Clearly you only use the car in sunny weather. I had new seals put on my 348 and it leaked the very next day. The cars move and creak as you cross difficult cambers. Although, even getting very wet did not put me off driving the car all through the winter every single day, to and from work. I suppose it really depends on what your priorities are, sun tan, staying dry, or outright handling abilities. The Berlinetta clearly wins on the last two.
Nope, use it all year round with the roof off Even went from Kent to Northampton with the roof off in February Only time it goes on is if it rains. I bought a GTS for a reason, no point pretending it's a Berlinetta
Yes Graham, I have to say, on the few times I have seen you in your car, you have always had the roof off.
Sorry. It's just I think that for such a superb car it will be a shame to see it go to a dealer for probably less than £30k, which it surely will do if no-one else wants it.
I have a 328 GTS and have driven all breeds of 355. Downside: GTS cars are undoubtedly very significantly less structurally rigid, 355s are better than 328s but not perfect by a long way. They squeak and let you know that someone's cut a hole in the roof. Upside: Most of us don't use them everyday and whilst mine does get wet occassionally, I mainly use it because the sun's shining. Colour coded roof: Difficult to get a 328 one without sacrificing the standard black one. A new one is about £2k from Ferrari. When you do get one, you find they get scratched to hell if they're left behind the seats too much. It's also notoriously difficult to properly match Rosso Corsa panels on older cars. jg
So it seems there's a difference in opinion, which doesn't surprise me. I intially preffered the Berlinetta and that's what I was intending on buying. However, one other bonus of the GTS is that as I have a narrow garage I may be able to get out of the car more easily with the roof off and put it back on when I'm out of the car. If the roof leaks and creaks, I don't think my wife would be that happy and if the handling is inferior that could be a let down. Budget wise I will probably need to go for a LHD car, hope that won't spoil the driving fun, but will have a passenger most of the time, so visibility shouldn't be as difficult. I've been looking through loads of 355 tests and a Top Gear edition had Clarkston's 355GTS been driven around the Nurburg ring by a couple of experts (against a 911, Skyline etc) and they said the 355GTS handled brilliantly, so maybe I wouldn't notice?!? What does everyone think about colour choices? I like RC, but also like TDF, swatters and Le mans blue. Giallo and Rosso barchetta are out as far as the other half is concerned (she has a better colour appreciation than me (ha ha). Andy
andy ,the gts handles really nice ,never really noticed any handling defitiancys or skuttle shake,but i guess it could be a problem on a well used 355 so treat each car you look at very carefully and have a drive and listen carefully for any noises etc .my garage is tight i leave roof off in summer and helps to get in and out ,but now roofs on and leave window down with carpet on the walls as the doors are super wide.just helps but something you have to put up with.
Thanks Steve, I've measured my garage and I think I should be OK (just). However I definately will need carpet on the walls. Thanks Graham, nice pic. So there's another advatnge of a GTS; more room for crash helmets.
