Would you drive your 348/355 from...

Drove mine from NJ to Tampa FL the day i bought it. Only issue was a CEL midway that turned out to be the K&N filter the PO just put in and didn't reset the computer. Just a couple months ago hoped in and drove from Tampa to N GA when i moved. Mix of rain and sun both trips and no issues. I can say i would drive mine any distance on a moments notice with no question. PS on the way down from NJ i drove through a few hours of HEAVY downpours... no issues

Ben

 

If your car drives 20 miles without a problem, why not 200 miles? If everything is in good working order, what will fail? Only thing to worry about would be a flat tire.
I used to worry about using the 355 on long trips. Now I've taken it back and forth between Vegas and LA with blasts up to 170, up and down the Cali coast, and through the mountains. It runs better, and IMO it's in even better condition since I want it to be in tip top form and everything working perfect at all times.

 

I've done Vancouver to San Jose and back, Vancouver to Calgary and back, many 300-500 mile days closer to home.

She runs better than the other cars in the family - and loves to be driven. Once spent over an hour in heavy rain through Rogers Pass with the top down.

Left leg can get sore with limited space, and the seat gets a little hard after 8hrs or so. Also somewhat difficult to take pit stops with the top down and nothing lockable - but been ok so far.

Currently considering which trips to do this year. Don't think I'd drive to HI, but pretty much everything else is fair game.

200 miles in the city is much harder and higher risk than 500 miles on the open road, imo. Just avoid the semi's with their blowouts (had one blow directly beside my head!), the wildlife (had a few deer bolt across I5 at dusk in N.Cali), and of course the minivans.

 

Been there, done that!

I did a 1700 roadtrip in my 348 from Salt Lake City to Houston. Jeremy has done a 2000 mile roadtrip in his 348.

To Steve: 25 miles and under trips will be more stressful on your engine than long runs.Cut your teeth with a 100 mile trip and build from that.

 

Sameer, duly noted... and agreed

 

Been driving my 355 between DC and Tampa a few times a year for the last 3 years and all up and down the east coast. It's just a car dude, it'll go where you point it. Planning on doing a circuit of the U.S. in the next year or two actually.

-R

 

I used to simply not leave anything worth stealing in the car except for say a $10 pair of sunglasses in the glove box, so that if a thief did have a go at least he would think he had got a "well obviously, it's a Ferrari" really expensive pair of shades. left my Spider open more times and places than I care to think.


On the mileage front, the Spider had done 2000 miles in the year before I bought it, I promptly took it on a 3000 blast around Europe and the Alps after I had had it one and a half weeks! This was covering about 7-9 hard hours a day and it was fine.

I then too took it down through Spain, 800 in one go with only fuel stops... brilliant!

Get a decent stereo to while away the time and you're sorted

 

Hair Salon and Starbucks.................... nowhere else.....

 

Driving from Columbia SC to Toronto and back in July...no air conditioner, well, not even a condensor and only a variable tune controlled by the right foot. Over 820 miles one way, MoSport track event, then home. Did Indy a few years ago the same way. I swore I would never do that again, but I guess I forgot why.
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LA to Monterey and back every year in August - really tests Ferrari A/C and your wife's endurance. Long trips in a 348SS with those CF seats? Heh, only for real men (and their incredibly patient wives).

 

2 weekends ago I put over 1000kms (600miles) on my spider, then this weekend I put on 500kms in the pouring rain! I have done many 500ish mile trips and I love it, the car feels great for every mile, I don't get tired or feel like getting out even when I return home, on one such occasion I decided I had not had enough and proceeded to head out the other side of town to check the road. These are drivers’ cars, they reward a driver, and they feel so much better if they are allowed to stretch their legs every weekend.

Full it up and drive till it needs more, repeat.

 

Well,

Not to be the only "bad guy" in the crowd, I must say that the creature comforts in any "old school" Ferrari are not to my liking at all. Including the 355.....

In fact, I think I'd rather blow torch my nipples off than drive that model for more than 150 miles. Sorry, don't like it.......Having had numerous cars I've got to say in the comfort realm it's absolutely terrible..

Make no mistake, having 2 of them it's obvious that I'm a fan and yes loyal to the marque, but it stops there.


The steering wheel position stinks, the seats suck, the pedals being arranged to the right of your normal seat position bothers me. Simply nothing "falls to hand"....

In light of that it's a love/hate relationship.


Now, having said that it's still my favorite design!!!!!! And OMG I love that sound.



Sidenote-I'm 6' 2" and about 205 so maybe I'm just too big

 

Hi guys and gals.
Just came over from a post about the value of a 30 K miles 355 financial value as I had just sold our 95 355 GTS with 29500 miles.
Everyone said on the post that the car had no value after 30 K miles and I would be lucky to get mid $50K after a major was just done and the valves and guides replaced as well as a new clutch

Well I consider myself luckier than that as I bought it back from the dealer and now I find this post about driving the car. Awesome
I have traveled with it throughout New England on 20-400 mile jaunts with a lovely wife who begged me to keep the car ( cool chick)

For comfort yes the M6 is better, but nothing in the world says come play with me better than the F355

Thanks for helping me with the decision to stay

Ciao
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I'm glad you decided to keep "The best car in the world.........EVER!"

 

Thanks Since 15 I have finished the update . Felt as good as getting the "needs corrective lenses restriction" taken off my driver's license after my LASIK.
The photo with the kid was from the 2004 Hartford Concourso. Kid was incredible; knew more about Ferrari than most of us on f chat.
Hope he survived his cancer.
The best photo was both us tearing through downtown Hartford under Police escort wtih his chemotherapy IV sticking out the targa top. That got erased, pity !
If you ever get a chance to participate in the Hartford event you will have a blast
David Friar and Dennis Liu along with everyone in FCA NER put on a great show.
We miss them

One day we will do it here in Springfield!