Best overall driving experience: 355, 360, 458 | FerrariChat
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Best overall driving experience: 355, 360, 458

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by 160360, Apr 22, 2022.

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  1. 160360

    160360 Rookie

    Aug 11, 2016
    22
    USA
    Full Name:
    Adam
    #1 160360, Apr 22, 2022
    Hey Lads,

    I am searching for true love. The kind that lasts a lifetime.

    I have had a few fun cars over the years and my garage is full. But I haven't found "the one."

    I want to grow old with her.

    Primarily, the relationship will be a physical one. A car that delivers the goods every time I get in the driver's seat to take a rip down my favorite local roads or seek out new squiggly lines on Google maps for 2 or 3 nights away from home.

    Here are my thoughts on the above cars. It'd be enjoyable to hear your thoughts in turn. If you'd enjoy sharing them, please do.

    355 (6spd): Collectible classic at this point. I will own one but will probably wind up paying a premium for a low mileage, pristine garage queen. My thinking goes like this: yes, this is a magnificent driver's car, but it does not deliver an experience beyond a less-collectible, more energetic newer model (such as those listed below) and is thus best situated in the collection as an investment piece. Feel free to challenge this notion.

    360 (6spd): Here things get very interesting. To my mind, the 360 is a sweet spot. Gated manual with modern driving characteristics. Not much else to say about this. (I would go for a 430 for the same reasons but I just don't like the looks over the 360.)

    458: I have a deposit put down on a 2011 458 but the PPI is showing some issues (minimal oil leak, stuck manifold flap). I will most likely back out of the deal. My heart is here for the moment. But I do wonder whether the gated manual experience is spiritually essential and if the 458 is simply too technological to connect with. I know it is a superior car, but does it have a soul?

    Any of these would be a berlinetta.

    Please let me know if you would add another car to this list.

    Taking cost out of the equation. You can't buy love!
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  2. Twosherpaz

    Twosherpaz Formula Junior

    Feb 25, 2014
    943
    Thermal, CA
    Full Name:
    Private
    #2 Twosherpaz, Apr 22, 2022
    1) Challenge Stradale
    2) Speciale
    3) Manual transmission 360 Challenge

    I have all three of these. There are better cars but they are the FXX and F50.
     
    rampante550, ewright, Texas Forever and 1 other person like this.
  3. 160360

    160360 Rookie

    Aug 11, 2016
    22
    USA
    Full Name:
    Adam
    #3 160360, Apr 23, 2022
    Thanks for the thoughtful reply!

    Forgive my ignorance. The Challenge Stradale is a paddle shift, correct? Is the 360 Challenge manual a different car altogether?

    The speciale is a magnificent machine but I worry I might hesitate to thrash it the way it deserves given the huge value as a collector's item.

    I might just buy the 360 6spd on BAT right now. It's a high-mileage that has been treated well. Seems like a good candidate for a driver's car. Life is short, might just pull the trigger!
     
  4. Twosherpaz

    Twosherpaz Formula Junior

    Feb 25, 2014
    943
    Thermal, CA
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    #4 Twosherpaz, Apr 23, 2022
    CS is paddle but magnificent. 360 Challenge manual is totally a one-off. Speciale is still “only” worth sticker. It’s not like this is an F40 or something.

    Manual 360 is a good car. Recently sold both the 430 and 360 manual primarily as I wasn’t driving them like I do the CS, Speciale, Pista counterparts.
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  5. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,765
    Lake Villa IL
    #5 INTMD8, Apr 23, 2022
    I absolutely love the F355 and find it very visceral.

    Sold my first one and very much regretted it so ended up buying another.

    I like the 360 and think it's a great car but just far prefer the styling and size of the F355.

    A few other things -I- find notable (about F355) is cable throttle, individual throttle bodies, no traction control, rod linkage shifter...... vs electronic throttle bodies and cable shifters of subsequent models.

    Then of course, is the sound...

     
    paulchua and Philipnz like this.
  6. Tarek307

    Tarek307 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2018
    1,348
    Long Beach, CA & Alexandria,Egypt.
    Full Name:
    Tarek Salah
    #6 Tarek307, Apr 23, 2022
    I've owned all 3, did 10K miles on the 360 in a year , 11k miles on the 458 in a little over a year..not many on my 355 GTS as its still in the shop, but i've put about 1200 miles on a F1 GTB i'm preparing for sale...the 458 is another specturm, i'd say the 458 is the greatest sports car made in the past decade..just an amazing machine..the 360 manual is an awesome car, i loved mine but like the 355 better..all in all i'd say you can't compare 355 to 458 but 355 to 360 i'd take the 355...





     
    paulchua and technom3 like this.
  7. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,846
    North Wiltshire, UK
    #7 A348W, Apr 24, 2022
    just been out today in my 355 with a friend in his 458.

    355 sounds way way better, is as fast as you will need for the road and is manual. i know the 458 is amazing; but £100k better?

    personally id prefer my 355 and add a 599 instead of a 458!
     
    paulchua likes this.
  8. technom3

    technom3 F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 29, 2007
    18,599
    Phoenix AZ
    Full Name:
    Justin
    #8 technom3, Apr 24, 2022

    Can't believe your 355 on BAT sold that cheap. What an awesome irreplaceable car. You did a very nice job with your presentation
     
    Tarek307 likes this.
  9. Tarek307

    Tarek307 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2018
    1,348
    Long Beach, CA & Alexandria,Egypt.
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    Tarek Salah
    #9 Tarek307, Apr 24, 2022
    it was hard to tell where it would, i went into it thinking it wouldn't even pass $135 so i was actually happy with the result..it was still double what an F1 ever sold for ..definitely undervalued cars because most people don't understand the F1 system and think its an auto or something
     
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  10. technom3

    technom3 F1 World Champ
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    Mar 29, 2007
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    Justin
    #10 technom3, Apr 24, 2022
    Agreed. The car was awesome. I sort of regret not buying it.
     
  11. Tarek307

    Tarek307 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2018
    1,348
    Long Beach, CA & Alexandria,Egypt.
    Full Name:
    Tarek Salah
    #11 Tarek307, Apr 24, 2022
    i had a couple of tire kickers contact me about it right before i put it on BaT and told them $150 so really i'm happy about the result, i think now though after the last manual GTS sold for $300k that car would do $175 ..too bad that manual one came after mine not right before it lol
     
    technom3 likes this.
  12. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    85,600
    Texas!
    #12 Texas Forever, Apr 24, 2022
    A F360 with a tubi screaming off down PCH in the fog is hard to beat.
     
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  13. IloveGT

    IloveGT Formula 3
    BANNED

    Oct 17, 2015
    2,419
    #13 IloveGT, Apr 24, 2022
    I was a very old school guy when it comes to car. Once thought I would be forever manual. But once I had double clutch automatic 7 speed, omg, I just could not go back to manual. Had manual gt4, manual gt3, still have manual steering Alfa 4c...

    Connection in 458, trust me, you will only hope this thing comes with auto, and not manual. 458 is very communicative and direct, but just not as well as Lotus, which I also had 10k miles in. Lotus is just sublime with the steering, chassis control, suspension combination and nothing else. Lol.

    Go with 458. Be patient. Takes time to find the right one, just like woman in life. Don't go into a relationship because you are lonely.
     
    nicolaprince, paulchua and Texas Forever like this.

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