It appears to me that apparently it's much more difficult to sell a F355 now adays than say sending a man to Mars. Just look at the following two cars>>> http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=3456 http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=4192 These are two PERFECT examples of the best F355's that's for sale (I'm sure there are more out there). Are people just not interested at the older V8's now since the 458 is out? Are people simply scared of the service requirements on the F355's?? Are people just don't have the extra play cash that they used to have??? So, what gives????
Entry level Ferraris are used Ferraris so that is certainly part of it. It's also interesting that the two examples you cited are F1. Since Ferrari has discontinued manual shifters on new models there does seem to be an advantage in the used market for the gated shifters.
In years past, it was very easy to buy 348s 355s and 360s with a simple home equity loan. Those don't exist anymore. The market is simply smaller, so it takes longer to sell a car and "premium examples" are the least "affordable".
$80K is quite simply way too much $$$ for a non "Serie Fiorano" 355 --- I don't care if it's a mint condition, triple platinum concours winner... Yellow is not the most popular color for the 355, and the Berlinetta is not the most popular body style --- put the two together....and you've limited your buyer pool considerably.
The reality is that there are soooooooo many 355's (and 360's) on the market to choose from right now, that buyers can be very specific about their individual preferences of color, body type, transmission, options, etc. --- and still likely find exactly the car they want. And, if they are at all flexible, give up one of their preferences, and find their almost ideal car at a great price. All 355's are going to require serious $$$ in upkeep costs --- so, what difference does buying a "perfectly maintained" one really make (if you plan on owning it for more than 6 months)?! I contend that because the 355 has so many design characteristics which make parts of the car inherently fragile / finicky and expensive to maintain, any one you end up with is likely to hit you with a big repair bill (or several) at some point ---- regardless of the condition it was in when you got it.
This is not a criticism of anyone's taste - just my opinion.... I don't think black wheels look good on cars and the orange turn signal lenses on the front clash terribly with yellow or red 355's (and all other colors, to a lesser extent). Neither of these is a show-stopper though. If someone doesn't like it, both are "rectified" fairly easily and fairly inexpensively.
+1 I sold a 1997 F355 in a month. I had three offers on it. The first person couldn't get financing so he bailed. The second person got cold feet after realizing he had to tell his wife he just bought a Ferrari and bailed. The third person flew in, saw it, and paid cash for it that day. This was a couple of months ago and he sent me an email recently about how much fun he is having with the car. All three said they wanted: A red car A tan interior A GTB A gated shifter
Probably not... After one day at the race track there is just no return The manual 355's just doesn't stand a chance...
I bet. I think I have seen a vid of your car from the rear taking off, nailing 3rd and chirping the tyres?
also, the 355F1 is rather crude as a first gen F1. That means that you may be able to fix it yourself. There are just not enough brave owners who are diy'er's. I think somewhere i read for example that the PIS on the 355F1 are user adjustable. 360F1's need the SD2 and there will be no relief from this pain until someone makes a home tester at a reasonable price in the $2000 range.
Never heard that the PIS was user adjustable on the 355 F1, where did you read that? Would love the try that out
I don't remember is was many years back. But I bet you could figure it out. The 355F1 was the beginning of an era of heavy computer use cars. I seem to remember reading that there were mechanical means to setting pis. That would make sense because the 355 was a hotbed of first gen tech that we see in all the new cars today which is why I think 30 years from now the 355Tb is going to be the hot car at all the car shows. They may have made zillions of them but most will be gone due to high costs to repair and good running show/drivers of the future will be rare just like any other 50 year old car.
You guys pegged it: 1. Odd colors 2. F1 tranny 3. High priced (silver) 4. Ugly wheels (yellow) 5. Close to 360 coupe money
my two cents on all this is the gray car is too expensive and the yellow car was on my short list of cars to buy. however, i wanted a spider and it is a coupe. i don't like the black wheels either, but that is easily redone. robbie's car has all the goodies i want in a 355: challenge wheels, mega exhaust and F1. love the black interior with yellow stitching. i don't know his current asking, but i think it's a solid car that is worthy of consideration by someone looking for a GTB.
