will I bottom out a 355 in my driveway?

Doesn't look good...these things bottom out real easy under the front bumper. My driveway is fine for my slightly lowered STi, but with the 355 I need to approach on an angle to not bottom. That is an unfortunate but very real issue...

 

You might need to get someone to drive their 355 or 348 in there....
A fellow f-chatter did that for me before I picked up our 348.

 

Just measured, the bottom of the front bumper is 6.5" off the ground, and the front edge of the bumper is about 26" ahead of the front edge of the wheel.

 

It looks likely that you will bottom out and if your Boxster flexs a 355 Spider will definitely flex more.

 

Hmmm, I have a similar approach to my work's underground parking, although the angle isn't 15% as yours (10% ?). Verdict? My Berlinetta rubs on the nose so I frequently just park outside. From your diagram, I'm betting it would more than "rub" the bumper.

 

James: "Hello friend, this is James... you know, your buddy James!"

Friend: "Hey man! What's shakin?"

James: "Dude, I'm about to buy this smokin' hot 355, but I think it might scrape on my driveway."

Friend: "Gnarly. That would really suck."

James: "Yeah. Hey dude, can you drive your crappy 348 over here and see if the front bumper gets torn off during the approach to my garage"

Friend: "No problemo!"

 

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CLASSIC!!!

 

Daniel, that was classic! Thanks for the morning laugh!!!!

 

It will almost certainly ground over the brow and the bumper will definitely scrape (at the least) when you get to the bottom!

 

I find with mine it doesn't bottom out much... I put it down to the distance between the wheels front to back is quite short compared to other cars I've owned therefore it doesn't scrap as much..... The front on the other hand sits quite low. I hop this makes sense!

 

LOL.

Well, I need a 348 to test out the safety of this under-tree parking space near my house... not sure what species of birds hang out there.

 

Is the ground level covered? Private? This is a Ferrari, and if it's the $100K softtop car I would think about who's parking next you, who walks by, etc.

Regarding the underground parking, I think a 308 without a deep front spoiler is your best bet. Also, given the budget you described, you would be able to enjoy the car and be able to easily write a check for anything that would go wrong.

I know this is the 'wrong' answer on the 348/355 forum, but you'll get the "I own a Ferrari" experience with a 308 just as well, probably with fewer issues, definitely at a less alarming cost. And you won't be using duct tape to strap your bumper back on every time you pull in/out of your garage.

My two lira...

 

Daniel,
The same words were rattling in my head just prior to reading your post. Never could I have stated it so well!

James,
If the Panzer grunts and rubs I would be VERY concerned with the 355.

Dave

 

LOL at Daniel but hopefully 348 owners have a sense of humor or you could lose some business. Definately well written and I laughed for a minute or more...

For the poster you can always move, it's just a condo!

 

Yes, have a 348,308 or mondail drive over there first. HAHA

 

If ground clearance is really a problem, consider a 328.

I speak from experience, as I have the driveway from Hell.

Extremely steep, narrow in the middle, ending in a sharp right turn to access the garage. I bought a 328 after researching ground clearance on various models, and believe it or not, it makes it without scraping, but only if I go e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y slowly, and only if there is no one in the passenger seat.
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Your driveway should be in a Jeep commercial.

 

Or Hummer...lol

 

It's especially interesting on a motorcycle, which is why I keep toying with selling my Ducati.

 

I'd get the car and put the house on the market.