Evening gents,,,,, I thought I would join up here and ask the experts advice.. Which 355 model in "your" opinion is the best and why? Stick, F1, hard top, ragtop, etc.. I have seen them for as low as 45k to the mid 90's. What is a "fair" price one should expect to pay for a fairly stock unit? I really haven't been thinking about purchasing one till this past weekend... A pal of mine handed me the keys to his 2008 Lambo for an hour and that is all it took. Ha ha!!!!! In a nutshell, the 355 is my all time favorite Ferrari... Nice lines, awesome exhaust note etc etc... Thanks The new guy
Regarding the model you can't go wrong with whatever you choose. The Spider could develop an issue with the potentiometer in the driver's seat which controls the top. There is an override if that does happen but it can be an issue. A Berlinetta is as classic as they come. As for to F1 or not to F1. I would personally stay away from it because of increased wear and service expense, but that decision once again is personal. I just like to shift gears. Make sure the compression is great and the headers have been replaced. Some people say the '95s are the faster of all the years. I have owned a '95 Berlinetta and a '97 Spider. If this is your first F-car do yourself a favor and pay up for a great, clean car with no stories. It will save you a ton of money in the long term, you could get lucky but I would not take the risk.
Srsly? Give me Rossa Corsa GTS 3-pedal or give me death! http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=343382
To me it's the 95 that I consider to be the best, because of the Motronic 2.7 system vs. the 5.2. But I'm a 95 Berlinetta guy and I will always be. If you want F1, go with a later car. Later cars have an expectation attached to them that they will have less potential problems because of the natural evolution of car model years (i.e. valve guides). But the best year for me and the best year for you are very different. I didn't read 90% of these posts but I'm sure they all say about the same thing as me. Buy the best car you can afford. The best year is when you own it.
How does the quote go? "Convertibles are for playboys and coupes are for serious drivers" or something like that. If you don't plan to push the car and want to attract the ladies, GTS or convertible, otherwise Berlinetta. I personally wouldn't buy a convertible sports car as I wouldn't want to end up on my head in one as I had a close call once, but I definitely understand the allure. I like the looks of all Ferrari Berlinettas better with few exceptions, so if I were to go for an open top I'd go with the GTS. 6 speed vs. f1 is personal preference I think. To me, I want to experience the gated shifter and it's very satisfying rowing the gears properly yourself, but being the first car with an f1 transmission is also a draw. Year wise the '95 supposedly has a few extra ponies and can be more easily modified. Not sure it really matters unless you have some specific performance goals? I suppose my ultimate 355 would be a '95 challenge car as they could be titled and run on the road. I like the idea of a drive to the track and race Ferrari. Asking prices are all over the map, I'm not sure what they're actually selling for other than a couple of sales on ebay. Good luck in your search.
Thanks for the input. No track for me although it would be fun. Just a solid running platform that looks good with solid performance.
The best??? Well, mine! Of course! 1999 Six Speed Spider Mike Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Amen to the above! When I was looking earlier this year, I only considered Berlinetta's and GTS'. I just never cared as much for the spider. I also knew that I wanted a Rosso ___ 3-pedal (especially as it was to be my first Ferrari). The GTS is the best of both world in my opinion. Kind of like a mullet. ;-)
3 pedal, 1995 GTS. Like this one (I need to get some new pictures. I feel like Big Tex!) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The Best depends on what you want out of the car. Without question, a sorted 1995 F355 with a 6-speed is the best. No OBDII allows the cats to come out, on-board diagnostic codes allows for the DIY repairs, and there are no issues with key fobs shutting you down. If you want driving performance then the GTB is your best choice as it is the most rigid chassis. Get a Spyder if you like converts and/or crave attention, and a GTS if you want a little open air now and again. Follow the market if you are worried about value. There is a reason the market is flooded with spyders and fly yellow cars. Figure if you buy a fly yellow spyder with an F1 trans, you better get a heck of a deal on it cause you'll have a heck of a time getting rid of it later.
if memory servers, last year of OBD1 which is important in cali and different airboxes and intake tract. i also recall it having a lighter front crash box structure underneath the skin
I agree with you about the F1/ Spyder inventory. Seems to be the majority of the surplus inventory for sale right now... 6 speed for me!!!From what I hear the F1 trans can be cumbersome to deal with in all "supercar" applications. I'd rather spend $$ on upgrades than paying a tec $270 an hour... Keep the info coming gents. I appreciate all of your input on this subject. Anywhere to rent one in Orange County? I'd like to take one for a drive since I have never driven one. I have driven a few 360's and Lambos but never a 355 of any sort.. Cheers gents
95 355Berlinetta -easy to upgrade the main brains and get maximum power. -6 speed manual is better than the F1 by far as the F1 tranny was not really perfected till the later years of the 360. The Berlinetta is a much more solid body and the convertible is a pain in the arse. -When you look for your 95 its ideal to have a proper ppi and I say proper because there are lots of clowns out there. Dont worry about the valve guides as they may never go bad and ALL the years have the same risk. The headers are not a big deal if you get rid of the OEM cats and use some kind of sport cats or straight pipes. If you do replace the headers, use insulated ones ie Tubi....worth the money. If and when you rechip the main brains.....talk to Daytona auto in Toronto as they are the only ones that do it right. Later on you should also get the gold connector kit from Dave Helms. Replace the OEM muffler if it still has it on and go with Tubi, X-ost or Capristo. Do all of the above and no 360 will keep up to you and you will enjoy the car to the fullest.
