355 vs. 360 - A newbie's conclusion

I went to Ferrari of Denver today, expecting to come home with a 355 Spider. It's a red/tan '96 with 27k miles. Upon driving it, I was sorely disappointed. I love the way the 355 looks, but these cars just feel too old for my taste. It doesn't smell new, the top isn't lined, the dash and controls look outdated. All the little details, like the seatbelts and seat adjustment mechanism and steering wheel adjuster...Everything just feels like...well, a 10-year old car. It rides beautifully, and looks gorgeous and sounds fantastic. But that's not good enough to get me out of my M3 (which, incidentally, feels faster than the 355).

While I was there, Mike was kind enough to send me on a joyride in an '03 6-speed 360 coupe (red/tan). MAN! Now, THAT'S a car! There is just a world of difference between the 355 and the 360. Everything about the 360 is an improvement. It feels like a modern car. The interior is supple and comfortable and just as good as any german car. It feels VASTLY more powerful than the 355 (or my M3), because the torque is available so much lower. The view out is far superior. It feels far more balanced and evenly loaded front/back. The power steering is more naturally weighted.

Some of you guys are able to pay $250k for an F430, and I sure envy you. I understand it is also a vast improvement over the 360. But for those of us still in the sub-$150k range...the 360 is just absolutely phenomenal, and surpasses the 355 in every way. My first Ferrari is no longer going to be a 355 -- it's going to be a 360 coupe (6-speed). Anyone ready to sell?

 

Cool, congrats, and when you get her post some pics!

 

Sounds similar to something this guy said last year:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=134919970&postcount=1

 

You should enlist the help of Dave Helm in your search to be sure you get a good car. He is one of the best Ferrari mechanics in the country and happens to be in Boulder.

He can be reached at 303-938-9000.

 

I bought my first Ferrari, 98 355 spider about a year ago... I like it. But I never fell in love with it..I prefer my Viper. The 355 feels cheap and the performance leaves a lot to be desired ( yes I understand its 8 yrs old) .

So Im selling it end of this year and moving into a 360 Spider. Was looking into Gallardo Spyders but I wont pay a big premium when its obvious the Gallardo does not retain value.

One thing I will miss about the 355 is the styling..I think its the last Ferrari that looked like a Ferrari.

 

Having owned both - go 360. It's simply a modern car.

 

Owned both. The 360 is the much better choice. Good luck! Tim

 

There are some things I miss about my 95 Berlinetta, but not my 96 Spider. I think if horsepower is what you want, drive a strong 95 before you rule out 355's. It's been debated here many times, but I can tell you first hand 95's are the fastest variant of the 355's. My 96 was not as strong of a runner (needed a valve job) but had nowhere near the throttle response of my 95. The 360 is a better car in every respect, but it also costs a lot more to purchase. If it's in the budget, go for it, but if your stretchingyour budget give a 95 a drive, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Can't go wrong either way, both great cars. Good luck.

 

the 360 is truly a great car but don'trule out the 355 just yet... With a good exhaust system and 6 speed it holds its own... You just have to know how to drive it - above 4000 rpms all the time that is where it has all of its power. If you try to drive this puppy at low rpm's forget it - it just won't perform up to par of the others. I still like the interior of the 355 - it just screams pure race car, where the 360 is more luxury race car... anyway, you cannot go wrong with either, just make sure you get a capristo or tubi exhaust with test pipes on either one!
gordon

 

355 = timeless Ferrari design
360 = model master piece

I get more stare from F355 because people instantly know what I am in, but 360, my wife thought it was a Mitsu 3000GT from a distance.from the front MY .02 cents.

 

very true!
gordon

 

I originally was going to get a 355, but ruled it out because I like the lines of the 360 better...it is more "exotic" to me...maybe the 355 is more "ferrari like", but we all buy them for different reasons. When I showed the cars to my wife, she didn't like the 355 or 360, but the 456GT...she said it was more like a "real" car...More BMW or Porsche like....exactly what I don't want!

 

Lets not for get that the 360s are not that modern anymore, some are nearly 7 years old now. Its the F430n thats moden. So compare modern BMWs with modern ferraris.

 

There is still a pretty good price difference between the 2 cars.

For me, the GTS provides an open top without the hassles of a soft top. Other than the CGT - which is in a different league - there are no good targas made anymore. And there is no 360 equivalent.

 

Love the F355 personally.

 

Thinks my 355 looks like a bodybuilder that has gone too far, but the 456 is more understated.

 

Love my 355 but if I had a choice I would probably own both a 360 and a 355.
The 355 was my first love and will always will be....


Thanks.
Vince

 

Agreed the 355 gives me everything I could every want and then some. I can't justify another $75k for a 360 that simply dosen't have the styling as does the 355.
While I agree the 355 has rough edges on the interior, I believe this gives character and charm to an anotherwise sophisticated car. The exterior styling is simply sexy!

 

Love them both too - there's just something more "put together" about the 360. I was sort of worried all the time that my 355 was going to break and leave me stranded. I would say the sound of the 355 is way better than the 360. That said, I'm not sure anything else is really better. As well, I should mention the 355 performed flawlessly to its credit (I'm just paranoid I suppose).

I disagree with the comment that the 360 is no longer modern. Yes, it's not the newest model but it's really much more contemporary than a 355. There is a big difference between the two.

 

What's modern ? That is up for debate. Sounds like interior features are more what you are concerned about than anything else. No right answer here on this topic. The 355 can be a hassle at times $$$ but put the two together anywhere in the world and I think most people will instantly recognize the 355 as "FERRARI" I wish the 355 had the 360 inside but I think in time the 355 will be one of the nicest styles along with GTO etc. Won't be worth much but the "look" is priceless.

 

Actually, BMW has always been a more "modern" car than Ferrari. Decent sound systems, soft leather, nice amenities, easy to see out of, great power (in the M), etc. Problem is, they're generic, disposable cars (albeit great ones -- I loved my 3 and might get another coupe).

The older Ferraris are loud, raw and idosyncratic. It's more about the driving experience than the new car smell and the 0-60 sprint.

However my car-enthusiast friend in Philly would strongly agree with you -- he doesn't like cars more than 3-4 years old, even Ferraris.

Go watch Goldeneye again. And again. And again.

 

I have had a 96 355 spider and currently have a 360 spider (on the list for a 430 spider). I prefer the sound of the 355 but everthing else about the 360 makes the 355 seem dated. The 355 is beautiful imho inside and out. But, it appears an old design. This is just a fact of car ownership. Fortunately, and unfortunately they are always making a better product. Anyone on this planet should be happy with the 355. If you are the type of person(unfortunately like myself) who is happy only with the best, strongly consider the newer car only if it won't stretch you too much financially.

 

I base my observation on the fact that when the 360 was revealled, the 355 was then commented as old becourse naturally it was 6 years old. And the 360 was new cutting edge technology, and rightly so.
So now we have come full circle and now the F430 is new cutting edge technology and the 360 now 7 years old is.....old And rightly so, this was going to happen any way as it will to the 430. Of course its a more modern design than the 355 but its not bang up to date modern, i cant be, its 7 years old

 

I've just sold my '95 build, 6 speed 355 Spider after 5 years of ownership. Here's my brief thoughts on diff between 360 & 355


F1 box is awesome .Bearing in mind I've only ever driven manual cars , CS box is very user friendly . Foot flat on pedal in race mode is just EPIC
355 is my 1st love , always will be. BUT 360 is light years ahead in terms of interior design and for 1st time ever after dropping off 355 in PX i realize 360 is huge leap fwd for Ferrari .Having said that, 355 is a much more intimate car .Proportions of 355 are perfect and it's a fantastic car to drive . The feeling of speed is much more apparent in 355.

 

They are both great cars but I feel that the 360 is too refined in looks, sound and cockpit.
Price should not be a consideration since 360's will be below $100K very soon.