How many GOOD 355's are left???

I know there's a beautiful white gts that might still be available!! wish I had the funds!

 

If about 25% are off the road by now, that means about 2,800 of them...that # may be a bit high, and hopefully there really isn't that many gone...but like you said, how would we ever be able to confirm.

 

That makes the good ones more valuable I would assume. So if I don't wreck mine and keep it maintained as I do she'll be worth a fortune. In a perfect world....

 

Guy's don't forget any wreck car can be repaired to good as new or even better. I'm one not really looking for a show ca,r so I can strip and repair it and build it my way. Just my 2cents.

 

I think just the 355's running the SRI Gold connector kit.

 

There certainly aren't too many for sale publicly, and the good ones (mostly GTBs and GTS) trade quickly through private parties for sums much greater than suggested by eBay and Sheehan.

 

+1 Many times ending up with a better result if that's you field of expertise.

 

Hi Monte - I always thought total production was closer to 10,000...2,500 GTS, 3,500 GTB, and 4,000 Spiders.

Anyway to respond to the question - I think there are a very small percentage that are "good". Just look how long some people search to find them. I'm going to say the real gems number around 1,000. Too many "Ballers on a budget" that never took proper care of the car in the last decade and now litter the eBay listings.

 

+1

Dave - how many F355 kits have you sold? Wink once for >100, wink twice for >1,000.

 

My guess "no winks"...<100. That's why there are very few great 355's. These few cars will command a higher price premium in the future. I think in all cars that have the gold kit prices will be higher and that you will be able to recover the cost of the kit. The ECU's proper controling of the cars with the proper input of all the sensors makes for less breakdown and wear and tear of the mechanicals. I think this is hugely important for everything built after 1990. Just think about the damage caused by poor 355 running with cyliner wash and valve guides and dead cats. There is no way to solve those problems without addressing how the ECU gets its info and how it responds to that info, "period".

 

I think that they are all good. Who cares if some need work, and really who cares of one has been in an accident. They can be fixed. These are good cars

 

Oh.... that's a good one Rick, Fatso was correct, no winks. It is a designed system that I knew would take time to be believed in, that is perfectly understandable. Having that system at a very finite level of operation has the benefits many speak about but, for me.... it allowed me to move on to areas I have wanted to advance the design's on for many years. The fun stuff is underway and initial testing shows great promise.

How many good ones are left? Virgins? Far too few, too many saw quick fixes that went astray and did not stand the test of time. There are many diamonds in the rough but few that are already sorted and done. Each of us has our own measure of what makes for a good car. I for one dont give a hoot about the paint, I want a sound, sorted drive train and for many that seems to fall low on the 'must have' list..... personal choices.

I stated it years ago and still firmly believe it to be true..... Watch these 355's, the good ones are comin' back and will become an icon model in the Ferrari line up. All that was required was to solve the models problems for good and make them into what the design engineers envisioned from the start..... before the bean counters got involved. Small, light, powerful, slide it with confidence and a wail from the exhaust (that will not be duplicated) that makes hair stand on end..... what's not to want?

 

Dave and others, on the gold connector kit . . . .

I do not have it, and I must admit I'm a bit skeptical, but I also feel that if anything can make the cars better I'm all for it. My car runs great (95 355). Once I got the initial cobwebs out and actually drove the car and started feeding it the proper fuel, it really came to life.

My slight issue with the Gold connector kit it that almost everyone that has endorsed it has done so in conjunction with a major service. Which I know is the best time to do this operation for obvious reasons. Many give credit to the SRI kit for their car's improved running characteristics when it could just be that the car really needed a go-through.

One comment to this thread was "the one's with the SRI gold kit"

My question then becomes this -- Why do the SRI kit when my car runs great? I have no issues, no codes, and the car runs fantastic.

I address this with nothing but respect for Dave and the work he and SRI have done as they clearly have helped many. Are there any threads/case studies that show before and after? Are there any case studies that examine the car after simply un-plugging and plugging all connectors and then another with doing the conversion??

I've toyed with getting the conversion but my problem is that my car just runs too damn good to justify. That said, are there folks who had a 'perfectly running' 355 that did the conversion and gained some sort of measurable improvements? I would just hate to go through all the expense and trouble to have my car run just as great as it does now.

My apologies for turning the rudder on this topic.

 

Have a look at this thread.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236795

Eric installed the kit with the engine in the car & I think about a year before he did his major.

 

Definitely noted.

But he was having issues for sure. lets just assume for arguement's sake that he went through the harness and replaced connections on those that were bad. I guess my primary questions are this:

1. Why gold, aside from the fact that it doesn't corrode like other metals? Or is that the point.

2. If it ain't broke, do I just fix it anyway? Or just be thankful that I don't have to do this as of yet and be thankful that a great solution is available?

One day I should drive your car Rick and see if there is any noticeable difference as we have about the same miles and our majors were done within a year of each other.

 

1. That's part of it, and I'm sure I'm not using the correct terminology here, but it also has a lot to do with the clamping force and the number of connect/disconnect cycles the SRI kit can handle (hundreds I believe) vs. the OEM connectors that were built to a design tolerance of *five* total connects/disconnects.

2. I agree with not fixing something that isn't broken; with that said, my car felt like a completely different animal after installing the kit, over and above the specific issues it resolved. Regardless, see if you can get behind the wheel of Rick's car to compare.

 

The 550M is the 328 of 12cly cars. Mine was perfect or so I thought. My major was already done within a few onths and I was extreemely happy with my car. I had nothing to loose by trying the gold kit. You can read my thread on the subject. I did phse 1 with noticeable positive reuslts and phase 2 with additional positive results. I labeled the gold kit as the best money spent on a Ferrari and I'll stick by that. You think your car runs good now? It can run better you just don't know what you are missing. I also standby my assertion that gold kit cars will command a price premium in the future. If you were buy a car today which car would you take a closer look at the one with the gold kit or the one without?

 

I think part of the story is that the truly 'good' 355's don't change hands as often, the owners that really take the time and $ to maintain them properly and fix the few known issues don't sell so fast. Count me in the group

 

This thread brings up a couple good questions. What makes a 355 "good" and, although the 355 is not rare by Ferrari standards, how will much money will these "good" examples command in the future?

I agree with the prior comments that the F355 will become an iconic model years down the road. Supply may be high by Ferrari standards but I believe demand will be as well.

 

to me 'good' means excellent cosmetic condition, body, interior and engine. All known 'issues' fixed like valve guides on older cars, headers, etc. Maintenance done so nothing is needed; and even better, desirable options like Fioranos, factory carbon bits, real challenge upgrades, factory fender badge , etc. But that's just my biased opinion...oh did I mention the color should be Giallo Modena?

 

An impossible question Steve as the answer involves personal choice and taste's.

How much? Only time will tell. The end value depends on how good we can get them mechanically. If we can get owner friendly mechanical longevity with performance to rival or surpass the models that followed it...

Robbie has the interior refinishing down to an art form. There are numerous talented folks that can replace the dead cow dash boards with tasteful alternatives that retain a shape. Daniel can bird dog most every part required. Paint and body is a no brainer. Get the power plant to the point where it will pull a 360 up the hill while sounding like they do, you can see all 4 corners from the drivers seat, it goes where you point it when driven in anger and requires only oil changes in the Fall and belts every 5 years.... Katie bar the doors. It is just too perfect an overall package for my taste to give up on before the quest is realized.

 

Leak down numbers less than 4%
Compression numbers over 205 PSI and less than 5% variance
Starts first turn of the key cold, warm, hot.
Idles at 1050 pefectly
Takes throttle with crisp delight
Shifts smoothly and quickly
Paint in good shape
Leather in good shape, soft and pliant
Has been driven more than 3000 miles last year
Has not thrown a single code in that 3000 miles
Has had a major in the last 3 years
Suspension bushings in good shape
Brake lines in good shape
Rotors with more than 50% life left
Clutch with more than 50% life left.
Tires less than 2 years old
Wheels in cosmeticaly good shape
A/C deals with 108dF heat

 

Passed all criteria. Loving my pristine 355!!! You will have to pry this car from my cold dead fingers!
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