GTS Top Issues

If you are going to get a 348 or 355, get the GTS. You will likely have to pay a premium and wait awhile to find a good one but it is the body style to have. It feels like an open top car with the roof off except you don't get all of the engine heat washing over your neck. With the top on it feels like a GTB, quiet and solid. No retractable top repair issues. The leaks are minimal if present, likely to respond to careful adjustment of the top alingment and seal lubrication. The only downside to the car is the limited seat travel when the top is off.

I think that Ferrari made a mistake when they stopped this body style.

 

True!

 

+1 on the TS.

Since I've had my car, I've driven it once in the rain, and I've washed it once -- I didn't have any leaks on either occasion.

The big advantage to me for an open top on a Ferrari is to better hear the engine. The sounds of this car really add to the driving experience, and they are definitely muffled when the top is on. As far as the legroom issue, I just leave the top in the garage. If you're lucky, you may find a car that comes with one of the folding canvas tops that fit in the trunk.

The only downside is that under extreme conditions, there is a noticeable chassis flex (and corresponding squeak from the top). The only time I experience this is pulling into my driveway, where I have to take a sideways angle in order to avoid scraping the front valence. For normal driving or backroads barnstorming, the car feels totally solid -- no noticeable flex or sqeaks from the top. I suppose an experienced track driver would notice the additional chassis flex of the open-top car, but I don't notice it.

- Eric

 

No problems with leaks with my 355 GTS, because I never drive my car under heavy rain.
The flexibility chassis issues is for people who do track days. You don´t notice that on the road.

 

I have had no problems with my two 355 GTS. Take a look at this thread about driving in the rain

 

Loved my GTS when I had it! The car was pristine, well maintained and drove very well. My only complaint was unusually expensive major services, loud and annoying squeaking due to body flex [the car was never tracked or driven particularly hard] even after application to the rubber seals to quiet.....IMO still one of the best sounding F-cars ever built and also one of the last pure ferraris built [less creature comfort and more sporting]. Overall great experience and I actually miss the car when I see a nice one.

Best of luck.

 

I have driven my GTS in hard rain plenty of times and I do not leak at all, completely dry. Simply treat the rubber with Gummi Phledge (sp?) or something similar on a regular basis. Mine is a 1998 with 28K miles.

 

No leakage on my GTS '98

Best car to have above the spider...
Also concerning lower production numbers..
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328 owner here for a couple of years, but I agree with Eric's comments generally. I don't drive mine in the rain, and when I wash it I don't drench the car anyway - usually just clean it with damp sponge. The targa top is exactly the right amount of open air, and is really easy to clean compared to a soft top with plastic rear window. Also, as mentioned, it doesn't have the complicated/expensive power mechanism of the 355 Spider.

My favorite part of targa tops, though, is that you have some privacy when driving. In a soft top Spider, everyone is staring at the back of your head.

Another final and minor consideration: I've seen a few engine fires in 355s, and having that extra bit of structure/glass between you and the engine bay seems like a very good idea.

There is chassis flex on the 328, but it's a completely different design so probably not applicable here.

Great looking car. GTS has the looks and the open top. Win/win.

 

Thanks Bull!!

 

As well as echoing the first reply I would point out that most GTS owners tend to drive with the roof off and seem to have a simple solution if caught out by rain : drive faster so the rain passes over the car !

 

Leaks are really not that big an issue with the GTS cars, and when they do, most owners are unwilling to simply replace all the rubber seals(remember they are constantly compressed with the top on, and no, removing the top will not let them "spring back", they take a set, esp. after 10 years), which will likely fix it. (cost can be many hundreds of dollars though)

Get a GTS, drive and enjoy, and if it does leak, replace the rubber seals.

 

I went with the 348TS and if I was buying a 355 would definitely look for a 355GTS. The comments above are right on the money.
BT

 

Lost the link some where: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157886

 

My opinion is that the ts version is stylistically the better choice. The view of the "flying buttress" is beautiful from any angle. My 348 has no problems w/ the top, as far as body flex, I can't say i've noticed any. Go for the ts and enjoy!!!

 

No leaking here on my 348TS. It doesn't see rain, but I washed it once and it was fine. FYI, it doesn't get dirty either since it spends most of its time under a car cover and gets detailed every time it leaves the garage. In truth this is because I don't want it to leak.

 

Amazing picture! I hope mine looks like that when I am done.

 

I had the contrary situation. Always had to drive mine with a towel. If it rained, once sufficient water had collected it would litterally pour through the intersection of where the window/side wing mirror met the door seal. Changing the seals (update to the 355 seals) cost USD6,000. Maybe my problem is that I live in the tropics where it rains heavily and mine was a 348 as opposed to a 355, but it did leak, and badly.