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View Full Version : Buying a Ferrari, F355 vs. 360



adamc
07-27-2009, 01:30 PM
So a family member is in a position to finally own a Ferrari as a summer toy.

He has always had a soft spot for the 355, but I am trying to sway him towards a 360 Modena.

The 355 he is looking at is a spider, and the 360 is a hard top coupe.

Have any of you driven both of these cars?
Which did you like better, and why?



The 355 is awesome and all, but I think it looks a little too dated, and that he should find a mint red 2000-2001 360.



http://www.kaliteliresimler.com/data/media/1707/Ferrari_F355_7.jpg


VS.


http://www.allsportauto.com/photoautre/ferrari/360/modena/2001_ferrari_360_modena_08_m.jpg

Konj
07-27-2009, 01:34 PM
Performance: 360
Fun: 355
Looks: 360

Nonetheless I would still choose the 355 over the 360 because its a convertible.

2EFNFAST
07-27-2009, 01:45 PM
Arn't the 355s total slugs?

Xtrema
07-27-2009, 02:29 PM
Originally posted by 2EFNFAST
Arn't the 355s total slugs?

In today's standard, yes. Still pretty fast tho.

civic_stylez
07-27-2009, 02:38 PM
If he/she narrows it down PM me and I will give you a breakdown of the pros and cons for both or email me.

I drive several of these on a daily basis.

[email protected]

5000Audi
07-27-2009, 02:44 PM
mid life crisis? lol

ABteg00
07-27-2009, 03:01 PM
what about price?

how much are both going for

TravisJ
07-27-2009, 03:07 PM
The F355 and F360 are two very different cars. The buyer really needs to drive both to see what he likes better. With that said, he may be able to rule out one or the other.

What is his price range?
How tall is he?
Does he want a 6MT or F1?
What is his tolorance for maintenance expenses?

rage2
07-27-2009, 03:19 PM
The 355 is a lot more nimble than the 360, but it's a nightmare in terms of reliability. Don't bother with the F1 transmission in the 355. It's fucking horrible.

The 360 is more "NSX" like in terms of comfort, reliability, and the F1 transmission feels very similar to the SMGII in the M3's. If it's a daily driver he's after, the 360 is the way to go.

The only reason to get a 355 is if you really like the looks of it, or you can't afford a 360.

Graham_A_M
07-27-2009, 06:51 PM
Originally posted by ABteg00
what about price?

how much are both going for

You can get a 360 for as little as $75k USD on ebay... yes i've been looking quite actively :rofl: I can't afford one right now but man... :bigpimp:

These economic times are good for a few things to be sure. :clap:

Kona9
07-27-2009, 07:28 PM
Originally posted by 5000Audi
mid life crisis? lol

How is getting to a point in life, where you have the ability to choose between Ferarris, a mid life crisis?

E36M3
07-27-2009, 07:44 PM
I prefer the 355 for a couple reasons.. I think it looks better, it definitely sounds better (exhaust is a must, with cat delete) and I think it has aged better. Both are old cars and pretty slow by todays standards.

As others have pointed out, maintenance is heavy on the 355, so be careful to by one that has had proper servicing and is checked out well.

I'd recommend a 355 coupe (much tighter, more focused) and would definitely stay away from the F1 in either car, but especially the 355. The F1 in the F430 is barely passable, and the 355/360 are terrible in my opinion. The beautiful gated shifters really add a lot to the experience as well.

C4S
07-27-2009, 07:47 PM
Um .. price point, F355 spider and F360 coupe .. pretty close ..

I would say FUTURE VALUE for F355 will be higher .. as they are more rare.

They both good looking car .. but I like the CLASSIC look on F355 more, and they are more RARE in Calgary.

But as rage said, F360 is more reliable. (but Ferrari are NOT reliable as well, dont expect 911 Turbo reliability)

Tough call ... it also depends on availability as well .. won't be hard to find a F360, but hard to find a F355 in right color.

Performance .. they both fast .. not super fast in today standard, but it is a Ferrari, you buy the name and the look.

F355 spider ~ 4.8 sec 0-60mph ( coupe is a bit faster )

F360 coupe ~ 4.3 second 0-60mph.

Just ~ half a second different.

I love to get a F360 coupe in Black ... :D

F355 spider? gotta be RED

PremiumRSX
07-27-2009, 07:48 PM
I don't know anything at all about Ferrari's, but I can tell you that I think the 355 looks better all around.

483hp
07-27-2009, 08:11 PM
My vote goes to a F355 6 speed. F1 is horrible as others have mentioned. With an aftermarket exhaust, it's the best sounding car you can get other than a Carrera GT. That is a big part of the fun of this car.....the absolutely ridiculous F1 noise which can be coaxed out of it with a simple exhaust upgrade.

The F355 is a great car. I bought one a few months ago and it's been bulletproof. For the street, I enjoy driving this car more than a 430. When switching back and forth, the 430 feels huge by comparison.

B4tMan
07-27-2009, 08:15 PM
360, the predecessor of the 430, is the overall option to go for. An abundance of acceleration with an improved design over the 355, it is a sexy car to own.

Make sure your uncle knows what maintenance will involve before he decides to pull the trigger.


Tell him to pull a euro test drive : fly to Germany, rent and autobahn the auto so he can decide if it is what he wants.

483hp
07-27-2009, 08:20 PM

adamc
07-27-2009, 08:44 PM
Thanks for all of the opinions so far guys.

It's actually my dad that is looking, he has a highly modded out M5 as his daily driver, so he's covered for the "speed" side of things.

He understands that he's not buying a modern day supercar. (and I swear to god he NEVER speeds anyway, LOL, drives me crazy!)





He also does understand how expensive the service on both of these cars will be.

Part of his consideration of this purchase was to look at a euro delivery of a Porsche in the same range. I think the budget caps out at 150ish.


I will pass the comments on to him, thanks to all that responded so far.

adamc
07-27-2009, 08:49 PM
Originally posted by TravisJ
The F355 and F360 are two very different cars. The buyer really needs to drive both to see what he likes better. With that said, he may be able to rule out one or the other.

What is his price range?
How tall is he?
Does he want a 6MT or F1?
What is his tolorance for maintenance expenses?


-He is considering cars under $150k

-He is 5'8ish, just a little guy, I'm 6'2" :)

-He has always had manual cars, I assume he would like 6mt

-Low to medium, I understand he is looking for cars that have already had the engine out service completed.

E36M3
07-27-2009, 08:58 PM
All true. I'm also looking at an F355 and have had an F430, and the F355 is much more fun to drive in my opinion and sounds better. Comparing the fun of an F355 with an F360 is a joke IMO.

Worth noting is that if he is interested in an F355 make sure to drive both the spider and coupe. There is a massive difference in feel. The spider is very loose and rattles, unlike the 360/430 spiders which are very solid. I'm not sure about the GTB, as I haven't driven one for a really long time.


Originally posted by 483hp
My vote goes to a F355 6 speed. F1 is horrible as others have mentioned. With an aftermarket exhaust, it's the best sounding car you can get other than a Carrera GT. That is a big part of the fun of this car.....the absolutely ridiculous F1 noise which can be coaxed out of it with a simple exhaust upgrade.

The F355 is a great car. I bought one a few months ago and it's been bulletproof. For the street, I enjoy driving this car more than a 430. When switching back and forth, the 430 feels huge by comparison.

nismodrifter
07-27-2009, 08:59 PM
355 yo. One of the best looking Ferrari's made IMO.

Hellooooooo
_qtd2yxvVR0

soloracer
07-27-2009, 09:39 PM
I like both the 355 and 360 and agree with Rage in that the 355 will be a maintenance nightmare. Talk to anyone in the know and they say the 360 is a much more reliable car. Chances are your 355 will spend more time in the shop than on the road.

I would recommend that he consider a third option like a Lambo Gallardo or Porsche GT3 instead. They are faster, more reliable and still make the right noises.

TravisJ
07-27-2009, 10:14 PM
Originally posted by Graham_A_M
You can get a 360 for as little as $75k USD on ebay

A $75K 360 will come with many long stories designed to make you forget all the reasons you shouldn't buy a cheap exotic car. Pay a little more now or pay a lot more later.

TravisJ
07-27-2009, 10:16 PM
Originally posted by adamc
He has always had a soft spot for the 355, but I am trying to sway him towards a 360 Modena.

Why are you trying to sway him away from what he wants?

you&me
07-27-2009, 10:27 PM
Adamc - At $150K, your father is getting mighty close to an 05 F430 coupe with a 6-speed manual (or well within budget if he'd look at US cars)... just wanted to further complicate things! :D

Out of those three, it would come down to the F355 or F430 for me. Between those two, it would depend on what kind of experience he's looking for.

Don't let the tales of the F355 maintenance scare you. The cars have their trouble areas, but they're also old enough that most issues have been sorted by now. Also, the F355 is a much rarer car than either the 360 or F430.

The F430 is chain driven so requires relatively little in service and obviously avoids the dreaded 'belt service' that is an inescapable cost on the F355 and 360. And, with the e-diff, anyone can look like a hero in an F430... much more capable car in a larger percentage of hands.


Originally posted by TravisJ


A $75K 360 will come with many long stories designed to make you forget all the reasons you shouldn't buy a cheap exotic car. Pay a little more now or pay a lot more later.

Great advice! Do lots and lots of research (Beyond doesn't count!) and then research again. Try and drive both and have any car thoroughly inspected by a qualified third-party shop. Don't settle, afterall, the hunt is half the fun...

In the end, this isn't a rational purchase, so it should really be a matter of the head following the heart. If he's always had a soft spot for the F355s, he should focus on finding the nicest example he can in the most ideal configuration to fulfill his dreams. It's all smiles after that!

C4S
07-27-2009, 10:47 PM
$150K .. can also consider Gallardo ..

A few month old GT3 or 997 Turbo .. ( Could buy a new 440HP 2010 GT3 for $150K .. if there is one available ... )

heavyD
07-28-2009, 07:06 AM
I'm not a Ferrari expert by any means but the 360 design is pretty timless while pop-up headlights are 80's fare.

TravisJ
07-28-2009, 07:37 AM
Originally posted by C4S
A few month old GT3 or 997 Turbo .. ( Could buy a new 440HP 2010 GT3 for $150K .. if there is one available ... )

While the GT3 is a great car, most people that are in the market for an Italian exotic wouldn't consider it a substitute. A Porsche CGT would be another story, albeit in another price range.

Redlyne_mr2
07-28-2009, 08:30 AM
Originally posted by E36M3
All true. I'm also looking at an F355 and have had an F430, and the F355 is much more fun to drive in my opinion and sounds better. Comparing the fun of an F355 with an F360 is a joke IMO.

Worth noting is that if he is interested in an F355 make sure to drive both the spider and coupe. There is a massive difference in feel. The spider is very loose and rattles, unlike the 360/430 spiders which are very solid. I'm not sure about the GTB, as I haven't driven one for a really long time.



:werd: 355 anyday of the week... can't stand the 360s lol.

Dumbass17
07-28-2009, 09:11 AM
gallardoooo...white....splooge

^useless post

scat19
07-28-2009, 09:40 AM
For me, sure it's a nice ferrari, I have had a chance to sit in a 355 at a dealer - it was pretty cramped and a really dated interior.

On the other hand, I've been in my friends 360. Amazing! Updated looks, nice interior, I really liked the 360.

Haven't had the driving experience - but looks? 360 is better.

I agree with HeavyD. It's like playing the same classic rock, over and over, and over.... Keep with the times!

lovely09
07-28-2009, 10:13 PM
I will choose Ferrari F355 as it replaced 360.It is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive V8-powered 2-seat coupe.Still the decision is yours.

JordanEG6
07-28-2009, 11:13 PM
the 355 is a little too outdated in terms of looks. I still do love the car, but the 360 looks better.

I'm no Ferrari guru interms of driving them, but I'm sure the modern specs make them a better summer car.

2EFNFAST
07-28-2009, 11:18 PM
Call me crazy, but I would not want to own a Ferrari. Maintenance costs are :nut: , as is insurance.

WHen I was quoted for a murcialago (non-lp640), it was approximately 2200/yr ....... 360 was like 4000/yr. :thumbsdow


If you've got, say, 120k to blow on a car (and you don't want to build your own, ehehehehehe), I'd much rather break it up and buy a tonne of cheaper fun stuff like

c6z + blower
02 viper gts + twin turbo
bank the rest for when something else that's cool comes up.

rizfarmer
07-28-2009, 11:25 PM
Originally posted by 2EFNFAST
Call me crazy, but I would not want to own a Ferrari. Maintenance costs are :nut: , as is insurance.

WHen I was quoted for a murcialago (non-lp640), it was approximately 2200/yr ....... 360 was like 4000/yr. :thumbsdow.........


Have you never driven in Alberta as a teen pre-insurance industry reform???

2200/yr for a exotic doesn't sound too bad to me... 4000 is probably a bit much but I paid over $2000/yr just to insure my 2008 Si with collision & comp.

other guys under 25 here know what I'm talking about

rizfarmer
07-28-2009, 11:26 PM
if it were between 355 and 360.... 360 all the way, in white

psycoticclown
07-29-2009, 12:04 AM
Originally posted by rizfarmer



Have you never driven in Alberta as a teen pre-insurance industry reform???

2200/yr for a exotic doesn't sound too bad to me... 4000 is probably a bit much but I paid over $2000/yr just to insure my 2008 Si with collision & comp.

other guys under 25 here know what I'm talking about

:werd:

I'm paying $3300 a year.

LongCity
07-29-2009, 12:04 AM
Originally posted by lovely09
I will choose Ferrari F355 as it replaced 360.It is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive V8-powered 2-seat coupe.Still the decision is yours.

It did?

dino_martini
07-29-2009, 12:05 AM
I know this thread is about buying a Ferrari, but has your dad considered an R8 or something like that?

I would think the driving experience and maintenance experience would be better than a Ferrari. Though nothing can replace the Ferrari feeling, they are very special cars.

Just a thought :dunno:

2EFNFAST
07-29-2009, 12:32 AM
Originally posted by rizfarmer



Have you never driven in Alberta as a teen pre-insurance industry reform???

2200/yr for a exotic doesn't sound too bad to me... 4000 is probably a bit much but I paid over $2000/yr just to insure my 2008 Si with collision & comp.

other guys under 25 here know what I'm talking about

I'm 26, so I drove before the reform - if i recall correctly, I (okay, my dad, heh) was paying 1600-1800/yr for insurance on my mustang when I was 16.

Your post confuses me - perhaps mine was confusing - all I was saying is that I wouldn't buy a ferrari because of (one issue of many) the silly insurance costs (being almost 2x that of a lambo of similar years and value)

anothers10
07-29-2009, 04:39 AM
355. Try to find one with complete service history and a recent major. The sound of the 355 is awesome.

Redlyne_mr2
07-29-2009, 02:57 PM
When you're used to modifying a car maintaining an older Ferrari really isn't that bad plus it's something you don't really need to spend money on for mods.

sputnik
07-29-2009, 02:58 PM
I've always liked the F355 over the F360.

TravisJ
07-29-2009, 03:01 PM
Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
When you're used to modifying a car maintaining an older Ferrari really isn't that bad

I'm not so sure about this. It isn't uncommon to rack up a 5-figure repair bill on older Ferraris.

DJ Lazy
07-29-2009, 03:56 PM
Originally posted by Dumbass17
gallardoooo...white....splooge

+1.. :D

Redlyne_mr2
07-29-2009, 04:08 PM
Originally posted by TravisJ


I'm not so sure about this. It isn't uncommon to rack up a 5-figure repair bill on older Ferraris.
Like any sports car ferrari or not it depends where you service it and who does the work. A 5 figure bill would entail a new engine or transmission generally with the work being done at a Ferrari dealership. Normal maintenance on a 355 such as t belts, waterpump, valve adjustment etc is in the $2000-$4000 range.

TravisJ
07-29-2009, 04:40 PM
Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
Like any sports car ferrari or not it depends where you service it and who does the work. A 5 figure bill would entail a new engine or transmission generally with the work being done at a Ferrari dealership. Normal maintenance on a 355 such as t belts, waterpump, valve adjustment etc is in the $2000-$4000 range.

Not a chance. Regularly scheduled belt changes alone require engine removal. No reputable shop is going to do an engine out belt service for $2K.

Regardless, outside of belt services, maintenance isn't the expensive part. It's when things break that wallets get hurt.

Redlyne_mr2
07-29-2009, 05:04 PM
Originally posted by TravisJ


Not a chance. Regularly scheduled belt changes alone require engine removal. No reputable shop is going to do an engine out belt service for $2K.

Regardless, outside of belt services, maintenance isn't the expensive part. It's when things break that wallets get hurt.
Your status says you drive a red car so I'm assuming it's a Ferrari, I recently saw the job done on a 348 by a board members shop. Book time is around 20 hours IIRC, so 20 x $90 is $1800 plus parts. Now the Cambelts and waterpumps are expensive however not astronomical, cheaper options can be purchased through worldpac. A quicker way of doing the cambelts is to remove the fuel tank which allows the tech to gain enough access to change the belts.

TravisJ
07-29-2009, 05:14 PM
Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2

Your status says you drive a red car so I'm assuming it's a Ferrari, I recently saw the job done on a 348 by a board members shop. Book time is around 20 hours IIRC, so 20 x $90 is $1800 plus parts. Now the Cambelts and waterpumps are expensive however not astronomical, cheaper options can be purchased through worldpac. A quicker way of doing the cambelts is to remove the fuel tank which allows the tech to gain enough access to change the belts.

No Ferrari here. Perhaps the gap in our prices is the difference between just a belt change and a full "major" service. Many people on F-chat report major services on 348/355s as running $6K-$8K. That usually includes the "while we are in there" stuff but still... that is a far cry from $2K-$4K.

Maybe you are right and those other people have just been overpaying.

E36M3
07-29-2009, 05:23 PM
It really varies. At a dealership, the prices you are talking about are totally standard. To get a "nice" F355 to "perfect" could easily run 20-25k at an authorized dealership. While they will probably do a great job, with a little creativity and an independent shop, you can get similar results for a fraction of this price, often 25% of the total in my experience. It depends on wether or not time is more valuable than money to you and how much stock you put in having it done by factory trained/certified guys (although many time independent shops have factory trained people too, you just have to do your research)


Originally posted by TravisJ


No Ferrari here. Perhaps the gap in our prices is the difference between just a belt change and a full "major" service. Many people on F-chat report major services on 348/355s as running $6K-$8K. That usually includes the "while we are in there" stuff but still... that is a far cry from $2K-$4K.

Maybe you are right and those other people have just been overpaying.

Redlyne_mr2
07-29-2009, 05:50 PM
Originally posted by TravisJ


No Ferrari here. Perhaps the gap in our prices is the difference between just a belt change and a full "major" service. Many people on F-chat report major services on 348/355s as running $6K-$8K. That usually includes the "while we are in there" stuff but still... that is a far cry from $2K-$4K.

Maybe you are right and those other people have just been overpaying.
Yah I should reword what I wrote, I don't think you're wrong in saying a major service can be 6k+, I just think those people paying those prices are getting ripped off. I'm toying around with the idea of getting a 355 since I love the car so much and there are some great buys out there so I've been doing my research and I was really surprised when I found out what the actual book time and costs of parts were if you knew where to look online. Just like Porsche parts you can find oem parts online for much cheaper than what our dealers up here sell them for. I don't know much about Ferrari of Albertas service department but I do know one mechanic I would trust my 355 with as he works on those and many other exotics all day long. For me it's either spend 10-15K year buying stupid mods for my old Toyota or spend 2-8 every year or so on normal maintenance and keep the car "fairly" stock. I think it would be fun to try and work on a 355 myself as well, I helped my neighbour diagnose an exhaust manifold leak on his f430 so I feel like a Ferrari expert already :D :rofl:

FiveFreshFish
07-30-2009, 02:27 AM
What does a Ferrari dealership charge per hour for labour?

Konj
07-30-2009, 02:51 AM
Originally posted by FiveFreshFish
What does a Ferrari dealership charge per hour for labour?

More than you can afford pal, its a Ferrari!

TravisJ
07-30-2009, 05:38 AM
Originally posted by FiveFreshFish
What does a Ferrari dealership charge per hour for labour?

Ferrari Maserati of Alberta charges $125/hr

iceburns288
07-30-2009, 06:23 AM
Go to ferrarichat.com. There are a couple of people in this thread who know what they're talking about and a couple who are just completely guessing.

The F355 is unreliable even by Ferrari standards. My old boss drove a 348 because, even though he could afford an F355, it was more reliable.

Dumbass17
07-30-2009, 01:01 PM
Originally posted by Konj


More than you can afford pal, its a Ferrari!
hahahaha

nicely quoted, sir, but you forgot the 'REEEEEVVVVV' at the end