High milage 355=sorted out common promlems?

If you find one that has been driven, I'm pretty sure most of the problems will have been taken care of. Just keep in mind that the ARE NOT cheap to maintain.

Other than what you have already mentioned, you will want to have a look at the condition of the clutch and flywheel. The seal on the dual mass flywheel has been know to go bad fligging grease everywhere and cooking the clutch. The triple seals on the out put shaft can leak. The slave cylinders have also been know to blow out the back, but you can get an updated slave cylinder from Ricambi.

Those are some of the unknowns that can go wrong with high milage 355's even though the rest of the stuff as been handled. That and watch those fuel rail connectors. If they get over tightend they can crack and leak = one crispy flame broiled 355.

 

20K miles a year will depreciate the car down to parts value in a few years - but I guess that wasn't your question.

Plan on $5K-$6K every other year for a timing belt/major service, plus wear-and-tear stuff like brakes and clutch (if it's a six speed). As ernie said, 355s aren't the cheapest Ferrari's to maintain.

They are gorgeous though. Good luck with your decision.

 

My own 355 spider now has 46k miles on it and has never given me problems. It has more power now than when it left the factory (do search for my dyno results) If ya use the car there isnt realy much to worry about. As the saying goes....use it or loose it

 

Remember they NEED a service every 6000m, and 20K a year is heading towards a cambelt change every year. The headers will go if standard, same for cats. You might go through a couple of sets of tires per year to. Fuel consumption approx. 15mpg.

Personally I would presume $15,000 a year then keep the change. That would even cover valve guides as and when if they cropped up.

 

360 will be cheaper to maintain esp if you are going to run up the mileage.

 

if you buy a salvidge title car make sure the title looks like a normal tilte but somewhere on it it will say salvidge. there is also a salvidge title that says state of california salvage certificate. the second one is a nightmare and won't be able to be transfered out of state. take it from on who knows. Have bought salvage title cars and with good luck. if your gonna put miles on it, there's always a market for good looking Ferrari's

 

I think BOTH cars you mentioned are overpriced. Big time. I wouldn't pay a DIME more than $90k for a salvage title 360. And no more than $45k for a salvage 355.

When JStecher was selling his salvage title 348 with a LOT of goodies (full brakes, suspension, wheels, etc.) in the mid 30's........THAT is a good deal.

 

The 355 previously mentioned did not have a salvage title, only the 360.

 

Leslie,

I drive my 355 nowhere near enough. Having said that, I am unaware of anyone who does! The talk of belt changes every X miles or Y years is very pertinent for 308s and 328s, but the pulley design was changed by the time 355s arrived. Since there is very little, if any, data on high mileage, frequently driven 355s, you are basically on your own when it comes to "skipping" a belt change. Don't skip oil changes though....

If it were me and I was in your position, I'd go for the 355, drive it to death, and then get a 360 or even a 430 in 3-5 years time for the same price. Arguably 355s will be worth diddly squat in 5 years so you won't be hurting resale that much by driving it a lot. If they do hold value, then a high mileage, no issues car will always find a buyer - very similar to my Mondial t. Low 30's, now has 50+K miles and is a daily driver (when not in the body shop). I intend to sell that car after it dies; the 355 - maybe sooner.

Just my .02

Dave

ps. Anyone have any data on 355 belt failures? This may well halp Leslie in his decision process.

 

Reading all the posts, I'd go for the 355 Spider, because with the savings over the 360, you can afford belt changes and service for many years to come. If you have nice weather, a convertible 355 would be much more fun than a hardtop 360.

I would steer clear of a salvage titled car, regardless of condition, bc it'd be difficult to resell, and in many cases, much of the car has been apart - rarely do they put the cars back together as well as the factory did when he car was new and oftentimes, noises pop up, things come loose, or worse yet, you find out too late that something wasn't fixed properly.

In 2000 when I had a choice over a new 360 hard top or a used 355 Spider, I opted for the 355. That was my choice, now its yours - which do you like better?

Best of luck,
David

 

That 360 may have been from Colorado, I think there was a blue 360 here. Check the Rocky Mountain section and do a search. Seems like someone here got hurt/killed in it, think it was a track accident.

Not sure if it was the same, but you should check it out.
James in Denver