The nicest 355 i've ever seen...

Not too many F cars here in North Florida. Was so excited when this place near me opened selling exotics. I often window shop when their closed. Must have stopped to stare at this pristine 355 a dozen times now.

Cosmetically it's the best i've ever seen..no affliation with seller whatsoever.




http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1997-Ferrari-355-Spider-8k-miles-MINT-/150554137025?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item230db9d1c1

 

yessir......she is beautiful!

 

Would wanna still look and smell like new after only 8K miles.

But yes, certainly a beauty.

 

One of the most beautiful designs ever, too bad the build quality lets it down

S

 

Build Quality lets it down?? Seriously?

 

One has to wonder, why would the brakes need an "overhaul" at only 8,000 miles.
maybe the calipers seized due to lack of use?

 

Remember you are talking about a car that was designed over 16 years ago. A well maintained F355 can deliver many years of happy driving. I think the build quality is far superior to newer cars being built today. Not many cars that can rev to 8500 RPM. The solution is to drive these cars. Any car that spends it's life rotting in a garage will be problematic.

 

This car does look very nice. I'd venture to say the one I had last summer was in the same league, it had 8k miles also when I picked it up 6/2010.

Where is the guy on here who bought a '95 GTB with 1k miles last year?
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+1000

 

Guys,

Don't gang up on me I had a 355 spider for 5 years, either they give trouble free driving or are PITA, mine was a PITA, having said that, the quality of the interior, the quality of materials (shrinking dashboards and melting plastic???) used were substandard, I've never seen manifolds crack like they do on a 355, once I had a detailed look at them I realized how low quality the materials were, that is why had them sent to QV Ferrari in the UK to have them re-enforced, seat potentiometers, the top, the exhaust valve, the handbrake cable and on and on, I can go on guys

The new Ferraris post 430 take it to another level. Just my 2 humble fils

S

 

Owned my 1995 355 spider for 9ish years, its got over 100k miles on the clock. Its been 100% reliable in the 9 years and the girl still pulls as good as she ever did. The only major parts to be replaced were the headers at 60k miles. Every winter i lay the car up and go over it, this winter i have done a list of things that i enjoy doing, i have great pride in servicing the car my self. I have even had the seats recoverd for its second time in my ownership. For the record my spider roof has not caused me a days problem or indeed the valves or by pass.
IMO its all about preventitive maintainance.
There are good ones out there to

 

Ah...that's all part of the charm

 

Check back with me in 12 years and let me know how the leather dash on that 13 year old 458 is fairing...

So many parts of the 355 are built with such precision, such handmade quality that it's breathtaking when coming from lowlier cars like Porsches and Alfas and Corvettes.. Yet after 10-15 years weak points are exacerbated. Pretty much any "supercar" or super-high end performance car has something that fails prematurely- I agree that Ferraris require an extraordinary amount of patience and cash to keep running reliably, but I do not agree that build quality is a sore spot on 355s.

 

You have not seen mine!

 

True, the sticky interior parts are still a standard feature and you do not have to pay extra for them, headers are failing as well. The 430 is less costly to maintain, but Ferrari just seems to have a problem with sticky interior parts (Good for stickynomore!) and headers... Hopefully the 458 will fair better, I love that car!

 

I think what amazed me with this car was the interior. Even nice 355s look used but the dash, leather, and steering wheel all looked new and i felt like i saw what one should look like for the first time. I do wonder why the carbon fiber center console. Maybe it was sticky or maybe it was just for style but i think with all the original parts in such good shape i'd want to take the center console back to it's original state too.

Sounds funny but it looks newer in person than in the photos when it's usually the other way around.

In that showroom full of the usual Lambos, Bentleys, Porsches and 360/430s the 355 just grabs your eye and outclasses them all IMO.

 

1998 GTS and for sale...
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absolutely stunning

 

I can tell you how the leather dash on my 15 year old Porsche is doing, but I doubt you'd want to hear about such a lowly car.

I'm sorry, but precision is hardly the word I would use to describe many parts of any 90s ferrari. They have handbuilt flair and charm...but especially the interiors are not terribly high quality.

The mechanical parts are generally quite good, but there are issues there as well.

 

Lovely...

 

Stunning and it's a manual...

 

Lowlier or less expensive? Ferrari's are unique cars indeed and as far as I am concerned the car is the highest expression of the term sports car. However, I find it remarkable the cost of the cars and how unreliable they can be. As you said, "Ferraris require an extraordinary amount of patience and cash to keep running reliably". That in itself makes one question the quality. For what it may cost "to keep running reliably" one may be able to have a spare Corvette in his stable. I think the F355 is one of the most exciting cars Ferrari has ever produced and that it will continue to age well...

 

Wow, very nice.
There looks to be a nice 355 at Ferrari of New England that I have my eye on with similar mileage, but it's a 1996. The only problem is it has the "bubbling" console part above the ash tray.
I was going to replace all of the console parts with carbon fiber but this car in Florida already has that done.
The one in MA already has a Tubi exhaust that I would have wanted to put on anyway.

I tried to get up to MA this weekend to test drive it but could not due to the crappy weather.

I will call J7 and ask them to email me the service records. It this car already has the manifold and cat issues ironed out, then I may have to make a trip to Florida.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

The trusted Ferrari mechanic here in the area is Steve (owner) with Omega Motorsports. In my limited dealings with him he's been a straight shooter. The other owners i've met in the area hold him in high regard too. A neighbor of mine also had his vintage Porsche engine rebuilt (top end) by him. Omega is about 5 miles from this place.

Omega Motorsports

2040 Saint Johns Bluff Rd S
Jacksonville, FL 32246-8783
(904) 807-9091

Don't forget the valve guide issue too, oh and the top potentiometers (spelling) and the electrical gremlins..the ECUs etc. etc. and etc

 

I don't know which Ferrari you own- so it's hard for me to square my own experiences with yours. I've had a wrench on many different types of cars and the ferraris are typically beautifully built. Of course they are ridiculously low production in the grand scheme of things- and their quirky italian-ness makes them a bit needier than a vette.