Ferrari 355 to 718 Spyder - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Wasn't sure whether to post this in the Ferrari forums or here. Currently have a Ferrari 355 berlinetta manual which I love and have owned for more than a decade. Beautiful and special as it is, I would like to step into something slightly more discreet, more modern but still special. The 718 Spyder is calling my name. I can't afford to run both. Has anyone arrived here from an older Ferrari (348/355/360) and what are your thoughts?

Berlinetta manual What sort of driving do you do in the 355? A Spyder will have numb steering and very stiff suspension compared to what you’re used to. But, it will feel amazingly ‘right’ when you first sit in it and drive it.

Sunday morning blasts, cafe runs with the kids (one at a time obviously!) and the odd continental jaunt - took the scenic route to Le Mans last year. Used to do far more long trips, but young kids mean they are few and far between.

I've had both a 718 GT4 and 360 (so not quite the same comparison but close enough). Very different cars as you allude to - the Porsche is a more focused tool and gets better the harder you drive it, whereas the Ferrari was rawer and an event to drive at all speeds. 360 wins on exhaust note no contest and the engine is a bit more characterful, although the GT4/Spyder unit is still a great motor. With OPF the 718s sound quite meagre from the outside but decent in the cabin. 360's steering was not amazing for a hydraulic rack but still better than GT4 (which is very good for electric). Gearboxes - 360 manual was more involving with the gated shifter and close ratios vs the GT4's "perfect" but less characterful shift and long gearing. Handling is an easy win for the GT4, although limits are high for road driving. One thing to note is the sheer size of a 360 (which I imagine applies to a 355) - I found the GT4 far easier to exploit on narrow country roads mainly due to the width. I would have another 360 but not a GT4 except as a track hack - in your situation I would keep the 355, you might miss it more than you think. But as a head over heart choice, you can't argue with a Porsche in 99% of these comparisons - and it will surely be cheaper to run.

I’d go 718 or 981. Always feels special yet more discreet, robust and useable than 355.

Not quite the same but worth a watch https://youtu.be/AUzNOUZ1bd8?si=Bh806QxuOfDCgKbR

Had a 355 GTS some years back . Lovely car for summer with shorts and shades on but as a driving tool I don't see it compares to the 981 GT4 I had as totally different cars. So , it depends on your usage. If it's an occasional car then maybe you'll miss the 355 for it's sounds and pure beauty. If on the other hand you want to drive more and push on a little the Spyder you'll love. I've given up on the classics now. Can't be doing with the hassle anymore. For me , I'd make the switch but maybe you need to go drive one first . Good luck

I've got a 550 Maranello, and wanted to add either a 360/430 Spider or 718 Spyder to the garage as a contrast to the big GT. I'm a huge Ferrari fanboy, but I went 718 Spyder as I figured one needy 90s Italian car is enough, and the appeal of having a newer car and getting the Spyder serviced locally massively appealed (Ferrari dealers/specialists are 3 hours from me, the Porsche dealer is only 45 mins). I do still wonder if I made the right decision, I love the Spyder but I do keep thinking what if...

Get a decent test drive in the Porsche, I found the long gearing made it rather uninvolving (981 rather than 718 but both have similar gearing)

gareth h said: Get a decent test drive in the Porsche, I found the long gearing made it rather uninvolving (981 rather than 718 but both have similar gearing) I find the (manual) gearing perfect.

gareth h said: Get a decent test drive in the Porsche, I found the long gearing made it rather uninvolving (981 rather than 718 but both have similar gearing) It's weird it never bothered me as unless I was revving it out I still rowed up and down the gears. Noticed it more on track coming out of bends.

Billy_Whizzzz said: gareth h said: Get a decent test drive in the Porsche, I found the long gearing made it rather uninvolving (981 rather than 718 but both have similar gearing) I find the (manual) gearing perfect. The “fun” roads I drive are 40-80 mph, 1st and 2nd gear only, sort of detracted from the experience

GT3Manthey said: Had a 355 GTS some years back . Lovely car for summer with shorts and shades on but as a driving tool I don't see it compares to the 981 GT4 I had as totally different cars. So , it depends on your usage. If it's an occasional car then maybe you'll miss the 355 for it's sounds and pure beauty. If on the other hand you want to drive more and push on a little the Spyder you'll love. I've given up on the classics now. Can't be doing with the hassle anymore. For me , I'd make the switch but maybe you need to go drive one first . Good luck I fully concur. Loved my manual classic Ferraris, last being a F355 spider with the FHP and capristo, but trust me, after moving to a GT4, you will wonder why you didn't move on ages ago.

Thanks all for your views. Regarding size, the Porsche is actually a couple of inches wider than a 355. I love the 355's handling, had the suspension rebuilt recently with dampers refurb'd and new springs, and it's got great balance and agility. I can imagine the Porsche has much more grip, but would be amazed if it handled significantly better - anyway, we'll see, as the test drive is booked.

I have classic Porsche and modern Ferrari, luckily I can have both. There is a lot to be said about having a modern car that not only has modern toys, decent air con and ventilation, but can just be turned into daily mode and driven. I haven't driven a 355 for a long time, but if it's anything like the old 911, modern cars suspension and handling runs rings around it. To my mind totally different cars for different things. I could well understand wanting something modern.

It's a personal thing... when you already own 'nirvana', an idol to most/all, but having owned it for a decent wedge of time and covered the drives that will stay in your memories...you get itchy about experiencing something else, it's not easy. Do you want to leave this life having owned just a couple of cars? or leave having experienced many? I'd suggest the itch you feel will only grow. I had an S2000 which I felt was 'enough' for me, forever, at my pay grade. I came into some money, and all that love and emotion went bye-bye and I entered the world of 981 Spyder... turns out I need a balance of owning good cars for a long time but changing when able, and/or when I feel that itch.... I have not looked back. The other option is joining a car-club thingy, spend some time in all these other modern things, but go home to your personal choice...

HardtopManual said: Regarding size, the Porsche is actually a couple of inches wider than a 355. Wikipedia, which is usually quite accurate for these things, says the body of a 718 is 1801mm wide, whereas that of an F355 is 1900mm. Often width figures can be difficult to get a handle on, as it isn't always clear whether they've included the mirrors or not.

I still vividly remember the day I had to let go of my manual 355 .... it is not a happy memory. I sold it for 27k at the time (it did cost about the same in services and petrol over the previous 2.5 years and 20k miles). Still is my favourite car and loved it more than the more modern cars that followed. Think carefully about this decision as if you miss it, you won't be able to get yours back, which I am sure you know inside-out now. I love my Porsche too, but it is a very different experience and at low speeds not as much fun as the 355 was. Good luck

HardtopManual said: Thanks all for your views. Regarding size, the Porsche is actually a couple of inches wider than a 355. I love the 355's handling, had the suspension rebuilt recently with dampers refurb'd and new springs, and it's got great balance and agility. I can imagine the Porsche has much more grip, but would be amazed if it handled significantly better - anyway, we'll see, as the test drive is booked. Out of curiosity, which tyres you have in your F355? I was wondering if modern tyres such as the Cup 2s had the rear F355 original size, how it would handle? Would it be too much tyre grip for the suspension to handle? Cheers.

Billy_Whizzzz said: Not quite the same but worth a watch https://youtu.be/AUzNOUZ1bd8?si=Bh806QxuOfDCgKbR The 981 and the 718 4-litter sound so much worse than the 911s.

Kart16 said: The 981 and the 718 4-litter sound so much worse than the 911s. Having had a 981 Spyder and a 911 with the same engine I can tell you categorically that the 981 Spyder sounds about a million times better.

Kart16 said: HardtopManual said: Thanks all for your views. Regarding size, the Porsche is actually a couple of inches wider than a 355. I love the 355's handling, had the suspension rebuilt recently with dampers refurb'd and new springs, and it's got great balance and agility. I can imagine the Porsche has much more grip, but would be amazed if it handled significantly better - anyway, we'll see, as the test drive is booked. Out of curiosity, which tyres you have in your F355? I was wondering if modern tyres such as the Cup 2s had the rear F355 original size, how it would handle? Would it be too much tyre grip for the suspension to handle? Cheers. Michelin PS5 currently. Had Pilot Supersports before these. Both great tyres. My preference is for predictability rather than outright grip as there are no electronics to save you when it starts to let go. When I first bought the car it was wearing Bridgestones which were crap.

or a 911 cab for a bit of fun, 2+2 roof down, sun burnt when in traffic, what could possibly go wrong.

garypotter said: or a 911 cab for a bit of fun, 2+2 roof down, sun burnt when in traffic, what could possibly go wrong. I'll whisper it... I don't really like 911s. Even the RS variants leave me a bit cold.

HardtopManual said: garypotter said: or a 911 cab for a bit of fun, 2+2 roof down, sun burnt when in traffic, what could possibly go wrong. I'll whisper it... I don't really like 911s. Even the RS variants leave me a bit cold. To be fair you'll also be able to take more than one kid for a drive as well. Look for a 991.1 GTS Cab to test and see how you get on with it. The 991.2 TTS is the best all round bang for buck but the exhaust note lets it down. Anyway apologies for the thread drift

HardtopManual said: I'll whisper it... I don't really like 911s. Even the RS variants leave me a bit cold. I Have sent you an email 🙂