"B" mania

Where in new england was it 75?? Not out ofthe 30's here.....

 

I think the GTB is more visually appealing to most, the lines just flow better then the spider. GTS is a good compromise but I'm a B guy myself. I test drove a 355 spider but it just wasn't my cup of tea. No right or wrong or mental deficiency, just differing views. As they say different strokes for different folks .

 

For me, I prefer the looks of the Spider over the Berlinetta. Top up or down, I think the 355 Spider is one of the best looking Ferraris out there and top down, there's nothing like it.....beautiful!!

 

Pfft, tell me about it! I wont be able to get out until June if I'm lucky

 

It used to be a ragtop Ferrari was worth more than a coupe all day everyday. A lot more! Then there were the hardtop lovers who want the maximum performance of its day and hated the flexing creaking of all pre-aluminum chassis Ferrari topless cars and even the targa cars. Modern man does not want his hair to get messed up or have sweat when he arrives at his destination. The most important thing in a high performance streetcar today is comfort and airconditioning. Modern man only wants the "look." I'm sure Sterling Moss looks at the modern F1 car and asks what did they do to the man's sport of auto racing? Grid kids! Are you kidding me? Thankfully, we won't be seeing anything like a "halo" in MotoGP. Soy Latte anyone?

 

Location location... in most of FL, manual top 'verts with inefficient a/c systems are as impracticable as horse and buggys.

 

I agree John

As you I'm a gentleman sports car guy from the old school.

 

I really want to like all convertibles. I always dreamed of owning one.

The concept is fantastic with the noise, wind, and good weather. It’s as close as you can get to what it feels to ride a motorcycle with slightly more safety. I have driven several Ferrari spiders. We own a Mercedes slk convertible that barely ever gets driven top down.

The reality for me is problems with glare primarily. Seeing gauges becomes harder, sun in my face is not pleasant. Top down when it is hot and sun heats up seats makes the time you can enjoy somewhat limiting even in AZ.

Other primary reason to me is that I love the lines of the berlinetta. Makes the car look even more special. The Spider feels like it is missing some of the exotic flavor because of the buttresses and extra top vents. Just my 2c.

I’m not knocking the spider and would never kick it out of bed..... but the berlinetta’s lines steal the show for me.

Robb

 

Congratulations John. The Cayman is a very nice car. Enjoy.

 

Berlinetta or bust.

I'd rather save the drop top for a luxury barge.

 

Perfect for cruising the S. FL boulevards.
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View attachment 2530816

 

Robb pretty much summed up my feelings. I feel coupes look much better. As a GTS owner, I rarely remove the top. Mostly because I don't like it behind the seats and the days in Buffalo I can leave it in the garage are slim. Also, if I park the car, I get nervous with the top off as too many idiots in the world.

And, if I'm going out, I like A/C given our weather is like a light switch - it's either crap or hot - not too much time in between.

Oh - I'm also not a hat wearer. How many of you spider guys drive without one?

 

Me too! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Very nice, and cool diggs too.

 

Talk about a boat, Jim

Pretty sure that wouldn't fit in my garage - how long is it?

 

It is for sure a debatable point, the 355 does look REALLY good with a convertible top, up or down, which is very rare for a car primarily designed as a hard top. And also the unobstructed access to the exhaust note of the 355...well that does make a compelling argument for a spider. Despite all of that I am still a "B" guy, I just like the purity/simplicity of the line, and those buttresses are breathtakingly beautiful. A gts I suppose give "best of both worlds", but to my eye a targa top is a better fit on a 308/328. All opinions though, would love to go through a tunnel full beans in a capristo-ed spider some day, it must be mind shattering!!

 

Thanks Wade, I really like yours too. Looks super nice and great color combo.

Dave, it's 18ft 9in. Well, it's supposed to be. I think mine is an inch shorter as the original owners wife used the -park by feel- method. Crunch, we're in!

 

It's all about the buttresses. (Huh-huh.) I think for B owners (like me) it's as others have said – the flow of the berlinetta's roof line is exceptional and it's what probably caught all of us the first time we ever saw one. It's likely to be what kept drawing us back from spiders we were comping it to, wind-in-your-hair and exhaust harmonics tradeoffs be damned.

I would love to borrow a spider for a run through Big Sur, but I am most glad I've got a berlinetta in the gallery at home.

 

While it isn't mine... I'm tempted!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232727224090?ViewItem=&vxp=mtr&item=232727224090

 

I have a feeling there would be a bum's rush on that beauty on Bring A Trailer.

 

As a spider owner I can say that says much as some are attracted to the lines and buttresses of the B's, others feel the same about the spiders. To me the way the deck looks with the top down is fantastic. From the back it looks lower and wider than the hardtops and that really does it for me. When the leather top cover is fitted it really highlights the paint/interior color combo and if you get it right the beauty is remarkable. Just my opinion of course.

On the comment earlier, you can drive to the office top up and a/c blasting to maintain your hair and avoid the sweat. On the way home......well, you see where I'm going with this.

 

Love these cars. My first car was a '77 hard top, basically looked just like this but light brown. One day I'll get another one but this time as a convertible.