355vs360 which to purchase?

I think your name answered which one you already want......

 

Sample price inclusive of labor + parts: (Courtesy Eugenio)

Minor service:
355: $1995
360: <$1695

Major service:
355: $5995
360: $3595

See here for details: http://emelbon.tripod.com/eugeniosferrariservice.html

 

From what I've read the 360 clutch is much more pricey than the 355, but 355 major is more than on the 360. I think in the long run the 355 will cost more for upkeep...but right now there's a good $20-30k or more difference in price. I figured it will take a while for the maintenance cost differential to match that price difference...plus I liked the 355 style better

 

Agree with Jay here.
You pay more for 360 now but eventually 355 service will catch up with you.
So either way you pay if you want to play.
I'd just get the car I like most (you won't go wrong with either one here) and not worry about the cost otherwise we'll all be driving Honda's and Toyota's or dare I say KIA's???

 

In my opinion the 360 feels like a normal car to drive, the 355 feels like a Ferrari. Now that dosn't mean the 355 is better (it probably isnt as far as handling is concerned, although a friend who races both swears the 355 is more predicatable), I just think the 355 feels more "special". I also MUCH prefer the looks of a 355 and its interior.

As for servicing, you have to accept that it will cost a lot of money to run any Ferrari. The actual purchase price isn't really the number you should think about as they don't depreciate too much - its looking after it that costs the money. I have many contacts in the car/racing field and havn't had any major issues with my 355 and so far I have spent 20% of its purchase price (I got it "cheap") on running it over the last 2 years (that includes servicing, fuel, insurance etc - everything). My major service cost me about $2500 plus $800 in bits like a bearing, cat sensor etc.

I stand by my original thoughts, presume it will cost about $700 a month to look after it (once purchased), then you will have a nice nest egg sitting in the bank for headers and just in case you one day need them, valve guides. If you can afford that then a 355 or a 360 is well within reach, in my opinion.

 

Great advice! One should get the one likes the best. That is what I did ! The 360 is too rounded for what I think an f-car should be. The f430 is much better looking than the 360 and so is the f355 IMO

 

Just a guess, but I'd bet that the depreciation on a 360 will be more than that of a 355 over the next 5 years. So, looking at it from a total cost of ownership, the lower purchase price and lower depreciation on the 355 could balance out the higher maintenance... either way, you will pay. The potential for financial drama is probably higher in the 355 (exhaust header blows, taking a valve guide with it, which burns a piston), but is that because the 360s don't have as many miles or that the 360 is more reliable?

I'm with Goth - get the one you love, to which I'd add budget at least $5k a year for maintenance. (If you don't really love one of them, should you get one at all?? This is not a rational purchase.)

 

If your handy with a wrench get a '95 355.

 

Ditto. And then some.

 

If you can afford to get it, I would say go for the 360. But don't buy the cheapest one you can find, unless it checks out okay in the PPI. Haven't driven the 355, but the 360 is awesome!

BT

 

Rich is relative but neither is a poor man's car.

 

Some advice: Save some money, buy a 348 and upgrade the heck out of it. Now go buy a 308GT4 for fun with the savings.

 

That is actually very good advice!! The lower maintenence of the 348 in addition to the lower cost makes the 348 quite the bargain!

 

goth, he used the "F1" word! I'm done with this thread. LOL

 

I went through this about 5 months ago. As much as I love my 355 I got, I wish I got the 360. Might be a tad bit more expensive but the services will warrant the price. I am selling my 355 in October so I can pick up my CS. Go 360.

 

I was in the same boat and for roughly $20k more you are into a more modern Ferrari with less problems and less service $$$ (no offense to the 355 group as I might pickup a 355 GTS down the road to go with my 360). Plus, everyone likes to look at that V8 engine with the red Covers under the rear glass!!

 

For me it comes down to how I feel in the car. I love the sound of the 355/348. I don't so much like the sound of the 360. It is not a question of the exhaust sytem. It is an overall impression of mechanicalness if that makes any sense. If I was considering a 360, the only one to go for is the CS. But it is rather expensive compared with a 355. In particular I would avoid a 360F1. 360 6 speeds are rather hard to come by. A 360 6 speed Spyder is a fantastic car IMO. Everyone has their own impressions but in the end only you yourself know how you feel in the car. How anyone else feels doesn't matter

 

Yup, weak wrists and "F1" go hand in hand!! (no pun intended)

So I guess things are getting better for you now?? Congratulations! CS is the only 360 I would consider as long as it is NOT F1!!

Yeah you can even admire your hair on the reflection of you "glass" engine lid! .

Maintenence costs never discouraged me from buying the car I wanted...

 

No offense, but 20k? what currency is that? A comparable 360 will be a solid 130k vs 80k for a 355. 130 minus 80 is <counting on fingers...> That's more like 50k. That's a sheetpile of service $$$. The 355 major is more, but the 360 clutch is more. If you are not planning to drive the 360, you might come out ahead. If you are going to change a few clutches, it will be a wash. And you start 50k in the hole with equal or greater depreciation.

Sorry, the 355 is going to be cheaper, and that is just a fact.

As to which car is better, that is a different question.

The best bang for the buck: a '95 355 that has already had valve guides and headers done (with hyperflows and a tubi, if you are lucky). She will be priced right and ready for years of wide grins.

 

Nice dose of reality!!

 

Too true. Also, you can do all the budgeting that you want and the actual car that you own might just not co-operate. 550 is supposed to be expensive but the car that I had on which I put 25,000 hard kms was very cheap to maintain. Just buy what you like and hope for the best!!!

 

Ditto....

 

I got my mint 1999 Yellow 360 Modena 6 speed with 26k miles, fresh 30k service/tires/cam variators from a Ferrari Dealership for a few grand over $100k--there are deals to be had out there, you can negotiate $10k-$15k off of retail prices, especially at the end of the month.