drove a gated shifter 360 spider and now i want one !!!! | FerrariChat

drove a gated shifter 360 spider and now i want one !!!!

Discussion in '360/430' started by johns930, Jan 2, 2017.

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  1. johns930

    johns930 Formula 3

    May 9, 2005
    1,465
    its the 1st time i driven a manual ferrari and it was great !!
    i couldnt believe how good and smooth it was, the clutch is much easier than porsche gt2s, and pick up was great, dont need to touch the throttle when parking back and forth, all in all, awesome at slow speeds.
    my oldest ferrari is a 430 and newest a 488, so i wasnt rich enough for the 360s some 15 years ago, but now these gated ones are relatively cheap and easy to drive. I had a laferrari the same day but i just wanted to try a manual 360! that tells u something, and it was a box finally ticked on my wish list and its truly awesome.

    It had enough torque to make me surprised at something so old, it still feels it got all its 400 horses after 50K kms and all these years, dont know what the sport button does when i tuggle it on the left side of the dash though, because i didnt feel any difference. Maybe because i always got the top down.
    the spider feels a little bit loose but still solid given its vintage and handles spongy compared to the 430 but still very acceptable, but the gated shifter made everything perfect, seriously. Interior feels much more spacious than my scud, maybe because of its open top. and u can really adjust the seats way back and be really comfortable.

    its almost as easy to shift and clutch as any economy car, at first i worry about shifting into a wrong gear because of the gates, so i keep looking down to see where im shifting which is another fun thing u can never do in another car, maybe minus the old lambos. but after several shifts its just as easy as any other manual, plus the chink and chunk sound jamming into the gate slots feel much more mechanical than anything else, no rubbery feel here.
    i know im stating the obvious here, but i cant believe how good a manual fcar is!!

    now, since a 430 spider would be much harder to find and cost much more, even though a gated 360 is also very rare where im from, but i think i like a 360 more than a 430 on this one, maybe because its older, lower power, and from the cruising that i will do in an older car, the 360 spider fits better. plus i never had a 360 before. i seen several 355s, but their interior always look old and awfully need refurbishing, i never bothered looking at one, and i expect them to be really slow, plus the 360 power feels about adequate for what im gonna do with it.

    i drove a bone stock example that was always dealer maintained and pretty much perfect, but i'll be doing 20" rims and definitely a wailing exhaust to make it look and sound better if i get one.

    all in all, this is one old ferrari that im mighty impressed with, mainly because its got a gated shifter, i cant say that about a 355, 512tr that i tried before.
     
  2. Need4Spd

    Need4Spd F1 Veteran

    Feb 24, 2007
    6,678
    Silicon Valley
    What you say is exactly why I still enjoy my gated 360. I went for a drive on New Year's Day and it was just so much fun!

    Let me suggest you not get 20" wheels for it, unless the wheel/tire combination is as light or lighter than stock. The 360 does not have an over abundance of torque, and heavier wheels/tires will kill performance and lessen its fun to drive factor.
     
  3. johns930

    johns930 Formula 3

    May 9, 2005
    1,465
    by the way, who can give me that old link of the 360 spider moded into a 360 cs spider.
    thank u so much, i cant find it.
     
  4. DougDish

    DougDish Karting
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 13, 2010
    216
    Northern NJ
    Full Name:
    Doug
    The looking down at the shifter is a common phenomena for most first time gated driver but as you described that goes away and you just enjoy the drive. It also took me some time to get comfortable with the up and down shifts, so different from all the 6-cyl BMWs I've owned/driven. All good now and having fun with my gated 360.
     
  5. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Apr 4, 2010
    3,114
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Jes
  6. Shinigami

    Shinigami Formula Junior
    Owner

    Aug 2, 2005
    465
    Gland Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Heikki
    The Sport Mode button on the gated manual makes the springs stiffer and backs up on the nanny aids (ASR) without turning them off entirely.
     
  7. johns930

    johns930 Formula 3

    May 9, 2005
    1,465
    thanks u guys!
     
  8. 993turbo

    993turbo Formula Junior

    Oct 4, 2006
    317
    Puerto Banus
    Full Name:
    Remi E
    I use my 360 manual as a daily driver. Love it. My F430 Spider is a F1. Not so happy about that one. Wish is was manual as well.......
     
  9. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,725
    Lake Villa IL
    Yes many 355 need interior work at this point. As for really slow, it's pretty close to the 360 in terms of all out acceleration. 360 will feel stronger in the midrange.
     
  10. pourquoi_ne

    pourquoi_ne Karting

    Mar 16, 2006
    224
    England
    Full Name:
    John
    I'd say it makes the shock absorbers firmer with less rebound. The spring rates remain the same.
     
  11. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 13, 2009
    16,477
    Charleston, SC
    Full Name:
    Curt
    FIFY ;)
     
  12. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,725
    Lake Villa IL
    Thanks! :D
     
  13. bart12

    bart12 Formula 3

    Nov 6, 2008
    1,711
    The River runs through it
    Full Name:
    MD Leo
    Ive owned an F430, then scuderia, then a Speciale. I still have a 997 mt turbo and a 997 RS.
    But now, my only ferrari is my 360 mt. I was surprised too. This is the deal of the century. People who dont know how to drive a MT is missing the experience.

    You wont get bored in a manual transmission. You wont be the fastest, but i enjoy every minute of it.

    If i want an automatic, ill use my Sclass.
     
  14. Fabspeed Motorsport

    Sponsor

    Feb 5, 2009
    3,122
    Fort Washington, PA
    Full Name:
    John S
    Our 360 is equipped with a gated gearbox, and you can never get me out of it. I enjoy every second rowing through that transmission, especially with some added horsepower/sound behind it. Let me know if I can ever help with anything when the time comes!
     

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