Maintenance Cost Ferrari F355 | FerrariChat

Maintenance Cost Ferrari F355

Discussion in '348/355' started by Zolder, May 20, 2008.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Zolder

    Zolder Rookie

    May 13, 2008
    3
    Dear Ferraristi,

    I am looking for some advice & information and I was hoping you guys could help me out.
    For as long as I can remember, I have been dreaming about owning a Ferrari.
    Now this dream might come true, but I would like to avoid it becoming a nightmare.
    I am considering the purchase of a Ferrari F355 GTB, current prices in Europe are roughly about € 60,000.
    Now my question: what does it cost to maintain a F355?
    I know we are not talking about a 'normal sporstscar', but people like to make up stories although they don't have a clue...
    Imagine I would do about 10,000 miles or 15,000 km a year.
    What is a realistic amount to consider in regards to maintenance, repairs, tyres, ...
    Is a Ferrari 360 (a lot) cheaper to maintain?
    I just want to know what I am up to.
    Thanks a lot for your advice/comments.

    Best regards,
    Zolder
     
  2. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    Welcome to F-chat Zolder, you have come to the right place for Ferrari advice, there are many people around here that have a huge knowledge base of all things Ferrari.

    For you question i would recommend spending some time looking around here, there are many threads related to your questions, the search feature here works really well also.

    There are a few things you need to do when looking at buying your first Ferrari, the most important of these is a PPI (pre purchase inspection) have this done by a trusted Ferrari tech in you area. I am happy to read that you intend to use the 355, in this case i would look into a car that has been used and well maintained, a higher mileage car will save you a few $$$ and provided it is in good shape and well maintained it will serve as an awesome toy.

    I looked at 360's before i made my first purchase, i just couldn't get past the look and large feel of the car, to big for my liking.

    Enjoy your search, its all part of the fum. Good luck mate. :D
     
  3. Zolder

    Zolder Rookie

    May 13, 2008
    3
    Thanks JDM!
    I already learned a lot from the forum indeed!
    I was just hoping that someone has a rough guideline like €1,5 / km maintenance etc.
    If the number turns out to be a bit disappointing, I got a warning in advance at least.
    All the best!
     
  4. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
    4,422
    CT
    Full Name:
    Jay
    There's huge variations in actual maintenance costs; some spend as little as a few hundred $ annual, others many thousands. If nothing at all goes wrong you need the engine out major every 3-5 yrs (dealer says 3, I vote 4, others stretch to 5) and that can run $5k - $10k depending on just how much work is done. Much also depends on how much of your own work you can do, and how resourceful you are at searching Ferrarichat for some of the documented lower cost solutions. For example you will likely need new headers, which from a dealer are $15k. But there are aftermarket parts for $3k that have a lifetime warranty.

    Good luck pursuing your dream, just keep on reading to make sure it doesn't become a nightmare!
     
  5. Mongo

    Mongo Karting

    Sep 8, 2005
    144
    SF Bay, CA
    I have seen a few on here that do their own engine out 30,000 mile service on their cars from the garage at home. That's a big savings right there alone with only a parts bill and no labor tacked on!

    If you're a DIY mechanic and aren't afraid of engine removals in any car, I don't see how a Ferrari would be different. I think the cleaning takes more time than removal and servicing put together :)
     
  6. RossoCorsaItaly

    RossoCorsaItaly F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 9, 2004
    4,540
    LA | Austin |Miami
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    Since I do most of my own work, the last 12,000 miles have come to $0.10/mile.

    Cheapest car I've owned so far!

    When Clutch or 30k comes aroud (10k more miles), the cost will substantially go up, but not by much. Maybe to $0.25/mile
     
  7. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    Welcome to the 355 section :). For pure driving euphoria ...... the 355 is it!!!!! Right now is a great time to buy a 355 as prices are down because the jelly-bean 360 is going down the steep roller coaster drop at this time. Unfairly taking the 355 with it IMO. The 355 has the perfect mix of technology and classic ferrari styling.... :D!!!

    Find the best one you can afford and frequent here often. As quite a few 'issues' are common on 355s and the solutions for most of these are pretty well established. :)
     
  8. jetfixr

    jetfixr Formula 3

    Jun 14, 2007
    1,016
    northeast
    Full Name:
    Gone
    Keep in mind that as I respond to this post it does not mean that the 355 is not my favorite car. In my belief it is the best "classic" design of them all.

    However, if you ask any dealer, maintenance professional or owner that absolutely takes car of a 355 the way it should be, it EATS money.....Whether it's now or later it will...My view is that the few that haven't yet will soon.
    The car is definately a heavy maintenance vehicle.

    Some dealers are scared to take 355's in trade if you do not believe me I suggest calling a few.


    I own two 355's....One needed an entire engine shortly after I purchased, that car had roughly 30K miles and it was molested by a do-it yourself guy, hence the engine and valve seals discovered in the pan.
    The spider lost its F1 pump which we modded to a 360 pump enough said.


    Point is, 360's are far more refined in the maintenance area, you do not need to pull the motor and for that matter the proof is in the pudding. You often see 360's that are newer with double the miles of much older 355's. There is a very good reason for that.

    I am currently looking to sell one of mine as I plan to go with a 360/430.


    Again, I love the 355 and will always have one, but taking care of it let alone 2 is becoming very annoying as I am not certain which one will crap at any given time.



    Further,

    I have a friend that just had all of his guides done at only 14K miles and yes they were shot!!!!! His car is as mint as mint can be.....It is pristine and has a full documented history.....



    In summary, I have referenced 3 serial numbers above to give a REAL guide in regard to cost.


    Would I still get one? You bet! Just have your checkbook ready at all times!












     
  9. jetfixr

    jetfixr Formula 3

    Jun 14, 2007
    1,016
    northeast
    Full Name:
    Gone
    #9 jetfixr, May 25, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  10. FullChat

    FullChat Formula Junior

    Jan 1, 2007
    339
    San Antonio, Texas
    If you are a DIYer comfortable with indexing cams, a major costs about $1500, and many $3-4k problems can be fixed with the help of FChat for hundreds.

    Until the headers and valve guides are fixed, you have a large potential expense - the repair and the repair of anything that got taken out at the same time. Headers may kill valve guides, valve guides may kill rings, etc...

    However,
    If you do a $1k annual checkup and belts every 3 years for $7k, you have a basic service bill of $3k.
    After that, the car will occasionally feel the need to play with its own kind, and will blow up a F1 pump or make the top go crazy just to watch you pay for yellow boxes...

    One recent poster detailed his first year of ownership, and he did over $20k in repairs - some know to be needed at purchase - and about the same in personal mods, IIRC.

    YMMV!!!! Hell, everybodys mileage varies on this board!
     
  11. LAgated360

    LAgated360 Karting
    BANNED

    Jan 2, 2008
    175
    LA
    Full Name:
    Rick
    The 355 is a true Supermodel!

    Gorgeous!!!!!
    High Maintenance!!!!


    Best
    Rick (LAgated360)
     
  12. rllucero

    rllucero Formula Junior

    Jul 11, 2006
    559
    Santa Fe/San Diego
    Full Name:
    richontravel
    DIYs can't obvioulsy have the same experience a Dave Helms or Brian Crall have, combined they know more about 355 cars than the majority of all Ferrari authorized service centers. I personnaly would never buy a car from a DIY because I can just about guarantee something will be missed (duirng his 30K service) that will require pulling out the engine later, and will probably include a more expensive fix that should have been a minor cost if taken care earlier. There isn't much tolerance for screw ups on these cars. I USED to work on my old Pontiacs and Chevys but not on my Ferrari.

    BTW, a 355 is great car to own if taken care of and maintained properly.
     
  13. davidbealGT4

    davidbealGT4 Karting
    BANNED

    Apr 2, 2007
    139
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    David Beal
    #13 davidbealGT4, May 27, 2008
    Last edited: May 27, 2008
  14. Zolder

    Zolder Rookie

    May 13, 2008
    3
    Thanks a lot for all your replies!
    As I am not a DIY'er (I can hardly get a picture hanging on the wall, not to mention servicing a Ferrari!), I will have to find a reliable service center (probably an official Ferrari dealer in Belgium). But at least I have got an idea what to expect as a service bill.
    As soon as I have one, I will let you know! But this can take a little while...
    Best regards,
    Zolder
     
  15. Billdemart

    Billdemart Karting

    Mar 30, 2009
    92
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Billy D
    Where is the info on that site? I can't find any links.
     
  16. FullChat

    FullChat Formula Junior

    Jan 1, 2007
    339
    San Antonio, Texas
    <Snark mode on>
    I don't think that anyone here is qualified to answer your question - 10k miles a year in a F355 is in the Ripley's Believe It or Not category!
    <Snark mode off>

    Damn, I'd love to have a F355 in Europe! Could only afford a 928 when I was in Germany, but it was fun...

    Your maintenance costs may be dramatically different than in the US. I read another thread about the very low cost of majors in England ($2500?). Talk to local owners to find out who will service your car and then find out what they charge.

    At 10k a year, you'd probably want to do a major every three years.
    Tires every year or year and a half.
    In Belgium, I assume that your car will live a life more like one of the US track cars than a US street cars, and probably have more sustained high RPM runs. You should be careful of high heat areas like the alternator - might want to heat shield it. Get a Challenge grill.

    Oh - the standard F355 advice: Get A Good PPI!!! Check the compression and leakdown. If the car doesn't have upgraded headers and valve guides, figure that into the final cost of the car to you. Run away from a car with damaged headers or valve guides unless you get a unbelievably good deal. And have an extra $10k ready for when it throws a fit and wants to hang with the mechanic for a while.

    The 360 is probably a little cheaper to maintain, but it doesn't have to soul of the F355 IMHO.
     
  17. samsansmith

    samsansmith Rookie
    BANNED

    Jul 27, 2011
    1
    #17 samsansmith, Jul 28, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 28, 2011
    i've seen one, (no he hasn't) maybe it may help. (No, it won't) actualy i got it from google,
     
  18. BLAMPEE

    BLAMPEE Man Card Status: Never Issued

    WTF is this weirdo talking about today on a thread that is a couple years old...? :confused:



    Weirdo.


    :D
     
  19. m5guy

    m5guy Formula 3

    Aug 17, 2008
    1,627
    Ventura, CA.
    Full Name:
    Greg
    Time machine failure probably. He set the year to 2009, but it still left him in 2011. :)
     
  20. tcannon

    tcannon Formula 3

    Feb 18, 2009
    1,763
    Norman, OK
    Full Name:
    Todd Cannon
    He just needs to get a refund for it from the dude on ebay (Napoleon Dynomite). :D
     
  21. ml321

    ml321 Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2008
    254
    London/Munich
    #21 ml321, Nov 5, 2011
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2011
    i have recently added up my costs since june 2009 and c 20k miles over that period. some of the numbers are approximated as i cant split out the work hours on each item:
    all figures in pound sterling:
    tyres: 2.1k
    annual service, cambelt service, 2 clutches: 8k
    mot, tax: 1.2k
    repairs (both manifolds, both rads, alternator, oil cooler, o2 sensors): 7k
    insurance: 3.5k
    petrol approx.: 10k
    i have an offer on the table to sell it now for 3k less than i bought it for
    so thats c. £1.75 per mile

    but given that the cambelt service and clutch were done within the last few months, i would fully expect the cost for the next 3 years to be qte a bit lower

    hope this helps
     
  22. cladd2000

    cladd2000 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 18, 2005
    518

    Confirms my theory. 10K per year repairs, for a car that is actually driven. Prob can bring down 2-3K if you are good with a wrench.
     
  23. FullChat

    FullChat Formula Junior

    Jan 1, 2007
    339
    San Antonio, Texas
    Whatever the average, the standard deviation is probably about $10k. Some cars never break, some eat money for all three meals, some just snack once in a while. Some will purr for years and then need a complete engine rebuild, supposedly out of the blue.

    The maintenance costs of each F355 are so variant that you can't really budget, just have an (initially) fat open wallet from time to time. Enjoy it while ya can!
     
  24. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,548
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Um, you guys are out to lunch.
     
  25. ml321

    ml321 Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2008
    254
    London/Munich
    well, i did have to take care of a bit of deferred maintenance in the beginning ( both manifolds and an alternator ) and ran into some bad luck as a stone punched a hole in my oil cooler and radiator.
    i was thinking that for the next 3 years the car would cost significantly less to run even assuming same annual mileage
    sadly i wont find out as i have to sell due to a pressing need for cash

    btw the car only left me stranded once during the entire time
     

Share This Page