IDK, I put about 40 miles on each weekend drive, so in say 900 miles, that is 22 slices of nirvana each year. I would drive it more if I ever put the top on it (it is strictly a convertible for my usage) so I’m limited to sunny weekend days, plus it splits time with my Ford GT and my Wrangler 392. You could certainly use it more if it was your only weekender. But like every car on an exotic forum, they aren’t for everybody. You do need a good mechanic, insurance isn’t cheap, and if you want to drive around incognito….a Diablo with no top and a bright yellow metallic pearl paint isn’t for you. Then in my case, the interior alone makes for long gas station visits. The Diablo attracts like 3X more attention than the Ford GT.
Please explain what the interior alone causing long gas station visits means. I’m annoying myself trying to figure out the relation. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Let the "crowd under 40" (your words) have their Toyotas and their Sapporo then. Why denigrate other peoples' taste whether in automobiles or beer?
Ive owned both. Two of the best cars Ferrari has ever made. The 360 is very special but the 355 is even more special. Its the last exotic that felt 'exotic' to me. Hard to put into words but its raw and nasty. Completely unrefined.
Interesting as I thought the 355 was very refined when compared to a Ford GT (which I bought 8 years after I drove both….the rawness of the FGT I just couldn’t shake).
Never driven a Ford GT. Keep in mind i didnt say the 355 was the rawest exotic ever made. I said it was the last 'exotic' feeling Ferrari. IMO. Very different things.
I put 20k miles on my California in 2.5 years here in Michigan where you can't drive it half the year, it was my first exotic so now that it's gone I'm searching for a 458 so I can pile up more miles on. A Diablo was the car I wanted growing up and would love to pick one up before they go even crazier than they have which I'm sure they will but you're saying you drive it 1k miles a year and you're averaging 6k a year in maintenance.....while 6k is not crazy for any exotic still you're barely driving it. If I were to put say 5k miles a year, which I would like to put much more than that, I'm sure that yearly number is going to jump up pretty significantly. I'm not at the point yet where I want a stable of cars to jump between or just collect dust, just my daily boring SUV and the fun car, so back to my original point yea it's kinda sounding like a Diablo isn't feasible......it's a garage trophy. Of course that is all without even taking into consideration mileage depreciation, but that's a whole other topic. Still really want one though haha
Some years ago, I was talking to a well known and respected Ferrari mechanic about how I really liked the 355 and would love to pick one up. He said (paraphrasing from memory) “those are total pain in the ass cars. For example, I would charge you $7K for a belt change on one, and I’d charge you $1K for the same job on a 360.” A bit more recently, another equally qualified mechanic told me (again, paraphrasing from memory) “When these cars are running right they sound and drive incredible. But it’s a tough job to get them there and keep them there.” If maintenance were not an issue, I’d take the 355 hands down. GTB or GTS though. The convertible top on the 348, 355, 360 and 430 all look like an unfortunate last minute afterthought.
OK, didn’t see Ferrari called out in the original post….and didn’t realize you hadn’t driven a FGT, which I think is the last old school exotic….manual, mid engine, no “driving” aids…..a mistake puts you in the weeds pretty quickly.
Yeah, 10,000 miles a year on Hoth isn’t a valid use case for any 25 year old car. Would you really spend substantially more driving a 90s exotic 5k miles a year than 1k? Probably not, like I implied earlier most of my maintenance is around things that aged out more than wore out. More tires, brake replacements, and a clutch every 7-8 years would cover the miles delta. Hopefully you will consider a Diablo when you have a use case for a classic weekender. It has been a fabulous car to drive and own.
IDK, Ferrari never figured out a good top storage design…..Hell, even the Ferrari design copier Corvette has had a decent solution since 1984. Sorry to go all Diablo again, but that solution is utter genius. No loss of interior or frunk room…..and doesn’t look like a bad toupee (Murcielago and maybe 550 Barchetta).
Image Unavailable, Please Login I bought a brand new 355 Spider in Pozzi Blu with a tan interior from Algar in 1999. I loved that car. Perfect size with a fantastic sound. I mistakenly got into the bug for the latest Ferrari and sold it waiting for my 360 Spider to come in. I waited 2 years to receive my ordered Pozzi Blu to arrive. I didn’t like it at all. The car was huge in size and didn’t have the feel of the sporty 355. After waiting so long for the 360 I sold it 6 months later to Foreign Cars Italia. FCI was offering $50k over sticker for the 360. Mike Sheehan had a 330 GTC I wanted for $100k. FCI said they would help me with the trade. But I still had $80 k to spend on another car. I asked them what they had for sale. They offered a 550 Maranello to trade if I threw in another $40k. I had newer driven a 550 but I said what the heck? So trading in a car I didn’t like and received to 2 great cars was the best deal I didn’t know I was making. I still have the GTC and moved up to the best of the Maranellos in my SuperAmerica. As much as I don’t like the 360 it turned out to be a winner for my collection.
But would anyone really buy one and drive around with the top up (unless you were caught out in the rain)? I appreciate all the replies and discussion from those on-topic.
Don’t mind that guy, he is always posting some goofy comment. Typical south Florida douchery. That town is so full of pretentious F turds. The 360 was extremely well sold and everyone knows it.
I have been having this thought as I want to add a second F car to the garage. Per the previous comment, I am an "older guy" so the 355 speaks to me design wise. However, the service cost and thoughts keep me away. All my friends with newer F cars, push me to the 360. I love the 360 design in the rear, but hard to get over the headlights. I am a driver, not a garage queen person. Will I be so offended with a 355 driving, or so smitten with a 360?
Fwiw I have a 355 spider gated and a 458 spider and a Cali30 HS….the 355 puts a big smile on my face and it’s obviously the slowest.
Yes, people would be lying if they say the 355 won’t cost you a fortune to drive regularly compared to a 360. Engine out service bills can’t be fun compared to a belt service. My 360 has been fantastic to own and would own another. I believe the 360 generation in particular has to be one of the most reliable F cars ever made and the last Dino platform inspired motor ever made. The 430 was a whole new designed motor.
I think 360 values will go up as more people in my generation get money. To me, the mid 90s to early 2000s saw many of the most beautiful cars made in recent times. I never saw the level of beauty in the 355 design that most people seem to see. It's a good looking car, but I don't think it looks as good as the 360 does, especially in person. I know I am in the minority there. I think a large part of which one people prefer depends on their age. The 355 still has a bit of 80s flair to it, so I think people that grew up around 80s styling are more likely to prefer it. I grew up in the 90s lusting after 90s Japanese cars. The flowing lines and lack of hard edges is what I find beautiful and I'm sure a good chunk of my generation feels the same way. The 360 has Pininfarina's interpretation of that styling and I just love it. I also think the F50 looks better than the F40. I think it all comes down to what styling you were raised around. My dad loved Pink Floyd and hated Frank Sinatra while my grandma hated Pink Floyd and loved Frank Sinatra. Doesn't mean either were bad.
You're spot on. Design is totally subjective. Sound too. So to keep things objective, I'll focus on the facts. The 360 is better built if you're talking reliability and maintenance costs - "better" meaning cheaper to own. As for feel, the F355 has way more NVH. My subjective takes = The F355 sounds better - that higher pitch F1 scream - and looks better. I also think it's more fun to drive, has a more go-kart feel to it. No brainer going 6-speed over F1 on either one. Again, all personal tastes. That said, I also think a Mondial t looks, drives, and sounds better than an iconic 308/328 - and everyone here will call me an idiot for that - and that's fine because at the end of the day, you're the only one you need to be honest with about whatever you think is "best" on subjective matters.
Well said. I have lusted and then purchsed all the 90s Japanese Super cars. Thus the 355 is very similar to that. The 360 headlights bother me. But if it is the better car driver, and I intend to add miles, maybe I should stop by 355 dream, and just pull the trigger on a non red 360
I agree with user imahorse, my teen years were in the 90’s and I think the 360 blows the looks of the 355 away. Lots say the 430 looks are better than a 360 but the 355 is one of the most loved 8 cylinder F cars probably ever made and trumps both of those cars in the supposed looks department. To me the 458 is boring to look at and the 488 isn’t much better but the F8 has to be the best looking 8 cylinder F car ever made. It’s literally art on wheels and if anyone says different they are clowns and I’m someone who hates the new car junk produced in today’s tech driven world. The 360 will be the more pleasurable owning experience on many levels and the difference in sound between the 3.5 motor to 3.6 is minimal. The 360 with Capristo Stage 3 exhaust sounds amazing.
