360 or 550???

This has been the subject of numerous previous threads (look thru the archives) but the consensus always comes down to the idea that you really need to get seat time in both to decide which car is the one you're looking for.

The 550 and 360 are VERY different cars. The 550 pulls like a truck in all gears-it's easy to chirp the tires in 3rd so if you're looking for a lot of low end grunt, it will do a better job for you. But the 360 is a lot more like your 355; lighter, tossable with a little less gravitas.

All the words in the world won't be as valuable as an hour or two in each car to decide before you buy. Take them both on the highway and along some twisties and then you'll see what each car gives you in terms of your expectations or wants.

 

i personally would go with 360, rear engine, high revving, that's my thing.

 

I've driven both the 360 and 550. I love both cars but personally i would go for the 360 because I love the way it screams when driven hard.

The 550 is a great car too (sounds fantastic with sports exhaust) and is easy to drive. On long distance journeys you can cruise at 120mph and it feels like 60mph. Only thing I can complain about is when driving in slow traffic if the windows are open you can feel the heat coming from the engine.

Best to drive them back to back to see which you prefer.

 

The only opinion which matters is yours ...
360's have significantly more torque than 355s so you might find more satisfaction there.

 

So, after driving the 360 I thought "Wow, what a ride." But after really wringing out the 550 I thought "This is a classic Ferrari and I'll never regret it."

Good luck.

 

550, nothing less than 12 cylinders.

 

that's exceptionally accurate, imo. great explanation, teach.

they're very different cars.

when my CS comes in i'm going to have to make a tough decision as to whether to keep my 550 or not. i tell ya - it's tearin' at me. non-obvious exercise.

doody.

 

OK Doody: I've got a way to solve your problem. I'll sell my 996tt, buy a half share in your CS and keep it here in Cincinnati for you thru the winter months as you'll probably be storing it in Boston anyway. You can then keep the 550.

We can both justify to our wives owning two F-cars.

 

360 is more extreme than both 550 and 355 and pleasantly with more torque than 355 at the low-end, 275 lb-ft total with 80% available around 3200 rpm and peaking at 4750 rpm and staying pretty much flat through 7500 rpm.

 

550 by a wide margin. Why settle with an 8 when you can have a proper 12?

 

It seems that what it really boils down to is what car suits your style. My guess is people talk about stats etc. but I think a lot of it is emotional, "What am I projecting with this car etc.?" This thought process can occur and be made on a subconcious level.

Sounds like it's a 550 for you............

 

I faced with this decision a couple months ago......

In the end, my decision to go with the 360 Modena was simply because of "its look".

 

The shark is a keeper, Doody ! You'll grow tired of the toy ...

 

Not only does the 550 have a proper Ferrari 12 instead of Dinoish 8, the 550 looks so much better than the Jap-like(read Toyoto) styling of the 360 too.

 

Good that you were able to make up your mind quickly. There are always two sides to a story and bashing the 360 styling since you have decided on the 550 is sort of suprising, especially since the styling wasn't your criteria and only the torque and drivability... Enjoy your decision, and hope you enjoy your plush, smooth, high power freeway cruiser...

Edit: By looking at your profile I think the scoop on the 550 will suit you well and fits with your other cars... Plus you get tons of torque to compare with yoru vette, and viper

 

don't bother responding to frank's baiting, dude. he just does it to get people's irish up .

doody.

 

If it where me, I'd take the 360.

 

I'm a 550/575 guy myself...gotta love that car.

 

If you must have a rag top, the 360 spider is best. If you can do with a hard top there is no other choice.

 

It's interesting many seems to contemplate the same issue, even though 360 & 550 are totally different car. Only common thread is that they are both Ferrari!
As I was doing the same (my choice also included 355 & 512TR at that time), I got 355 to get acquinted w/ a modern Ferrari. Now my desire for 360 has increased along w/ 550, too.
550 is more practical car for everyday use, I think. But 360's styling is (sigh)...
Perigo, we may have the different cause, but share the same problem.
Hope you'll be happy w/ whichever the choice you WILL make. Let us know your selection w/ pics!

 

I would take the 550 6-Speed for the low-end grunt it has. Both the 360 and 550 are miraculously beautiful machines, but the front-engine V12 is what its all about for me...nothing better for the money, except maybe a Viper SRT-10.

 

Hey Perigo:
If you can't decide, maybe consider both cars over a two or three year period or both at once, whatever works for you.
Right now, 550's are a bargain. 360's are not.
Find a 550 now and drive it. In one or at the most two years you will probably see 360's price take a beating due to the new model coming out.
Then pick up a 360.
gary