355 or 550?

Well, as first in the 355 section, I vote F355. The F355 is the quintessential boy racer.

 

Sports car (355) vs GT (550)

Only you can decide what you want. You mentioned in your post that you were looking for a weekend fun ride.....to me that says sports car

 

The 550 is a glorious car and an outstanding value for the money in today's market. I too toyed with the idea of a 550...hard to resist it's charms. However, for the fun, weekend car as you describe, the F355 is probably more your 'type'. Keep in mind, she's an "expensive date" whereas the 550 will cost peanuts to maintain in comparison.

Take the money you save on buying a F355 (instead of a 550) and put it in your preventative maintenance fund. Lavish her with Helms' coolant hoses & gold connector kit and a few Hill Engineering pieces...Treat her right and she'll reward you immensely.

 

I owned a 355 brand new and loved it. I am still sorry I sold it. The 550 is one heck of a car. At these prices it would be hard to choose. I like both of them and I would get the 550 I think but I might buy the 355. The 550 is so much more car but the 355 is just a wonderful car and makes perfect ferrari music.

 

When the 550 first came out, it became my all time favorite Ferrari. But if I were picking between the two today, I would go for a 355. It's design has aged better me thinks.

 

This is totally a matter of personal preference... drive both, one will speak to you louder than the other, trust me.

 

Knowing what I know about both, in the long run you will be better off with the 550.

 

I think in the short run too. If this is your first foray into Ferrariworld it is a cultureshock. Nothing compares to life with a Ferrari. P-bugs are just unreliable BMW's. If we knew a little more about you we could guess at what would tickle you. I can't think of anything a 355 can do better than a 550. The 550 exhaust note is more mature and subdued even with tubis unless gone full race. The 355 exhaust note is intoxicating and more in your face. But for all its noise you'd have a tough time beating an old LS1 C5 vette and anything above that will eat you alive. The 550 has 485hp on tap with 500 easy with a smog legal cental resonator delete. Add the SRI gold pins and I feel more power from the gold pins than the resonator delete but no one has dynoed that upgrade. The 550 will burn rubber in 3 gears. You will have additional tire expense. Then 550 can still hang with the best available today because of its power and will be significant for years to come because you can still drop a huge amount of weight before you even think of adding power. Both cars were privateer raced but the 550 claimed bigger prizes. The 355 was challenged raced so there are some prefab parts available but most are so out of date than the old 355C rollcage is no longer legal and all the firebottles and seats are out of date but exist to make a streetracer or casual trackday toy. The 355 is about 40k less than a 550. The cheapest 550 I am seeing now is about 80 and the cheapest 355 is 44k on LA craigslist. From my experience racing the 348 midengine and racing the Z06 vette front engine rear drive layout I have come to like the frontengine reardrive layout better. Both chassis types are hightly tuneable. If you have ever driven a late model Z06 vette the 550 drives similar but with more wheel spin. The 550 will get you to illegal speeds very fast and pin you to the back of your seat for a very long time. Torque is an amazing thing. On the Ferrari 8's I always felt like I had to wind the cr@p out of them to get anywhere. The 550 is a good pick because it is a 3 pedal car and the last of the GT's to be all 3 pedal. That is just oone more thing not to go worng. The 550 has unquestioned reliability for a Ferrari and is the 328 of the 12 cylinder cars. SRI's gold kit may change that. I am hoping to see a whole new era in 348/355 reliability with the SRI gold kit. There is lots of talk about the 355 2.7 vs. the 5.2 motronic. Many like the 2.7 because it is OBD1 and is more tuneable but no one I know tunes them. The 5.2 motronic is OBD2. Personally I like the OBD2 because I can scan the port and diagnose problems than I can't find on obd1 cars. So on the Obd2 cars you don't need as much diagnostic ability to fix them. Others disagree but then again there are still people out there who prefer carburators!

 

If I would have to choose, i would probably go with the 550 ...

 

The 550 is on my short list of possible siblings for my 348. I have always and will always love that car. IMO, it is one of the most beautiful objects ever to grace the road...and that engine...Mommy!

Either way, though, you can't lose. Maybe try to dig up the Forza issue that compared the 456, 355, and 550? May be a good starting point.

 

You can't go wrong with either choice - both great modern ferraris that are ridiculous amounts of car for the money these days.

 

Interesting thread; how can these two be compared on twisty roads?

What is the weight difference? Do you notice (in the 550) the more weight in the corners?

 

Don't be a pansy, buy both! They are worlds apart, just listen to Fat Billy.

 

Simple really.

Drive them both and then decide which one you REALLY want.

Id love to have one of each. Both beautiful cars and they are both different animals!

 

You know there was a dvd that Jez Clarkson made. There was a best handeling car in the world section. The type of cars that were driven and tested by race drivers around a track were, f355, 550, Nsx, Porsche 993, Skyine and other hot hatches. The 550 beat the lot to claim the title.
Look out for it,its worth a look.
Edit. Here is the video http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=kK-hprvTNf8

 

Your youtube link didn't work for me.
Is it this video?
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK-hprvTNf8[/ame]

 

Having owned both, there is really no choice. You have to go with the 550.

I find it interesting that you did not suggest the open top 355, for that is the essential difference in a first Ferrari--many want open air. (As you can see from my handle, I even went for open air in the 550.)

In every measure, horsepower, cylinders, fit, finish, style, etc. the 550 is a better car.

Having said that, the 355 was my first Ferrari and it didn't disappoint. It was a spectacular car and is still today--the only update is technology. It has classic styling.

Here is my advice . . . if you are under 30, go with the 355.

And, make sure you have good headers on it. The factory headers were crap. Mine went twice and I had to put on Tubi.

 

Yes thats the one, thanks i sent the link via my not so smart phone Thanks again.

 

Cheers mate, have never seen that one before.

Always good to hear from an owner of both.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Interesting stuff!

 

Yea your welcome pap.

 

Sorry, but the only real answers here are the ones that say "drive them both and decide for yourself".

Others are trying to use logic. If you are going to use logic, you will avoid buying a Ferrari, period.

If it's about emotion, then there is no other way to tell but to drive them both and decide for yourself. Because no other opinion matters.

I like the 550/575, but driving one is simply not the same occasion as driving a 355. Is the 550 a "better" car? Sure. But there are MANY better cars than a 355. And most of them are not nearly as exciting.

In fact, I think it is hard to find a car that is more exciting for anywhere near the price of a 355. But of course it just depends on what you are looking for. So I'll say it again:

Drive them both and decide for yourself.

 

I've had the same "problem" when I went looking for my "teenage dream-car" (348). The seller had me drive a beautiful black 550 also. He wanted me to feel the difference between a mid-engined V8 and a V12. I loved the handling of the 550, a great GT. Even my wife was enthusiastic. But in the end I have chosen the 348. It's in fact all about emotion. The 348TS I have now, is my first Ferrari. It gives me the kicks I dreamed about as a teenager, because of its looks and its driving capabilities. I like the fact it doesn't have power-steering and a sometimes difficult gearbox. But I've already decided that my second Ferrari, in a couple of years, will be a 550/575. Preferably a 550 barchetta. Of course I'll keep the 348.
So, drive both. What car gives you the biggest thrill?

 

Bravo! Enjoy Chris and please share your thoughts with us.