Wanted My First Ferrari (F355, Testarossa, 360, or 550 Maranello, in that order)

Personally I completely love the 550, and it'll be my first Ferrari. However it is more of a GT, so it will depend what you'll use the car for. Are you using the car as a daily? Or a weekend car only? If a weekend car only I'd go for the mid engined cars.

 

The huge boot/trunk on the 550 and the rear shelf does make it a very attractive car for any long weekend/week trips you may have planned...I can't think of many finer cars than the 550 for one of those! That said the boot/trunk in the 360 is pretty big as well IMO and should easily take 2 big soft travel bags as well if needed. Harry metcalfe (from evo/youtube fame) has managed quite a lot of stuff in the testarossa as well...355 I'm not sure off how large the trunk is.

I'm rambling. I think any of the cars have their merits and any will be a fantastic choice. So long as the 355/360 is manual, future proof as well. 355's can become pretty expensive however if you get a bad one...

 

Personally I would go with the 360 or the 550 rather then the f355. F355 fully major service can cost a heavy penny do to pulling out the engine completely out. The 550 is nice it’s a front engine and one of the last v12s.


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I've owned both a 355 and a 550

The 550 is a wonderful car to throw two golf bags in with enough left over room for a couple of suitcases for a weekend of golf in Carmel including dressing up for a nice dinner at a fine restaurant.

The 355 has limited room in the front trunk but it may be the best sports car you will ever drive.

 

Make sure you research some of the cars you spoke about and check into the costs to service the cars.

Some of the cars are more expensive to service than others. Perhaps the service costs may also help influence your decision.

 

Listen to this man.

 

Did you mean to have those in reverse? The 360 should be a much cheaper car to maintain since it doesn't need an engine out service like the 355 does.

 

I have a 550 and a 355. Both fantastic cars for different occasions.

Of the cars in your list, the best all round car is the 550 in my opinion.

 

Don't try and decide based on logical reasons, buy what your heart wants (and you can afford). It's not a logical purchase after all.

Just remember a classic ferrari and a modern one are similar in name only.

 

I had this same dilemma looking for my first Ferrari between a 355 and 550, as you can see by my avatar I ended up with the 550.
However in my case I did not have any more preference for one or the other, I was equally torn between the 2. Ultimately I chose the 550 because it was easier to maintain and because of the comfort level for my wife on the passenger seat. Another reason is since I live in Miami we don't have fun twisty roads, just highways, so the 550 was better suited for driving here as well.

As others have mentioned above the 550 is the better overall car, but in your case your heart is set on a 355, get a 355 and don't even consider anything else. Last thing you want to do is spend $100+k on your first Ferrari and then question "what if".

Albeit now I'm looking for an FF for whole family!

 

I think there's many people who would debate you there!

 

My best suggestion, based on the responses above, is what are you looking for?

I have a 1986 328 GTS - small and tight, fits like a glove and is great fun to drive.

1990 Testarossa - yes, the 2nd gear thing can be a little annoying, but 12 cylinders, open road - this is a GT at it's best.

If you want old school, then something like the above should work, on the other hand.....

2011 458 Italia - almost perfect. Last normally aspirated 8 cylinders. Too bad it didn't have 12.

I do have a predilection for mid-engined cars.

 

I don't know, I had a spiritual enlightening that it was factual, you can't argue with that!

 

I have owned a Testarossa and still have my 575 Maranello. From a car and driving perspective, the Maranello is light years better. The TR has a lot of shortcomings but nothing turns heads like a TR.

 

I think you might enjoy the 360 in regards to power and overall ride. Tight suspension/ handling and the prices for the 360 seem to be right. 355s have bottomed and are on the way back up. I'm biased towards mid engines . Cheers

 

I just sold my FF. Pass if it’s your first Ferrari it’s not that fun. Only get one if you have another TRUE Ferrari then it makes total sense.
That being said I also live in Miami and it makes more sense there (the ff), but when I had it It was mostly used in California where true Ferraris are more enjoyed.


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Ill take a testarossa and it’s lower center of gravity over the 575 for a fun driving experience in a twisty…. And the sound man… nothing beat an exhaust on flat12


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I tracked my TR once, the twisties are not where that car shines. The TR is certainly more raw but it’s hard to quantitatively say it’s better than a Maranello at anything.

 

You had listed what you were looking for at the top of your post. What I meant to convey was some sense of specifics - i.e. "cars and coffee", cruising car, weekender, etc. So with that in mind, the luggage capacity and comfort for long drives become additional points to consider.

I hear you on the 458 Italia. I just bought mine - before the prices got too carried away (and even then it was a stretch). Can't believe how much they have gone up in the last year!! Some respondents might question the 458 given your desire for a manual, but as a point of clarification, I consider the 458 to have a hydraulically assisted manual transmission