in that the F1 is fantastic it does take a bit of getting used to but I will not have another Ferrari without it most People who criticise the system have either never used it or have very little time with it(test drive or so) so if You discover one that you like and it is an F1 go for it.And I also came from German to Italian 944S-944S2(3.0)3.2 carrera-Boxter- 328GTS-355 GTS F1

 

No Way Tony , a GT3 will be a fraction of this cost !

James

 

ray,welcome youve come to the write place ,heed everyones advice and you wont go wrong.

 

Hi Ray, went from a Porsche 996 C4s myself to a Ferrari. The experience of Ferrari ownership is unmatched to any other and as said before puts a smile on ur face every day.

When looking at any new car try not to get 2 excited and let that affect your judgment. I find the best way to check the body work on any car is to wash and shammy it, sounds daft and it made the garage I purchased my car from laugh but it really does make you pay attention to every panel and from all directions.

Good luck finding your car.

Regards
Mark

 

Hi Ray,

I also am looking to buy a 355 soon. Had a 996 and it was a phenomenal machine but as they say nothing has the magic of a ferrari.

I know the 355 will be more expensive to run than the porker but i dont care. My life will be an utter failure if i dont get a 355.

 

Read the above advice, do a quick search on here (plenty of similar queries), then go out and find a few to look at, get them independently inspected (even if buying from a dealer! I'm serious!!).

Then buy one.

Will be the nest thing you ever did.

2.75yrs in and I still smile every time I see it. Driving it - try wiping the grin off my face

 

Ray,
yes it will. Spider, GTS or GTB for that money. Search well tho as a lot of cars won't be as advertised.

 

Take note Angelis, take note.
348 drivers are like the Boxster drivers. Wannabe 355 drivers like the wannabe 996/7 drivers

 

I've been rumbled!! It's getting to me all these 348/Boxster posts, the Boxster will have to go

 

Ah HA......I KNEW it....LOL

 

Good luck with your 355 search. You will NOT regret it !! Id advise looking for a 355 with a sports exhaust (they mostly cost around 2K mark) as you will end up getting one anyway and if you buy a car with one it will save you money in long run.

Also if you are going for a low mileage example, be very careful what you buy. Make sure the last owner has had an engine out service (in my opinion) and renewed any common fault items. It might be low mileage, but its still likely to be 8 or 9 years old and perhaps with lots of short trips under its belt.

Its reasonably save to assume that if nobody has spent money on a particular car you are looking at..... then someone will end up footing the bill soon.

Good luck
ade

 

Speaking from experience there, Ade?

 

thats the best 355 post I have seen here in a very very long time.

thanks for the info.

 

Wish i could take credit but it's written by someone else