Best Year for a 355 Paddle Shift Spyder?

With those preferences, there's only one year to consider: 99.


The 1995 paddle shifters required very long fingers.

 

Lol.

To the OP, if I were buying, I would go for the six-speed GTS. I like the mechanical simplicity of the manual box and the lift-off roof panel. But, I can see the appeal of the Spider.

If you do go F1, I'd recommend driving a more recent vintage paddle-shift system as well as a 355 to make sure you enjoy the older version. Currently I have the Audi DSG gearbox in my daily driver, and it is a dual clutch, smoother than the F1 system in the 360 (haven't driven an F430 with F1).

I really prefer a manual gearbox, but for daily driving it is nice to have an automatic mode. And I have a 328 for the weekend.

 

...... 'best year for paddle shifter' ........... sounds like an oxymoron IMO ............

 

I agree. You only have 2 options. 98 and 99. They both emplore the same software, so I doubt there is any difference. I would certainly drive them before you by one. Many are not happy with the 355 F1 system.

 

get a 6 speed

 

all the crap you here about 355 F1 shifter not being good is Bs, drive a 99 355 F1 and an early 360 F1 and tell me which one feels smoother

 

Love the F1. Fiorano would be a good choice if you can find one. If I were to get a spider, that's what I would want.

 

i had an early 360 F1. It was junk. If you drive in traffic, don't get an F1, if you can't get a 430. Smooth starts are almost impossible, and the clutch wear is something else.

Art

 

Name a few...

+10----Have had numerous mechanics, Competizione included, tell me the 355 are more reliable than the 360 F1 trans

 

i had a 99 355 f1 spider, i liked the tranny better than the one on my 360. drive it first.

 

I didn't necessarily mean 355 F1 owners. Obviously, they are happy with the cars they own. I was referring to the numerous people here who have driven both and chose the 6 speed over the F1. I am sure those individuals could come forward. I myself am 1.

 

I have both. I prefer F1.......Take that for what it's worth...


You simply cannot shift as consistent as the computer EVERY single time.


I used to NOT be a believer now I am....

 

............... If one is going for competition/laptimes ........ I will agree the machine will consistently outperform a human driver ............ BUT ................ for personal enjoyment ....... IMO I would begin to feel left out, watching the computer have all that fun ..............

 

+1....6 speed baby!!

No good F1 until 430....

 

Not to be a stickler, but the F1 ferrari tranny is a 6 speed, as is the manual stick shift transmission....

 

I would venture to say most people are split--half like the F1 and half like the manual...Not overwhelming either way..

 

Half full or half empty.

Love my F1 and thats what I wanted.

Your car and your decision at the end of the day.

Buy what you want.

 

Ugh oh...one of THOSE threads again...

Love the F1!!!! No it's not for everyone...and most people who say it sucks have never even tried it (yes there are a few exceptions, some have tried and prefer 6 spd., which is fine...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDEeoYwt3Qc&e

Lucky for you, the best 355 years are the only years in which the F1 was offered! many issues fixed in '98 and '99 cars...good luck on your search.

 

Can't we all get along? They both have there ups and downs.

One great thing about the 355 F1 is that it does NOT blip the throttle for you. If you want to downshift smoothly, you flip and blip at the same time. That being said, it is easier in that you don't have to move the lever. But it has more driver input than the 360 or later.

Oh, and it sounds frickin' killer when it shifts, especially UP because it does this bark thing...

I am convinced that people get lots of clutch wear by driving the thing in auto and/or not blipping on the downshifts. Or not putting it in neutral before a light and letting it cycle down through every gear, jerking and dragging the clutch as it goes back to 1. Drive it just like a stick - put it in neutral, coast and brake to a stop, wait for the light, then put it in first and drive off.

Anyway, firoano is the best of the spiders, no question. Obviously rare and more expensive, but if you can find one I think it would be worth it. Otherwise, it is just like any other Ferrari: get the best car you can afford.

 

Awesome video!

 

Sorry.....I prefer a 6 speed "manual" over the 6 speed F1....

I drove a 360 with the F1 and found it awkward at slow speeds but fun at high speeds...I think on a track all the time it would be a blast but for daily driving the manual is for me......maybe I am old fashioned..

I don't think one is better or worse, just different.

 

Not to hijack this Thread, but what are your thoughts on whether Ferrari will continue to offer a 6-speed manual transmission in its "standard" production cars, given their inexorable march towards ever-increasing technological sophistication?

 

You are definitely hijacking, but I have to say I think it is a bad idea. If you essentially do not offer a manual, I think you are really going to set aside a lot of long time customers. Many people prefer the manual, for good reasons. I am happy with the F1, because I have other cars with manuals. If I were only to have one sports car, it would have to be a proper three pedal car.

I would even argue that it is hard to learn to drive an F1 properly if you don't know how to drive a manual.

 

+1

+2

Great video ........... but as for what they 'fixed' was possibly the guides on 'some' of them ............ Robbie knows of a Fiorano that had 'bad guides' ........ and that was one of the last 100 355s .............. manifolds are going bad on 360s, 550s, 430s as well .............. and so the world turns ......

........ and as for the best year?? .............. they were V8 models made between 1994-1999 ..............