I just purchased my first Ferrari - Actually its not even at my house yet. Probably somewhere in NV or CA, enroute! I looked at it a little different - I loved all the cars in this series with a preference to "the newer the better" kind of attitude. When I started my search I was looking at 328s. After a bit of time I found that I talked myself into purchasing a bit more car with a 348. Of course that was leaps and bounds more than the 328 but still not a 355 which was my original love! In the end I made the call to go with the 355 - the most bang for the (my) buck and a timeless design. The plan however Is to keep working my way up - I would love to get into a Modena in about 2-3 years, and maybe someday a 430. It is a fun game to play and with the progression Ferrari is making in their vehicles it seems like there will always be something to look forward to "upgrading" to. Cheers, Brian
I rmember reading an interview with Sergio Pininfarina where he said the 360 instantly made all previous models look old or dated. I'm not a huge fan of 360's styling wise, but I can certainly see his point. OTOH, 355's are the last compact Ferraris (at least for now) and I like them for that reason. I wish my 430 was about 10% smaller. I had a 99 M3 for a while, but didn't really like it much. Certainly very competent, but pretty soulless. It seemed to me like a luxury car with performance added while Ferraris are performance cars with lusury (a little) added. Different design philosophies.
I own a 355 spider and am currently looking to move into a 360. I was fortunate enough in that my buddy Tim let me drive his 360 spider through the canyons. Right after that drive, I took my 355 through the same canyons..... APPLES and ORANGES they are just differents cars!!!!!!!!!! They are so different that they could just as well be made by different companies! We may as well be comparing sushi & lasange....one is raw, simple but sublimely satisfying.....the other is more complex and incorporates more flavors. One is raw, one is cooked. I should stop, I'm getting hungry! There is one point that has not been mentioned, and IS worth adding here. As Tim flawlessly pointed out: the 360 is larger, has built-in rollbars, a traction control system and has more safety integrated into it's design. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but we push our cars pretty hard and...well...in the event of an accident which car would you want to be in? I felt as if I was sitting IN the 360's protective cockpit when I drove it. The 355 doesn't have that cocoon feel to it. Maybe that's why the speed is more apparent and that "go-cart" feeling is still there. They both seem very fast to me, the 360 felt bigger, heavier and smoother (like it borrowed a page out of the book of Cadillac)....but the 355 feels like a wild turbo-sled that you course through the canyons. Oh man, they are BOTH so much fun!!!!! Yes, you can see the classic 308'ish design still in the 355....it's a timeless classic Ferrari design. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if 10 years from now the 355 is worth more then a 360...but I didn't buy this car as an investment; few seem to realize that. We always talk about how we should end our lives with worn and used bodies....yet we want our cars pristine? And in conclusion....there is none. Each is awesome and different, each has it's strengths and weaknesses....it just depends what you are looking for in a Ferrari. Someone I respect a great deal said it best "The 360 is no doubt a better CAR, but the 355 is a better Ferrari"....does that make any sense? It does to me and it's up to each of us to interpret in making our decision...... Does anyone read this crap? - Steve
I agree with most of what has been said and really agree with what Steve R wrote above, but I still like the 355 better to drive and to look at, although I don't think or feel its a "better" car. I can say, however, that the 360 is not much more powerful or faster in a straight line (none of my friends in a 360 can walk away from me, but a 996TT is another story), and on the twisties, its really the better driver, not the better car, bc they both handle very well. The race track is a completely different environment - only a modified 355 will better a 360. Its really up to opinion which you like better. I bought my 355 over a 360 and I'm not trading up anytime soon.
Every now and then you read something here that leaves you saying to yourself, "Wow, that was really well written, great post!" Steve's comments above fall into that category.
WOW....thanks guys!!!!!! I really appreciate the compliments I didn't want to get too winded, but we could have explored "is the 360 (being roughly twice the price) worth the extra bucks"?....is it twice the car???? or "which is going to be more costly to own given the age issues & parts costs for the 355"... Btw, F1 pump on a 355 runs about $15,000 but can be bought cleverly for $4,000. I believe the F1 pump on a 360 is $1,200. No valve, manifold or cat issues on the 360 either. And what can you do when the rubbger-coated parts wear-out on the 355? Lots to discuss....and still no clear winner! One day I'm certain I want a 360, the next day I'm wondering again as all my Ferrari buddy's are pulling & pushing me in different directions!!! ....are 360 prices on the verge of falling-out? It seems with each 430 sold another 360 has to find a new home. There's also a rumor that Ferrari may soon kick-up production and we'll see 430's being sold for much less. The only thing propping-up 360 prices are 430 prices, that much we can be certain of. Funny, Ferrari's are like investments...as we become more and more comfortable we're willing to spend our way into more expensive models, plus we don't feel the huge bite as we sell our old models and parlay our car-money upwards. Like I said in another thread....I feel fortunate to have these problems, which Ferrari to own. I still find it hilarious. You know you are successful when your biggest decision is over which Ferrari and what color to own!!!!!!
Which is why you're skinny & live in Europe There's always some joker who exploits the analogy, it's all good Usually a writer can re-cap the analogy for humor later, I left it alone to taunt and provoke someone...guess who that someone was?
Couldn't help it. Anyway how do you know I'm skinny?? tis very true..no matter how much lager and curry I consume.
Tony..... Is it just me...or do our daughters bear an unusual resemblence???? Mine is younger, only 5. I have a similar picture of her standing in front of my 355, couldn't find it though...but here she is at a party: Image Unavailable, Please Login
Not to get off the subject, but my oldest girl -- Katie -- is 15 and she grew up in the blink of an eye. Great kid, great athlete, but she is not my "little girl" anymore. Steve, the photo of your girl almost brings tears to my eyes because I have a photo like that at my office of Katie. My youngest, Krystyna, is two months from three. I appreciate every day she is little. Life passes by very fast. Take every day and be thankful for it.
They could be sisters and have identical taste in ballgowns and tiaras ! Rebecca's 6 in July, going on 26
Now a dozen years old, the 355 is regarded as a classic. It's excellent & compact styling will hold well for future residuals, in a similar vein to the 328 and 246 before it. Expect prices to start climbing in around 5-6 years.
Agree 100%....My oldest is 6 and I have twins daughters now 4, it's just too cute!!! Next week we have an order of ducklings coming in, can't wait for the fun on that one! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ok...last off-subject...this was taken at a birthday party. I asked Elana which one was her, and she explained "that's me on the right, and uh...that's someone else on the left".....HILARIOUS Image Unavailable, Please Login
WhY yOu TaLkInG aBoUt CaRs?????? Oh yeah....the subject at hand. I agree, with only a couple thousand being made and the timeless design, the 355 is probably destine to be classic. I can't help but wonder (and nobody has a crystal ball)....but let's say 20 years from now, what will be worth more: a 355 spider or 360 spider????
I had a 360 for a short time but got rid of it to buy a 355. I just thought that the 360 didn't have enough character for my taste. I also didn't think that it was significantly faster than the 355. Overall, it just felt like a faster BMW. I was pretty disappointed, honestly. After my son was born, I realized that I was stupid to have gotten rid of the Ferrari so when I went shopping, I drove everything from the 550 all the way back to a boxer before making a purchase decision. I quickly realized how much more I enjoy the older cars as opposed to the newer ones. Looking back on how I felt about the 360/355 thing, it really illustrates my personal preference. Not saying that the 360 is a bad car, just saying that personal preference plays a ton into this type of decision.
I had a 360 for a short time but got rid of it to buy a 355. I just thought that the 360 didn't have enough character for my taste. Overall, it just felt like a faster BMW. I also didn't think that it was significantly faster than the 355. At any rate, I was pretty disappointed with the 360, honestly. So when I went shopping again, I drove everything from the 550 all the way back to a boxer before making a purchase decision. I quickly realized how much more I enjoy the older cars as opposed to the newer ones. Looking back on how I felt about the 360/355 thing, it really illustrates my personal preference. Not saying that the 360 is a bad car, just saying that personal preference plays a ton into this type of decision.
Steve, OMG- we're sharing same daughter Uncanny's not the word Back to thread topic.... PS will you be you @ Pebble this year ? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Pebble Beach....I've heard of it....but let me get this straight; I have to pay a whole bunch of money to drive up the coast and park my car on a big grassy knoll so a bunch of snooty people with watered-down alcohol and pocket-watches can cast judgement & praise upon it?????? I've never been to it and honestly don't know much about it.....let me look into it and see what's up. Are you planning to cross the ocean and be here for it? Tomorrow I may go look at a 360 spider and see what's up. Most everyone agrees that this isn't the best time to buy a 360. The prices of 360's are tied to the price of the 430, and we're perhaps about to see some softening on just how many ten's of thousands above invoice they'll be selling for. My hunch, give it 1/2-year or more and we'll see some significant drops...eh, who knows!
