Recommended Spider?

My dad has a very nice 94 348 spider he is getting ready to sell (he just got an '04 360 Modena). It will be priced in the low $60k range and has had about every service available done recently. I think the 348 is a good convertible since it is (fairly) modern, and has (relatively) few parts that are likely to break. There are a number of them available and they should be just about at the bottom of the depreciation cycle. If you go to the Miami Vice thing at the end of the month you can drive my 348 ts to get a feel for how the 348 model drives. My personal preference for open top driving led me to the TS model as I prefer the looks of it with the top on to the spider, but to each his own. A 355 spider will probably be closer to your TR performance wise, and also can be found for under $100k, but the potential repairs are a bit higher.
BT

 

Gather your requirements.

T-top, or full convertable?
Max performance or spirited touring?
Daily use or weekender?
Is the brand a prime directive?

For florida, a couple of suggestions: avoid black leather interiors
A top that isn't an engineering feat to operate (that counts out Sunbeams )
Good rain tires (for when you get caught in a downburst)

How's your parking? Car cover or windshield sun shades?

Convertibles can be frustrating when you have to leave them in the garage all the time because it might rain. (Given florida weather, an F50 Barc would probably be a garage queen, even if it weren't out of the price range.)

 

Consider the targa top cars as a nice compromise. You get the chance for open-air motoring (if not quite as open as a full convertible), but the top is quick and easy to put on and take off (unlike many Ferrari spiders) and when it's on you essentially have a fully-closed car with the security that that brings.

Although I drive a 328, I particularly like the 348 and 355 targas, since with the top on (especially if it's body-color) they look exactly like their berlinetta counterparts. However, the 355 targas are particularly hard to find.

 

Garage parked at both ends? Sure, it's kept in a garage at home, but if you drive it somewhere (such as the office), that's when it's out in the florida sun ... and rain bursts.

I looked at moving to St.Pete a while back, and that was a question I never figured out. If I had to park at work, the rain squalls would preclude a car cover, but the direct sun on the paint wouldn't be all that great either. (Not to mention the interior temperatures when you can't leave windows open.)

 

I'll cast my vote for a targa (having owned both soft-top and targa). IMO, the minor squeaks of the removeable top are small stuff compared to the upkeep/leaks of the fabric tops. Also less fussy to remove - Mondial cabriolets look nice but the top is hell to stow.

I also really like the semi-privacy afforded by the fixed rear window - everyone's not staring at the back of your head.

Given your budget, 328 GTS.