Went "All In" and bought a sweet '98 355 Spider | FerrariChat
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Went "All In" and bought a sweet '98 355 Spider

Discussion in '348/355' started by spepmiller, Dec 12, 2006.

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  1. spepmiller

    spepmiller Karting

    Jul 31, 2006
    73
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Steven Pepmiller
    #1 spepmiller, Dec 12, 2006
    F-Chatters,

    After almost six months of educating myself (this Forum is awesome!), weighing pros and cons, assessing features and price, one failed PPI on a different car, etc.... I took the plunge.

    Am now a proud owner of a '98 355 Spider which I bought from Ferrari of Houston. It is Nart Blue with Tan interior and had just under 13,000 miles when I bought it.

    I drove it from Houston to my hometown of Panama City Beach, Florida but it will reside more in Atlanta (I have a place in both locations and work some out of the ATL). On the drive, the blower (Heat, AC) went out and one of the head-lights stopped part way up. Electrical fuse board and fuse issue... which appears to have been easily sorted by Dave Smith Motorworks (who has a '97 355) in Panama City. Then a check engine light came on but the belief is that I am a little too soft on the car (i.e., not really revving it past 5,000 on a regular basis, driving it like I want to get great gas mileage, picky sensors, etc.). So, we looked at the engine codes, reset it and I am driving the car a bit more. So far, so good...
    Any thoughts on any of this service stuff???

    Yes, I will post pictures but with much bias here is more about the car. The exterior and interior is practically flawless. Relatively new Pirelli Pzeros. Recent full engine out (six months ago and now 1,500 miles ago) from Ferrari of Houston. Still have some warranty months on what they did as part of that engine out service. Two prior owners - both from Houston - and the car was exclusively serviced at FofH. From the assembly number, I have the sinstered steel valves. Compression and Leak Down yielded consistent 225 to 235 and 3%-4% across all.

    At the end of the day, I spent about a 10% premium over what I originally intended to spend (which was low to mid-$80K) but I also took a few months longer than envisioned and got, I believe, a really strong running and cosmetically excellent vehicle. Interestingly the original factory sticker price was $135,000ish --- what car holds 60-65% of its value after 7 years??? Amazing. No aftermarket stuff on the car but I do eventually intend to do "full Tubi" - headers, cats, exhaust. Dave suggests that I do the headers as soon as financially practical. No issues or reason to suspect the factory ones are not doing the job well - thoughts?

    By the way, I dealt with Joe Maniacci at FofHouston. A real straight-shooter (he is going to get me a check for the couple of hundred I had to shell-out to get the electrical situation fixed, described the car accurately, low BS threshold which I like, etc.).

    Oddly enough, the car didn't come with floor mats (Joe said that Ferrari the car doesn't actually come with mats - true?). At any rate, I know that there are threads on mats and I will buy some.

    Pictures to come and I think I may even change my username to PEP 355 (if only in partial homage to the great Aussie PAP 348 who seems to live on this forum!)...

    Sun is coming up on the beach, time for a spirited drive...

    Steve
     
  2. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    Apr 21, 2003
    15,111
    Gulf Coast
    #2 MarkPDX, Dec 12, 2006
    Sounds like a great car, hope you get many happy miles out of it. I was considered buying a 355 a few months ago but decided to wait, stories like this get me smoking the Ferrari crackpipe again :)
     
  3. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
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    Mar 21, 2005
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    Bill Tracy
    #3 BT, Dec 12, 2006
    Congrats! I like the idea of a long drive to the new home to work out any bugs the car might have. Enjoy the new car!
    :)
    BT
     
  4. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
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    #4 gothspeed, Dec 12, 2006
    congratulations!!! 355's rule!! can't wait to see pics ;) :D
     
  5. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,329
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    Vince V
    #5 vvassallo, Dec 12, 2006
    $80K and no floor mats?! I bought mine at the Ferrari dealership, so my guess is theyhave them, eh?

    Congrats and enjoy!
     
  6. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 11, 2004
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    #6 285ferrari, Dec 12, 2006
    Congrats Steve - make sure you post the required info in the above registry section - Also consider an X-OST exhaust--you will hear rave reviews about them. I posted some clips here a few days ago of mine with stock convertors and a X-OST muffler--sounds great I think.. Call Daniel if your interested in the X-OST--- www.ricambiamerica.com
     
  7. LetsJet

    LetsJet F1 Veteran
    Owner

    May 24, 2004
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    #7 LetsJet, Dec 12, 2006
    Congrats............

    Another 355 in the family
     
  8. bayareaferrari

    bayareaferrari Formula Junior

    Dec 19, 2004
    672
    California
    #8 bayareaferrari, Dec 12, 2006
    Sounds like a very nice car with a great color combo..You can go to Keith Collins for floor mats and have some custom ones done.

    Enjoy and welcome to the club...
     
  9. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
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    #9 speedy_sam, Dec 12, 2006
    I have seen your 355 in person - it looks fantastic. I am surprised you faced problems with it. I am glad that FoH is re-imbursing you for your out-of-pocket expenses. :)
     
  10. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 285ferrari, Dec 12, 2006
    Most Ferrari dealers that I have heard of take care of their clients - glad to hear FOH does the same..
     
  11. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
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    #11 gothspeed, Dec 12, 2006
    The matsite has lloyd mats that fit perfect with factory style grommets so they don't slide around for less than $100pr. :D
     
  12. DIGMAN52

    DIGMAN52 F1 Rookie
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    Jan 30, 2004
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    #12 DIGMAN52, Dec 13, 2006
    Congratulation Steve, you bought a great car! After owning one for 3 years, and being around the f/chat community, I think it may be one of the top 10 Ferrari's to drive of all time. Enjoy it!
     
  13. spepmiller

    spepmiller Karting

    Jul 31, 2006
    73
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Steven Pepmiller
    #13 spepmiller, Dec 15, 2006
    Distinguished people,

    Thank you for the kind words and the information on the mats. Am getting a nice, understated set and the car is proving to be "as advertised." Also, FofHouston is mailing me a check for the minor electrical diagnosis that was required so "full props" to them.

    Steve
     
  14. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #14 gothspeed, Dec 15, 2006
  15. notoboy

    notoboy F1 Rookie

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    #15 notoboy, Dec 16, 2006
  16. Gershwin

    Gershwin F1 Veteran

    Feb 21, 2005
    6,415
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    #16 Gershwin, Dec 16, 2006
    Congrats steve, don't know about check engine lights w/ low rpms but the car must be trying to tell you something, keep an eye on it.

    Find yourself a good detailer if you don't do it yourself, get a shower curtain, always remember where you place the convertible boot, keep a good supply of leather cleaner on hand, run nothing but premium, make sure you get a battery tender, watch out for R/R crossings, press gas realease button before exiting car to fill up and always keep an eye on your blind spots

    little anecdotes, have fun
     
  17. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

    Sep 17, 2006
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    #17 mwhitesell, Dec 17, 2006
    It will be great to see another Blue and Tan 355 floating around Atlanta.
     
  18. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
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    #18 speedy_sam, Dec 17, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  19. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #19 gothspeed, Dec 17, 2006
    Awesome looking 355!! Nice to see another manual 6-speed too ;)
     
  20. CarreraScott

    CarreraScott Formula Junior

    Jan 30, 2004
    592
    Charlottesville, VA
    #20 CarreraScott, Dec 17, 2006
    Grrrr right when I decide to go with a 348, someone posts pics of a sweeeeet 355....!
     
  21. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
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    #21 gothspeed, Dec 17, 2006
    Duuuuuude! The 355 is where its at!! You get more power and superior styling!! :D
     
  22. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
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    #22 speedy_sam, Dec 17, 2006
    And that too by a fellow brother ;)

    348 or 355 either way you will have a fabulous car!
     

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