I love my GTS. And when the roof is on it doesnt rattle.... The leather cover is necessary when stowed....the seats will scratch the paint without it.
I think I know where you are coming from and the short answer is YES you are expecting too much. In terms of performance especially when factoring price the German cars are far more impressive. I used to have a C63 AMG and it was significantly faster than my 355 by a large margin. The C63 made 451hp and 400 or something like lb/ft. of torque. The porsche in general will have more torque which is a lot of what cause the "feel of speed". The 355 is more of a flowing car is the best way I can think to explain it. It's designed to be driven and kept higher in the rpms and because if its relatively low torque number it won't PULL like the other cars do. But the speed is there certainly. But again it is a 17yr old car. So it's performance is relative to the times and still exceeds models much newer than it but it's a completely different feel and driving experience. This is exactly what made me buy the car I loved my AMG probably the fastest most powerful car I've owned to date. But the Ferrari is as others have said more character, and to me more engaging to drive in a variety of scenarios. The sound is there even at lower rpms (I do have the Tubi exhaust, highly recommended) and it builds differently than large displacement v8's or even the flat engines in the Porsche. The other thing I will say is that I drove the 360 before the 355 keep in mind the 360 had a stock exhaust and the 355 has the Tubi and is a convertible compared to the 360 being a coupe. The 355 felt more like the "Ferrari Experience" the second I pulled out of the lot again most of this is due to the sound being what I expected. The 360 was very obviously a step ahead in relation to performance and maybe it all came down to exhaust but the 355 won me over. If you want performance or performance/per dollar definitely keep looking. If you want Italian character (including the wonder of how long it will go without needing something) then get the Ferrari and enjoy it without worrying about what will be faster on the road. Because the funny thing is I've had faster cars slow down to look at the 355. It's stylish, sounds fantastic, and is a blast to drive. But yes if you compare it German cars say 10 yrs newer you will remain disappointed.
My Duramax smokes my 355 in 1/4 mile low 12's and can tow a loaded towhauler, somehow I feel the Ferrari is just way quicker I like apples and oranges, in my case prunes
Have any of you tried to get to 60 in 4.7 seconds in a 355? You basically have to murder the car to get those numbers. Put all mechanical sympathy aside, and be sure you are prepared for the cost if somthing breaks while trying to do so, and you may hit that number if your really good with the clutch. Not too many owners I know will beat on their Ferrari like that. Porsche and corvette guys for sure, and do it regularly.
As it happens, I own a 997 (4S) and a 355 (spider), both 6-speeds. (If I'm tossing around alphanumerics, let's put a 3.8L T&C and a Type I in there, too.) The descriptions of the differing speed sensations posted already are entirely accurate, but speed isn't why I bought either car. Totally different driving experiences. Both are a blast. 355 is more elemental than the 997 -- think of why many 997 owners love and appreciate 964s and 993s. If you find a good 355 (and it's not that hard) you will never look back.
Dump the clutch at 4500rpm, let wheels spin with rpms between 4000 and 4500 and catch at 4000rpm and as soon as the tires catch, put the hammer down. Then a quick shift to 2nd. As long as you get the tires to spin, it shouldn't hurt the drivetrain. It's when the tires don't spin that stuff breaks.
I've been through this too. I've driven 2 355s, one as recently as 3 weeks ago. And I also had until recently a modified Porsche Turbo. Like you, I felt there just isn't enough "there" there. First thing you have to remember, is the tremendous leaps and bounds made in the auto world since the early 90s. The 355 was a great performer when new. Now it falls in that nether range between its an old car and its a classic. If you (and I) could drive it as we would a classic car, we would be fine. For example, I would never complain about the performance of a Boxer, because its already crossed that line for me. So your feelings are telling you that you need to think newer, older, or something from the same era with more performance. I'm currently looking at the 3rd option with a 530 hp Diablo, which is a 3.8 sec to 60 car.
I think that you may have driven a dog. When I was looking, there was a big difference between some of them. I was very serious about one and felt let down during the drive. I then found out (PPI) it had low compression in one hole and would have been a very expensive car. The second thing is that these cars are pretty quick IF you simply rev the **** out of them. On the other hand, I floored it at 60 in top gear on the freeway and couldn't tell any difference - almost no acceleration at all. But 6500 - 8500 - wow!
You do not floor a 355 at 60 mph in top gear Top gear is for cruising or flying at 175 mph. That is incorrect driving procedure. You use the clutch and the gear box. You double de clutch down to 3rd then light her up and row back up thru the gears. This is why people say these wonders are disappointing... It is user error. They go to 8750 rpm The power is to be found way up there with the crank and cams spinning. Thats a F355. They are very very special motor cars. You want torque and rumble buy an aston. You want rabid filthy sex....355
nothing like a street car with less torque than your average lawn mower until 6000rpm. I guess I don't get it either, because I don't want to have to downshift to 2nd gear on teh freeway just to pass a prius. Enjoy your weedwacker.
You obviously don't get it. Do you subscribe to Briggs and Stratton chat? Then there are the intelligent people who do get it.
At normal US highway speeds 5th and 6th are pretty much overdrives (even 4th perhaps). A car that can do 185 with a 6th speed is not going to be running at its optimum at 60 or 70 in 5th or 6th. Really not that different than a Honda S2000 in that regard.
I drive it like my super bikes and I love it but that's just me. If I wanted torquei would own a viper.
Amazing that someone with so much bile for the car is reading and posting on its forum. Mind you he is a "risk analyst".....and only owns German And a viper whatever that is Yawn
348/355's are awesome cars. There will always be something faster out there. Does it really matter when the cars have some much that is right. Besides i can never go any faster that the damn Buicks and Crown Vics that are always in front of me. This may get me in trouble with the fans of the new Stingray, but, I don"t care how fast it is , it's an awful car(and i wish the automotive press would stop saying how great it is and that we must love it). Big deal its fast. point is if you love your 348/355 does it really matter that there are faster cars out there. None of them invoke the looks and stares, the cell phone pics and video taking , and the admiration our cars get either sitting still or driving down the road. The looks the sound, --Perfect !! The roads are littered with 911's , corvettes, ... how many of those things do they make every year? oh look a 911, hey look another 911, oh my look a 911.... or corvette, whatever , so they're a little faster
