Been Looking at Ferrari F355's Lately
02-10-2014, 07:41 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Been Looking at Ferrari F355's Lately
An internet friend asked me to look at an Audi S8 at a local dealer for him (I'm kinda a D2 A8/S8 expert).....so I did. They also had a 95 Ferrari F355 GTB there. OMG, I LOVE THE LOOK OF IT!
In the end, it was a beat version. So then I started looking thinking maybe I could get a cheap one for $40K.
Last week I looked at a guy's 95 in Salt Lake City. The guy is so cool, great to meet another car guy. His is for sale for $53K, he bought it for $48K two years ago and put $18K into since then. The car is super clean.
It is such a beautiful design....I want one just to look at it in my garage.
The owner took me for a five mile ride, mostly highway, then we came back and he let myself and my business partner drive it, while he drove with my brother in our rental SUV while he listened to me pass him on the highway over and over again at full throttle on the five mile loop!
I was very surprised regarding the lack of power that I felt, however, I did not fully ring it out. It redlines at 8,500, I was shifting at 7,500 and below 3,000 RPM is has no torque whatsoever.
The specs are:
Now that I read that again, I understand why it has no bottom end (it does not have variable valve technology), but I would like to drive it again to see if I can make it get up and go. I'm sure it has more than I thought it did.
Anyways, it handles very nicely, but after driving the 968, it is not as neutral as the 968, it has an ever so slight push. At least that's what I felt during my test drive. Similar to my business partner's 84 911.
Interior storage: NONE, two little pockets on the doors and one cubby in the center console, no glove compartment. I love the back seat of the 968 for storage, plus the other pockets and cubbies.
If I had "*uck you" money, I would be buying one. But for now, I will wait until the weather turns and drive a guy's in Chicago back-to-back with the 968 and get my opinion.
The one I looked at was very clean and I would not hesitate to buy it. But for now I have a completely paid for 968 with track wheels, coil overs yet to be fitted, a LSD yet to be fitted, a new dash yet to be fitted and almost everything else sorted out.
But I still want a Ferrari some day. The F355 is coined "The last analog Ferrari". I like that.
In the end, it was a beat version. So then I started looking thinking maybe I could get a cheap one for $40K.
Last week I looked at a guy's 95 in Salt Lake City. The guy is so cool, great to meet another car guy. His is for sale for $53K, he bought it for $48K two years ago and put $18K into since then. The car is super clean.
It is such a beautiful design....I want one just to look at it in my garage.
The owner took me for a five mile ride, mostly highway, then we came back and he let myself and my business partner drive it, while he drove with my brother in our rental SUV while he listened to me pass him on the highway over and over again at full throttle on the five mile loop!
I was very surprised regarding the lack of power that I felt, however, I did not fully ring it out. It redlines at 8,500, I was shifting at 7,500 and below 3,000 RPM is has no torque whatsoever.
The specs are:
- 268 ft-lbs at 6,000 RPM
- 380 HP at 8,250 RPM
- 0-60 in 4.6 seconds
Now that I read that again, I understand why it has no bottom end (it does not have variable valve technology), but I would like to drive it again to see if I can make it get up and go. I'm sure it has more than I thought it did.
Anyways, it handles very nicely, but after driving the 968, it is not as neutral as the 968, it has an ever so slight push. At least that's what I felt during my test drive. Similar to my business partner's 84 911.
Interior storage: NONE, two little pockets on the doors and one cubby in the center console, no glove compartment. I love the back seat of the 968 for storage, plus the other pockets and cubbies.
If I had "*uck you" money, I would be buying one. But for now, I will wait until the weather turns and drive a guy's in Chicago back-to-back with the 968 and get my opinion.
The one I looked at was very clean and I would not hesitate to buy it. But for now I have a completely paid for 968 with track wheels, coil overs yet to be fitted, a LSD yet to be fitted, a new dash yet to be fitted and almost everything else sorted out.
But I still want a Ferrari some day. The F355 is coined "The last analog Ferrari". I like that.
02-10-2014, 08:25 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
I read an article on the pitfalls of buying a used Ferrari a couple of years ago, and the main thing I remember is that up until I believe the F430, the engine has to come out to do a belt replacement, which is fairly frequently, like every three years. A daunting job for DIY'er, and probably upwards of five figures to have somebody else do it. Beautiful cars, though.
02-10-2014, 09:29 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
I read an article on the pitfalls of buying a used Ferrari a couple of years ago, and the main thing I remember is that up until I believe the F430, the engine has to come out to do a belt replacement, which is fairly frequently, like every three years. A daunting job for DIY'er, and probably upwards of five figures to have somebody else do it. Beautiful cars, though.
Guys drop the engine out without the car being on a lift with two jacks.
02-11-2014, 12:25 AM
#6
02-11-2014, 01:00 AM
#7
Administrator - "Tyson"
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
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I love the 355, IMO one of the best Ferrari's ever made.
I'll own one someday, quite possibly the one I currently service.
I wouldn't call it daunting. Took a day in the shop (taking my time) to drop the engine:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348...disection.html
I'll own one someday, quite possibly the one I currently service.
I read an article on the pitfalls of buying a used Ferrari a couple of years ago, and the main thing I remember is that up until I believe the F430, the engine has to come out to do a belt replacement, which is fairly frequently, like every three years. A daunting job for DIY'er, and probably upwards of five figures to have somebody else do it. Beautiful cars, though.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348...disection.html
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02-11-2014, 04:01 AM
#8
Team Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: one thousand, five hundred miles north of Ft. Lauderdale for the summer.
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the 360's aren't engine out cars like the 355's. and you'll see (the 360's) for sale with with 2~3 X + the miles.
despite being a few years newer.
Mr. Hacker.....
I didn't post from personal experience, but from the echo's heard from friends around the way in South Florida and other sources...
that the 355 to get would be one that had survived overheating the exhaust ports/less then great brass valve seats?
the comments in the thread were (also) not all first hand. but, nevertheless, interesting.
https://rennlist.com/forums/off-topi...-question.html
and mine....
I love the classic culmination of the '80s~'90s *** of the 355.
the sound must have really been something to anyone hearing them for the first time.
despite being a few years newer.
Mr. Hacker.....
I didn't post from personal experience, but from the echo's heard from friends around the way in South Florida and other sources...
that the 355 to get would be one that had survived overheating the exhaust ports/less then great brass valve seats?
the comments in the thread were (also) not all first hand. but, nevertheless, interesting.
https://rennlist.com/forums/off-topi...-question.html
and mine....
the 355s appear to be a somewhat easy-to-understand tragic case.
the engines weren't designed to run cats, period. and technically, you can say the same about a good number of their engines, such as the 360....
gunked up exhaust flow causes the (already poor-quality) headers to overheat, and fail, but, by that time, you've already overheated and fatigued the engine a good bunch - which in turn, will result in it requiring an overhaul.
*on the headers, the tubing is bent to where the curves become extremely thin.... and when you get a lazy bypass valve, or you just like to go fast, you get extreme heat buildup and melt through.... and hot exhaust gasses in the rear compartment is a very bad thing. but, the body is made of aluminum (a fire-resistant metal at low temps).
**the overhauls come from the poor ability of the cylinder heads, and poor-quality valve parts to tolerate all the heat cycling. once the fun starts, you're out tens of thousands of $$$.
but look on the bright side, this state of affairs is better than with some of the other models, which have more of a propensity to catch fire and burn up when the pipes get too hot.... at least you've still got your 355.
***some still manage to catch fire due to God knows what or leaking fuel.
read the ads for a dozen-or-so 355s and you'll no-longer be incredulous with respect to the low miles on the cars...
as this phenomenon is directly connected the costs for proper aftermarket headers to replace the oem garbage, and realization having set in the engines were going bum....
exceptions; the odd owner who may have switched to high-flow cats or removed the oem units altogether....
the engines weren't designed to run cats, period. and technically, you can say the same about a good number of their engines, such as the 360....
gunked up exhaust flow causes the (already poor-quality) headers to overheat, and fail, but, by that time, you've already overheated and fatigued the engine a good bunch - which in turn, will result in it requiring an overhaul.
*on the headers, the tubing is bent to where the curves become extremely thin.... and when you get a lazy bypass valve, or you just like to go fast, you get extreme heat buildup and melt through.... and hot exhaust gasses in the rear compartment is a very bad thing. but, the body is made of aluminum (a fire-resistant metal at low temps).
**the overhauls come from the poor ability of the cylinder heads, and poor-quality valve parts to tolerate all the heat cycling. once the fun starts, you're out tens of thousands of $$$.
but look on the bright side, this state of affairs is better than with some of the other models, which have more of a propensity to catch fire and burn up when the pipes get too hot.... at least you've still got your 355.
***some still manage to catch fire due to God knows what or leaking fuel.
read the ads for a dozen-or-so 355s and you'll no-longer be incredulous with respect to the low miles on the cars...
as this phenomenon is directly connected the costs for proper aftermarket headers to replace the oem garbage, and realization having set in the engines were going bum....
exceptions; the odd owner who may have switched to high-flow cats or removed the oem units altogether....
I love the classic culmination of the '80s~'90s *** of the 355.
the sound must have really been something to anyone hearing them for the first time.
Last edited by odurandina; 02-11-2014 at 04:29 AM.
02-11-2014, 11:45 AM
#10
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Yep, as they call it "gated shifter" vs. the F1.
All I keep telling myself is how much I LOVE driving the 968 in the nice weather. And I can daily drive it, this car you could not. Looking to track my 968 with the local Lotus club in May, that will be fun!
All I keep telling myself is how much I LOVE driving the 968 in the nice weather. And I can daily drive it, this car you could not. Looking to track my 968 with the local Lotus club in May, that will be fun!
02-11-2014, 11:51 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
02-11-2014, 11:58 AM
#12
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
It looks cool, it wasn't hard to shift, I imagine a non gated shifter would be easier to operate in the long run.....but it's part of the Ferrari experience. Once you get used to it, no big deal.
02-11-2014, 12:05 PM
#13
Rennlist Member
02-11-2014, 02:11 PM
#15
Three Wheelin'
Beautiful cars, but I knew three people with them and they all no longer have them (two of them traded in for 430). Their experiences were not the greatest, lots of down time.