355 Spider - roof issues?

I have had no issues....I just move the seats forward before operating the roof (they are supposed to do this automatically)

I live in SOCAL and keep it down 90% of the time anyway. When I go out I do not put it up and lock it. People steal Hondas more. In my condo garage I leave the tops down on both my 355 and my wife's 3 series, we don't keep any valuables inside and I don't want a cut soft top so some idiot could see what's in there.

The Spider is awesome!!

 

If its well serviced and used regularly enough it should be fine. Make sure the hydraulic fluid is topped up every 6 months or so and relax, plenty of small issues get blown out of the water with hearsay. I have had one problem with my roof, that day after i brought the car, its been fine ever since.

Which car are you looking at? Giltraps?

 

No problems here that weren't operator error generated. The only problem I had was when a penny got stuck in the seat rails preventing the seats from going all the way forward which prevents the top from moving. Took into the dealer and $300 later learned that I am a putz. Ditto, on keeping the fluid topped up. Just good preventive maintenance.

 

$300 for .01 cent

 

Knock on wood, no issues. Only top up the fluid every 18 months or so. BUT, the previous owner let the fluid get really low and damaged two hydraulic rams, and the repair was over $3k. Also, just before I bought my car, the seat potentiometer on the drivers side failed. The selling dealer, Ferrari of Seattle, took care of it for me.

 

I had a 97 Spider and first the controllers went about $2k, then the main piston $4k, then the latch let go and pulled the frame out of the rear mount. They thought it had bent the frame and was going to require a $30k new one, but luckily it had just pulled out of the mount. I cut my loses and traded it. It was a sad day, other than the roof, I loved it, but I'm glad to hear others have had better luck.

-SE

 

Every regular oil change, which is once a year, check top hydraulic fluid level as well. You will have no issues.

 

My 98 355 Top worked at the dealer then, gave me fits when it arrived from Ca. Found a set screw fell off on the drivers side pivot point. Then a seat pot. on the passenger side. Works perfect now. (After operator error fixed). Just cycle it and check the hydraulic oil regularly. Spider is the only way to go to enjoy driving.

 

I'm actually in the process of fixing a spider top starting with the ECU. My thread is at http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199382

 

My top was a nightmare.

Went back to the dealer several times and never worked right so eventually sold the car.

 

Did you have to take less b/c of the top or was it a minor problem?

 

The alignment was off and every time they 'fixed' it the problem would come back within a few weeks. If left alone the top would eventually be so off that it wouldnt close at all even manually.

I was honest with the buyer about the problem and gave a discount..i think about $2500 off market.

It really soured me on the Ferrari experience for a while...but within the next year I am going to jump back in but not a Spider...

 

I have one brand new secondary hydraulic ram driver side. I'll sell it for a great price. Email me at [email protected] if you are interested.

 

I have had 2 spiders and fortunately no roof issues.....probably just jinxed myself now... jump back in prices are coming down!! It didn't feel right when I was Ferrari-less for a couple of months between cars

nothing like it