355 spider or GTS, any 550 owners have both?

Some good friends own the Independent Ferrari Service shop in LV. They drive many cars including several 355s (mine) and some 550s. I have a 355GTS and here would be their input.

The 355 is a great sports car. It is not a cruiser like the 550. It is much more nimble than the 550. You feel the road more. More engine noise.

Other points on the 355-
It does take two to remove and stowe the top. Not much flex in the car, even on the track (top in place). The engine is a right behind you so you hear it (especially at high speed). However, the 355 sound is wonderful (Tubi in ours). My wife loves to drive it, esp with the top off. She has even tracked it a couple of times.

So far living with it has been very good. We did the major service when we bought it (about $5k). Our '98 had 13k miles when we got it a few months ago and now we are pushing 15k. No signs of oil consumption, original headers and cats look fine. The Ferrari dealership looked at it in January and recommended an Italian tune up (2x a bottle of Techron with a Fill Up and Flog It!). Nothing but bliss since.

 

I have 98 550 and 95 355 and i love them both, but they are a world apart. The 355 is a awesome car and i wouldn't trade for a 360 ( i would for a 360 cs it is fun to drive, easy to drive, very cart like and has great power. The engine is a revver so unlike the 550 with instant power the 355's power really kicks in after 5k rpms. Get a 355 and you love it!

 

I am considering the purchase of a 550 as a daily driver. I currently have a beautiful 355 Spyder (and won't part with it).

So here is my question, the 550 has the best lines (IMO) of the V12s, but if I plan to put say 25K miles per year on it am I better of getting a cheaper 456???? I considered a 2003 Maserati Coupe (boy have they depreciated).

Any thoughs?

 

True, Apples and oranges...

I loved my 355 but went back to a 550. I don't collect cars but those two together would definitely round out any garage.

 

I have a 95 F355 Spider (Replaced my 85 308QV) and a 97 550 (Replaced my 90 TR). When people ask me to compare the two - my comment is the two are two completely different cars.

I like to think of the F355 as a "go-cart" - Fun for a couple of hours, by after a while enough. The 550 is used when I have time and plan on a longer run with a lot open highway.

Hope this helps!

 

i feel more planted on the road with the 355.... i feel like at any moment the 550 could kill me... lol.... i guess thats where the fun is...

 

25K miles per year?!

The evening news will be calling you to show your gasoline bills on television.

 

well the price difference now you could get a early model 550 for 90K thats in good standing, I prefer the 550 as well (sportier) both are bullet proof but it all depends on your budget, both have depreciated there fair share, and if your going to be using it as a daily, depreciation should not be you concern, and if it is, look into a different car, both will depreciated with the mileage your looking at. depends on how long u own it, if it will be "worth the money" cars are sadly to say a depreciating asset, and they can be used as 1. a-b transport or b. a-b transport with the secondary motive to provide pleasure. Look around, find yourself a solid, good car (550 wise) and you should be set, do your homework, that makes or brakes the difference if you will be driving it trouble free, or if your going to be paying thousands in bills and have your "daily" sitting in the shop 'daily" - Best Joe

 

I have a 2004 Maserati CC as a daily driver. I will be adding a 550/575 soon.

The Maserati will be less expensive to operate and is quite practical. They are very good buys now. I bought mine new and knew it would drop like a stone and I have NO regrets. I traded my TR for it and love it.

I found the Maserati more spacious than the 456, especially in the rear seats. The Maser's 2+2 is quite usable.

Sorry for the hijack.

-dsd

 

I have owned both and just sold my 355. I enjoy the 355-sound, feel, and looks. Both the 355 and the 550 are very classic looking. They are not in the same ball park from a price perspective or service. I have found the 550 to be much better.

The 550 is much more powerful and faster than a 355 and even a 360. If you have F-package.

The 550 handles very well-but you are looking for a comparison on a rear/mid engine car to a front engine V12. The 355 is a cart like feel with great sound and looks...

 

I owned a '97 355GTS prior to my 550, and I felt that the 355 was not a very good street car. There is not much power at lower RPMs, which means lots of work to keep in the power band, not a problem on the track, but for regular street driving it becomes tiresome, because even on boil the power is not that extraordinary. The other issue is that the car can be also very expensive to maintain, plenty of gotcha's, which has been discussed in previous threads. My opinion, for an open car Ferrari under 100K my choice would be a 348spyder or '94 Challenge GTS. I owned a '94 348 Spider a number of years ago, and it remains one of the most enjoyable cars I've owned, no power steering lower gearing and a manually operated top, a more simple car but for me a more fun street car. Best of luck with your search, if you do find a 355 you like, make sure the throttle pedal engages cleanly, they tend to stick during the first part of travel.

Best,

Stan

 

Stan is spot on..

 

John,

A member here on F-chat (Doody), once owned both cars (550 & 355 conv.)
and wrote a very interesting article on the unique aspects of owning/driving both. I still have it somewhere...if I can find it, I will repost it, hopefully Doody won't mind.

I agree with the majority of posters here though, I think they would make an ideal combo.

 

I had both the 550 and 355 spider..I would always take the 550 as it was easier to use around town/in general. You will love the 355, no issues. PM if you want to talk live about it