thoughts and ramblings..

It might me tight. You wont even wanna know what trade in value is on your car. Minus the 355 add the 1.8T. It could be close brother. Hopefully im wrong. But then again the 355's have gone down quite a bit this past year.

Anything's possible.

V.

 

Here is your slap in the face:

*rubs towel on back of hand, tightens fingers and wrist.....SMACK!*

Now hopefully that backhand has knocked some sense into you, Ryan.

 

Funny you should mention those two cars.

I had a 2002 996 TT x50, it was my dream Porsche, before I got Fcar hooked.

It was one of the first x50's in T.O, and I got it new from Pfaff. This was my 3rd Porsche, but my first 996, and like you said, it was fast as hell and reliable too. But, after my last couple of porsches, I always felt something was lacking. Someone said it best, when they compared a 996TT to a very supped up Audi s4...just too easy to drive, and too removed from drivers feedback and sensory orgasm that made my old porsches great.
In retrospect, if anything, I should have gotten a 993 TT, or even better, a 993TT S.
Having gotten bored of the car, I decided to make the leap to a Ferrari, and the best one in my price range was a 355, 360's were still way too high!
In the end, I ended up trading the 996 just about dead even for a 1995 355 berlinetta, from the dealer, with warranty and just completed major service.
So, at least in that respect, I don't think you'll be getting much cash back
The 996 TT gets no respect on resale...you don't even want to know....
Even though the 355 was a comparatively "primitive" car (that my 996 could have eaten for breakfast) the fun factor was off the chart.....Even more remarkable, the handling was comparable...10 years older and 2 wheel drive, and it handled as well as the Porsche...unreal! Of course, the sound and the look of the 355 were leagues ahead, but that's a subjective call.

Bottom line, Fcars mean more expensive maintenance and less reliability...but you are dealing with a much older car. That being said, the more you drive them, the more reliable they are...I firmly believe all the shots you here about Fcar reliability are mostly because they are not driven enough to be kept healthy.
But for looks, sound, fun factor and exclusivity (everybody has a Porsche)...you can't go wrong. Be forewarned though, once you've been bitten , you ain't going back....proceed accordingly/with caution.

Also, was that your dads garage posted a while back?
Dude, trade it in for a 993 TT (for the fun and rarity factor) pocket the extra cash and borrow the old mans Fcars....its a no-brain-er! You can have your cake and eat it too!!

 

I know of a nice Black on red 355GTB thats just about to go on the market.

33KM. I saw it today. Its in good shape but was driven. That'd be a fun beater

Or are you just thinking of Spiders?

Vasco

 

Well, I got 143 for mine in 2004, it was a 2002, fairly loaded, polar silver ext, but it only had 3500 klm's on it...so 130 might not be a pipedream.
But, even if you get 130 for it, finding a quality 355 spyder aint gonna leave much change left over...and believe me, the last thing you want is a "bargian" ferrari.
(the money you save most likely will be eaten up sorting out the car, and probably more....)
I respect what you have to say regarding owning your own as opposed to using your dads, but when it comes to Fcars,...you might be better off forgoing ownership if you have daily, fairly unlimited usuage of those babies. Not many people are in such a good position as you! Besides, after driving the 430 spyder and that sweet barchetta, the 355 spyder might just not be able to do it for you...

These cars can be a *****, maintenance, repair and reliability wise, if thats something you can deal with...go for it! If you like to do alot of stoplight gunning, or cant stand the thought of the occasional vet or supped up mustang blowing you off, stick with the porsche, put in a few thousand to get it chipped, and be the king of the road.

Only you know what you really want....