Thinking about buying a f355 or 993 Turbo

I would choose the 993 Turbo cus it will smoke a 355, But I'd really take a 512TR before either

 

watch out for stress paint splits along the pillars on the GTSs, esp. in normal to higher mileage examples.

 

Get a 355 if you want to have a blast. The Porsche might "might" be faster although they put down the same numbers on various tracks but its in the 355 that you will have more thrills.

 

I had a '99 355 GTS with an F-1 transmission. I bought the car new, and it was a beautiful looking, aggressive sounding (with tubi) elegant machine that had the nimbleness of the smaller ferraris in a fairly luxurious package. I like open air motoring, but in the Northeast US, a convertible can be problematic, and i don't like driving one with the top up. My GTS had a carbon fibre roof insert, which was suprisingly heavy. The dealer remarked that the car exhibited less flex than they were accustomed to in the "targa" (sorry, P word) version of the car; apparently, the true convertible is preferred for this reason alone. I liked the roof line of the GTS, which gave me the best of both worlds.
I only got rid of the car because i found the paddle shifter uninvolving for street driving. (I am not advocating that one way or the other, but its another factor in your decision). The GTS does not seem to hold value, so buying a depreciated late one may be a good deal.

Having said all of that, i didn't really like the power assisted steering on the car. I have also owned a 348 spider, a 328 gts and a boxer, all of which had no "assist" and far preferred the steering in all of them over the 355.
The biggest disappointment in the 8 cyl. ferraris tends to be the lack of torque. These cars run on revs. If you want push you back in the seat launches, buy a 12. But, the 12s just aren't as nimble to toss around, and got progressively bigger and heavier, even as they evolved as mid-engine cars. Once in the 12 cyl. realm, there will be much left to personal preference, daytona v. boxer, boxer v later flat 12, flat 12 or back to Daytona style with the Maranello. Personally, the boxer is my favorite of all these cars, and is a relative bargain, to boot. But, alas, its a coupe. Oh, yeah, and by the way, after a couple of 550s, i am currently driving a porsche.But, then again, i've got my eye out for an older carb'd 12 cyl. ferrari, so don't be influenced by other's choices, there's alot of personal preference in this, but by all means listen to the advice on the relative mechanical/maintenance/driveability issues that are presented. There are alot of really knowledgeable people on this board who have driven them all....

 

Depends what you want I guess.

Daily driver in all weather conditions ? 993 TT is the choice.

If it's "balls to the walls" power and the ability to easily modify a car for much more HP....(Autothority Stage 2....$7K USD and 100 "real" HP....done it myself)......then the 993 TT is a winner hands down as it will eat the 355 for breakfast.

If you want something else, then the F car is for you.

 

355 is a lot of fun. The Porsche doesn't exude the excitement the Ferrari does. At least until you lose the Porsche in a turn...
If you can find an F1355, so much the better.

 

I've got the 355 F-1 and the 996 C-4. For me, the 355 is much more fun. They both have a top speed of 183, yet the 355 is a bit quicker. Certainly more fun to drive. The P-car is the daily driver, but the fun comes in the 355. In my view, the TR is antiquated technology. The 355 is everything you wanted a 348 to be.

 

staright line a 512TR will annihilate a 355 and hang with a 360. The 512TR has a different frame from the early TRs it is much more ridgid so the car handles much better. The Hp & the sound of the flat 12 are very nice

 

I had a 993tt and it was a great car. BUT the 355 is the far better car. The Porsche is for sure stronger down low... gets up and goes. The 355 you have to burn a little tire for it to get up and go. Once you get the RPM's around 5000's the thing turns into an animal and the sound is just///// how should I put this Ferrari only ( I like the stock sound, no need for you to waste 3k on a tubi that really gives you no extre hp. Besise the stock car allready sounds better then anything on the road.). The 355 handles far better. On the twisties Ferrari, in traffic Ferrari. But on the open road I just have to say if you don't have the right RPM's in 355 the Porsche will say bye bye. Even if you did everything right still you are not gonna loose that 993tt. Sorry. Overall the355 is a much better car and that is why I got rid of the 993tt and got a 355. Not to mention the looks and the attention.

 

bjm- the SCREAM will come at 3500rpm and above in any gear. So in first that's about 10mph or so and beyond

The 355 actually opens an exhaust butterfly to a louder muffler under computer control at 3500rpm. It was a clever way for Ferrari to put a non-road-legal exhaust on a street car and sell it! (EVIL GRIN!)

The Porsche is a great car, and engineered to the hilt. But it dosent' have THE SOUND!

The F355 is the most fun you will have in a sports car with your clothes on.

They are wildly different cars. Drive both and you will see!

Best!
Ben.

 

The 355 is considered the "Daily Driver" in the F-car world. Mine has been incredibly reliable. The darty/quick reacting steering, nuetral handeling, and high revving power band, all equate to the closest thing I have experieced to my 125 Shifter Kart days. The 355 is so easy to drive fast on the street, but push it HARD, and you enter a whole other demension in driving. It takes a lot to get it to the threshold on the street. The speeds are so fast (and unsafe for the street) that I rarely do it. I must sat though, that the experince is truly unbelievable.

After owning MANY Porsches, I bought my F-car. Not to be funny, but if you buy a P-Car today, you will in all likelyhood find your EXACT twin on a daily basis. I see SO many Twin Turbos in my town that it makes me sick.

 

agree with most comments here about 355, except for the one about don't bother putting a tubi on and saving £3k....my de-cat tubi with test pipes makes an already super car even better and i wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone else....it's the icing on the cake!
tony

 

Definitely a matter of RPM, not speed. It'll shriek at 8000 rpm in 1st gear. At speeds over 100 I'd venture to say it's gonna be harder to hear the engine note than at lower speeds.

 

Does not matter 1st gear 2nd gear try going under a bridge and hit it. Ohhhh make sure you turn off the stereo. Because you will hear the most amazing exaust sound.

 

BJM,

The trademark F-Scream on the 355 happens whenever you punch it (regardless of the speed.)
You do need the R's above 4000, which is no problem. The sound is the best part. Folks hear you coming a block away....

 

the spider would have cost more when new than either gtb or gts and retains that premium now too... it's a tough choice between them but spider does it for me
tony

 

355 GTS with a Tubi - Top looks and top sound IMHO