355 Targa vs. Berlinetta vs. Spyder

I third this. I haven't owned a 355, but last year went from a 911 cab to my 328 GTS and the "privacy" is extremely welcome.

I also find softtops a p.i.t.a. to care for, especially those with soft plastic rear windows.

OTOH, the 355 spiders don't have that stupid cracking problem at the base of the rear buttresses where they attach to the deck.

 

Just out of curiousity, Do a lot of 355GTS owners paint their targa top? Does that decrease the value of the car by any chance?

 

Jay:

I have a 1997 355 GTS Black/Black mint condition I bought a year ago-love it. I spent approx. 1 yr looking before I came across this car. For want its worth here is my take on the subject. You will probably not have to much difficulty coming across a spyder in what you are looking for and in the color you want and the reason being is the percent production was significantly in favor of the spyder. I might be wrong but I somewhat remember reading that about 85% of the 355's produced are spyders then the Berlinette and then lastly the GTS (I have always heard GTS used to refer to the top and not targa and during my search when ever I used targa to describe what I was looking for I was always corrected by "you mean the GTS"- must be a lingo thing I don't know, still learning. So you will find the GTS are difficult to come by because of numbers, also if you are looking for a 6 speed manuel buckle in for the long haul search because the majority of the 355 were built with the F1 (90% or better I think). I went with the 355 GTS 6 spd manuel because that was what I wanted. I guess the bottom line is get what you really want. You will have better choices and luck finding a car with the Spyders, less so with the Berlinette and much less so with the GTS. I know the pricing on Spyders was higher when new but I think you will find that premium is off set by the larger supply of the Spyders in the secondary market compared to the 355B or 355GTS of equal condition and may get a better buy on the Spyder. I am sure someone out there may have more accurate Stats but I think I and close. Hope this helps.

Doc

 

Jay:

I have a 1997 355 GTS Black/Black mint condition I bought a year ago-love it. I spent approx. 1 yr looking before I came across this car. For want its worth here is my take on the subject. You will probably not have to much difficulty coming across a spyder in what you are looking for and in the color you want and the reason being is the percent production was significantly in favor of the spyder. I might be wrong but I somewhat remember reading that about 85% of the 355's produced are spyders then the Berlinette and then lastly the GTS (I have always heard GTS used to refer to the top and not targa and during my search when ever I used targa to describe what I was looking for I was always corrected by "you mean the GTS"- must be a lingo thing I don't know, still learning. So you will find the GTS are difficult to come by because of numbers, also if you are looking for a 6 speed manuel buckle in for the long haul search because the majority of the 355 were built with the F1 (90% or better I think). I went with the 355 GTS 6 spd manuel because that was what I wanted. I guess the bottom line is get what you really want. You will have better choices and luck finding a car with the Spyders, less so with the Berlinette and much less so with the GTS. I know the pricing on Spyders was higher when new but I think you will find that premium is off set by the larger supply of the Spyders in the secondary market compared to the 355B or 355GTS of equal condition and may get a better buy on the Spyder. I am sure someone out there may have more accurate Stats but I think I and close. Hope this helps.

Doc

 

355 Production :

1) GTB
2) Spider
3) GTS

I still love the Berlinetta
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

spiders rock
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

but Berlinettas RULE !!!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

i have a 95 Berlinetta and i losve the shape of the car with a closed roof. I have never driven a targa or spider and i don't know about the flex issue. I do have a 308 gts and that thing flexes like a body builder. I too wish that i could put the top down on my 355 but the windows are good enough for me.

 

i have a red blk 6 spd gts which i consider to be one of the most beautiful cars made. the look of the car with top off is classic.

couple of points that are important to me......you can't track a spyder. the sound of that flat crank v8 is very audible with top off and windows down, and with windows up it is reduced a good deal which is a nice option.

i was leaning to painting the top as i too love the look of the gtb but almost 1 yr has passed and i'm less and less inclined to mess with it. i almost never drive with top up anyway, it's a sunny day special occasion car.

i stepped out of a honda s2000 and yes the gts does flex a bit more but not to detract from my driving pleasure.

next yr i plan to get a 2002 (320hp0 911 targa, i like open air but also like track days. i only know of one club that will allow convertibles without roll bars.

from what i discovered in researching the gts is that it does not have the additional stiffening of the spyder hence perhaps more flexy. again it's not a problem for me- it was gts all the way but this is a good thread you have many viewpoints. good luck.

 

Nahhhh. Might help it actually. Unless you did it with a can of Krylon.

 

JM3,

I just went through the same debate Spider/Berlanetta/GTS recently and just bought my '97 355 Spider. I think all three look great and each have their benefits, but the Spider just takes it to that next level. And top up or down you will love the car. I think the GTS's didn't come with the body colored roof until '98??? But the spider is the way to go. Only bad thing is the drivers with camera phones on the freeway that start coasting towards you trying to take your picture. Which is fine at a stoplight or while you're parked, but on the freeway it can be a challenge.

 

I forgot to mention one more thing in my previous post. The spider's boot that fits over the convert top hinders you rear view. You get 3/4 visability looking in the rear.

 

I had a 98 F1 spider and its the last spider I'll ever get. My reasons;
-- it leaked on both driver and passenger side in unexpected rain storms. I fed 14 inches of 1/4" CVS tubing into the small hole at the top of the door/window seal, which increased its "fullness" a bit, and that helped
-- it squeaked over bumps, likely frame issues
-- it was slower being 200lbs heavier than a GTB or GTS
-- with no rollbar or roof overhead, many clubs won't let you track it, and you feel a tad more insecure at very high speeds.
-- a spider offers the "lighter", softer side of ferrari, a coup offers somewhat more hardcore side of ferrari
-- I always felt my head was in a fish bowl, under constant observation, not an iota of privacy, and many others complain of this also

My spider looked stunning with the top down, but so does a highly buffed GTB or GTS. GTS is harder to come by but provides both worlds.

Moved on to a 360 Modena and now a CS. Love the coup, sense of being tucked in, secure, with the car and not my balding head on continual public display.

Good luck in your choice.

 

http://www.hzeeland.nl/~plat0002/f355-0.jpg i love this picture

 

Great picture! I will take the one in the middle but not in RED

 

same here tdf blue for me

 

In answer to your query I have a 355gts and consider it the best of both worlds ie in wet weather top is on and very little problem with leaks, in sunny weather top is always off and you are not as exposed as a spider. i have colour code painted my targa roof as i think it looks better/ more modern than the crinkle targa roof imo. Love the roof off experience and sounds. Don,t track my car all that often but I do similar times as berlinettas so am not concerned with any flex issues. Have fitted a mille-miglia exhaust which is lighter tham oem exhaust so this may help a little with times. i am 6ft 3ins and have no probs with top off I just lay seat back a little further but am very comfy.

 

Thats a great pic, they all look beautiful.

 

I love my GTS best of both worlds.
Image Unavailable, Please Login