My first Ferrari

Congrats on the 355. When you get a chance can you tell us about the Caterham - what a special little car. Betcha the 355 won't handle as nicely...

 

Congrats. Great taste in cars.

 

Well done Harry! I also came to mine from Lotus a few years ago now... Didn't expect to keep the 355 this long but here we are.

I bought a challenge grille from Pro-Sport which is a pattern part but, given the scarcity and cost of the genuine article, I wasn't too bothered.

There are a few good independents for servicing, it'll depend where you are in London as to who's closest but I've been very happy with Autofficina down near Chessington.

 

Hmm, Harry in London. Nah, couldn't be...

Congratulations Harry! It's always great to share in someone else's experience when they get to take possession of their first Ferrari. So when you post your pics, let us know how you felt. The smile stuck on your face for the first week or so is a given.

Please give Katherine our best and welcome to the club...

Henry

 

Congrats on your new car. Love the Crema.

We need pics...

Robb

 

Congratulations Harry.

Is that London England or London Canada?

 

That'll be London in England. It's a little like Paris, Ace - you really don't need to say "Paris, France", regardless of there being 16 odd places called Paris in the States and at least one I know of in Canada, if you just say "Paris" it's in France ........






Also, Maranello's is a dealer in London (UK) so guessing it's that one, (unless he meant Maranello Italy of course, which I guess would also be true, but would be a fairly obvious statement).

 

Love the crema....my favorite interior color for a red Ferrari. Congratulations! Would love to hear some driving impressions comparing the Catherham to the 355.

 

Mate I'm a little older than you and believe me that's a challenge with all girls !!!

Well done and have a fab day tomorrow - weather looking excellent

Many of the hints are already here - just take a look - starting with (even tho its too late for you) the buyers guide

WRT exhaust there are different sounds so listen to a few clips to see what really floats your boat

 

Tempted to take the day off work tomorrow and head out of London myself as I've just re-awoken mine after a 3 month hibernation.

 

It rains & your car is going to get wet - you might have to put the roof up - they don't know what they're talking about

A lot of folk are too obsessive about anything - particularly actually using their cars

 

Ironically, the Paris in Canada is about 45 min away from my city

 

Was just teasing you mate. That "Paris, France" thing always makes me smile though

 

Thanks Harry. Hope to bump into you at the odd event. You doing the whole Ferrari Owners' Club bit? I found that the discount on my insurance for joining was more or less the annual FOC fee, so membership is pretty much free.

 

One advantage of being a member is that, although you're going to struggle to get your 355 on a track with a Cappy on her, some of the FOC track days have much higher noise limits than normal. We've got one coming up in my neck of the woods with no limit at all, even non-silenced cars allowed. My car has a custom version of a Nouvalari Supersport with high flow cats - no idea of the volume but I set off my neighbour's car alarm from across the road........ And that was just starting her on the key

 

This is the club diary https://www.ferrariownersclub.co.uk/events/calendar_nonm_13.asp

The UK is divided into Area Groups as well and when you join you should be contacted by your local head honcho who will tell you about extra events etc local to you.

Regarding the exhaust, personally, on a 355 I'd probably stick with a Capristo if I'm honest - it gives an F1 howl that pretty much no exhaust will match. Has to be a stage 3, clearly. My exhaust was a custom exhaust I got knocked up by Nouvalari here in the UK (the factory is just down the road from me). It's very different. Where as the Capristo is a high pitched howl, very sharp and crisp, the exhaust I have is much more akin to what you may find on one of the race tuned Ferraris from a few years ago - very rough, lots of pops and crackles, actually pops a tad even on idle. To me it just sounds like she's chomping at the bit but it's not to everyone's taste. It's what all the older Ferraris (of which mine is obviously one) sounded like when tuned. It is also brutally lound and I'm not sure you'd get away with it down in the 'smoke' for long. Up here people are generally more chilled about that sort of thing and a Ferrari is a bit of a novelty so most people just stop and give thumbs up etc. When I drive through Lincoln or any other town with high (for us Northerners!) buildings, you can hear her echoing in the streets ahead of you.

All in all, for a 355 in particular, I'd probably go Capristo.

 

Looks fantastic, Harry. Congrats!

 

Very nice Harry, looks amazing!

By the way is that Autofficina?

 

Could be wrong but it's got the look of a Ferrari Main Dealer .......