550 or 360?

From an investment standpoint, get the 550, since it's already taken a decent depreciation hit. The 360's are going to drop like rocks in 18 - 24 months once the demand for F430's start to stabilize.

From a preference standpoint, it depends. The 360 is a technological tour de force relative to your 355, but shares the "tossability" your 355 has - in other words a heck of a lot of fun in a zippy little car. The 550, on the other hand, is a grand tourer - oodles of torque under a beautiful 12-banger. The ride, look, and feel of both cars are very different so go in with your eyes wide open. Both cars are good - the decision is ultimately a highly subjective one.

Both cars have recalls and TSB's that can be determined by searching the archives.

Good luck.

 

The 550. Even though I fell in love with the 360s handling at last years FFQC, I still prefer a 12 to an 8...plus, the 550 looks much better IMHO. As far as investment is concerned, they made a lot more 360s so they are likely to depreciate more in the long run..10+ years or so. A 550 is a Ferrari front engined V12 2 seater...what more needs to be said!

 

550- great cars plus the 360 will depreciate greatly soon enough

 

550 for me for the reasons already stated and for the fact that I need a car which I can tour Europe with my wife and more luggage than just a toothbrush.

 

Hey, I got a toothbrush and a shirt in my 360! LOL

 

The 360 is more than adequate to handle luggage. A 550 would be more comfortable on longer trips but the 360 is no slouch in the touring department.

 

From a pure investment point of view both will depreciate and won't be sound investments. But I was to purchase anyway, I am biased and since I have driven both I like the 360 better. It suits to my driving style better, the real sports car feel.

 

I already have a GT3 for the track so I chose a 550 for the street. Both are great, but they made a lot less 550s. Something about a V12 with a tubi!

 

Neither are investments since neither will appreciate in the forseeable future. You might lose less money with the 550 since they have fallen quite a bit already, whereas the 360's are relatively recent to the depreciation curve.

Buy one based on your driving style. I have had both: I sold the 550 for my current 360. I feel the 360 is more fun to drive, but the 550 has all that incredible torque. The 550 reminded me of my E39 BMW 540i 6-spd whereas the 360 is more like a go-cart. The 550 is more luxurious, the 360 more raw. Try to drive both extensively instead of in brief spurts to get a feel for them before deciding.

 

Losan:

I, too had a 355 spider before a parking attendant totalled it (but that's a different story).

I did a lot of research, factored in resale, performance, drivability, etc. and narrowed it down to a 550. I gotta admit that it's been a love and hate relationship with my 550. I hate it at first, b/c I cannot feel the road, the car is so darn smooth. I'm so used to the 355's GoKart feel that I felt a bit timid throwing my 550 around the corner. However, the more I drive my 550, the more I start to appreciate the car. The car is tight, it handles well (not as well as a 360, but pretty close), it has soooooooooo much torque. I made my TaeKwonDo instructor scream like a little girl when I punched it. Anyway, 360 is a refined version of the 355, it's a pure racing machine. But the 550 is raw power in disguise. The car is understanded, comfortable and refined. However, the moment you step on the gas, you unleash the thoroghbred in the 550. It's raw, violent and pure acceleration - I actually spun my wheels in third gear.

Anyway, forget about investment value for a second, you should get the car that feels more like you're a part of it than driving it. Just my $0.02.

 

Good advice. Choppy, your profile still says 355 Spider under Ferrari's owned. You still pining away for your Chiaro... -

 

Somethings in life are just hard to let go.

 

2 totally different car. can't really see why one would choice between the 2.
hate to say it, but buying a car only for investment is sad. why not drive both and see what u like better.

 

Maybe no slouch but I expect no better than my NSX Coupe which I'm seeling because although it will carry enough for two for a week has no room to store the goodies which we like to bring back from a week abroad, like a couple of cases of good vino!! 550 should carry about 3 times as much.

 

if you are really going to tour, then a 550 is touring car...if amazing handling, quick steering and a screaming engine..get the 360..also the 550 styling is moe understated and you wont get as much attention, which is good thing...there are 3 550s with one block of me in my neighborhood, and they generate the looks and attention the 360s do..both great cars, just totally different..as for an investment, how about a solid growth stock ....

 

As an investment think this: 550 had 3,715 made, the 360 14,000+.

One is a V-12 and the other a V-8.

 

dats why 550 lost 40% of value in 3 yrs and 360 lost 15%??
got it.

 

I vote for the 550....for all of the reasons above. I personally like the looks and the 12. Both will depreciate but the 550 will depreciate less..the 430 will see to that.

 

took the words out of my mouth...people who always quote supply forget a bigger economic coomponent to the price forumula....DEMAND!!!!!

 

Here in Australia, dicounted new 360's can be bought from the dealers for less than the "asking" price of many second hand ones. In fact second hand pricing from the dealer appears to be signifiantly cheaper than private sale pricing and real sale prices cheaper again. Maybe we are unique, but a 360 appears to actually sell at the roughly the same price as a 550.

 

Amen.

 

Buy both

 

right.
and how would an item be better investment if it has less demand on it.

 

Lots of you are going on about the demise of the 360 now that the 430 is here. People, did the 575 kill the 550, the other option in this equation? Are you forgetting that the 600 Imola is also coming?

If this thread were next year, the 360 might be a "classic" and the 550 might be old news.

Buy the car you like.