My "New" 1996 F355 GTB

After many years of multiple Porsche ownership, I am very pleased to experience this 1996 F355. Only had it a day, but very impressed and excited to share with this group. Currently has 25,550 miles on it.

Went through the records, and it seems to have a great service history, totaling over $58k. Car is in great shape and has some nice modifications (FabSpeed Headers, Tubi Muffler, Hyperflow Cats, Alpine CD Player and K40 Radar).

Service History from the paperwork I have, mainly done at Rayco Eurospec Motorcars, Wild World of Cars and Miller Motor Cars:

3/1998: Perform Oil Service (7,004 miles) - $127

4/1998: Perform Fuel Line Recall, Code #158, (7,184 miles) - 0.00

8/2000: Oil Service, Brake Flush, Repair Interior Door Handle, Replace Rear Tires, Perform Alignment (11,773 miles) - $1,665

1/2001: Major Belt Service, Reseal Transmission, Waterpump, Install Tubi Muffler, Replace Right Side Cat ECU (13,456 miles) - $6,657

8/2003: Oil Service (14,867 miles) - $350

9/2005: Major Belt Service (15,113 miles) - $6,553

9/2006: 5k Service, Oil Change, Brake Flush, Battery, Left and Right Hyperflow Cats (15,305 miles) - $3,951

8/2008: Fabspeed Headers, Header Wrap, Spark Plugs, Oil Change, Alternator, Battery, Window Switch (15,687 miles) - $7,371

9/2008: Driver Window Switch, Wheel Center Cap, Full Auto Reconditioning: $661

5/2009: Clutch Disk, Clutch Master Cylinder, Castrol GTX Dot 4 Fluid (17,239 miles) - $1,590

5/2009: Driver Window Switch: $109

6/2009: Refinish Interior Door Handles, Shift Gate Trim - $87

7/2009: Interior Reconditioning - $168

11/2009: Timing Belt Service, Fuel Filters, Cam Seals, Cam O Rings, Tensioner Bearing Set, Valve Cover Gaskets, Thermostat, Coolant Hoses, Belts, Spark Plugs, Wires, End Plate Gaskets - $7,640

5/2011: Major Belt Service, Oil Service, Gearbox Oil, Brake Fluid, Coolant, Air Filters, Power Steering Fluid, Detail/Wax, Fuel Block Recall, Campaign 561 Seat Belts, Engine Lift Struts, Coolant Hoses, 4 Wheel Alignment, Mount and Balance 4 New Tires (21,424 miles) - $11,917

7/2013: Oil Service, Brake Fluid Flush, Replaced Fuel Tank Drain Plug, A/C System Service and ReCharge, Sticky Interior Removed and Replaced (22,637 miles) - $4,952

10/2013: Left side Cat ECU replaced (22,685) - $1,304

10/2013: Bypass Valve ECU replaced (22,690 miles) - $1,092

6/2015: Oil Service, Blinker Bulb, Cleared Mass Airflow Code (23,750 miles) - $1,045

8/2015: Air Flow Meter replaced (23,881 miles) - $1,613

All for now!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

It's been about 150 miles since purchase. What a nice car! Coming from practically every type of Porsche, the motor in the 355 is wonderful, never lacks power. Also, the steering is great, really love it. Finally, the suspension is very compliant, even though the car looks low, it rides really nice. Very happy so far!

A pic at yesterday's Caffeine and Carburetors.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Hard question on my favorite P-car over past 15 years. I guess I went through many stages, all for different reasons. I'll skip the multiple 944's, aftermarket widebody SC's and Carreras, and 964s ending with a nice 1994 widebody I bought in LA on a business trip. A 1996 C4S was last air cooled one I owned. Was a nice looking car but boy was it boring and slow. The 2003 C4S was really a great car until the IMS bearing failed and Porsche put a $28k motor in the car for me at no charge. Then I went to 997.1 GT3 to daily drive, which felt like a hot rod and after short time was just too one dimensional for me. Moved to a 997.1 911 Turbo, great car but couldn't use all the power 90% of the time, so felt a bit limited on my daily commute. Traded that for a 997.2 GTS, which was really the sweet spot for me. It has a motor that made almost as much power as the 997.1 GT3, with the widebody rear end and all the newer electronics. You could use all that motor, so it was really a great daily driver car. While having those, I also had a Cayenne Turbo S and now a Panamera Turbo S, both with PCCBs which are excellent.

So, by now the P-car craze was way out of hand and frankly a little bored with all the hype particularly since I owned most models in the past and knew first hand their value to me. Every used car dealer thinks their 993 is a museum example. 993s with 200k miles going for bargain prices of $59k! For example, I had a 1996 C4S, it's a great car, but it's no F355 in terms of looks and performance. Bit of a rant, I know.

Decided to change things up and sold the GTS and directed my sights on an F355, something that not a lot of people have or know about. Anyway, the F355 is top of the mountain for me in 1996 terms. It performs well beyond any NA Porsche of same era. It's more of a race car with a proper V8. In fact, the dealer I bought mine from is like 10 miles away. I never test drove the car, once I saw it, reviewed the service history and heard it run, it was a done deal.

To me, it's not about speed anymore or who's 'doors I could blow off', it's about the experience and pleasure of ownership. When I sit in the F355 I feel like a king, that's value right there. I hadn't had that feeling in a Porsche 911 in years, though I will say the Panamera Turbo S is likely the best car I've ever owned.

Not saying I am done with 911s, but for now I am a very happy with switching it up.