F1 gear box feedback for first time 355 buyer.

Hello to all,

New here and about to take the long awaited dive into Ferrari ownership. Passion is deep for this car, the 355 especially, grew up with the 308, 328, then testa on my wall through different stages of growing up.....then when I heard the sound of the 355 when I was a teen and old enough to appreciate the technical aspects of the car I was hooked! Nowive spent about a year researching and searching, readying myself for this transition into ownership.

Now my question is for people who have the f1 gearbox in the 355. What are their thoughts, and if they are satisfied with it, and if they could do it over again woud they switch to manual?

Im asking because I do want a manual, but the past few cars that I specifically wanted were F1 so I passed them by, and am wondering if im putting to much stock in it. Id get out and test drive but im in Canada, and snow conditions where I am are permitting me until spring.

Thanks for your responses

Domenic

 

It would be nice if you would finish filling out your profile. Welcome to fchat.
I have a 99f1 it was my first ferrari and I bought the f1 because I wanted the car to feel like I was driving an f1. It has never disappointed me. I would never buy a stick only because I felt that it would not give me as good an experience. Many wont agree and we each have our own opinions. The choice has to be more on a personal level.

The f1 could be more expensive in the long run and is more technical. As time has gone on the costs have gone down considerably.

It seems to me if you want a stick wait it out. That must be where your passion is, don't worry you will find one. More important is that the rest of the car was looked after and cared for properly.

 

Hey there, I have owned a 355 GTS F1 for about 18 months. I was in the same boat as you when I was shopping around for a 355. I really wanted a manual transmission car but low mileage later model year rosso corsa red GTS models are insanely rare and hardly ever for sale. Since I bought my car, I have only seen one such low mileage example for sale and it was very quickly snapped up by a lucky buyer. Despite being quite skeptical, I test drove a 355 F1 (the one I ended up buying). For a first generation paddle shift car it is actually pretty good and definitely a much more fun transmission than the buttery smooth somewhat boring dual clutch paddle shift transmission on my current Audi. I still dream of getting the manual transmission car I originally wanted, but the past 18 months of Ferrrari ownership have been an absolute blast and I am definitely glad I didn't miss out by waiting to find the elusive manual car. You will read about lots of plusses and minuses about the F1 transmission and there are lots of "haters" and overly exuberant lovers of it. It isn't nearly as bad or as great as some people will make it out to be but it is a unique and still very fun to drive piece of Ferrari history. The one undeniable plus about the F1 355 I like is the ability to really hustle through twisty roads without being slowed down by the transmission. If you find a nice example, I definitely recommend at least giving it a try and good luck with finding your perfect car! Like you said, the exhaust sound is awesome!

 

sorry about that, filled out

 

Going*

 

Do you like advances in technology? If so, go F1 and never look back.

Last year I was in the same position as you and I was driving myself nuts reading about manual vs F1. People will say "you are more connected with the car driving a stick". While I'm sure that's fun too, you just can't out perform an F1.

13 years ago when I first saw a 355 in person, I wanted the F1 since it was a new technology advancement.

I LOVE THE F1!

1) always drive in sport mode

2) shift at 4K RPM minimum

3) warm the car up for at least 5 minutes (flame suit on for haters)

Do 1-3 and the car will shift so fast it will blow your mind!

Good luck!

 

Thanks! Another worry to was id be disappointed in the performance cause it was relatively new tech being steadily produced.

 

No affiliation, expensive but seems to be the best on the market:

Tonkin.com

 

That is most def the best one out there, and exactly what I want!

 

Remember, asking is not the same as accepting price. It's winter and been on the market for a month or so now.

Check it out and if it's good, go get it!

 

Domenic
You will love the 355f1 system.I think it has far less problems than the 360f1 system.
I did update mine to a 360 pump cost me $ 1050.00 in parts did the labor myself in a day.
I didn't need to update it because I had a problem I just wanted it to prime quicker.
I do find as time goes on it takes about 7 clicks to prime not that much faster than the stock motor the shifts are a bit quicker..I allways drive in sport mode and at 8500rpm my car shifts so fast you would think its going to snap the car in half.
My car now has 81000km

 

That's not to bad at all, and im pretty mechanically inclined, so if I go that route im going to look into that, this has defiantly helped im glad I asked. Where did you track the pump down from?

 

I bought the kit from ricambi.
but if you just buy the adapter from him and shop around on ebay for the pump motor you can save some money.

 

oh yesss, def gonna tire kick on this one! just wish it had a bit more miles.....never thought id hear myself say that looking at buying a car!

 

Why? I bought mine w/ 9870

 

How long ago? Im just of the mindset that more you drive more car stays healthy...lubricated, I mean not every day... but a few hundred k a month. And more of a chance for all the quirks if any present in the car will work themselves out.

 

Id rather it have 10-15. That way I feel like its been through its paces, and if I push it just a bit, don't wanna stress that somethings brittle because of prolonged sitting.

 

I bought my 355 Spider (gated 6 speed) almost 4 years ago with 124 miles on it. Great car. Just a hair under 7k miles now! I did just have the steering rack rebuilt. I suppose that could have been caused by sitting in the dark for 15 years.

 

That's not likely. Mine now has 13kish and drives like a champ!

Less mile = less wear and tear.

 

Ya totally, fine line there, between garage queen with possible gremlins, or possibly to much previous wear and tear.

 

Dominic I was in your position one year ago with the same conundrum regarding stick vs f1 on my car. I wanted a gated shifter in my first Ferrari

Like you what was in the marketplace was more f1 than stick with the other things I wanted in my car. After three months of jumping on every car that met my desires in the United States and passing on one that failed a ppi I began opening my mind to f1 because I could find them

I went a saw and drove one locally that met all my requirements otherwise and after beating my head against the wall looking I just decided to get it. The seller and I were 3000 apart and he let me walk. He is still trying to sell that car. Btw a year later

On returning home I continued the hunt but with a resolve that I never wanted an f1 and after driving it and failing to buy it felt there was a reason it didn't work out. For me I didn't want to look at that little knob on my console. I wanted to see and feel that gated shifter when I sat in my car and knew I would always feel a bit of regret if I didn't.

I don't know if I'll own another Ferrari in the future but if I do and it is a newer one it will be an f1 as they aren't making gated shifted models any longer. Plenty of time and choices for that when it comes.

What I did was have a serious chat with myself about what I wanted to see in my garage having done my homework on pros and cons technically. The truthful answer for me was a 6 speed and that's what I got and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Have fun in your hunt. That was almost as much fun as flying through the gears with a gated shifter. Give me a shout if I can be of any assistance

Bob

 

When I started looking for my 355 I had decided after doing lots of research that I wanted an F1. I'd had plenty of manual cars in the past, and for my first Ferrari I wanted something different and the idea of owning the first production paddle-shift car was very cool.

However, during my search a mate who's opinion I value and who has owned plenty of Porsches, M3s etc. did his level best to talk me out of it and buy a manual car. I found myself being influenced by his opinion and started looking for a manual car. But deep down I still kind of wanted an F1.

Over the next few months of searching I can't tell you how many times I wavered between the two. One day I would wake up and decide I wanted the F1, the next day I wanted a manual.

But then I made the best decision I could possibly have made. I decided to simply buy the VERY BEST CAR that I could find, in the spec I wanted (red GTB or GTS), and completely ignore the gearbox issue. If it was manual, fine. If it was F1, fine.

It turns out the best car I found was an F1, but I can honestly say without a shadow of doubt that I am now extremely glad it turned out that way. I love it! It has given me no trouble, it shifts faster and more reliably than I could, and once you get used to it it can actually be driven pretty smoothly. It is NOT like a modern paddle-shift car, and I think that is a good thing.
If you close your eyes (in the passenger seat!) it actually feels like being driven in a manual car, but with a brilliant driver behind the wheel.

I'm glad that luck enabled me to buy the car I wanted in the first place and not saddle me with the car that someone else thought I should want.

Final thing: Just a little personal niggle of mine, and not aimed at anyone, but it really annoys me when people refer to manual cars as "6-speeds".
They are all six speeds! It's the same gearbox! They are just either F1s or manuals. Or, if you like, paddle-shift or stick-shift.
Cheers, and good luck!

 

There's a few older threads too if you try search / advanced search / keyword : manual / titles only / section 348/355 and then select those that look promising & also mention F1

 

To Steve's point, yes they are all 6 speeds, both they are really all manuals too - right? It still has a clutch, flywheel etc. Perhaps they should be referred as "stick or F1" ?