has anyone here owned a ferrari 355?

i am being seriously tempted to add a 1998 black 355 to my stable. can anyone here tell me if i am nuts to consider a 355 as a daily driver? my wife covets our c4s!

You're not nuts, you're insane. The cost of maintenance on that car is very high. I have a friend that has two of them - a 348GTS and a 355. He's been a Ferrari nut all his life and he's just about had it with them. He went out and actually bought an I-35 because the TCO of those cars are so high. So, if you were thinking of it as a weekend car - man that would be sweet, but a daily driver it ain't. If you do wind up buying one post pics!! Gorgeous car. Rob

Get a GT3... do I hear GT3? Can someone give me a "GT3"??

aren't the oil changes around 5000 dollars for those things every 15k miles?

I'm not speaking from experience here on the Ferrari front, but I've thought about making that major jump...and I know I will at some point. However, my research into the Ferrari ownership experience is a bit frustrating. a)For one, they require frequent (in terms of mileage) service/attention by dealer. b)Those visits to the dealer are outrageously expensive. c)If you don't live in the vicinity of a dealer, it is a major ordeal to have the work performed...causing other such issues like either having to put a lot of extra (and costly) miles on the car to/fro dealer, or arranging other transportation with flatbed, etc. What most people will say is that if you have to ask the price, then you probably shouldn't be buying a Ferrari. There is some truth to that, but aside from the costs of it, hassle is a major part of the ownership experience. In my case, even if the service was free, I'd have to flatbed or trailer the car to one of 4-5 dealers (Toronto, CT, NJ, NY, Philly, DC, etc.), all of them about 4 or more hours away from where I live. Plus if I drive the car a lot (like I do everything else) like 12k miles or so (many busy weekends), who knows how often I'd be at the dealer.... If I lived in a city with a dealer, it would be much more simple, but I think it would still be annoying if I'm dropping $5k on the car every time it needs a little something...no matter how much $$ I've got. An acquaintance has a Modena and a 355 spider and said that he just plans around $1k/month per car over the course of the year. To me, its just a key bone of contention when I'm used to driving BMWs (and now a Porsche) with more of a normal ownership experience, relatively normal repair costs, and relative ease in finding a dealer (still 1.5 hours for me for BMW or Porsche). My e46 M3 has free maintenance for the first 3 years/36k miles. That makes life a bit easier too. Anyway, one thing to be said about certain Ferraris is that they will hold their value well provided that you don't drive them much. But then again, what's the purpose? Gotta drive the thing... ex. 360 Modena, especially the spider Others lose their value enough to forget ever wanting one...i.e. the 456 and 550 which lose major $$ every time you go to the grocery store. They make for "bargains" in the used market, but those same models will continue to depreciate at an accelerated rate compared to the 355s and 360s. Anyway, I think if you want to go Ferrari, make sure you're ready for it...

My brother has a 355 spider. Great car, but not a daily driver. The major service interval is 15,000 miles, where they change all the belts, plugs, blah blah blah, that is typically a few grand, but oil changes, which are more frequent, are only $130. That said it does not have the reliability of a porsche. If you thought there was no space in a 996, wait til you try and fit 2 people and luggage in a 355. The car is much lower than a porsche too, so driveways or potholes can be a nightmare. Prices are coming down tho, so if you have the cash, its a great weekend car. But to use it to go get the groceries, no! To quote one of the ferrari mechanics "30,000 miles is a lifetime for a Ferrari."

Read this thread on the 968.net board one of our members had the same idea you have.There is good first hand info from one of the members that has a great deal of experience with the 355... http://65.61.16.109/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4516 $3.33/mile cost of ownership... Not your daily driver... A 996 is a DD not a 355

JUST SAY NO! First mistake, Ferrari as a daily driver Second mistake, Black Leave it alone and drive the hell out of the C4S. Life's too short. Or get a red one.

I have been looking at 328's, 348's and 355's as well. This is what I have determined. Less power than some but more fun than Pcars. Much less reliable - things will malfunction and owners prepare for it by allotting $1k mo for service. Service prices higher - 15k service $3-4k , 30k service $6-10k(timing belt replaced) oil change $200- 350 most malfunctions in the $2-4k price range Most owners concede Fcars are not daily drivers, some who own both F and Pcars prefer one over the other, with about a 60/40 split favoring Fcars. I have been cosidering one because I think they are a more beautiful car than the 996 and there is a different mystique to the Fcar. I suggest you go to www.ferrarichat.com and www.ferrariclassified.com, you will receive help there as well. A 355 will range between $75 - 125k. With service added over a few years you are in the price range of what a TT will cost.

thanks for all the responses. some of you may be interested in the responses to the this same question on the ferrarichat board cited by fantod. i certainly don't expect to save money vs a turbo. i just think it might be more fun. who knows? the cam belt change service costs 5-6k at the dealer every 30k mi or after 5 yrs for garage queens. that i expect. what i don't know is how often these lovelies break down in the middle of the road. i can afford the car but i don't appreciate inconvenience. i'm also interested in finding out what the experience of driving a 355 day after day is like is it too harsh? will it constantly bottom out? it appears to me that most of my friends with ferraris have previously owned and loved porsches. many have both. novelty is a great but often expensive thing, otherwise we'de probably all drive toyotas and hondas!

eric i am tempted by a low mileage guards red turbo 996, instead. my only fear is the local constable i love red too i'm just chicken wouldn't it be great if all problems were this much fun?

igancio, The car as daily driver is not too harsh, and day to day you are not likely to bottom out that often, but if the roads are crap, there is a good likely hood you will scrape. It is a beautiful car and has a much more viceral feel than a 996, at WOT the sound is AMAZING, especially in tunnels. My brother has put about 10 - 15k miles on his car (I'm probably responsible for about 500 - 1000 of those) and it has yet to just crap out. The problems are less major mechanical failure, more annoying little things like the heater controls, or a window switch. If you have the doh I say go for it, but keep the C4S as you daily driver...

FWIW, I've put 20k+ miles on my 355 in two years. Maintenance IS expensive, lots more so than a 996. But maintain it well and regularly, and it IS dependable. If something breaks, it'll cost ya, but regular maintenance will keep you from calling AAA. And there are plenty of good independent shops around - you don't HAVE TO go to a dealer. A 15k mile service is probably around $1k-1200 at a good shop; an engine-out 30k mile service is going to be between $2k-$4k, depending on what else should be done, on a preventative basis, while the engine is out. Major problems CAN include exhaust valve guides ($5k-$9k) and cracked exhaust manifolds ($2k). But the incidence is much, much less than the 996 RMS problem. And a 355 *IS* fast. Is it as fast as a 996tt or Z06? Nope. But it IS faster than a "regular" 996. And, candidly, it is flat out fun to drive - nothing beats a mid-engine two seat sports car for thrills. My wife's 996 is awfully close, but not QUITE as much fun.... You won't bottom out in a 355, but you will likely scrape the front nose undertray. I have a pair of aircraft-grade nylon skid plates (also available in aluminum or titanium) to take the hit. As for depreciation, well, it depends on how you are in buying and selling. You can find a nice 355 Berlinetta for $70-$90k, with beat-up ones going for less and pristine no-miles Series Fiorano ones going for more. What will depreciation be in 3 years? Who knows, but probably no worse than a 996tt. And certainly LESS depreciation than a new "regular" 996. So budget for the additional maintenance expense, and worry less about depreciation. As for it being a daily driver, there is no reason why you can't take it whenever you would otherwise take the C4S, other than really inclement weather where the AWD might be helpful or if you need to carry more stuff. The 355 trunk is larger than the 996, though, of course, no rear seat area. One downside, depending on your POV, is that you WILL garner a LOT more attention. Some people are paranoid about parking, etc., but that's up to you I used to drive mine to work in downtown Boston 2-3 times a week. Bottom line - the 355 is BEAUTIFUL, FAST, FUN TO DRIVE, but budget for repairs and maintenace. vty, --Dennis

Dennis thanks for some positives! I don't think i am in the $$market$$ for a 355 but i can swing a 348 or a 328 or an older testi. it was my plan to have it as a third car and a fun weekender. my only question is whether or not i will have the discipline to NOT drive it every day!

Actually statistically speaking red cars do not get pulled over more than other colored cars. I've gotten pulled over so many times in my black 01 C4 that I get a plush toy from DMV if I get any more points on my license - I'm going for the dolphin!! Rob

Jason, TRs are a different ball game than a 355. Brother also has a TR (he has issues its true), its an amazing car, but the technology/design is going on 25 yrs old. Not an easy car to drive, and even more difficult to drive fast. All kinds of stupid annoying problems, and aside from the major mechanicals, the design is awkward at best (routing or wires and cables that are prone to breaking). You're dealing with a 12 cyl engine, so tune ups are a bitch, and parts are increasing difficult to find. 328s and 348s I can't really speak to...

the mean miles per year is 2500. If you want to keep the car until you die and can afford the upkeep you are good to go other then that GT2

riad where did you get the "statistics" regarding red cars? i'd love to believe it's true because i love red and yellow cars. both ferrari fly yellow and speed yellow are beautiful! i used to get stopped all the time in marginal situations in a guards red 911sc but i never get stopped in my lapis 996c4s or a white 912e i used to own. PLEASE convince me--i'd love another red car--be it a porsche or a ferrari. please include enough info so i can convince my wife. peace.

dennis thanks for your observations and experience. i know a 355 is an expensive toy to keep up i just don't want it to be a pain in the butt. i never worry about depreciation-- its a nasty reality like death and taxes. i am encouraged however to see a 1995 355 with 75k mi sell for over $52k on ebay while nice examples of 1998 and 99 355's sell for the low 80's with 10-15k mi. $30k depreciation for 60k mi sounds pretty good to me for an $80k fun car as long as it doesn't leave me stranded. it's great that so many people use these cars so little. i see lots of ads of people who are doing their 30k mi checks at 12-15k mi because their cars are already 5 years old! i can only assume that they have lots of other cars. btw, i don't expect to use it in the the snow like my c4s. i have a merc 4matic wagon and i'm keeping the c4s which my wife wants to drive more often and i also love. the ferrari is a dream and life is too damn short. i am encouraged that my neighbor and friend with a fly yellow 2000 modena has not needed any unscheduled maintenance with about 15k mi. in the past i have been disuaded from ferraris by their unreliability--maybe now is the time i continue to gather information--including a good local mechanic that is much less expensive than the dealers but very careful and talented btw, do you still own your 355? did you get it new? what color is it? any extra equipment you recommend.? i've already ruled out the "f1" transmission. it's too jerky and that gated shifter is so enticing! aren't cars fun? i have an appointment on sat to drive a 355. i'll report back my impressions.

I was on the same boat one month ago. Since November 2003 i was on the market for a 993 Turbo or 355 Spider. Made a big search on the net for both on rennlist.com and ferrari.com(great sites with lots of info) Drove several 993 Turbo, from 408Hp to the 430Hp engines and only drove one 355 spider. Well the 993 Turbo is fast and very well build but all cars I saw were a bit worn. The 355 spider had a sport exhaust that made an awful noise, I could barely hear the engine, and the gearbox when cold was very hard to operate it felt an old car school, from the suspension to the gearbox and pedals. I was hopping to come out of the 355 test drive completely amazed, but I wasn�t, it didn�t pleased me as much as I though, and so I end up buying a 996 Cabrio C2. I test drove all these three cars on the same day, and the 996 seemed more refined in every aspect. It may not have the power of a 993Turbo, and the lines of a 355, but it sure didn�t seemed slower than the Ferrari, and it felt more refined than the 993, plus it has more space(I�m 6.2/1,90Mts) more confortable, nice interior and with the factory sport exhaust makes also a beautiful sound, so it made my mind. Anyway, I still thing that the 993T and 355 Spider have a glamour that a 996 will never achieve, those are really special cars that will remain on car history with their own marc, and the 996 is just another mass production Porsche. Here�s some pics of my car

http://www.genesisautosales.com/Drea...ri/page_01.htm 7 pages full of Ferrari pictures.. Warning, you might *** twice..

Amen - life IS too short. Remember the old saying - you can sleep in your Ferrari, but you can't drive (and pick up hot chicks) in your house. [Well, I've never picked up a hot chick in my 355, other than my wife, but so I've heard.] My 355 is Rosso Corsa, tan interior - probably the most popular color combination. The 355F1 is the first generation F1 transmission, and is, candidly, not that great - the throttle is still mechanical, and you have to blip it yourself and time it perfectly to make shifts smooth. The 360F1 is much improved, but still somewhat less great than the M3 SMG-II, which itself is still, IMHO, less preferable than a manual stick. Shifting a 355 is actually really quite easy, once you get used to it. It's a very deliberate, positive action, not at all like shifting, say, an NSX. More like, as the old analogy goes, closing the bolt on a Mannlicher rifle. Ferraris are notorious for having a balky 2nd gear engagement when the car is cold, but the 355 is hugely improved in this regard, though, of course, it shifts better when warm. Extra equipment? Most owners end up with an aftermarket exhaust, the most popular being Tubi. Lots of owners get a "Challenge Grille", very common, which replaces the solid fiberglass rear vertical panel with a perferated black panel, which drops engine bay temps by 20 degrees or so. There are some common updates for early 355s that your shop can help you with (only one factory recall, for the fuel lines), but you'll have to pay out of pocket for them. Brakes are fantastic, plenty of power (some get an upgraded engine ECU for more power), great suspension. I replaced the airbag wheel with a momo racing wheel with hub extension for track use, and installed a set of harnesses and a fire supression system. I use 355 Challenge wheels with Pirelli slicks for the track. Most everything else is stock. Test pipes and a c/f airbox might add a bit more power. vty, --Dennis

Dennis, you mention track use with your 355. I'm curious about the Ferrari community and tracking. I know that regional Ferrari clubs have track days and all that, but in general, are your fellow F-car aficionados track fiends in general as well? I'm a complete track freak (42 days in the last 9 months),but I don't see too much Ferrari traffic on track. Is part of the story that tracking the car is simply amplifying the inherent "problem" with Ferraris, that being the need for frequent and expensive maintenance, etc? For someone who tracks all the time, should a 355 or 360 be avoided unless you're completely willing to pay blank check? I plan to join the Ferrari side at some point in the next several years. I also want to continue to go to the track all the time. I'm just wondering if it is feasible or not use such a car as a 'track car' or not... your insight would be appreciated..

I hang out with a fair number of Ferrari track freaks up here in New England, but, remember, the nationwide # of Ferrari owners isn't that big to begin with. As a percentage of owners, I don't know if we're more track-active than, say, PCA or BMWCCA members. But, FWIW, about half a dozen of us go to as many track events as possible. The FCA has 6-7 track events in the Northeast each year, at WGI, LCMT, LRP and Pocono. Of course, like any other car, the more you exercise the car, the more preventative maintenance the car needs. Aside from stuff like changing oil, replacing rotors, pads and brake fluid, changing transmission oil, etc., you'll have more wear and tear on stuff like wheel bearings etc. OTOH, track people tend to take much better care of their cars, especially compared to garage queens. Bottom line, if you track your car, you'll need to spend more money on it, but that's because you're USING the friggin' thing! Well, it's an awfully lot more expensive to fix crash damage.... Feasible, but not cheap. Check out a 355/348 Challenge, if you're going to be tracking it a LOT. They CAN be made street legal (prior to 1996 MY); how much street driving you'd want to do in it, though, depends on how sick you are. Overall, it's a great car that you can take to the track, take on a vacation, take to a local car show, take to work, or just sit and enjoy the view in the garage. Just be prepared to write the periodic check.... Lastly, no matter how awesome your GT2 or Ruf or whatever, it's pretty hard to replace a red Ferrari for eye-ball sucking appeal. vty, --Dennis

[QUOTE] Originally posted by BigHeadDennis [B]I hang out with a fair number of Ferrari track freaks up here in New England, but, remember, the nationwide # of Ferrari owners isn't that big to begin with. As a percentage of owners, I don't know if we're more track-active than, say, PCA or BMWCCA members. But, FWIW, about half a dozen of us go to as many track events as possible. The FCA has 6-7 track events in the Northeast each year, at WGI, LCMT, LRP and Pocono. Of course, like any other car, the more you exercise the car, the more preventative maintenance the car needs. Aside from stuff like changing oil, replacing rotors, pads and brake fluid, changing transmission oil, etc., you'll have more wear and tear on stuff like wheel bearings etc. OTOH, track people tend to take much better care of their cars, especially compared to garage queens. Bottom line, if you track your car, you'll need to spend more money on it, but that's because you're USING the friggin' thing! Well, it's an awfully lot more expensive to fix crash damage.... Feasible, but not cheap. Check out a 355/348 Challenge, if you're going to be tracking it a LOT. They CAN be made street legal (prior to 1996 MY); how much street driving you'd want to do in it, though, depends on how sick you are. Overall, it's a great car that you can take to the track, take on a vacation, take to a local car show, take to work, or just sit and enjoy the view in the garage. Just be prepared to write the periodic check.... Lastly, no matter how awesome your GT2 or Ruf or whatever, it's pretty hard to replace a red Ferrari for eye-ball sucking appeal. Thanks for the reply Dennis. I think we have crossed paths at WGI. Do you have a yellow 996 coupe that your wife drives...and I think y'all are instructors as well, correct?

Well, maybe... did I pass you? It's actually my wife's yellow 996. And, technically, it's her 355 too. And, yes, I'm an instructor.... vty, --Dennis

No, no, of course not. No one has ever passed me... I think I've seen you at a couple Tracquest or Trackmasters events in the garage area of WGI...like drivers meetings and stuff like that.

Are you buying the 355 to replace the C4? I think Ferrrari are wounderful works of arts and great weekend cars but a daily driver your nuts. The maintenance is expensive as said before. Also the rougher ride, louder engine, and less comffy seats would get old over due time. Buy it for the weekend, the looks, and bragging rights.

Well I empathize with you as I am the son of a Ferrari guy. I was nearly disowned when I went the Pcar route. All of the concerns listed above made the choice obvious. Having driven a 928 and now 996 C4s I knew that Porsche was the best of all worlds FOR ME. But you do sacrifice a little on all fronts- a little less exclusivity, a little less mystique, a little less performance ( not really). So I did the next best thing- I rented a 355 spyder on our honeymoon in St Tropez. There is nothing like a ferrari in that town. The engine, the sound, the smell, the look. Crusing to Monte Carlo and Canne as well as the back roads of the Cote dAzur, playing with Lambos, Pcars and Modenas in the hills above the sea was fantastic. But traversing France with my wife and luggage was cramped ( women never pack light). I realized that TO ME the Ferrari was a supermodel- extremely sexy, fun and to die for but not likely to be practical on a daily basis. Great experience, but not forever. When the idea of any routine or small item repair/maintenance could seriously put the deep hurt on you and the calculus of deciding when to drive the Fcar to factor parking, miles, weather, hassle etc is simply too much. I will always be intrigued by the prospect of owing an Ferrari but the reality of Pcar ownership has exceeded expectations consistantly. Best, ScottS 02 C4S