Ready to buy my first Ferrari! Looking for 355/360 tips and suggestions | FerrariChat
Buy

Ready to buy my first Ferrari! Looking for 355/360 tips and suggestions

Discussion in '348/355' started by kenneyd, Feb 28, 2015.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. kenneyd

    kenneyd Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2014
    2,028
    NE FL
    Full Name:
    Ken
    #1 kenneyd, Feb 28, 2015
    I spent a good portion of my youth a few houses down from a ferrari challenge racer, Dr Steve Earle. and remember running to the window nearly every time i heard one start up to watch it drive by. When he would get a new ferrari the transport Rig would stop in front out our house and unload a new ferrari, and occasionally they would park it in our driveway while shuffling around the cars in the truck.
    As a kid who grew up in a mini van family this was the coolest thing ever! Never thought i would have the opportunity to own one. I remember asking him as a 16yr old if i could drive one of his cars to homecoming (i was quite an idiot, surprised i didnt get smacked lol).

    Out of all the car that would go down our road must have been a dozen and half different models, F40, F50, 360, 355, 355spyder, 430, 456 even his challenge cars etc... I always liked the 355.

    So im in the market now for a 355, however ive noticed the 360 can be found around the same price with even a few examples being less.
    (360, 20k, $55k http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferraris/464812-2000-ferrari-360-20k-miles-f1-silver-black-cali.html
    360, 22k $57k Ferrari 360 | eBay )



    I know there are plenty of threads on 355/vs 360, f1 vs gated etc I've searched and read, and I am not trying to beat a dead horse...

    So this post is just a request on what to look for in a 360/355, what are the trouble spots, why you chose your car, your options, how long it took to find the car, would you buy one sight unseen. (Ive bought/sold 28 cars in the past decade, almost all sight unseen)
    How many of you never drove a ferrari before buying one? I've never driven one and really dont know what to expect. I am aware out of all the sports cars ive owned it will likely be the slowest lol, but i hope it doesnt feel gutless and all sound. I simply admire its looks and hope for a great driving experience.


    I've read threads discussing future appreciation of the 355, i would personally assume that applies to lower mile 355's correct? I kinda doubt a 40-50k miler is going up in value at all, what do you think?


    my budget is in the mid $60s, which there are dozens to chose from, but my goal is to find a clean, sub 30k miles, GTB or GTS in need of a major service for closer to $40k, (make the wife happier) Im a meticulous gear head, ive done most everything on cars, ive got a 1200sqft shop with a lift and all the tools you need, im also and A&P, worked on planes worth 10 times the cost of a ferrari. Seems like most of them for sale all list "belt service just done" "major service just completed" oh well.


    If you have one of know of one for sale let me know! (with the exception of KROME's 355, no way!)
     
  2. Oengus

    Oengus F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Sep 29, 2004
    10,854
    Between timing belts/chains or West Palm Beach FL
    Full Name:
    Chas
    #2 Oengus, Feb 28, 2015
    Buy the best 355B or 355GTS you can find
    Not sure you will find one under 40k though

    Have fun with he search
     
  3. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    23,905
    WI
    #3 WATSON, Feb 28, 2015
  4. Subarubrat

    Subarubrat Formula 3

    Apr 1, 2009
    2,072
    VA
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #4 Subarubrat, Feb 28, 2015
    The 360 does not have a giant performance leap over the 355. The 355 is more "raw" and is more readily serviced by the owner (not to say the 360 is terrible). As an A&P (I build aircraft myself so I get the comparison) you will have no trouble with understanding the 355's configuration and maintenance needs. And if there is something your not certain of, mainly looking compare to others, Fchat is a great resource for the most part. If you can pull an IO-360 with VPP off a 182 you can do an engine out service on a 355 with a very small learning curve. And like aircraft things that are simple are needlessly expensive and things that are complex must be done right or the consequences can be severe. You will find your experience to be very helpful.

    If you find yourself looking at a 348 to get within your price range you will find them to be similar in those respects although there is a performance gap between the 348 and 355 that is larger than the 355 to the 360. But a 348 is still a wonderful car by all means.
     
  5. group77racing

    group77racing Formula Junior

    Sep 5, 2006
    453
    Often Imitated
    Full Name:
    Never Duplicated
    #5 group77racing, Feb 28, 2015
  6. nsx2F355

    nsx2F355 Formula Junior

    Mar 12, 2013
    708
    SLC
    Full Name:
    Tony
    #6 nsx2F355, Feb 28, 2015
    Any 40k 355 isn't really a 40k 355. It's really a 55k to 60k 355 after service and out of seat time spent.
     
  7. Dr. Wynter

    Dr. Wynter Karting

    Apr 10, 2013
    136
    Michigan (and NYC)
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    #7 Dr. Wynter, Feb 28, 2015
    + 100!
     
  8. kenneyd

    kenneyd Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2014
    2,028
    NE FL
    Full Name:
    Ken
    #8 kenneyd, Feb 28, 2015
    Thanks for the link, very helpful!
    It kinda looks like most ppl think it wont sell with out the service done i guess, its hard to find one.

    Or anything on a mooney!


    I would say +100 as well... if your paying $150hr+ labor and dealer prices on parts.



    Thanks for the replies guys!
     
  9. 355rockit

    355rockit Formula Junior

    Dec 1, 2010
    893
    San Marcos, CA
    Full Name:
    Vas
    #9 355rockit, Feb 28, 2015
    +100 +1
     
  10. vracer

    vracer Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2014
    1,098
    NorCal
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #10 vracer, Feb 28, 2015
    Same price - different car. The 355 is a sports car, and the 360 a GT. Drive at least one example of each. Which do you want?

    I had been out of the Ferrari game for a long time when a friend took me on some Ferrari event drives and let me drive his 360 seriously. I enjoyed the people and events, but not the car, (too much). So I wanted back in and drove a fair 355 that was for sale. I felt like Goldilocks. The car was not too this, not too that, but just right.

    Appreciation? - IMHO in a few years the market will lump the 360-430s together while the 355s will always be 'the last of the Mohicans'.
     
  11. vracer

    vracer Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2014
    1,098
    NorCal
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #11 vracer, Feb 28, 2015
    PS
    Don't get a beater unless you want to spend the next three years in the garage. The beater will cost the same (or more) than a better car. PLUS the three years.
     
  12. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 20, 2006
    2,484
    #12 cuneo, Feb 28, 2015
    So true.
     
  13. Robb

    Robb Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Feb 28, 2004
    14,443
    Tucson, Arizona, USA
    Full Name:
    Robb
    #13 Robb, Feb 28, 2015
    +1

    Robb

     
  14. 8500rpm

    8500rpm Formula Junior

    May 20, 2014
    546
    San Francisco Bay
    Full Name:
    Chan
    #14 8500rpm, Mar 4, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2015
    I'm not sure what people's feelings are on the 360 market. Both were childhood dream cars for me, so I went with the one that most agree has bottomed out in value. Although theoretical performance is similar, the F355 and 360 were conceived with very different technologies and philosophy. On paper, the 360 is superior in every way and is built on a far more modern platform. But is that what you want, only you can answer that question.

    I knew that if I waited for the right 360, I would regret letting the F355 ship sail beyond my budget. Regarding higher-mileage cars, chances are they are relatively up-to-date in service to ensure usability. We don't know how they appreciate or depreciate because people in general are holding on to their Berlinettas.

    But try finding a non-Spider F355 right now. I can count the cars nationwide on one hand, with fingers left over. That said, you may be able to pick up a neglected car and solve everything yourself. Then you'll be back here complaining about not being able to drive it!
     

Share This Page