Driving a 355 vs a Testarossa

I just sold my 328 that i owned since '91, I bought my 10 point car '88 testarossa in '99 and have spend on it more than $25,000 in keeping the car up to perfect condition, I drive it everyday and have tracked the car a few times. The 30,000 miles service was $12,000 including new tires and the clutch was another $3,500 and thats with a big discount, my Ferrari dealer knows I spend money in my cars. I have driven the 355 and I like the Testarossa better, but when it comes to the 360 F1 then the only thing there is to say is "360 anyday anytime" thats the car to buy, period. Also the TR model is wider than the 360 and it feels like it by a lot. The 360 feels like its got a long tail when looking from the rear view mirror but its because of the glass engine cover, it gives a sensation as if the car is 6 feet long behind your back!


Theres no way that a major service w/ the clutch included is a $7,000 job, if thats the ticket then they just cut a lot of corners.

 

Well wonder no more:
512TR
WheelBase 2550 mm / 100.4 in
Length 4486 mm / 176.6 in
Height 1130 mm / 44.5 in
Width 1976 mm / 77.8 in
Weight 1660 kg / 3660 lbs
Front / Rear Track F 1519 mm / 59.8 in R 1661 mm / 65.4 in
360
WheelBase 2601 mm / 102.4 in
Length 4478 mm / 176.3 in
Height 1214 mm / 47.8 in
Width 1923 mm / 75.7 in
Weight 1390 kg / 3065 lbs
Front / Rear Track F 1669 mm / 65.7 in R 1618 mm / 63.7 in

There you have it. The 360 is generally bigger. Thanks Google!

 

When you see them parked next to one and other you'll see the big difference. The 360 really looks like big frog next to the 355 or the TR.

 

You must have mis-spoke. The TR, based on these numbers, is "generally bigger", isn't it?

 

So the TR being wider, longer, and heavier is the smaller car?

 

Uhhhh, what did I miss?

Length: TR 176.6" vs 360 176.3" = TR longer
Height: TR 44.5" vs 360 47.8" = 360 higher
Width: TR 77.8" vs 360 75.7" = TR wider

To me this means the TR is longer (only by about .3" though) and wider (by 2.1") so they're very close, but the TR is still the bigger car. Did I misread something?

 

Don't forget the weight - TR is almost 600 lbs heavier!

Gary

 

Yes! Forgot that one!

 

Not to get off track here but I agree with my good friend Will on many things but not the part about a 512 TR blowing the doors off a 355 C.

Look at the official Ferrari factory numbers:

355 Street car: 0-100 kph 4.7, standing kilometer 23.6
512 Tr: 0-100 kph 4.8, standing kilometer 22.9

Fiorano lap times: 512TR 1:35, 512M 1:35, F355 1:34, 355 Challenge 1:25

The 512 TR beats the 355 street car to 62 mph by one tenth of a second and less than a full second in the standing kilometer.

Throw in a Challenge car weighing 150 pounds less and with 15 extra hp and slicks and you can forget about blowing anything off a 355 C.

And at the track, even with upgraded brakes and suspension a 355 C will beat a 512TR at anything short of a high speed oval.

No way adding slicks to a 512TR or 512 M is ever going to make up 10 seconds on a 355 C, neither will suspension and brakes. You'd need to do what Will has done and compeltely convert it to a race car with carbon fiber and shed 400-500 pounds.

Now back to the discussion at hand!!!!!

I owned a 88 1/2 TR for three years and a 355 street car for a year and half.

Differences:

-355 felt more usuable as an everyday car in terms of traffic, parking, and general ease of use
-TR felt more like an exotic weekend car
-355 felt faster above 80, TR felt faster below 80 eventhough the 0-60 numbers contradict this
-TR more fun on the road, 355 more fun on the track
-TR much more expensive to maintain and more stuff broke freqently
-TR more of a head turner and much better styled
-355 parts readily available, TR parts took months to get (example motorized seatbelts).

Depends on your use. If it's a daily driver than a 355 is the way to go, but if it's a special occasion car for weekends than go with the TR as it will be a much more exciting car for that purpose. I can honestly say that the 355 seemed quite boring as a street car compared to my TR (boring being a relative term here).

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
ex-88 1/2 TR
ex-95 F355 TB
www.flatoutracing.net (new site)

 

Don't want to highjack this thread, but I'm incredulous that you actually let your 15 year old daughter drive your Testarossa !!!!!

I'm sure you were there with her, but how could a young lady like that drive such a powerful car when she has to be lacking significant on the road experience at that age...???

 

How does the TR and the 355 compare in headroom. I driven a TR and its tight??

 

Jon, you know FNA likes to cook its #s. I propose that this summer we do a real test. We should find a drag strip or a nice long straight, like Pocono & have your 355C against my 512TR road car & we can put this to rest
Sounds like fun to me regardless who wins

Allow me to clarify, I am just talking about straight line speed, in the twisties a 355C will run away from my 512TR. Although by my lap times, my 512TR would be about 1/3 back in a 355C field on race day

 

Will, those aren't FNA numbers they are from the factory in Italy and most major road car tests in US magzines have both cars dead even at 60 and a slight advantage for the 512 at the quarter mile mark.

As for the Challenge series, if you discount the top 5 or 6 drivers at the front of the grid my Audi station wagon would qualify mid field

Not trying to argue the point, both are great cars.

Regards,

Jon
PS: My 355 C is sold so we'll have to take a rain check on the drag contest until I can save up for a 360 GTC!

 

The mall closes early on Sunday, we were in the mall parking lot late in the evening. No cars around, dozens of paved acres all to ourselves. Besides, this is Texas, we are a little more maverick here than other places. She has to learn to drive it sometime, she's been driving my Mercedes with me in it with her for about 6 months and she is pretty good. She is 5'11", a straight A student, and is very athletic. I learned how to drive in my Father's 1973 Jaguar XKE roadster when I was 14. We used to get driver's licenses here at 15. Now they get learner's permits at 15. The point I was trying to make is that the car is not as hard to drive as most people will have you believe.

 

I thought that I read that when the F355 came out, it was 2-3 sec faster per lap on the Ferrari test track. I might be wrong, but I thought Ferrari was somewhat embarressed that the 355 beat their premier car at the time.

 

(first post)

I think that's great! I learned how to drive stick on my dad's 911, well before I had my license. Kudos to you for getting the spirit in her early

As to the topic, I've only driven the TR but I can say (having lots of passenger-seat time in an F355) that the TR feels a lot heavier, and the controls (steering, pedals, shifter) are certainly heavier. The TR is sort of more of an old-school F-car exotic whereas the F355 blends modern drivability with a lighter version of that concept (and an intoxicating engine note, I must say). I'd be happy with either but I think I'd buy an F355 in hopes of lower maintenance costs and less trouble to use as a daily if the desire struck me.

 

That's great! 5' 11" at 15! Sheesh, now I feel old and short.

 

If you are going to bring a 360GTC I get to use my 512TR race car

 

Fine, but I am removing the side view mirrors, taking the rear wing off, and running on less than one gallon of fuel


Regards,

Jon

 

I think its cool you let her drive it.

 

Flatoutracing hit the nail on the head with his comparison of the 2 cars. I own both a TR and a 355. If you want an everyday car go for the 355--power steering, better all around vision, more comfortable seating position (for me anyway 6 foot 1), also ABS helps. As for the TR being too wide--it sort of shrinks around you. The 355 is a tighter and more managable car with far superior brakes and you feel its lightness-it is more nimble than the the TR. As for which I prefer--I choose the TR. It is a far better looking car IMO and its interior is more luxurious. Not to mention the flat12. The v8 sounds good but does not bellow like the 12. Also the TR has a much more beautiful engine to look at--it is a work of art.

 

While I own a 512TR I agree with FLATOUTRACING's observations....it depends on what you want the car to be to you.

 

Jerry - I have owned both cars. First off I would say that my 1987 Testarossa - while immaculate and a ton of fun to drive - would never be a "better" all around car than my 355. It's different technology from a different era. That being said - I have also driven a 512TR which I WOULD consider as good of a car as my 355. "Good" is relative to my particular usage though. Unless you plan to use the car as a daily driver - I would take the 512TR over the 355 as an all around sexier and more enjoyable car to drive as a "weekend driver." There's nothing like the sound of 12 cylinders screaming through a Tubi with test pipes! However, if you're looking for something more usable as a daily driver or even a weekly driver - choose the 355. It is easier and more user friendly to drive more often. Once again - alot has to do with technology and how much the cars have improved over the years. The new 360s are proof of this. They could be driven every day effortlessly (by comparison).

 

after reading all this thread about 355 v512 i will add what i have experianced as i have owned 308 328 2x testarossa 348gtb 355 f512m which i still own and cant find a better car to replace it with i loved the testarossa but you would want to use one every day as no power steering heavy clutch and very wide so i bought a 355 after jerrmy clarkson said they was the best car ferrari made and he loved his but i was very dissapointed as i found it to easy to drive with pas reading earlier comments which is fastest the testarossa is faster it also is bigger inside and has lots more power yes the early ones had poor brakes and is not to good round town but i would rather have a 512 than 355 but if you want the best buy a f512m great brakes great handling great car 196mph not much any better

 

Where did you get the Fiorano lap times?

According to QV500.com:

"Putting these figures into perspective were Ferrari’s own claims of the F355 being seven seconds faster than the 348 and four faster than the 512 TR around Fiorano!"

the full text at: http://www.qv500.com/ferrarif355p1.htm
// Peter