355 328 TOO SMALL! HELP!

This will be my first post. Great forum, have been reading for months, have been an avid Ferrari fan my whole life. I am a 28 year old police officer, real estate investor, I just sold my Viper and WRX STI (Both great cars but lacking the "Soul" I am looking for) to finance my first ferrari purchase. I have done extensive research, and yesterday we made the trip to Toronto to view some cars, a 328, and a 355. Imagine my dissapointment when I could not fit in either, not even close. I am 6'5 235lbs, problem is headroom, all my height is my upper torso. My friend has a 360 coupe and I have absolutley no problem driving that. However the 360 is still outa my price range ($60,000 to $100,000 Canadian), as I have to pay for an upcoming wedding. My question is can anyone recommed a ferrari i can fit in in my price range? Otherwise I am considering a z06, 911 Turbo, but my heart is set on a ferrari.

Thanks in advance, I am so glad I found this forum

 

Mondial, 550, of course you could try a targa or Spyder version of the 328 and 355.

 

GOOD AFTERNOON, AS A TECK ON THESE CARS YOUR BEST BET FOR THE BUCK IS A 355. THEY ARE GREAT CARS , FAST AND SOUND GREAT WITH THE RIGHT EXHAUST .THE 355 ARE VERY RELIABLE AND PARTS ARE NOT A PROBLEM TO FINE .THE OLDER THE FERRARI YOU GET INTO , SOME PARTS ARE HARD TO FINE AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUY FOR A $55.000.00 FERRARI. SO FOR YOUR BEST DOLLAR IS A 355.

 

I'm 6'2 and can't fit in the cars you mentioned

testarossa baby
can't go wrong

 

Welcome Jeff!

I'd suggest either the Targa versions of the 328/355 or a F355 Spider. Unlimited head room then!

Also, as Myhorse said, perhaps you could fit in a Testarossa/512TR...

 

Only suggestions I can make are the 360 or the 550...both are a little bit more expensive then the avg 355, but not by that much anymore. Depending on the year 360=99-04, 550 =97-01, you might find something around the 150-160 K range. No other older model car will fit you comfortably if the 355 is too small, Im afraid...maybe the TR or the BB??

Only other thing I can think of is maybe a specialized "low rider" seating in a 355 GTS...no roof, no problems ...sorta like how Tom Sellick had to fit in the old 308 from Magnum PI.

Good luck!

 

THAT'S ALSO A GREAT CAR . A TR IS ALOT OF CAR FOR THE MONEY. THEY ARE ALL GREAT CARS . 355 TARGA IS HARD TO FIND. JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR YOU FIND HAS SERVICE HISTORY AND HAS BEEN SERVICED UP TO DATE.GOOD LUCK.

 

Great points guy's BUT...

What do you do with a GTS (Or as you say "Targa") when you can't close the roof? NOT practical.

Big Al. Good points on the 355, but NOT sure if you read his post...HE CANNOT FIT!

Steve (Goldy), you can count the BB out! Very very tight. I am 5'8 and I bearly have room. Or maybe it's just my gut?

TR is a great way to go. But apparently you need stylish track suits to get in and out of the car to avoid scratching.

550 also a great option but it may be out of price range.

I had a guy on a glass 308 3 years ago. Could NOT make the sale because he was waayy too tall. Sold him a 2001 Vette.

Porsche is highly recommended. Simply because I know you should fit, and I also love them

All the best and welcome to this great forum Jeff!!!

Vasco

 

Jeff--St. Catharines is my home town. I didn't know there were any other enthusiasts down there...

 

Jeff,

Welcome aboard. Congrats on your new life you are about to embark.

As I read you're post and some of the responses I have a solution for you.

Given you're size, I am not that far off....well the weight side anyways, but I am 5'11 and (Raisin) Mark is 6'4 as well into the 235lbs mark ad we both fit very comfortable in my TR. I have many freinds and family that tip higher in size, my cousin is 6'6 250lbs and in the passenger seat fit great. In the driver side it was tight. Given your info a TR would be a perfect fit.

As for your budget, you can find a clean TR in around the 100k mark...Im mean real clean car...all books, service, one owner possible. You cannot find a clean 355 for that money.

In the 75k range you should be able to find a somewhat dirty TR. My def, deferred manitence, gap in records, 4 owners, gravel in the undercarriage. A crappy TR would be 50-66K CDN if you could find one, and thats a bomb ready to explode.

My personal experience, buy the best example you can afford. If you look inot a TR, make sure everything is documented, service complete, no BS. The car is literally bullet proof if you buy a good car. If its a rough car, you will forever regret it.

I have had mine for 7 years going on 8 now, aside from the major belts, the car has virtual been bullet proof, a few little things happen, but not big expenses, oil changes, rad flush etc. I have an 86, and its been a dream to own, drive and rev upto 7,000RPM all day long. Don't listen to the neg. of ferrari ownership, or the myth of a 12 costing a small fortune. If you buy a well sorted car with proper info it will be the best car you have owned.

Hope this helps, its my .2cents. And yes I do wear track suits when I drive my TR, its more comfortable, plus I dont have to worry about the leather getting beat by a pair of jeans.

If you want some help in discussing, there are many NUT cases on this board, but listen to owners with real experience, not people who have heard off.

Good luck !!

PS...Red/blk or blk/blk TRs look the best !!

 

Thanks for all your reply's I wonder would a 348 offer any more headroom? As well I never considered a TR, I just always assumed I wouldnt fit, I will have to maybe go try one out for size. Any of you tall guys been in one? TR is defintely in my price range and boy would I love to hear 12 cylinders. Thanks again

 

348 too tight still. At least for me, and it felt to plasticy

Look at the TR

 

Don't forget the 456GT. Modern V12, manual, and lots of interior room compared to the 328

 

Very rare up here and for whatever reason, when they do pop up, they're in the 130 range

 

I went through the exact same issues. Speak to Ferrari of Ontario - they have "I think" taken the rails out from the drivers seat on 355's and bolte dthe seat right onto the floor. This gives more head room. The downside obviously is that you cant then slide the seat backwards and forwards. Check itout

 

I'm six foot and my head its the roof of the testarossa...how are you 6 foot + folks fitting in a testarossa... reclining the seat flat?

 

try a 512 TR, its approx. the same price as a good 355.

 

How long can you wait? if you wait a little while, just shove the money in the bank and sit on it you might be able to afford a 360 or 550.

 

Nothing wrong with a porsche of course! I do think that targa idea is bad. If he buys a targa top and it always has to be off for him to fit than he can't pull it out for a spin if its raining, might rain, windy, even slightly cold etc.....Good luck in the search.

 

And this is different in what way from most Ferrari owners??

 

That is to true.....kind of sad isn't it.

 

Thanks for all the Help. I have researched removing the rails, taking foam out of the seat. My fiancé is 5'2 and I would like her to be able to drive it. (I am lucky she is a car nut as well). I am going make the trip next week to Toronto see if I cant find a TR to look at (see if I fit). Otherwise I guess I am going have to settle with a 911 or z06 until I can afford a 360.

 

I am fairly large, 6-0", xxl frame, 270 lbs
I own a 348tb, same size as a 355
Secret is to recline back the seat for height, I just make it, over 6-1" ???
In terms of width, my back is the issue, very snug, but you live with it.
Ugly option is to change the seats, custom or modify???

Accept the fact it is a FERRARI, live with the little tightness, if you want comfort go American , yuk!!!

A friend of mine ownd a TR, it is definitely roomier, but height????
My opinion, get a convertible if height is the only issue, Good luck!

 

Or you could just do like I do..keep driving..the faster you go..the less wet you get!!

456 is a great option..manual trans cars are hard to find though. We could go back in time..into the 400 series cars..the 412 with manual being the best of the bunch. But I think a TR would fit you quite nicely. Rick is a big dude and he fits in his..(may be due to the slippery material his track suits are made out of ). I'm about 6'2 and I fit in them just fine..but I could use a tad more leg room. 355 is almost the same car as a 348..so the interior space is going to be very close in size. 550 you would have zero problems with, but they are still grabbing serious money here in Canada..still over 175k.

There are mods you can do to the seat tracks to help with fitment..in fact there is a place in the US which specializes in doing such conversions..I think Shack is there biggest customer (pardon the pun).

 

You guys with the track suits.....dont knock it till you try it....

Dont you guys wanna feel comfortable driving these cars ? If I wanna wear a suit, Ill drive a Lexus with air conditioning, not an fcar.

Next time I'll wear shorts, and flip flops.

Jason, you should let him come down and sit in a TR over there since he's coming to toronto.