what about 996 Versus F355?

That was an interesting thread on the M3 versus the 996. What about a 95 Ferrari 355 as a replacment for a 99 996? The car will be essentially a 2nd car but will be used to some extent everyday (commuting and fun). Anyone here have experience with both or been through the thought process? or is this not comparing apples to apples (lemons? )

If I have the funds to maintain a 355, I know which one I would get and it doesn't begin with a 9. Alternatively a 993 Turbo S is what I would go for. Harry

OMG, you would need: a) a lot of nerve. Parking the 996 is worrying. Parking a Ferrari I would poo myself. In fact I would move my bed and TV into it and live in it! b) You need a humungous ammount of surplus cash to run it. And that's just for the yearly service ($8k is not untypical). c) Blow anything and you would also need to know how to blow bank vaults. But would I have one. Hell yes if I could afford it.

Checking the latest Ferrari Market Letter I could find (12/27), it looks like '95 355 prices are all over the place depending on all sorts of factors. Perhaps somewhere in the $70k to $95k range? In that price range, as you already know there are many options. I'd suggest asking your question on ferrarichat.com, where there are a lot of folks who own both Porsches and Ferraris - or at least search their archives for discussions of the 355. I find this Board sometimes biased against Ferrari ownership, but maybe I'm wrong. In particular, I'd ask first whether there are any unique to the '95 issues, as I think that was the first year for the model (it was introduced in '94), and second about maintenance costs associated with every day use. I believe the '95s needed a valve guide update. Check out this thread: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2085 Cheers, Will

Thats messed up. I just read through the chat link at teh ferrari forum. Apparently there is a design flaw in teh 355 here the car cracks if it is driven too hard on a bumpy road. Now that doesn't sound like a car I would like to drive at high speeds after a couple years. Who knows what else has cracked!!! Bobby

I have a friend that has owned 3 Farraris. An 89 308, a 91 328 GTS and a 95(?) 355 and he is really fed up with owning them. He has 3 other cars so only uses the Farrari on the weekends and he's spent countless thousands on up keep for cars he's driven a total of about 10K miles. Based on his experience I would never own a Farrari - I would rent one for the wow factor if I ever needed to, however, a daily driver is definately out of the question with these cars. Are they fast, of course. Do they turn people's heads? You know it. But unless you're Jay Leno I wouldn't invest the money - and more importantly time dealing with them. It's like having a second wife, lots of time and money. Peace! Rob

I haven't driven a 360, but a 355 didn't feel that fast to me. The sound is great, but steering feel wasn't, and to make it fly, you need to wind it hard. It was an easy decision ti buy the ttX50 over a 355. Now the 550 Maranello was a different story. Great power (read TORQUE) and slices thru traffic like a shark. But owner stories regarding reliability prevailed- and these were the stories of guys who had just sold- so until Ferrari can compete in the arenas of power, reliability and maintenance costs, I'll stay with Porsche. AS

I agree...but I'd recommend taking a look a their closest competitor: Ferrari.

Thanks guys for your views. Seems running costs are a big issue. I have heard a lot about reliability and maintenance costs with Ferraris but personally never had the guts to experience it first hand. Probably stick with the 996 for now and continue to admire the Ferrari from the outside!

That's funny Fat fingers, small keyboard.

My brother has a 98 355 spider, amazing car, if you plan on putting a few thousand miles a year its a great toy, but maint costs are KILLER. You are not dealing with German engineering and reliablity...routine maintenance is EXPENSIVE. But if you have the doh! go for it. Having driven it back to back with a 996, the butt-dyno says the 355 feels quicker. As far as attention, you will get ALOT more than with the p-car, which can be both good and bad...