Which ferraris are genuinely daily driveable?

THE 355 IS THE BEST DAILY DRIVEABLE ONE ON YOUR LIST

 

The 360 and 355 are very usable cars, I would say as useable as any porker.......Perhaps yr poor old Dad really likes his Silver bullet..

Its a drastic mind change in stepping out of the Porker and into a real driving machine.....
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I have a 456. I don't drive it every day but it would make an ideal daily drive. Dare I say that it is a little less flashy than the the two seater but a lot more practical. Plenty of luggage space, four up if required and blstering pace. It is only recognised by those who appreciate its form and I have even parked it in Sainsbury's car park!!. They are expensive to maintain but decent ones are now a lot less than their last £170k list and can be had for £40 -50k for a decent one

Paul

 

I reckon the 355 is a very usable car; My father concurs with me on this.

It is surprisingly refined on a long trip. I'd have no problem with using mine regularly, but it will cost lots to run compared to the 911. But then any Ferrari will.

Has your pa tried a 355 yet?

 

the problem with a 355 daily driver is that the thing is pure flash. very non-subtle car. i couldn't drive mine ANYWHERE without attention. the 550 on the other hand, length notwithstanding, is much less loud (it's black too, instead of yellow - that's something).

also, if you're gonna go 355, avoid the spider for daily driving - the seats were, imo, so compromised to fit the folding roof that they aren't that great. the GTB/GTS seats are WAY nicer than the Spider chairs.

doody.

 

I think the experience of driving something like a 355 daily will be very different to what your dad is used to, and may not weigh up as a daily driver in a comparative sense. For example, I doubt his 911 has to be shifted straight from first to third until the gearbox oil has warmed up, like a 355 does.

It's really a question of what you are willing to put up with, or put another way, what experience you are looking for. I would say that if you are looking for something that can get you from A to B with the minimum of fuss and go like a rocket when needed, then you're probably not really looking for a Ferrari - not a 355 at least. You're probably more in 911 or Impreza(type) territory. There is the 456/550 but you've ruled those out already.

There are a few reasons why I don't use my 355 as a daily driver;

1. The dimensions dont suit town car parks etc, nor does its relative rarity.
2. It isn't all that practical for shopping etc.
3. I gain a higher level of enjoyment by limiting my use of it.

The third point is key for me. I used to drive a TVR Chimaera as my only car. The costs to run were similar to the 355, and it was less civilized on long journeys than the 355, but I still drove it daily for two years. This may sound weird, but I got used to it so much it felt less special to drive over time.

After a couple of years I decided to get another car and use the TVR as a toy only. Almost immediately, I found that driving the TVR less actually heightened my enjoyment when I did drive it. I later swapped the TVR for the Ferrari and continued with two cars for the same reason. When you don't use the car daily, the ownership experience is very different - it stays special rather than becoming run of the mill. That's what owning a Ferrari is about for me. I'm posting a bit late tonight because I've only just come back from giving my 355 a bit of a spanking....

I bought my 355 to drive it, and I use it several times per week not just at weekends. To own it as a second car means you have to find the time to drive it. That's not a problem for me; it may be for some. While Ferrari's can certainly be used as daily drivers, I don't personally think that is the best way to own one. It isn't for me anyway.

That probably isn't what you want to hear, but that's my take. I would suggest that the newer the model, the more likely its suitability for a daily driver. I haven't driven them all so that is just a supposition.

Richard.

 

There is also a colour-sensitivity angle here- I find my silver 355 attracts less attention than my red 328.

Tony's car is de-catted and Tubi'd so would have no doubt sounded spectacular, but your pa may have found it loud. With a factory exhaust, the engine is relatively muted at cruise and when trundling about in the traffic.

IMO less road noise than a 996 too, and a better ride.

Robert.

 

Not sure I would consider a 512TR/M a "daily driver"....

 

I've been informed that de-catting the car reduces the engine temp, hence reducing the likelihood of manifold failure.

I've also been told (by verdis) that a change in manifold design makes manifold failure in later cars comparitively unlikely.

IMO fitting a Tubi primarily liberates a better noise, which is why I want one! It also makes the engine freer breathing. De-catting it takes it all a stage further.

I'd be happy to use my 355 in any weather, provided I could be sure of its security when it was unattended. This is the critical difference to its usability compared to a 911.

 

I drive my 360 really regularly, in all weathers and to pretty much everywhere - it is much better than I thought it would be in that regard - I've covered 8,000 miles in 6 months and I haven't even been through a summer yet.

It's seriously that good that I cannot stop myself. The depreciation will probably end up making me throw myself off a bridge somewhere, but I just cannot stop driving this car every day. Dare I say it - it's faultless.

I find it staggeringly driveable day to day and I still find it very enjoyable and still a special experience, perhaps that will wane over time, but it hasn't one bit over the last 6 months.

The build quality of the spider is fantastic - it's easy to forget you're driving a convertible when the top's up.

I have done London > Edinburgh and back in one day, I was amazed to get out and find that I was no more fatigued/achy than doing the same trip in my bmw - and it's tubi'd.

That said, I wouldn't like to be in the situation of just having the 360 - just not practical enough. But work > back, bit of shopping - no problem. But I'd never park it in a public car park. Not unless I could see it.

Can't say about earlier Ferrari's as this is my first - I've never driven any other Ferrari.

I just hope my financial status remains as good as it is now until the day I die, because whilst picking up my Ferrari was one of the most enjoyable days of my life to date, if the day ever comes when I have to say goodbye, I'd be bloody gutted. Distraught. And probably very bored. **** - those guys really know how to build a sports car.

My 2p's worth

Cheers
Paul