Hi everyone, As some of you might have noticed, last March I bought my very first Ferrari: a mint, concourse looking 3.2 Mondial cabriolet rosso corsa, with 44.000km on the clock, Ferrari Classiche Certified. It is a great Ferrari and certainly a great way for one to enter the Ferrari world. I cherish it greatly and I can't imagine selling it for whatever reason or price tag. After putting in the first couple hundred kilometres, I came across something: I bought a classic, not an exotic sports car. It is something to drive gently, enjoying every minute calmly. I went for a Mondial because I really wanted a 2+2 to make the most of sunny summer days with my family. My dream was always a 355. At first, I did consider a 355 instead of the Mondial. I have no trouble confessing that I was put off the 355 because of all the incredible maintenance stories one hears on the internet, the place I went to conduct my searches (I didn't know anything about the subject, so I figured it would be best to join the people who do). And believe me: I have heard it all "ad nauseum". All the bashing towards the 355, I came across every single sentence there is to read on the internet. But now it's a different ball game: I am already a Ferrari owner, able to tell what is rubbish from what isn't. All things considered, I did the only sensible thing there was to do: I bought my second Ferrari, my life's dream, a 355! A 355 F1 GTS, one of 529 ever made. Black over tan, BBS rims, performance exhaust, challenge grille. Photos from the day I bought it can be seen here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/portugal/461080-uma-nova-aquisi%E7%E3o-dif%EDcil.html (I already presented the car to my fellow portuguese owners). I've driven it almost 100km by now (from the dealer to my mechanic - chosing the longest way possible!) and I can tell you this: there is nothing, NOTHING, no mechanical glitch and/or tantrum that can put me off my 355. I'm not saying that owners don't have the right to complain if their 355 has problems, as they can also happen to me. What I'm saying is that 355 issues are completely blown off proportion and that you get from the car is overwhelming, so much more that the problems you might have with it. And lets face it: nobody pointed a gun to our heads and made us buy a 355. If we bought it, it's only logical to assume that we have the financial capability to face any unforeseen troubles. If I had to count nickles and dimes, I would have bought a Mini! I came to the conclusion that only people who don't own a 355 bash it. No one who owns one can bash that astonishing piece of machinery. It's like a son: he may fail a maths test and I feel a bit disappointed, but I still love him with all my heart and will do everything in my power for him to come up stronger than ever before! As many Ferraris nowadays, unfortunately, the previous owner wasn't as zealous as she should have been: driver's seat is nackered, right exhaust mount broken, sticky interior, brake pads can wake up an entire neighbourhood. As with my Mondial, my main goal is to return my Ferrari to the peak of its powers and I won't cut corners to make it happen. Next week, the engine will come out and every bolt will be checked and replaced if it needs to. Regardless of how things may be inside, all fluids and filters will be replaced, as well as bearings and belts (better to be safe than sorry when you have an engine that can achieve 8500rpms!). I would like to thank you all for the invaluable knowledge shared here on FerrariChat. It did put me off a 355 at first, but sensible owners sharing their experience were more than enough to make me take the next step. I'm absolutely over the moon with my 355, I deeply regret all the fuss people make about the 355, and I plan to enjoy it on the road every time weather permits, instead of confine it to my garage in a bubble. As soon as the engine is lowered and I get a better picture of what needs to be replaced, I'll post every piece of news asap. Thank you all for laying a hand for hypothethical buyers who ended up being owners afterall. Absolutely priceless. Hope I can also help and contribute to this great community, and help you all as much as you've helped me even without knowing. Kindest regards to all from Lisbon, Portugal. Nuno. EDIT: If I may, I'd like to ask you if you have kept yours original or upgraded it. I spoke to my mechanic about changes, but he told me the car his fine as it is, bearing in mind that it is already changed. I considered a performance air filter and removing the cat, but I wonder if it'll have any impact on engine breathing. I'll leave it to the experts!
Congratulations on the F355. It is an awesome machine and she'll keep you smiling through the good and not so good times. I've had my F355 for close to 5 years now. I kept her pretty much stock aside from some necessary engine necessities (ceramic coated oem headers, better heat shielding for the CV joing boots, wire heat sheilding in the engine bay, Hills Engineering Throw-Out bearing, Hill Engineering belt tensioners, K&N air filters, Tubi Exhaust, GothSpeed spark plug cable redirect plates). I was contemplating the Challenge Grill, but decided I liked the original look better (even though the CG will help in engine bay cooling).
Had mine all summer w/o incident. Getting its major in 2 months. Love every minute of it and agree with you. Hell, I'm even building a new garage for her to live in!!!
Congratulations Nuno! You have the right attitude to make your 355 ownership a positive thing. I have had my 355 for a little over two years and absolutely agree that the relatively small problems I have encountered have been more than offset by the pleasure I derive every time I get to take her out on the road. Cheers, Henry
Don't let the complainers get you down. 2 years with my 355 and no major problems other than replacing the cats and the CV boots. It's 18 years old after all so it should be expected. I added a 328 GTS to the stable this month and now after seeing one, my wife wants a Mondial just for the reason you stated so the family can enjoy it. The posters on this site are both the greatest advocates and some of the worst complainers about the 355 and may be one of the reasons that the values are where they are in the US. I have learned a lot of valuable knowledge through this site and it allows me to keep my cars maintained for a "reasonable" amount and to sort out fact from fiction. I just held the Stoogeapllooza at my house this weekend with a great turn out of 355's and 348's and not a detractor in the bunch.
+1 between me and my friend its been since 2011 and !0k...only thing it has needed was oil changes a set of tires and a clutch...just got home from taking my wife out for a drink...car runs and sounds so amazing. I always want to skip work and drive all night. I was looking my car over today...its not perfect almost 41k it has some stone chips a scuff on one wheel interior shows a little wear...but F it I love it. Some guys may enjoy keeping their car pristine and garage it except for shows. Not me I love driving my 355..You see so much hair splitting about stuff...from operating temps to 5 degrees to motor oil..if I listened to the all the neg stuff on this site (which I did at first) I would never drive it. $500 dollars for pads and rotors? your driving a Ferrari for gods sakes ..what did you expect? A Ferrari with Toyota brakes? Ferrari ownership is an elite club....pay the admission price and quit whining
make sure you also change the big end crank shaft bearings. as the engine is out anyway. engine mounts waterpump, replace coolant hoses (also the small diameter ones), inspect radiators, thermostat, gearbox oil heat exchanger etc
Bashing....oh be so glad of not having a salvage title, you know not the meaning of the word "bashing" or of course the 348 bashing by Ferrari head as the worst red car ever built, so when you have 2 of 3...bashing is but ignorance without thought. It's Red, it's a Ferrari...enjoy to it's fullest.
Thanks guys for another warm welcome, it truly means a lot to me! I'd also like to thank all the north american members in particular, for being excepcionally helpful and enthusiastic. It's a constant reminder of why I feel so at home whenever I visit the US and Canada, and how I miss it! Tom, I reckon you're absolutely right. It's the same thing, although perhaps to a lesser extent, with the Mondial. That it isn't a proper Ferrari, that 2+2 cars aren't true Ferraris, etc. But I'm accutely aware of the bashing regarding the 348 again, in my humble opinion, with no grounds whatsoever. I think it's truly regretable, but as long as we as owners set the record straight by sharing our experiences and help to debunk certain myths, I believe we're on the right track and able to empower people to make sensible choices with truthful and valid information. I believe the Mondial to be a fairly overlooked Ferrari that in the long run will prove critics horribly wrong, as I predict that the 355 will become one of the most desirable Ferraris of all time in years to come, regardless of production numbers. When that does happen, I predict lot of people will have to quickly find a rock to hide themselves under. Every Ferrari is special in its own way and right. Bashing a particular model can only work against the brand and provide a useless and avoidable friction between owners and ethusiasts. Every second people spend arguing what a true Ferrari is (in my opinion, ALL are true Ferraris even if they have different purposes), is a second lost in which we could be strenghtening our love for the brand and making our ownership experience incresingly rich. Regarding my new 355: I'm in love with it as I've never been in love in my life over a car and/or an object. I've talked with my mechanic and some time over the course of next week, work will start on my F1 GTS. I can't wait to see that gorgeous Cinquevalvole engine out, and I can't wait to share pictures of it with you! My Mondial's major was pretty straightforward, can't say that the 355's is going to be as straightforward as. Which will make the major even more intense to accompany. Can't wait to enjoy my car to the fullest, not worrying about something failing. Not that the 355 is unreliable, but I deeply mistrust previous owners which, over here in Portugal at least, most of the time have a Ferrari to show the neighbours, put 100km on the clock a year and don't maintain it properly. Kindest regards to all and thank you all once again! Your young portuguese friend, Nuno.
Please post more pics of your car. I love the wheels. I am seriously considering to buy this exact set. Beautiful example!
I have the exact same car, black on tan f1 gts ,and it seems to be bullet proof. Going on 7 years with same cam belts. going to change out this winter. Love it. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I've had 355 for almost 8 years and even on the rare occasion that I see another, I am really taken aback by its beauty. I stare at them like a little kid. Others, even the new models, though extremely appealing, do not evoke the same interest from me as the 355. It is almost perfection in every way. It is that rare car that can have a manual transmission or an F1 and be perfection in either option. Which other company could possibly offer a manual that provides such thrill and with your hand resting on the shifter in 4th at 3500 to 8000rpm?. In the F1 with Paddle whacking ferocity in the heat of a spirited drive or track experience as you are being rewarded with the howls of sexual climax from your thrashed mistress!!!! Is it any wonder that we as F355 owners are addicted to this red headed thrill of sacrifice of cold hard cash for the chance to dance with our wickedly wonderful damsels of downshifting and up shifting intercourse!!! There will always be a red headed fat butted f-car in my garage. There will never be however, a fat butt in the passenger seat.
Hi guys, thank you once more for all your incentive and support! Here are a few photos of my engine out major: I have perfurated brake discs on all four wheels. Thinking it's an upgrade but can't be sure. K&N air filter in place, H&R springs and Brembo brake pads. Exhaust is custom made by the previous owner. Will have new belts, little leaks will be addressed, will be de-stickied, all new fluids and filters. Manifolds, cats and spark plugs are more than OK, no need to replace them. They'll stay in place. As parts arrive and are installed, I'll keep you posted. Falling in love with my 355 even when its parked and in pieces! Kindest regards, Nuno.
Nuno, It is great to see someone with my same feelings about the privilege of owning a Ferrari. I love my 1995 348 Spider and feel blessed to have the opportunity to own/drive her. Do NOT let all the negative comments & nay sayers effect your enjoyment of your Ferrari. Everyday that I can drive "Franchesca" is a wonderful day. I am a very proud owner of a 348 Spider & will not let any negative comments disrupt my passion for her.
I have had my 355 for 6 years. I had a major service performed when I first got it, and I am about to start it's second major. I have had exactly 0 issues in between. I have added some performance upgrades, but none of these upgrades were needed. I'm thinking about changing the color of the car. It can use a refreshed paint job (got a few nasty rock chips).
I have owned my 1998 355 F1 since new. An F1 GTS in perfect condition is a Unicorn anymore. Cheers, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login
So guys, a quick update while my 355 F1 GTS enters its second month of major service: - New original timing belts (replacing Dayco ones). - New original bearings. - New clutch disc (old one had less than 50% life in it). - New "O" ring. De-sticking underway, all fluids and filters bought and ready to be installed, new exhaust mounts also ready to be installed. More photos to come, but for now, here are the belts in place: Can't wait to drive it again! Kind regards, Nuno.
Loved your original story and all the follow-ups. Should do a lot to set the story straight on these amazing cars. I know that you will have a tremendous amount of pirde and joy in what you have and will do. Best of luck. Mel
Hi Nuno, Great to hear you're so enthusiastic and enjoying your car so much. As with yourself I also had a 3.2 Mondial which I kept for 2 years which was amazing and is very underestimated. Just recently in July I sold it for a 1993 348ts which I absolutely love to bits. Similar to yourself I did my research and saw all the bashing here on F Chat about 348 and 355s which does not happen here in the UK. In fact even the Mondial is an appreciating classic now. Well done for following your heart and enjoy your 355. They're amazing cars and here in the UK the prices have gone crazy and seem to be rising almost every month. Doesn't matter which Ferrari any of us have as long as we're happy. Enjoy!
