F355 with 30k service, capistro exhaust, fabspeed headers or base 430?

Seriously, some of us are 355 guys and some are not. You clearly are. I have been around 20-30 430's in person over the past 3 years. Not a single one did it for me. Not a one ever left me desiring it more than my 355. The 430 is far superior in so many tangible ways yet doesn't pull any of my heart strings.

Not sure it has been mentioned before but part of the cost of buying a 430 now should be the depreciation you will eat during your ownership. That isn't the case with the 355 now.

 

You have a Ferrari 312T!!!!!!!?

 

The 430 doesn't look that special compared to other cars in it class. It certainly isn't pretty in my eyes. I'd take the looks of a 355, 348 and the 328 over the 430.

The back deck looks like an ironing board and those big scoops in the front (especially on a Rossa car - not so bad on a Nero) make it look like it has a silly bodykit. Performance wise....... Ummmmmm

 

I have had the privilege of owning a F355 F1, 360 Spider (gated), 430 Scuderia, Superamerica (gated) and a 458 spider. I'm going back to a F355 GTS because for the money that car is hard to beat. If money were no object - I would have kept the 458. When they come out of the stratosphere I will buy one again. I wont sell my F355 GTS now that I have located the right one. My son will probably sell it one day though.

For me it was the same story with Porsche. I have tried many and ended up going back to an 88 Wide body targa. Not because the new cars werent better - I just enjoyed the targa nearly as much and its a considerably better value. I would rather have 5 older cars at zero depreciation than a single new model. This is a combination of character and value for the money. I think a properly sorted F355 GTS is the best value out there. The other downside of the 430 (and 360) is there are everywhere. Seeing a F355 driving is like finding bigfoot.

 

Nicely put Porscheguy.
You having the 355 as a substitute until you get another 458, is a complement to the car

 

Well said, Jeff!

It's good to know that I don't need to burn through my resources to try all of the other more modern F-cars. I'll just keep plowing money into my F355 GTS.

I know I mentioned this in another thread somewhere a few months ago but I took my F355 on a rally (goldRush Rally) last summer. After the guffawing for the Bugattis, Aventadors, McLaren's, RRs, etc was over...people would approach me and quietly admit that the F355 was their favorite in the rally. It's cool to be old school.

 

Jeff, you hit the nail on the head. A sorted 355 is one of the best values going and IMO the GTS is the top of the heap. I went on two rallies down here last year (Copa Alpina and Copa Costa) and was the only 355. Performance, sound, looks (you can't beat those flying buttresses) and exclusivity -- the total package.

 

There is NOTHING better than a sorted F355 ...... especially with exhaust mods ......

 

Just out of curiosity, what did you spend $18k on in 18 months of owner ship?

 

Alright I'll chime in.

I don't play the new car game for many reasons. Primary ones?

You see them every day.
Depreciate like no tomorrow.
Their beauty hasn't stood the test of time yet.
They drive themselves.
New ones often portray an aspirational image.

I'm only just getting into the 355 game. I've been a die hard Porsche guy. I own a 964

Their are many more modern Porsches I could have bought. Ones that are 'better'. But I buy a car for the challenge. New cars are just too easy to drive - I need something that's visceral. That's traditional, basic and devoted. I don't care if the stereo sounds like a gramophone or that steering is heavy or that the road noise is loud. It's a sports car - it should be an assault on the senses. It should require from the driver absolutely and thus it'll become so rewarding to drive.i

For me it had to be a 355 despite being able to afford a 360.

I haven't taken delivery of the 355 yet. But the test drive let me know I was onto the visceral feel I so adore about sports cars.

Who knows, hopefully I'm right and the 355 will be visceral like the 964...


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10k on 30k service including labor, rear shock rebuild, new motor mounts and 30k kit from ricambi. Fabspeed headers with ceramic coating $3500. Tires $600. Struts for hood and engine compartment $400ish. Minor things such as 02 sensors, mass air flow sensor cleaning $500. Refurbished steering rack and labor $3000. Right side radiator replace $1200 plus $400 install. Front bumber repaint $1000 for the right job. I'm stopping now before I add this up and end up in a deep depression! lol All said and done I would do it ten times over again. I picked it up for $48k with new clutch so I got what I paid for. I just didn't realize it needed so much work when I purchased it.

 

Before 30k
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post 30k
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God dam, I am so glad I have always done my own work on my ferraris. Some of them prices are compleatly OTT IMO. Your radiator cost $1200 plus $400 to fit. Here there £500 brand new. To have one of mine rebuilt and re cored £300. It takes no time at all to fit. You paid $400 for engine strus? Here in the UK we pay around £34 for the pair and at some places you pay less. A bumper respray would be half that in the UK.
I think in the UK we have a pretty good deal compared to other parts of the world.
All the parts for an engine rebuild from piston rings, main bearings, big ends, full gasket sets, belts, tensioners, water pump, machine shop work ect ect the list goes on. The cost of these parts cost in the area of £6000-£7000 from places like superformance and eurospares. Thank god I have the skills to rebuild my own engines and cars, the labour charges would be huge. Hats of to you for taking a hit like that

 

Let's be honest - $18 000 is nothing stratospheric when it comes to the 355. Just to sort it for a start, things like new clutch+bearing, 30K kit, spark wires, water pump, cats, gold kit, headers and tires and here you go - money gone. For a year ownership, I have spend just about the same amount and now I'm planning to change the valve guides like a precausion, so the bill will go beyond 20K However, I don't regret for every single dollar (well, Euro, in my case). First of all because I am a very poedantic person and I always like my cars to be mint. If you want to drive a car, that will most likely not give you any problems untill the next cambelt change, you MUST spend a good amount of money with four zeros

 

No regrets here. Thank god I have the skills to make the kind of money it takes to own one of these cars. lol

 

Lol so true nsx
I suppose if an owner doesn't do work on there ferrari, and they MUST pay inflated prices. I guess they get used to being bent over real quick. And they are grateful for it by the sounds of it
However regarding the cost of parts and servicing across the pond seems two fold what we pay here. Because an exact part cost twice as much as the exact same part else were, does not mean its a better part

 

Yep!

If you like, just google "F355 University" and it'll bring you back to a thread I started a few years ago on Fchat. Near the end of said thread is a fully detailed accounting of how I dropped $18k doing just about everything I could think of at the time.

I've only put tires, gas, and fluids in it since. Well, I lie - I just replaced a CV boot and had an alignment done. Big whoop.

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Hell yes !!!

 

That's kind of my previous point is so many of these car s were not kept up but once you get them to a fairly high standard the upkeep seems minimal. Before my engine out 3 years 10000 miles gas and tires. Major didn't add it up but probably 20000. Keep in mind about 12000 for tubi heat shielded headers, capristo exhaust and gruppe intake. I look at it is it was cheaper that a 430 and like most of us I love my car.

 

I stopped by and saw NSX's 355 today and all I can say is SWEET!!!!!

I drove it too! Thanks NSX!

It's a very clean car.....I would not hesitate to purchase this car. It basically needs almost nothing.....I am happy I got to drive one for the first time. Great car! No torque, but I love ringing it out! Would need to drive it a little more to get a real feel for it.

NSX....play hookie, come skiing, and I've got the lift ticket! Home made gumbo for dinner tomorrow night.

Paul

 

Consider installing an Odyssey battery - 99% lead plates and AGM. Like a starting/deep cycle battery all in one. I always had a battery maintainer connected on my F355 so can't comment on the battery drain, altho there's not a lot of electronics on it to cause heavy drain??

 

Does this qualify as a 355? It does have a Capristo

2CV Nimik - Ferrari F355 V8 Engine w/ Capristo Exhaust REVS SOUND!!! - YouTube

 

The 355 looks much sleeker than the F430 IMHO....
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a few more.. F355 vs F430
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Petey. Looks great. Let me know if you want to come over and do the fluids.