Just wanted to know your thoughts?
There's no doubt that comparing spiders, the 355 wins. With a solid roof, it's a toss up. The 360, and following 430, has a too tall rear end.
I agree that when comparing the spiders the 355 has the 360 beat. I see the 355 as briding the gap between the older and the new modern era. Still has the pop up headlights and much bigger side vents. No cheese graters like the TR or 348 but it still screams "Ferrari". Of course I'm biased since I own a 99 355 F1. I also orefer the slotted rear deck lid rahter than the clear one on the 360. The interior however is FAR better in the 360.
355 was the last of the sexy sleep V8. The 360/430 is a chunky car. Here in LA girls I know (with money) often ask of the 360 "is that a corvette"?
Of course, 355 is more sensual visually and exhaust note ...music. To me, 360 is too large overall like an overweight middle age crisis and it reminds me of a bathtub. Just a biased skewed opinion of a former owner of 355. Jimmy
Of course, 355 is more sensual visually and exhaust note ...music. To me, 360 is too large overall like an overweight middle age crisis and it reminds me of a bathtub. Just a biased skewed opinion of a former owner of 355. Jimmy
You need to hang around smarter girls! 360's are still beautiful, and girls I know recognize them for their fine style, and Corvette is not even in their vocabulary.
IMO, the biggest design flaw of the 360/430 models is the back end styling. It's too chunky and tall for its width. All that mass up high can't help handling either. A 355ish rear end with proper diffuser channels, fewer/larger engine cover vents, and a CS style front would be perfection.
Jeremy Clarkson once said the 360 "looked like the dog's lunch." Truth is, they're both good looking cars. The 360 just abandoned the flat rear deck and compact proportions that made the Dino-Boxer-3x8-TR era (about 30 years) emblematic of the modern Ferrari. But when you see a 360 next to a 'normal' sports car it's still quite nice. Here's a photo someone on FChat posted a while ago - forgot who it was or I'd give credit. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ok - so I don't own a Ferrari. Pause for point and strapping on my Aria and zipping up the Nomex because I know I'm gonna need it. The 360 is downright SCARY looking at some angles - it's like a blowfish trying to find prey. I know the form follows function argument but wouldn't you rather be driving a Great White then a blowfish? The headlights seem to be copied from the worst designer in the world - Mitsubishi. And I own a 996 TT so I'm intimate with ugly. 355 without question.
This question will always get a variety of opinions. For me the 360 is an incredibly beautiful car. My feeling on this subject, however, is that the 355 spider is much better looking that the 360 spider, and given the choice I'd take the 355 spider. The 360 coupe, on the other hand, has little competition.
I like the 360, but the "classic" lines of the 355 appeal to me more, you can trace it back to the 308. Someone on the list called the 360 a "jellybean", I did a real LOL when I read it the first time. I can see why they would say that. My vote would be for the 355. James in Denver
From my point of view one of the least attractive parts of the 360 are the separate grills at each side of the front. I much prefer the one large centre front grill of the 355. The awkward placement of the circular fog lights, however, seem like an afterthought and don't work with the front. I also prefer the smaller proportions of the 355 to the 360
it's pretty simple, the 355 is the last of the older Ferrari's. The 360 is the first of the modern Ferrari's. Yes the 360 is much bigger than the 355, but also has much more room in the interior (getting away from the cramped Italian interiors of the past). I have to admit though, the 360 Modena is the bench mark exotic for other exotics of today and there is a reason why not because of it's power.
You think the CS looks that different? Not that we have many normal people on this site but,hypothetically, if a normal person happened to drop in I don't think he'd see much difference beyond the cool stripe.
Having owned the 355 Spider and currently have a 360 Spider I think the 355 has it but not by much if I could have the room I get in the 360 in the 355 it would be hands down the 355