Bought and Love My New 355 F1 BUT....

Three weeks ago, I traded my '85 308 QV (Nero/Crema) for '98 355 F1 B (Nero/Tan).t The 355 failed the smog test, which I found it odd because the previous owners were from California. To make the semi-long story short, in just after 3 days after the delivery, my 355 checked in at the local shop for the header leak problem and the missing cats (replaced by straight pipes). The 355 has just 9200 miles on and is just beautiful. Some of the mods include the Mille Miglia exhaust, Brembo Big Brakes, Custom Rear Grill, straight pipes (Mfg unknown), black powder coated rims, etc. The dealer sent me the original cats (already installed) and also the re-built header (QV London). For the car registration, I picked up the car after the cats were put on and still need to go back for the header replacement.

Needless to say, the 355 is more modern and civilized than the 308. Love the F1 sound although I am not completely satisfied (maybe the header leakage problem and/or cats is the cause??). BUT, I cannot help thinking....the 308 QV gave me more excitement and a feeling of driving a sports car. Jumping from 308 to 355 by skipping two generations (328/348) in between may explain this feeling. Am I the only one having such feeling? I am missing my 308..... Maybe I should have kept the 308.

Of course, you guys want to see the pictures of my new 355, and here they are! I have just installed my (YosShield) shields today and love them.
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looks fantastic! congrats and enjoy in good health and wealth

 

Nice shields.....


Where'd you get 'em?



Mike in Kuwait

 

That looks like an awesome 355! Best of luck with it.

 

Mike, you have a PM.

 

Me. YoShield!

 

A friend just sold his 355 after a year and reverted back to his 308 (which he did keep) - he wondered if he didn't get along with the newer car because it was in some ways just an update of the older car and not a different direction - yes it was faster but in many ways the 308 did the job better of being a day-out toy on the public highway with far less worry about a bill of upwards of USD 10 000

 

348 and 355 do nothing for me, and they seem very needy given all the threads on failed parts not covered by Ferrari. 308's are old and slow, but they are fun and almost as reliable as a good 911. i hope you find the fun you are seeking from your 355, but i will never buy one of those, or a 348.

the 360 is going to be the new 308 series, and they made so many of them, that well sorted 308's will be worth more than 360's. just watch and see. the differences in the cars has removed the fun tossable feel that makes the 308's quaint and fun, while the melted jellybean modern cars feel like something has been lost in the transition.


in the end its important to drive what YOU like, and not worry about everyone else.

 

The point you brought up is an interesting observation, Yoshi. Maybe you cannot explain clearly as to why, but I do understand your feelings. Not more than half a dozen years ago, I wasn't that keen (interested) in Ferraris. My first F car was as yours a manual 1997 F355 Berlinetta. In a way, I was "coaxed" into buying this car. I owned it a little over 2 years and yes, I was very happy w/ the car. But somehow, one day I took her out for a drive and as I was cruising down this tollway, suddenly it dawned on me that this car was fabulous but somehow I felt I was missing something. Soon after, by chance, my interested shifted to older F cars. w/ smiles Jimmy

 

I know... weak attempt at a joke...

But, THEY LOOK GREAT!



Mike in Kuwait

 

I agree to a large extent. The 355 is a great car, but it does not feel exotic. It is just a very quick, very competent real-world car.

When I want the feel of driving something really special or exotic, my 355 spider stays home and I bring out the Testarossa. It just feels more like what a Ferrari/exotic should be like to me - probably much like your 308 did.

I don't think it's necessarily a modernity issue, because my 99 Diablo pegs the exotic-feel-o-meter and it's newer than the 355.

But when I want a car I can just enjoy for going somewhere with a minimum of fuss and maximum of sport, the 355 is still a great machine.

 

Cut and pasted from another forum in a thread entitled "348 Ferrari....end of an Era?"

The question of raw driving feel of the road was asked and answered by many with a similar sentiment to the following.
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I agree with all the comments, the 355 and later models thereafter are a friendly ferrari car to drive and thats why they have been become more mass produced as they appeal to the greater market and person of types , but sadly they have lost that ferrari hands on type feel, go kart type handling like the 348 has and the older ones too, except when you by a challenge, CS or scuderia which are designed for that raw feel in a sense but with electronic aids to stop you looking stupid if you mess up.

I just know with my 348 which turns out just over 400 bhp I need to think, hold on and drive the car, looking at the road surface, road conditions, braking distances, listening to the engine and gearbox etc; where when I drive my BMW 335i I just really only have too sit back and not think as much really as I know the car is new, reliable, with all electronic driver aids etc.

I just know my journey to work ( 1.5 hrs each way) is much more fun in the 348, then the BMW, once arriving at work I feel more wide awake and more alive and just waiting for the day to end to have that drove home again.

 

Had a 328 GTS before the 355---Would never go back to a 308 or 328 series car--Love the 355!!! Sometimes it takes a little while to get the 355's sorted out with all the stupid little quirks, but once you get it--You got it!!!

 

nice and good luck with it.
I thought 1999 was the first year for F1 in this car.

 

A friend here in San Diego (Gary4RE on FChat) did the same last year, from a 355 GTB to a Euro 308 GTS QV.

In Yoshi's case, it may be more a matter of missing the manual shifting and/or the open top. I don't think I would trade those for the extra horsepower.

 

This thread should be NSFW!

Congrats on the new ride. He/she looks great

 

You are right that I kinda miss the manual shifting. I contemplated which I should get; manual 6 speeds or F1. The F1 has, surprisingly, more time-lag than expected. In Sports Mode, I can feel it allows slightly faster shifting. But, overall impression of the F1 for the 355 is not all that good so far. I probably need some getting used to...but I almost regret that I did not get the manual 6 speeds. Well, I really do not want to complain too much here because the car runs great overall. It is more powerful and solid than the previous 308 when driving. No question the 355 is better car than any other cars on the road even after 11 years. I am sure I will learn to love it more as the time goes by. For those 348/355 owners, what do you like about your car?

 

One F1 gearbox failure could render a 355 a total loss.... he will soon wish he had that 308 back...

 

Well Yosh, (and you know after we spoke I am still considering adding your 308QV to my stable) that the reason I love my 348 is that it (has):
1) No power steering
2) Plenty of power (at least to get me thrown into jail quickly if I am not careful)
3) Ferrari Strakes (what other car on the road has them? Oh yeah, a Testarossa)
4) Drives like a go-cart
5) After 16 years still looks like it came out of a dealership yesterday

I tend to agree with Bullfighter (what else is new?) that it's probably the F1 gearbox more than anything, and the modern driving feel of the car. It is hard for me to rip on 355's, as even though I would likely never buy one, the sound and power of Robbie's is completely orgasmic. I mean when he gave me a ride and really punched it, I started laughing like a little girl who just got kissed for the first time.

On the other hand, as Robbie mentioned, they take some sorting and the $100 bills seem to fly out of your pocket as if in a hurricane while you are doing it. Try it for a while and if you miss your 308, go find another. They are still for sale. Heck, I might even sell you yours back if I buy it, but since it will have a major done on it, you will help pay for it!
MB

 

I went from a 328 to the 355 and would never go back. However, what you are missing is the feel of the steering. The 328 is just the best in that it makes you feel much more connected to the car and the road and allows you to push more, although its limits are nowhere near a 355. In all other areas, however, come on, there is no comparison. The 355 sounds better, handles better, brakes better, and handles rough road patches with far greater ease and much more comfort than a 328 or 308. The 355 is just a much better sports car in my book.

 

I've gone from a 348 to a 430 in 10 years, and frankly, after driving a 92 512 this weekend, don't want to go back. The 430 is much faster, cheaper to maintain, and everything works better. Time has a way of seeing improvements through, and the later cars are just better. I still have the Mondial t, but it's more of a toy than the 430, which, unlike some of the earlier Ferraris, actually works as a car that can be driven without fear of being stranded or huge repair costs.

Who every said you can't go back was right, newer is better. If you're looking for a display model, then I guess the 309 series cars will work well, but for actual usage, I'm sticking with the newer models.

Art

 

You found a Ferrari tech that takes those small denomination bills?

 

Saw that car for sale in Dupont Registry. Great buy!!

 

Nice car! Enjoy it for years to come.

 

Thanks! I did not know the car was in the Dupont Registry. I have been buying the magazine for years but must have missed the one that had the car in. The car looks almost brand new and is beautiful.