355 "V" 360

spoke to my mechanic on this topic - who has serviced 1000's of Ferraris
he shared that each and every ferrari has its own set of issues - the 95 was the first year of the 355 so alot more issues vs the 99

he also mentioned that altho the 355 needs engine out the 360 has la ength cluth replacement ( alot of labor) vs the 355 is a few hours for the cluth.
355
engine out major
but easy cluth replacement

360
easy belt or 30k( engine doesnt come out)
cluthes are 20 hours

 

Keep your 355 mate.

 

That is some seriously good advice!

 

Yep, I've been thinking about it also. I'll need to have a 30k in the next year or so. I've also been thinking of "moving up" but I'm thinking of going to the dark side... I'm sure I hear about it now...

But every time I get in and go for a drive I tell myself I think I'll keep it...

 

I'm in the 355 or 360 void myself, but since I don't have either its a much cleaner decision. At this point, I'm not convinced the maintenance costs on 360s are that much different. I've asked for hard data (what did you ACTUALLY spend) on the 360 forum multiple times and don't get anything but vague responses ($ per mile crap), where as owners on this forum are alot more honest with themselves.

Since there is very little performance difference, and the 355 sounds better I'd lean to keeping a 355 if I already had one. The price difference between the two pays for alot of maintenance, plus you know the car already.

 

+1 I actually went from a 360 to a 355 about a year and a half ago for a few reasons. Most notably I found a silver 355 spider and got a good offer on the 360. Ended up putting almost 100K back in my pocket (actually more to the bank than me). I loved the 360 for its comfort and slightly better ride on long drives (I'm 6'6" so the larger interior was nice) but when I found the 355 for sale in the color I wanted it definitely grabbed a hold of me. Besides it sounds better stock than the 360 did with Tubi. When I get asked I say the 360 screamed but the 355 sings!!!

 

The 355 is an amazing peice of machinery. The sound is just incredible. The Azz end looks amazing. Unless one is looking to get into an "untraditional" Ferrari then the 355 is the way to go. I actually enjoy my engine coming out every 4 or 5 years. Many things get noticed when that engine is right infront of you and your mechanic on the stand. You can strip and repaint your valve covers, replace your water pump, replace your wires easily, replace your water hoses with silicon easily, replacing the headers is easy with the engine out. Replacing any seals or O-rings is childs play, even the long thin seal on the engine behind the tranny takes all of 10 minutes. There is so much more but when your done you know that your good for another 4 or 5 years. If you go 5 years and the cost is $8,000 (not counting headers of course) then the cost is only $1600 per year. All the Ferrari trained Mechanics I know say the 95 is the year to buy if you can find a good one as they are getting rarer all the time. I added the rear challenge wing to mine and it makes it an all new car. These cars are simply amazing to say the least.

 

How dare you make such a statement!!! :

 

355 or bust!

 

The maint costs are very similar from what I have read/seen over the years but the initial cost of the 360 is more and the 360 does not have the classic looks. For me the 355 is the way to go

 

The F355 has the unmistakable traditional Ferrari design. It is now 14 years on since the first customer F355 hit the Fiorano track for the final shakedown before customer delivery. It has the exhaust note and performance to match its looks 14 years later. With a tubi capristo or marnello exhaust and Dans hyperflows it is just as quick as a 360. She will still outperform the 911 Carrera, all AMG RS and M cars.

The F355 is pure sex on wheels from whatever angle you look at her. The same cannot be said for the 360 and F430. In my unbiased view the F355 is one of the most beautiful sculptures produced, the 250 Lusso being one of the others.

Engine out service is not a worry as previously posted so are so many things that can be changed and checked with the engine out that cannot be done on a 360. Apportioning the cost over the years to the next engine out puts the cost into a better perspective. In one hit its a lot mula but apportioned over the years to the next service its not much more than the major service on a BM or Merc. My M3 major service each year over a 5 year period is not that much less than the 355 engine out service.At the end of the day the running costs are not going to be that much different. If $2 or $3K extra servicing of one car over the other will make a difference then perhaps an F car should not be on the shopping list.

Don't forget that the F355 will only appreciate over time. It was not built in the numbers of the 360. Just have a look at the number of 360's for sale compared to the number of F355's for sale.

Finally, take both for a drive, the one that you keep thinking of after you hand back the keys is the F car that you will buy.

As for turnig to the dark side, Jean Todt summed it nicely at a press conference about 2 or 3 years ago when asked if production would increase to cut waiting times. He replied "No". Then he was asked if Ferrari was concerned at losing customers because some customers would not want to wait and they would go elsewhere. He replied, "They will return", or as Arnie would say "They'll be back".

 

Well, I'll be hated for saying this but I have two 355's one 98 spider and one 95 Berlinetta. They are great cars but I WILL be replacing one with a 360...There is a good reason that much newer 360's have alot more miles on them than older 355's...It is simply as they do not sit in the shop, they're comfy and well sorted...

I have confirmed this with several respected shops and although the 360 doesn't have the looks it's got the 355 beat in maintenance and comfort hands down.....Actually I like the way that it looks too.....

I'll always have a 355 but I am tired of the nickel and dime BS constantly. I have almost enough receipts for the last 12months to buy half a 360.....What does that tell you!

This is not trash talk on the 355, if you want the look and plan not to drive it alot go with the 355 otherwise I'd go 360/430......

 

Very well said...... !!!

 

Why is 95 the best year ? A lot of people say that 95 is the worst year.

 

It's OBD1 (On Board Diagnostics 1) meaning on U.S. car you can pull the check engine codes yourself without the use of a computer. The OBD2 cars need a computer to pull the codes. Thought you can by code pullers for as cheap as $250. Also the '95s make about 5hp more due to the dual Mass Air Flow Sensors. The OBD2 cars only run a single MAFS.

Because some of the early cars had valve guide issues = lot of money to fix the problem. The heads have to be removed to change out the valve guides. But the '95s weren't the only year to suffer from the problem, just better known.

 

Thanks ernie.

 

+1 on everything said here...well except for the looks of the 360...but they are growing on me. I have heard nothing but good things about 360 reliability and maintenance costs. Only sour point is clutch jobs.

 

what ith thith cluth?

 

growing on you ............. as in riding a moped or a fat woman.... ???

 

LOL!!!!

Jellybean cars lol

 

Look at what Tiff says about the jelly bean....He's been around a few cars in his day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWMuv5yLENE

 

That was a setup.... ........ he 'had' to promote the 'new model'.... ............ the 355 is far more elegant than that 'beanbag'...... !!!!

 

I'm just being a weasel and stirring the pot
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Cool video, I’m not such a fan of Tiff but in this one he is good. Some nice footage as well.

It's all personal preference but for me, a sports car should be small and nimble, the 360 while possibly nimble does not give me that feeling, nor does it look small and nimble. It needs a year at the gym with me, and then it would be lean looking.