Randy M

Ta dahh...

Since this pic was taken the mickey mouse mirrors are gone. Now I have one bar end mirror on the left side. Cleaned it up quite a bit.

wch

Great garage, beautiful car ... incredible bike. Love the color. Thanks for the post.

PS - My mother's a USC alum. "Flush twice, it's a long way to Westwood."

Randy M

Thank you sir. Oh that's a good one but I'm sure the response would be that USC's neighborhood is where everything goes to get treated. I was just there for homecoming. Two more wins till the Orange bowl...

2ndof2

My buddy has a 355 drop top and spends a boatload on maintenance. Motor sounds incredible, car looks great, hauls butt. My only negative impression is that it has instrument gauges that look like they came out of a 1970's Buick. He drives like a madman and only still has his license due to a pardon from the governor....

brian J

I own a yellow 355 Berlinetta and it has been a pleasure to own. The key to buying a used ferrari is to buy a car that has been well looked after preferably by an enthusiast. You have to know and research each model to find out what the issues were, once you have that knowledge you can then search for cars that have been sorted out.

My 355 had a fair number of problems early in its life to the tune of about $30k(soft valve guides, cracked headers and manifolds) that was taken care of by PO. Now I have a well sorted car that to date has given me no trouble whatsoever and is serious fun to drive.

the ferarri is a work of art and a blast to drive and oh that engine sound especially with a Tubi exhaust is like nothing else this side of F1. There is something about a ferrari that justs grabs you and wont let go once you have had a chance to experience the raw, gutteral, soul stirring experience of driving one.

Anir

You may have a point about their road cars, but our Italian-made Elektra Micro Casa espresso machine is one of the most robust and well-engineered items I've ever owned. I have no doubt that it will still be operational after I'm long gone. Truly heirloom quality.

Italian shoes ain't bad, either. Definitely got some "go" in addtion to "show".

My 1999 Ducati 900SS was perfectly reliable, as well. Too bad, the same can't be said of its rider.

supergrass

$30k early in it's life for repairs?!!! Damn, that's what I was afraid of. I may just have to part with one of my 993's to get a Twin Turbo, less expensive and will kill a 355 in performance.

chris walrod

I have read some about the 355 and its common problems. The maintenance seems to be predictable with 'majors' being about $7K. This is the engine-out belt change plus some resealing work.

The talk about pressure accumulator and pressure pump failures on the F-1 (paddle shift) models is what would scare me away. Either component seem to fail without any rhyme or reason and together cost ~$12K to replace..

I like the 355 and the 360, but if I had to pick one, it would be the 355 manual trans..

There is also some talk about early models (circa 1995/6) having rear quarter panel rust issues..

RAC

I was never been much of a Ferrari guy, until this past September. I was back home visiting an old friend. He had just purchased an older Testarossa. I must admit that when I heard the starter turning over and then the engine came roaring to life I was hooked. The drive was even better. I told myself that someday somehow I would have one of these cars.

177mph

I'm lucky enough to have driven both an f355 spyder and a 360 hardtop. The 360 is an amazing car. It's light years ahead of all the early ferrari's. The 348 was a troublesome car at best - but they fixed most everything in the 355. I personally loved the f355 spyder. It had a tubi exhaust - and the intake is right behind your ear. Amazing car. I would actually pick it over the 360 - just for the visceral thrills. The 360 is great - but almost too polished.. hmm like the 993 vs 996....

mooty

" Everyone who loves cars should own a Ferrari at some point in their lives."

gary, you are not helping at all ;-)

Mike_A

....my wife calls me a well-built and robust piece of italian machinery

mborkow

anir, i have nuova simonelli espresso machine, and when it works it makes the best cup of coffee in town...but i have sunk over 1/2 of what i originally paid for the machine into repairs --and i have only had it 3 years. italian QC just isn't up to snuff, imo.

chris walrod

I think my wife would call me problematic Or a total nut, for that matter..

jbuchsba

Hi...there was a thread about two guys with matching ferraris....one of the two was almost always in the shop (alternated...). There are few cars as nice....or as expensive to maintain.

On quality, my Campagnolo record equipment (lots of versions over many years, some semi-pro in Europe) has been flawless. The stuff is made to last...only recently has other stuff caught up in quality. In the 1980's, they were even better (shifting was so so, but they polished areas you would never ever see unless you took the small things apart).

These days, high end USA bike parts are just as good or better (zero gravity ti brakes for example). I suspect the problem with the F cars is that they are very close to racing cars...weight and looks over reliability. Probably a choice made by the designers. I'll never be able to afford one, but I like to look at them.

JB