Potential New Ferrari owner

Well, I'm not even close to 6'5", so I won't touch that one...

With respect to Mondials, 456s and 355s, they're hugely different cars. The Mondial developed in four stages - Mondial 8, Quattrovalvole, 3.2 and finally 'T'. The '8' is a bargain, but very slow. The others improved until you get to the 'T' with the 3.4 litre engine similar to what was in the 348. The 3.2 would be my pick of that run, as that drivetrain pretty bulletproof and less expensive to service than the 'T', but in general a Mondial is "affordable" to own by Ferrari standards. They are old cars - lots of stuff to replace just because of age. The styling is subdued, so Mondials are less popular than their 308/328 two-seater contemporaries. Doesn't mean they're worse, just not as extroverted.

456 is a V12, so more expensive to service. In the current issue of Forza magazine (#82 -- at Borders Books) there's a nice writeup by Michael Sheehan. They are a huge bargain, again in part because the styling is conservative and because four-seater Ferraris take a beating in the resale market -- the vast majority of buyers want a two seater.

The 355 is far sportier than the others, but read up on the 355 forum here. They have a few weak spots that can consume a lot of cash (do a search on 'valve guides' and 'headers' in the 355 section for lots of reading. If you're going for a late 355, maybe also consider an early 360. I think you'd be comfortable in it, as the cockpits became noticeably larger after the 328, and the 360s I've been in felt about living room-sized. As a tall guy, you might appreciate that more than I did.

If you're new to this, you might want to find a good Ferrari mechanic and get advice there. You won't want to be on your own with all the questions, and invariably stuff will need attention -- best to have your 'safety net' in place before buying.

Good luck and welcome. My first Ferrari drive was something I'll never forget, and driving my own has been even better.

 

A buddy of mine is 6'4" and coudn't fit in a 430. So he looked at a 599 but they wouldn't guaranty delivery so he bought a Maz instead.

 

6'7" and fit in my 328, but it's a tight fit. Knees brush the dash and head will brush the roof. I easily fit in a 355 and 360.

 

6'3" and I'm tight in my 355 but you could take steps to make it work by removing some of the seat cushion, etc...

 

anyone over 5'9" is a tight fit in any ferrari specialy older ones...........

 

depends on what you mean by older...the Ferrari's of the 50s and 60s have plenty of head/leg room as compared to those of the 70s and 80s...

 

your right ...i ment more 70's and 80's...who can afford 50's or 60's..prices have gone thru the roof.......MO

 

I don't get this. When I see statements like this I wonder about what I think 'fit' means' and what others definition of it is. Do people that feel they don't fit in the car compare it to how they can spread out in a truck seat or a bench seat in a town car or something? Of course you're not going to be able to do that in a sports car. I like to feel like the seat and the rest of the car is wrapped around me when I'm driving. Now, being 6'7", tall guys usually have a different definition of 'fit in a car' as we're used to being contortionists to get in and out of most cars on the road not counting trucks and SUVs.

Even with a broader definition of 'fit’ someone 6'2 and shorter should have no problem with any Ferrari. Granted, I am too tall for the 328, (seat has to be all the way back and reclined to the firewall, roof has to be on the car or off and not stowed behind the seat, I need that space!) but I am comfortable in it, and when you move to the 348, 355, and then certainly the 360 and 430, there is a lot more room. My daily driver is a 2007 corvette which I fit nicely into, and the 360 and 430's have a LOT more room to them than the corvette.

 

Since I recently purchased a Mondial, I'll only respond to what I like about that particular car. You're looking at some cars that are very different in performance and cost, so it's a bit hard to respond. And yes, although I'm not all that tall, for me torso length is an issue. I can't sit in a 3X8 without my head at an uncomfortable angle. (Or a Lotus Esprit, or my wifes SAAB...)

The cabin of a Mondial is pretty spacious, especially if you can put the top down. Moreover, if you have or intend to have a family, it's a whole lot easier to justify the purchase if everyone can get involved. My friends with fun 2-seaters never use them because the young kids won't fit, and the wife isn't too thrilled to stay home while they go out for a drive. Besides, a 3-year old getting an ear-to-ear grin in the car makes you feel pretty good.

The Mondial has a decent trunk, and the rear seats flip forward into a package shelf. It is also mechanically similar to the 3X8 cars, which mean parts are reasonably available. The 328/Mondial 3.2 may also be about the last Ferrari you'd want to work on at home--modern, but not too modern. It also costs a lot less than some of the other models you're interested in, which makes the debate a bit odd. A 456 and a Mondial are pretty different.

But for me, it was really four seats and a convertible top. And being able to sit upright.

I would suggest trying out all the cars you are interested in. You should be able to walk right into a dealership and at least sit in most of them, or if one comes up for sale, go look. The more you see, the more you'll know what one is worth to you. And maybe you'll find just the right seat adjustment for the 355.

The first Ferrari I ever drove was one where I pulled over to look at it, met the owner, started to B.S. and he asked me if I wanted to take it for a spin. I did, very carefully. He kept telling me I needed to rev it harder, but I didn't. That's to say, I think most people who own special cars are pretty willing to talk about them. Give it a try.

 

i have sat in and sometimes driven many different ferraris. I'm 6'1" and haven't had a problem with any of them. except the daytona. But that was more with the steering wheel being too close to the seat. 6'7" is another story.