355's unwanted, no buyers out there??

True the 996TT has better technology and is more refined. (I drove it a bit). But they made waaaay more 996TTs than the market is now willing to bear. The prices reflect that. Not to mention when the factory has designed the new 997 after the 993 styling, that just leaves the 996 out in the cold. I would not mind a 996 gt2 though. Since it is RWD like my F355

 

Actually, it was after I'd paid and signed all the papers. So far, no major problems with the car and its design lines trump the subsequent models by far.

 

No, Porsche sold every 996TT they made without resorting to deep discounts or financial gimmicks. What happened with the 993TT was that the company was in such poor financial shape that they couldn't build enough units to be profitable because the production line was so antiquated.

Its funny about how the air-cooled crowd feels about the 997. It has WAY more in common with the 996 than any previous model. It seems like all it took was switching headlights to brainwash the old faithfull into thinking the 60s were back. Peace Man! This is a way groovy thread.

 

That is all it took! Those 996/boxster headlights suck!

 

Yeah.. 360 is twice the car and twice the price tag (Spider). 360 lacks soul. 355 is the last Ferrari with a soul to it, in my opinion.

348 and 355 market is soft. I noticed the 355 being soft for over a year now, thats why i went with a 348. Also noticed a BOAT LOAD of 355's (all models) on the market and less 348's. 348 had lower production numbers. Sure the 355 has more performance, but i like staked sides ala Testarossa and Im a sucker for a rag-top. Only way to fly.

If history repeats itself (which we all know it never ever does) 348 prices will rise in the next few years and so will the 355. There are plenty of guys that will be entering the market that grew up with 348s and 355s on their bedroom walls.

 

Hey, goth, there is a kit u can buy and have installed that converts the 996 front clip to a 997 look. Very cool, but about $10K if I remember. And 996TT's are not that hard to sell to the right group and with the right approach and price. I am selling mine, as u prolly remember, but u need to show it to the PCA. Those guys think that the TT is the ultimate, the silly fools! U need low miles (like mine) and it helps to have a bunch of options (I don't ). Oh, and Tiptronic helps, though I can't figure out why for the life of me. Ferry Porsche is turning in his grave.

The TT is truly the ultimate in street performance and infinitely more practical than a Ferrari. LIKE I CARE! Gimme my Ferrari back!

The only German sports car with any soul was the BMW M1 and that was designed by the Italians!

 

I'm sure there were some of the usual sales shenanigans, where "only the new model we have in stock is good enough."

But, the 355 scared the crap out of me when I was Ferrari shopping last year. Gorgeous, fast, made the best sounds I'd heard, but the prospective repair bills kept me away. If the market is soft, I'd bet it's in part because of people like me, who had the money, had the Ferrari bug in a big way, and backed off.

 

A well-running 355 is a thing of beauty, power, and refinement...but unless its maintenance costs are somehow addressed, it's going to wind up being owned only by a couple of wealthy collectors and a lot of bargain-hunting mechanics who have free labor, tools, and an "angle" on lower-priced parts.

I bet that if you took polls of 355 owners versus 360 owners, that 360 owners already have more miles, on average, on their cars than does the 355 crowd...which is quite likely a reaction to the fear of repair bills.

 

I'm in a similar position. I've always wanted either a 355 or 348, but it was not until the last year or so that I've been doing any serious research. After speaking with several well-known mechanics, it made the decision much easier for the 348. A 95-96 355 is in a similar price range of a very nice 94-95 348, but with potentially less-costly repair bills.

 

I have a 97 355B. In my opinion it is the best designed Ferrari road car since the Dino 246 which I also own. Ironic how for years the Dino and now the 355 were dissed and unloved by the mainstream. Just wait, 355's, like the 63-67 Corvette Stingrays, will become the most celebrated Ferrari styling exercise of the era. As for maintenance costs, owning any ferrari is not for the financially faint of heart.

 

I just mentioned the fear of broken parts causing people to turn away, but you're now the second or third person who has rebutted with it's design and looks. Hey, I think it's one of the best looking Ferraris ever and THE best looking in the last 20 years. I love the sound of it. I've been in them before and they're plenty fast.

Now, would I buy one? Maybe, but probably not. Never say never though!

 

The 355 issues are pretty well known and once addressed (if addressed properly) should be a non-issue. By now, most 355s are going to have had the valve guides done and the headers replaced. Other that that, gimme a break, they seem to be pretty reliable. The problem they probably have for real is that they do not get driven enough, and we all know that will make any car unreliable. Drive it, service it regularly. It will never leave you stranded.

I think they have a lot longer to depreciate though. They won't climb in value in "a couple years". The trend seems to be that Fcars bottom out at about 25 years old, then climb-- like the Dinos, the 308, the Boxer, etc. Only now are Boxers and 308s starting to climb. Dinos have been climbing for 7 years-ish, which makes sense. I think 355's won't hit their low and begin climbing for another 10 or 15 years. Just my opinion. I think that is good news for guys like me that can't afford them just yet.

I have been on record saying this for at least 3 years: in 5-10 years, you will be able to swap a 308 for a 355 even, because 308s are climbing, while 355s are falling, and they will meet somewhere in the middle. Of course that won't help me, I'm keeping the 308 and I'll have to find a way to have both, greedy B@stard that I am!

Birdman

 

Yeah!! Long Live the 355!!! It is certainly the best looking f-car IMO. I was almost contemplating a 360 for newness but changed my mind (whew that was close!) I just love the retro interior and artistic exterior lines! IMO destined to be a classic!

Quoting davehelms off another thread post #127: refhttp://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124559&page=7

Now that is a quote that I could not agree with more!!! Again--- Long Live the 355!!!

 

Yeah and "Ferrari" actually means---- Fricken Expensive Repairs Required At Regular Intervals. What else would you expect from Ferrari's parent company, Fix It Again Tony "FIAT".

 

LOL!! Very true!! but sooooo worth it!!

 

A Ferrari is a Ferrari. If you cant afford one dont buy one and please stop dissing them. My F355B is an amazing machine. I have often told many that when they built this machine it is like they sat you in a chair and built the car around you. The view out all the glass and mirrors is great unlike the 360. The weight distribution is incredible. Straight pipes and a tubi make it the most awsome maching to listen to and give it much more horse. I have heard people say that there is only one thing better than an orgasm and that is driving a golf ball straight and long up a faiway. Let me add driving a F355 to that list. Ferrari put some nice lines in it compared to the previous 308 328 models and now the 360 and 430 are too well rounded making the 355 the perfect timeless body style. Getting back to service on the 355. The valve guides will never give you problems if you drive the car like it should be driven and you change the oil when you should using the best oils out there. Also many do not do the service when they should and many when they do do the 30k service only change the belts and throw the engind back in. If you bought one of those 355s then sure you will have problems. The best 355s do not show up for sale on Ebay. They also dont have 4k to 10k on them. You have to know what your buying and who your buying it from as well as a trustworthy mechanic. My Mechanic told me the a few weeks ago that in the 70s when he first worked for Ferrari that the owner of his dealership was asking his workers to take home some of his dinos because nobody wanted to buy them. Now look at them. In my opinion the 355 will one day be a very sought after car as the new Ferrari styles will wear thin quickly. Sort of like Rock n Roll, the best has come and gone and nobody seems to be improving it.

 

Stand by for the givers of doom.............they will be along shortly

 

As i said in this thread, Europes largest Ferrari dealer GreyPauls. Sell the full range in there new show room, from 308s to current. So thats not true.

 

LOL!!!