Tested F355 F1 1997 I always want a F355. After the test drive, I decided the 355 is not my cup of tea. The handling is good, but the steering is too light. I like the handling of an Elise more than the 355. I love the sounds of that V8, it's wonderful. Very nice! However, the power is not so great. Although it has 380hp, my light tuned EVO6.5 can beat it 0-100km. F355 is still a great Ferrari, but I guess the F360 and F430 are much faster car.
Without being insulted??? Is this the way you respond to someone whenever someone doesn't agree with you? To Ferrariluk, I've heard similar thoughts about the 355 but more people don't mind the low power, especially at the low end of the RPM scale. 355's don't have much TQ and are somewhat heavy, which is why don't do well in drag races. Keep us posted on your experiences with a 360 or 430 and welcome to Ferrarichat. There are some characters like B-Mak here but take them cum granis salis. They can actually be funny sometimes. lol Forza, Cavallini
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder my friend. Just because you love your 355(if you really do love it) doesn't mean everyone else has to love it.
Interesting comments. I don't think the 360 is much faster. More torque I guess but 0-100km is about the same.
F355 need to be kept high in the rpm range, 5500 and above for power. It is there, but most people shift at 6000rpm when the car is only begining to get into its power range.
What are you talking about? F-chat is steeped in a tradition of differences of opinion. But slagging a 355, or any true exotic for that matter, due to its odd handbrake placement, lack of torque and poorer performance than a tarted-up Lancer is simply idiotic.
I like the 355. I don't mind that it has bog all torque below 5000rpm. I don't mind that it has very light steering. Over the years that I owned mine, I learned to drive around these issues - I derived huge pleasure from reving the car above 5k so that I could enjoy the symphony from the engine. What a noise! In my opinion, nothing else like it in the whole world. Similarly for the looks. Beautiful from any angle. I no longer noticed the steering lightness after a while either... At the end of the day, I bought my car knowing about these faults, but willling to live with them. If you can't do that, then that's fine and it's your choice. You will find the 360 and 430s are totally different animals - perhaps one of them will suit you better. Only one way to find out..... DRIVE THEM! Good luck with your search.
I'd owned my 95 F355B since 5/99 and I love the car's performance and handling. It may not handle like a newer 360 of F430, but at the track I keep up with the 360 with no problem. Always a pleasure driving my F355B. Will I trade for a Lotus Elise? H*** NO.
That's good for you. Yep, I want to drive the 360 and 430 someday. Perhaps one of them will suit me better!
Personaly i dodnt think ferrariluk realy wanted a 355 anyways, let alone a ferrari. You either want a ferrari or ya dont, its that deep gut feeling that one has. I think the dudes just looking to compare sports cars with his EVO. But its strange to seek out a ferrari forum and then tell US that he thinks that his ricer is quicker0-100, and that a 360 will be faster, seems stragne to me. IMO But maybe i am the only one who smells a rat.
I want a Ferrari. I love the sounds and looks of the 355, that's why I tested it today. However, the 355's perfromance is not what I wanted.
This guy is a perfect candidate for a viper or Z06. If all your after is speed, then either of these cars will do.. for less money.
Ever hear Nick Mason being interviewed about the 250 GTO? He seems to make a pretty good case for it being the 'perfect' car. To paraphrase him, you can carry a passenger, you can race it, you can rally it, it looks sensational, it sounds wonderful and everyone thinks you're incredibly clever for having bought it in the first place. For that much money I think I'd want a perfect car too.
Why would someone come on to a chat site, anyone for that manner, and throw rocks at what relates to that particular site? Seems idiotic to me. I agree with the second post
the Evo6 is four wheel drive and has a turbo, so it is FAST 0-100, its a rally car that only needs 0-100 soo all the power is there, a stock Evo6 can do 0-100 in about 4.4 seconds !! from a personal experience, the clutch and gear box cant handle that power for so long BUT on the other hand, the F355 is a very old car, so compare it with something within its age ...the F355 was VERY FAST when it first came out, now its just a classic ferrari... if you want it, dont think of the accelaration or speed.
Try the Ariel Atom if you can find one. Great performance without any of the problems you noted on the 355. Or maybe Andy will sell you his 348. Loads of torque, no power steering, and truly one of a kind. BT
Just because the 355 wasn't the right car doesn't mean that you wouldn't be impressed by other Ferraris. Drive a 360 or 430 like you intend to and see if your feelings change. The only Ferrari I've driven so far has been a 328GTS, which is not a fast car by any means by today's standards. I've driven quite a few other modern high performance cars and realize that a car like a C5 ZO6 or even an STi would destroy the little Ferrari without breaking a sweat. In the end, none of that mattered to me though, and I would take the Ferrari over those other cars in a heartbeat. The Ferrari was an experience that transcended speed and performance for me. However, everyone is different, so I hope you find something that eventually satisfies your needs.
There is a difference between differing opinions and insulting someone because of their different opinions. This is my point. And he's not the first to criticize the 355's lack of TQ, nor is he the first to praise its engine note. Forza, Cavallini
When I first test-drove a 355 I too was a bit surprised.....right off the bat I was wondering "where's the punch?". The thing you have to understand is that the engine is only 3.5 liters and yet produces quite a bit of power relative to it's displacment....in it's day it was amazing & cutting-edge...11 years ago. The 355 is what I call a "speed-tool", you need to know how to use it. Much like a 2-stroke motorcycle you need to keep the engine "on the pipe" (either you know what I mean or you don't)...if you keep that engine revving it puts-out big-time. The handling is outstanding, many racers have criticized it as being one of the best handling cars made. It performs, IF you know how to drive it. And Btw, the 360 is just marginally faster then the 355 with only 20+ more hp. A snappy throttle-by-wire throws on about 3/4 the power when you're just 1/3 the way into the pedal...feels faster. For raw power, can't beat the new Z06.....but then again, it's not the destination but how you get there that counts. I've yet to meet a 355 owner, but I've met quite a few people who have rationalized their way around the ticket price.......... Good luck!
I totally agree with this post. The 355 is unlike most other cars, and I am still learning to master my spider ... You really have to keep the rpm's above 5000 all the time to get the most out of the engine... At lower rpms it is slow for sure... but you just cannot forget about the sound of that beautiful engine at high rpms... especially with a tubi or capristo (and test pipes) - that harmonic symphony alone is worth a few less horsepower and less torque than the (crappy imo) american "race cars" like the corvette, viper, etc. At the end of the day, a vette is still just a vette, but a ferrari, that is an experience on a whole new level... gordon