Have you driven a car better than the F355? | Page 3 | FerrariChat

Have you driven a car better than the F355?

Discussion in '348/355' started by INTMD8, Nov 4, 2015.

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  1. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 18, 2008
    6,059
    Indio Ca/ Alberta
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    Grant
    I totally agree on this one. Your galardo as you said would be better in many ways but a way newer car. The looks are subjective but you feel like your going way slower when your going faster in a galardo than my 355 and the new 458 it is even more so. After going through some corners in my friends 458 we took the same road in my 355 and it was obvious. Corners at 100 km 355 needed to be 160 in the 458.

    This is what i really like about our cars you do not need to be going break neck speeds to feeeel the way it makes you feel.

    Bad news is on sunday when i feel like i am right on the edge Craig would go by me in his 458 grabbing an extra gear for fun.
     
  2. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

    May 13, 2014
    1,372
    Charleston SC
    Full Name:
    Randy..alluneedtokno
    So funny you said that. Today was the first time I ever pushed the accelerator pedal to the floor. I have hyper-flows and a tubi the sound is amazing and by not upshifting early and letting it loose it feels like I'm on the verge of wreckless driving ticket. I've had a cpl years of good fun at half throttle.
     
  3. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,815
    Lake Villa IL
    When driving anything new to me first is wait for oil temp, second is feeling it out at wide open throttle.

    You aren't alone though, I've talked to a lot of people with sports cars that have never had the accelerator to the floor. Not that you have to in order to enjoy it but still seems crazy to me!
     
  4. Sandy Eggo

    Sandy Eggo F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Jun 4, 2009
    3,636
    Encinitas, CA
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    Rick
    I totally get where you're coming from James. I loved my F355 but I gotta say, the 360 Modena (3 pedal) is every bit as good if not better than a F355 in every dimension. The power is not insane and therefore just as useable as the F355. Recall that the 360 also has 5 valves per cylinder and therefore has a very delicious exhaust note. The all aluminum chassis makes it stiffer, lighter, and more responsive. The shifter and clutch are every bit as nice as the F355.

    Cosmetically, I never used to think much of the 360 - felt too "jelly bean" to me until recently. However, the styling of the 360 has really held up well over time. I like it more than the F355 these days. The front is far more modern and less frumpy than the F355 and the rear glass over the engine is a stroke of brilliance.
     
  5. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 20, 2006
    2,484
    #55 cuneo, Nov 6, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2015
    Oh come on, you know you were jealous of my luxurious 2 car garage with rustic exposed 2x4's, water heaters, and quaint rat trap decorative accents everywhere... ;)

    I was able to find another much nicer single space about 8 blocks away for the Lexus and 911 to swap in and out of, and it's been great. $650 a month for all three spaces is ridiculous even though that's a STEAL in my neighborhood, but that's city living I guess.

    Next time you're in my neck of the woods, be sure to stop by and check out the studio. It's been totally remodeled and looks like a new building through and through. About a week away from completion.

    Get that Cap on!! Sorry for the derail everyone.
     
  6. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
    You're a class act
    I'm a sarcastic so and so
    Often American's don't get English p taking
    Nevermindy
    Time to get back to kicking the s..t out of someone
     
  7. MM355

    MM355 Formula 3

    Apr 7, 2008
    1,152
    GMT + 3
    yes a GT3RS 3.8
     
  8. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2009
    8,270
    Worcester, England
    Full Name:
    Phill J
    Based on this definition:

    An original Mini (not the BMW version!)

    I've never been able to drive one without having a massive smile on My face and a fit of the giggles, be that around town, out on the open road or wherever! (Even on long journeys!).

    Just about everyone loves seeing them and you don't get the "Fast and Furious" wannabes hassling you and making dangerous overtaking manoeuvres just so they can brag to their mates (there's no Kudos in overtaking a Mini!).

    They're just so full of character, and as I have told everyone I know, you'll have as much fun in a Mini at 30 mph as a Ferrari driver will have at 130 mph!

    If you've never driven an original Mini, find one and give it a go! - You won't believe what a hoot they are! :)
     
  9. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,815
    Lake Villa IL
    Lots of stuff I need to try now :D An original Mini often passes me in the other direction on my daily commute. Looks like you could easily drive them 2 wide in one lane.

    How is the shifter on the 360 since they switched to cables? Can you tell a difference or still nice?

    E92 M3 has my interest as well. Rather high rpm V8 and available manual trans.
     
  10. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 World Champ
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    May 28, 2003
    10,019
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
    There is no one Ferrari that is great for everything, even if it is a Ferrari. There is no "one size fits all" sports car in the Ferrari line up. Consequently, just about everyone will have driven a "better" car than the 355 in many departments.

    But that's not really a concern because the 355 is a phenomenal car. It's one of the best driving cars Ferrari ever made, even if it is a little high strung and needs a lot of sorting and fiddling to make for a great long term car. But that's not a big deal; we are all enthusiasts here and that's part of the fun of ownership.

    I owned a great 355 for a while and I thought it was awesome but I have driven better cars for my needs and driving; namely my F40, my 3 pedal 360 (with CS and Challenge parts), and my 550. You know what else I think is a better car that my old 355? My 348 Challenge car. It has the same suspension geometry as the 355 but with a more manual and mechanical feel. I've done road trips and rallies in it and for all intents and purposes It's like a bridge between my 328 GTB and my 355. However, these are all "the right tools for the right job" sort of cars and they are four separate cars. What they each do right, they do REALLY right. The 355 has elements of all of these cars but not the extreme parts of each.

    If you only get to have one sports car at a decent price, it's hard not to go with a 355. It's one of the best all around Ferraris available and epic to drive and enjoy. It's always fun, always nice looking, and always interesting. They are really wonderful cars to drive and own.
     
  11. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    Feb 18, 2008
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    #61 taz355, Nov 6, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2015
     
  12. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK

    Well said

    Apparently though they are a tad difficult to get in and out of
    Oh and a BMW something or other has waaayy more acceleration

    We will all see in thirty years time when the 355 turns 50...
    I'm betting this tipo will be one of the greatest all time V8's ever made by any producer
    She's a masterpiece
    Ask anyone who really knows what makes a great sports car great
     
  13. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
     
  14. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
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    May 10, 2006
    17,920
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    John!
    My 3.4L carbureted 308GTB was the most exhilarating NA car I've ever driven. Give more torque down low than a 355, and while it was certainly much older, I felt far more driving pleasure and connectedness.
     
  15. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
    Oh come on
     
  16. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 World Champ
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    Bastuna
    I believe him.

    That 3.4L 308 he built was a beast of a car. Besides, a properly sorted 308 or 328 GTB is a really fantastic driver's car. I know many Ferrari owners who kept those and sold their 355s.
     
  17. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK

    Underpowered surely by today's standards where the 355 is just about right to enjoy the engine
    And how come 3.4 litres?

    They came out of Maranello as 3.0L
     
  18. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
    Was looking good until you mentioned a German
    Then you ruined it all with the hunting
     
  19. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 World Champ
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    Bastuna
    Did you even see what he built? It would run circles around a stock 355 with workmanship and engineering to match the performance.
     
  20. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
    Oh...he built it

    This is about standard factory cars out of ITALY

    There's modified 355's that blow them all away etc...

    No interest to me
    Dead against major reworkings of historic vehicles
     
  21. kalinsd

    kalinsd Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2010
    438
    Washington
    Full Name:
    DJ
    Love our '99 F-1 GTS. Looks, sound, connection to the mechanicals, and the overall presents it offers. Even love to be at a stop light listening to the "buzz" of the engine at idle and watching the heat waves radiate from the engine in the rear view mirror and to hear the cooling fans turn on.

    Very enamored with our '05 Ford GT. Like the 355, it has all the above and more. Very much seat of the pants driving. Driving this one commands attention and respect for the near linear power curve and without this respect, the uninitiated driver will quickly become "passenger" in a heart beat.

    Great looks, wonderful sound with tuned exhaust, lovely short shifting, light clutch, stiff but not uncomfortable ride, and docile to drive in traffic or around town. It is a car that will most always have that "arrival event" to get fuel, go to the store, cars & coffee, or concours.

    Like the 355 at a stop, to watch the heat waves rise off the engine in the rear view mirror is intoxicating with the added treat of the supercharger front and center in that mirror and while looking ahead, the heat waves raising from the radiators in the bonnet. This is a great car.

    Third on my list of driving pleasure is hopping into our '59 356 A Coupe. Another wonderful driving experience as well as ownership experience that continues to add value to our life as do the other cars in our collection.
     
  22. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 10, 2007
    6,815
    Lake Villa IL
    A few hundred pounds lighter but also 70 + or - less to the tires. Should be close! That was a cool car.

    Would definitely like to try a carbed 308.
     
  23. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK

    God save the Queen

    ...good man for using the capital "B" in British....shows respect to your motherland...hats off
     
  24. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
    Cheers

    Keep calm and carry on
     
  25. driveitdaily

    driveitdaily Formula 3

    Jul 20, 2013
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    lake ariel pennsylva
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    john
    I have to wonder , hypothetically, lets put an exhaust on a 355 that makes no sound , totally quiet, then drive it , and then judge it , would it really be a great car? I think the cars awesome sound is responsible for most of the love for the car, and it is a great looking car, but when asking the op's original question , hell yes , you can name probably hundreds of better cars, but its all subjective , ask the old lady at the grocery store , she'll tell you her buick it the best car . Personally , I think its just an ok car ,a good looking great sounding , ok car. but then I'm not the kind of guy whose life revolves around a car , theres more to life . I'm also the kind of guy who told the whole family when I bought my Ferrari , "please , no gifts at the holidays that are related to the car , no Ferrari sunglasses , no ferrrari gloves , mugs , shirts , shoes, jackets,underwear,ties, or toilet paper.( maybe toilet paper with Luca's face on it would be ok since he trashed our beloved 348"s ) and so on" If your life revolves around the car , then I guess you will be certain it is the greatest machine ever produced by mankind
     

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