Have we destroyed the 355?

Greg fantastic post and very hard to disagree with. The ironic part is I really wonder how stuff was made prior to PPAP and the other buzz terms. While I do find value in those methods, I still think they are a crutch for today's standards of quality meaning if the work force cared more, we would not need these often non value added procedures.

 

Technology acceleration has been amazing.

In the late 90's I drooled over a friend's home shop Bridgeport mill with CNC capabilities.

IIRC, by 2000 even guys like me could design car parts on autocad and Emachine.com and have a part made and in my mailbox out of any material.

 

Agreed. One day soon technology will become so advanced that a robot will do my job. When Google bought Boston Dynamics, the future of Skynet became a reality.

 

F Yeah Dave. I love how FBB constantly stalks the 355 forum with doom and gloom.

My current 355 has had a top end rebuild from one of the best shops in the country, Competizione, amongst other stuff. Sure, it wasn't cheap but the repairs will last. I've got updated guides, tubi headers, and every other RR parts addressed.

Please. Come drive it FBB. Come drive it against a 360. Come drive it and tell me there's a better car than a sorted 355 for under 90k which can give you the feelings a well sorted 355 can for the same money.

Please. Tell me about a better looking Ferrari which could be had for the same money as a good 355.

I personally believe that the 355 has something great going for it... It's old enough to know how to address the issues the factory created with real fixes. You think the subsequent model (360) isn't plagued with more catastrophic issues??? How about those precats? What happens when those break down and get sucked back into the engine? Give it time. Those repairs will make a 355 valve job look like an oil change.

What has been the result? 2 distinct markets for the 355. Cars with needs, and cars which have had the know issues addressed. I believe that this delta can often bring more than 30k in selling price.

Yes. People here have done their part in lowering the values of the 355. I just hope those who buy the cars with needs are passionate enough to make them right, and that people who buy cars on the other end of the market realize the value of a sorted car

 

You guys are funny! Gloom and doom? I am one of the 355's biggest fans. It's rep is earned regardless of what you think or it would not have the rep it has.

 

Agree. It is one of Ferrari's best drivers cars EVER! If you have one of these running as it should, its just smiles per mile. The sound alone is just incredible. I don't think there will be another car made that could even come close.

BUT..Its a monster in sheeps clothing. And when it bites, it will rip a hole in your wallet like no other car. But when it works, its an amazing car.

 

308 GTB. (You said better looking, not better performing.) Love my F355 but next to my 308 it's lacking something. The entire run of V8 Ferraris is an evolution of the 308, which itself is an evolution (for the better) of the ugly frog eyed 206/246 Dino. Ferrari lost it with the 360 and 430 but regained it a little with the 458. Still, IMO, they have work to do as the 458 has to big a butt.

 

I disagree re. the 308. It's a good looking car, but I like the proportions of the 355 better (which it shares closely with the 288GTO). The 288GTO is one of the best looking cars made and the 355 looks like a more modern version of that car (to me).

Of course, that's very subjective. They're all good looking cars.

 

I disagee also - I think the 355 is a far better looking car than 308 and I also am not a fan of transverse motors...

 

Pete, Are you kidding? The 288 GTO is a stretched and widened 308. It looks noting like a 355. Every styling queue of the 288 comes directly from the 308. The only thing the 288 and the 355 have in common is the longitudinal engine.

On the other hand, I did misspeak. 308 GTB prices are on the rise and a good one today goes for as much or more than all but the very best 355.

I do love the lines of the 355. It's the only Ferrari other than a 308 that appeals to me at all. The new stuff, V8 or V12, is to wind tunnel-ly. And let's face reality. The 355 is the evolution of the 348 which was a failed attempt to transfer the ostentatious styling of the Testarossa to the V8 cars. Remember the Testarossa was a product of the LOOK AT ME 80's. When you saw a guy get out of a 348 it was a pretty sure thing he was wearing a gold chain too.

Today that ostentatious styling is actually wearing pretty well because it was represents a unique period in Ferrari history.

 

That is a beautiful car and had they made a full run of it would have been a success., imo.

I think there are definitely some styling cues in the 288 that are in the 355
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IMO, Ferrari, or Pinninfarina have done a fantastic job maintaining design elements over the years. For one, if you look at the side profile of almost every car except the Mondial, which really should not count as a Ferrari, the Fenders always have a curve up followed by a curve down the doors by the mirrors and then another curve upward toward the rear wheels. That element is on every single car Ferrari produces and it's very apparent. And S-Shaped curve if you will...

 

Yes, but they all originated with the 308:
Ferrari 288 GTO - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and then to the GTO evolouzione:
http://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/too-fast-race-ferrari-288-gto-evoluzione
When I bought my 308 back in 85 I enquired about buying a GTO. They were going for around $80k back then. But there were none available and in discussing the car (with Stan Nowak) I was brought to the realization that the 288 was not really well suited for as street car. But at least I got to see one up close and personal when they were new. I can't say who's car it was because I'm not 100% sure. But it was very instrumental for my buying the GTB instead of the GTS.

(Or maybe Stan knew they could not get me one so he steered my towards the GTB.)

 

One of the thing lost in the 348/355 is the flowing line from the tip of the nose through the doors all the way to the rear spoiler lip. It's still there in the 355 but not as fluid. Ferrari tried to bring it back in the 458 but I still think they failed because of the exaggerated rear end. For me, everything behind the doors of the 458 looks like it belongs to a different car. But certainly, after the 308 the 355 is the best looking car to come out of Ferrari since.
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Sure, but the proportions are what make the 288 so great for me. The extended wheelbase and flared fenders make the car, both of which are carried forward to the 355 and missing in the 308. There's also the air intake behind the rear quarter window and the rocker air intake, again both on the 288 and 355 but missing on the 308. it's those changes that distinguish the 288 from the 308 and all are there in a more modern and flowing version on the 355. A I said, it's subjective, but the 288 and 355 have a more muscular stance then the 308 that make them better looking to me.

 

No Greg, you are an idiot cause that moron who did it cheap is going to take you out on the track with his POS anyway. Just kidding, of course. The quality of work an individual demands is very personal. I remember working in Ryan Falconer's shop many years ago on my tow rig. I was rebuilding a cranky carburetor. I knew Ryan was VERY picky and he was my Father in Law at the time so I wanted to impress him. I took the carb off, took it apart, put it in the parts washer and scrubbed the hell out of it. It looked pretty good to me. As I walked the parts over to the bench to put it back together, Ryan says sincerely..."aren't you going to clean that first?" I said, "what do you mean, I just did that?" He looked at the carb, then looked me right in the eye, his response sticks with me to this day, he said dryly "Whatever you're used to".
It's just like having good character, you do it right not because someone will see it, but because YOU know its there.

 

I agree.

Oh wait...maybe it's the color that makes them look so good.

 

I can win this argument, even though history is on my side. Take a look at Ferrari V8 form 308 to F40 by Beki Adams. Specifically pages 62 and 63. You will see fender flares and the exaggerated rear spoiler as styled by Pininfarina on the 308. Yes, they never made it on production 308s but were included in the 288. I suspect the higher horse power and wider tires had something to do with it on both the 288 and the 355.

Personally, while the extended length works on the 288 I find that on the 355 from certain angles it makes it look like the car is out of proportion. In fact, while I am a big fan of the 355 it think the front end of the car is a mess. From the side, rear quarter or rear it's pure art. From the front quarter and front head on the flaws are obvious. The 288 and 308 (euro version, as designed) look good from any angle.

But as you say, it's just one man's opinion, mine. And that is what matters to me.

 

+1 Pete. I think that the 355 has looks similar to the GTO, which is one of my favorites.

The 308 has nice lines but I prefer the looks of the 355.

 

John, you are absolutely right. The 288 was definitely taken off of a 308. It is basically a 308 on steroids. But it is the longer wheelbase, the flared fenders, and duck tail spoiler that give the car a much more aggressive look.

 

LMAO! I'm going to Laguna with Greg at the end of the month. I'll make sure I stay away from him on track.

 

I'm not arguing the 288 is based off of the 308, we all know that's true. But the changes made to the 308 to get to the 288 are what give the 288 it's great proportions, and my point was that the 355 has the same wheelbase, stance and many of the same details, just in a more modern package.

As you said, it's all what matters to you. If you like the 308 more and got one, you're doing it properly . I just feel bad for the people that like the 355 more than other models but 'settle' because they're scared of it. I'm also glad I didn't make that mistake. When people ask about the 355, owners of other models automatically say "It's high maintenance, buy what I have because you won't have to worry as much about it," but you never hear the owners of 355's saying that, only those that wanted one but were scared away from it. It's like they want others to do the same so they don't feel bad about it. You often hear past owners of 355's that bought newer models lament getting rid of it. By settling they're making a mistake, imo.

The issues are well documented and all fixable (and at this stage, often already fixed), that's what's important. If there were some recurring issue that there wasn't a fix for, then there'd be an argument, but there isn't.

 

If an idiot and a moron are on the track at the same time, it must be a NASCAR race! (Sorry to any NASCAR fans I offended. Can I make a Danica joke too?)

 

If this is true, then the US market really has lost the plot. And it must be being affected by the constant whining "chicken little" attitude of some people about maintenance costs of 355s.

In our market, which of course is tiny but is pretty much mirrored by most of the rest of the world, you can pick up a very nice 308 for $60k or $70k.
A decent 355 is at least $120k and pristine ones with low miles can be more than $200k!

I really like 308s and agree they are a great looking car, but if they really cost as much or more than 355s in your country there is something seriously wrong IMO.
And the answer to the original question is "Yes. You have destroyed the 355".

 

Is there a sticky thread somewhere with a buying guide which clearly explains the problem areas and one time fixes that are required on the 355 based on actual owners' collective experience? If not, there should be, and one of you 355 owners should take the initiative to produce one. That would do more to get people over the hump of dismissing the 355 on the basis of inaccurate perceptions than a 17 page thread arguing both sides but not being clear about the issues and fixes.

I loved the 355 when they were new, and thought I'd buy one someday. When I got to the point where I could afford the car, I started reading threads with vague reference to what a nightmares they were from a maintenance perspective. Never got a clear picture of the extent of the issues or an objective sense of what it would cost to permanently fix them, but it was enough to diminish my interest in getting one.

So yeah, you've all destroyed it. If you want to fix it, take your collective knowledge and produce a sticky thread that clearly and objectively lays out the problem areas and gives potential buyers insight into what it takes to fix them, how permanent or chronic the repairs would be, and how much it would cost to sort one of these cars out.