Hello guys, Just got a 2004 360 Modena F1, with 4.100 Km (~2.500 miles) Giallo Modena -black interior w/ Daytona seats wih grey inserts -modular wheels -Tubi exhaust & challenge grill Came from a 6-Spd F355, this is the first F1 cars we own. (still keeping the F355 though) Clutch wear is at 11%. Do you guys have any advices to increase clutch life? I´ve driven F1 cars before, bu as I mentioned before, all our cars are either manual or DCT. I do a lot of heel and toe downshifting on the F355, does downshifting on the F1 car reduce clutch life considerably? My basic knowledge suggests me that it does not, since it does the rev matching by itself, but I am not sure. Thanks for the help!
The only appreciable wear on the clutch is at take off and more so when reversing. The F1 system matches the revs to road speed so well that there is not much wear. The only thing to do is have the PIS set properly. Alan OBTW we need photos.
I think the clutch is really robust. I put 10k miles on my car and the clutch wear was unchanged from 4% to 4%. Did not track the car but otherwise did not worry about backing up, starting on hills or driving in stop and go traffic in Southern California.
Reverse up a hill is really your biggest enemy. If you do this a lot, you'll smell you clutch before long. Otherwise, just enjoy driving the car.
I only learned a while ago that you don't have to downshift through all the gears sequentially when slowing down, if you are coming from 5th and slowing down to 2nd, you can just rapidly tap the left lever three times and go 5 -> 2.
I asked the same question before I bought my car. I've now owned my 2003 360 Spider F1 for 3 months, put on over 3,000 miles and loved every second of it. As everyone have said, the most clutch wear happens during take off and reverse. But I don't worry about it anymore. I just drive it and enjoy it. I love the F1 transmission.
Congrats!! Sounds like an excellent purchase, I would love to see those seats. Also curious to hear your comparison between the 355 and the 360. Evan
Thank you all. I did not expect the 360 to have much more performance compared to the F355, given the factual numbers. But it did seem a lot stronger when I took ir for a test drive, speccially on lower RPM's. It is A LOT more comfortable, and the ergonomics are vastly improved. Brakes are sharper as well. Cabin is more refined, and the fit&finish are miles better. I was a bit disappointed by the F1 transmission though. I didn't take it for a long drive, but the shifts felt slow to me. I drove the same day a Maserati 4200 GranSport, and it's CambioCorsa systems, which is essentially the same as the 360 felt a lot more positive to me. But I did not drive it enough, maybe my impressions will change this weekend. Also, the car is on its stock tires since 2004, so you can imagine how the car felt. Hard as a rock, and no rear grip whatsoever. It felt very tail happy. Visually the tires are brand new, given the very low mileage, but it is way past its expiry date, so they will be the first upgrade. I do have Pirelli's PZero Rosso on my F355 and I really like them, so most likely im gonna go for them once more. Also, the headlight unit with xenons are a vast improvement compared to the halogens on the F355. Over all, it is a better car. But the looks, gated 6spd, and the "racey car feel" on the F355, for me are a plus. I would not sell the F355 for a 360, even for a 430. Perhaps a Scuderia would make me change my mind, and sell it.
As far as F1, for fastest shifts: make sure it's set on Sport Mode. Shift at 8,000 RPM. Road must be dry and tires fully warmed up. Otherwise ASR would intervene to prevent tires slippage.
Taking off with minimal revs till the clutch is fully engaged (you can feel it) will make for a long lasting clutch. And do not reverse up hills.
wait for full hook up off 1st, then hit it, hard gas before hook up is the bad thing to do, if you can smell clutch you probably just spent about $200 in wear. the brakes can cost about what a clutch does, full set of brakes and rotors is in the low $3k range, clutch is in the high $3's so its about the same, I doubt down shifting causes any wear.
