David in LA

how about ditching the 996 and getting a 550 Maranello for a daily driver

vjd3

My favorite alltime Ferrari post ... required reading!

http://www.nsxfiles.com/f355_update.htm

"My only problem with my F355 is the irritating hand brake light that comes on whenever I do my normal two G late braking maneuver before every streetlight and stop sign. But hey, I can live with that. It is like having a supermodel forgetting to flush the toilet.......every damn time she uses it. You learn to live with it."

Robin 993DX

JC,

I have spent a lot of time on ferrarichat.com just doing my reading, you are correct that I haven't discovered any really technical stuff that can helps me with my decision. However I did find this link http://www.club348.com/ which was very helpful in explaining the 348 in detail.

Ray S

Clarkson.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7nZ6oVcDX4

f8vr993

Hi Robin,

Is the f-car time share thing still available?
I too have always fancy 355 B coupe or Dino 246GTS.(some day...)
However, before you jump on the f-car, have you consider NSX? It's my next car I'm considering when kids get older...
btw, friend of mine has 328 and he said maintenance was not a BIG issue(?)

ecobb993

Robin,

Guess you'll have to start the club355.com for us.

The Antenna Man

Keep the 993 and save up for the 360. I have both right now and go back and forth on selling the 993 until I drive it. The 993 and 360 go hand in hand and they are the best combo of cars I have had yet. I thought I wanted a 355 until I researched the issues on ferrarichat. Spent about $20k more in my case and got into a Yellow 1999 360 6 speed.

Ed Burdell

I saw a 355 go by this morning and I must say, that's one sweet looking car.

These Italian marques, hmmm....the Sophia Lorens of styling.

I've been lusting for a Murcielago (sp?) lately. They go for more than my house, so I'm in no danger of needing more garage space any time soon.

Benton

DO IT! So many people jump the bandwagon and don't even have first hand experience. You have the technical ability of a mechanic; a Ferrari mechanic can work on them, why can't you? People act like there is a NASA issued engine hiding in there... a car is a car! The 355 is my dream car, and I think I will buy one someday. No other Ferrari does it for me like the 355 does. You wouldn't drive it on the track probably, so why worry about how fast it is (even though it is pretty darn fast)? Go for it, and let us all know how it goes.

The only thing I would do different is sell the 996 instead of the 993.

Robin 993DX

Thank you guys so much for all of your posts, most of your post acturally encuraged me to take the plung. After reading reading reading different sites and ferrarichat.com, I feel that the service and reliability issues are way overly hyped. But I guess I will eventually find out for sure.

I have made a decision to take the plung, it is either a newer model 348 or an early 355. Not that I have anything against the 360, but looks like the 360 still have more room to drop. I can always trade the 348 or 355 for a 360 when the price fall enough.

And I am sorry to say, it is the 993 that's got to go. The 996 is just a so much better everyday than a 993, sorry guys don't kill me. Of course I wouldn't sell my 993 until I find the right Ferrari to buy. So I will have 2 porsches and 1 ferrari for a very short time... LOL!

The Antenna Man

I got my 1999 360 6 speed with 26k miles for a tad over $100k from a Ferrari Dealership with fresh 30k service. There are deals out there, unfortunately for those who think 360 prices will go under $100k I don't think so as the price difference right now between the 430 and 360 is roughly $100k, most people are getting 360's because they are priced out of the market with the 430.

Mike M.

Hmmm, not much experience with 355's, but some of the issues and problems, if I recall, and as people stated, were the access to the motor for maintenance (I believe the 360 allowed a panel behind seats for access? maybe yes, maybe no?), the valves or valve guides (hmmm....that sounds faintly familiar), and shrinking leather at the dash and elsewhere on the interior (common on older italian rides), not to mention the other finicky gadgets, electronics, and switchgear that may or may not work based on example and use. And rarity? The same seems to go for spare parts as well.

Nonetheless, like many others, I too, despite rational thinking, still lust for one of these, or actually, a modern classic GT like the 550 Maranello (less maintenance $$$, but still $$$). But it's fun to dream, ain't it?

Robin 993DX

Stefan,

Are you serious about this? We are quit actually serious, wouldn't mind another adding time share. So we each share one week. For a decent 360 that's only $40k each person, and we split maintenance cost, each have to get our own full coverage, for me it only adds $1000/year to my current insurance as a weekend driver. Wiht our busy schedule we wouldn't really get to use it too much at all.

vjd3

http://www.premiercarclub.com/

Rick Lee

Robin, a local German car repair shop owner had a 355 for a while. It was a gorgeous car. One day I asked him why I hadn't seen it in a while. He said he got rid of it because the 30k mile service was coming up and it was just silly expensive. I said, "But you have four huge shops with all the facilities and mechaincs." He said it was still not cost-effective to buy the necessary tools or put any of his guys on it. That really put my F-car dreams on hold.

A good friend of mine has a fleet of Ferraris, probably 30 or so and four of them are 355's. He got one 355 with a blown engine for $35k and had guy rebuild it for $25k. It must have been grenaded. IIRC, the '95's have serious valve guide issues, though most of the ones I've come across have already had the issue taken care of.

I'd save up for a 360 and spend the extra money on tools and parts for the 355 you should buy. I LOVE them. The 348 I drove was no faster than my 993 and they are maint. nightmares. 360's do nothing for me. I WILL have a 355 and/or a 512BB one day.