355 Berlinetta vs GTS vs Spider is there much difference

There is a difference. When you press the cars, each has slightly different characteristics. It isn't as obvious to the regular driver (or someone who is not paying attention) but just for your information, there really is a difference that can be felt in each car. In the area that I used to live, the roads would thread through the peninsula. I have a lot of time in all three variants of the 355 on that stretch of road. Learning the 355 is a very fun experience. I recommend a track day for all owners.

 

Good question

 

Im going to make an educated guess....

and say its all the mounting hardware for the removable roof panel.
All the gaskets, weather striping, insulation, nuts + bolts, latches, etc... that make up the difference.

again, just a guess...
But if its not extra bracing, that is really the only thing it could be....

 

I gues it all depends on what you do with the car , mine is sunday drives , to work , the store and , lol , walmart , mine is a spider , do i care sbout rigidity when on my way out to dinner , hell no , top is down sun shining in , i never say to myself , boy this isnt as rigid as a betlinetta , lol


" serenity now "

 

Correct. That panel and all the hardware is heavier than sheetmetal.

It also has zero rigidity. On a hot day the panel will just ooze down around your head.

 

Saves on Gel

 

Well stated Pete.

Luke, please don't open that can of worms again.

 

I agree with you on all fronts.

It's all good.

 

Depends what you want out of the car. I think the spider would be fun at normal speeds with a good exhaust, but would you do a track day in it at 150? The B offers the purest experience and also IMO the best overall shape. The GTS is neither to me. I just sold my 328GTS to buy a 308GTB for the same reason...just never bonded with the targa thing. Its not quite a full spider, not as good as a B, but they fit some buyers. To me I could feel the compromise in the chassis and it didn't work.

 

Most tracks don't even allow a spider due to the lack of roll over protection. The gts at least offers that with open to motoring. As I planned to autox and track mine, the gtb was the only option for me.

 

What?

Apart from a couple of strips of rubber (where otherwise there is heavier metal) and some supposedly flimsy pins and catches, it's exactly the same roof as a B.

There is no way in the world that makes up a 22lb difference.

 

The GTS was made for people with abnormal torso sizes and big heads.

 

Your point about shape and lines is right re 308/328, but completely wrong when it comes to a 355.

In the 308/328 the shape of the GTS is compromised and it does not match the beauty of the GTB.

That is not the case with the 355. The GTS has exactly the same shape and profile as the Berlinetta. They are indistinguishable, apart from the lines where the panel fits.
In fact when I first posted picture of my car on this website, more than one person complimented me on my lovely Berlinetta.

You could even argue that that 355GTS is the only removable roof Ferrari where the lines are not at all compromised (the same may apply to the 348, but I'm not sure).

Even the 458 Spider (I love it, and it is really a GTS) doesn't keep exactly the same lines as the Italia.

 

Steve, I agree it is not likely to make up the 22lbs but I'd guess (notice the word guess), that the GTS top weighs more than the same section of the GTB since the GTS top needs support around the perimeter. I'll have a better look inside my GTS and GTB to compare over the next few days.

 

Hi Gerry.

What did Enzo Jnr say?

 

Well as Tim mentioned, there is a door pillar support.

Aside from that I thought we were talking about the weight of the roof and not what it looks like. Ever hold a GTS top? If you had you would know its a thick heavy composite and not light gauge sheetmetal like the Berlinetta.

Edit- I see you own a gts. How can you lift that roof panel and think there is no extra weight?

Is that the definition of exactly the same?

Dave, just out of curiosity would you mind weighing the top panel from your GTS? I'm assuming it isn't the rare carbon fiber one

 

Funny you should say that.

I just took out the panel from my car and weighed it.

10.2kg in total. Or 22.5 lb to you.

So unless the Berlinetta is made entirely of air in that area, there must be something else going on.
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I'll try to remember in the next couple of days. It's not light, I can tell you that. I'd guess is around 15 lbs. Although, it might just feel that way since you need to lean over the car to remove / install it. And, mine has a leather headliner which was an option - it's on my window sticker as such.

 

Haha - I thought it was heavy - I just guessed 15. Do you have the leather headliner, Steve?

 

No. Here's my panel, taken just after the "weigh in".

Surely if that entire "heavy" object weighs 22 lb, there must be some added rigidity somewhere to make up the difference between a B and a GTS.

The amusing question being that a few posts ago apparently the rubber, pins, and latches were so flimsy that they couldn't possibly add anything to rigidity, but they were also so heavy that they alone must weigh 22 lb.

Hmmm...
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But you have not accounted for the areas for and aft of the panel where the roof was cut. There are reinforcements there to lock the panel to. Those have weight as well and Im guessing IMO are at least 3 or 4 lbs. The roof if it were cut out of a GTB probably wouldn't weigh much more than a few pounds. Also, Im sure there is some added support in the pillars as well and more than likely in the frame. My guess it that the GTS weighs more than just 22lbs over the GTB.

 

That's a fair point.

But I doubt it accounts for 22 lb.

This whole - rather silly - argument comes down to whether the average driver could tell the difference in weight and rigidity between a B and a GTS.

Considering all of the likely differences in weight and skill of the driver (not to mention the difference between a full and near empty tank of fuel), I just don't buy it that it makes any appreciable difference, unless you are going flat out and are a really, really good driver driving at high speeds.

 

Look at this diagrams:

Roof components seem similar....

Ferrari F355 M5.2 (1996+) Parts : Table 105 - ROOF - OUTER TRIMS


Door frames are different: Ferrari F355 M5.2 (1996+) Parts : Table 103 - CENTRAL PART STRUCTURES

 

Agree. Plus front latch plates and hardware, weatherstrips as mentioned, rear brackets/bushings/hardware for top pins.

And Steve, I think it's silly that it's thought an average driver -couldn't- tell the difference in rigidity between an open car and a Berlinetta. Just my opinion!

If you know there is a difference in rigidity but think it's impossible for someone to perceive then I suppose there isn't much more to discuss about that.

And for the record I never stated or thought it would make any real difference in performance, or one should choose a Berlinetta because it's faster or more capable, just that you can feel the body flex in certain conditions.