Ferrari, any current/ex owners here?

[Babw]

So like most petrol heads I've come to that point in my life that I need to have a Ferrari. I'm nowhere near a mid life crisis but I'd rather get into the fold before kids and diving even further into my career.

I've been watching 355's for the last year or so and they're rising pretty fast. I saw a beautiful 355 GTS in Nero with the carbon backed seats about 6 months ago at Amari which sold within hours.

Favourite for styling wise is the Testarossa and 348, maybe I've been watching 355's too much but they seem a little too rounded now. The 360 values seem to have stopped dropping so this model seems another good one to pursue.

Any input from ex, current or hopeful owners would be great.

 

[bradmarsh1989]

A friend of mine has just bought a 2002, 360 Modena for just north of £45k he is in love.

 

[Babw]

That's a great angle for the 360, congrats to your friend. I'm not a very big fan of the 430 as the rear looks far too fussy so the 360 although similar appeals a lot more.

The late 80/early 90 period is my favourite but buying a 348 the worry is my M3 will be faster/better put together/cheaper/more reliable!

At least with a Testarossa I'd get the V12 at the back, I'm not really keen on the front engined variants. The 360 is probably the best compromise as it's modern enough to be used regularly with decent comfort etc and performance over a 348.

It has to be manual also.

 

[wantaz4m]

think you've missed the boat on 355 for now....prices are crazy....unless they come down in the next couple of years..bit of a bubble there...

For me I want a f430 spider.....I love the way it looks, but it's so damn expensive......

360 is nice but considering for another 5-10k you can have a f430!!! I know you said you're not a fan....but the advances in tech and the fact it's newer...

 

[buzyg]

Only in my dreams. :wink:

Did consider a 360 Spider, or Maserati Spyder, when I was buying the MR, but the running cost put me off. I've been out a few times, with a local 355 and it's slower that the MR in a straight line, which was a surprise, so don't expect miracles. So far as looks and sound go thought, 355 is gorgeous. 8)

Good hunting.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I prefer the appearance of the 355 over the 360, but I've not driven one. I have driven a 360, however, and found it hugely disappointing. It felt enormous and slow compared with my ///M and the pause between calling up a gear and it eventually shifting drove me mad. Accepting that it wasn't my car so perhaps I didn't push as hard as I might have, it really didn't handle well at the limit on a track. That said, its cornering ability was leagues ahead of a 996 Turbo that I drove on a track around the same time.

 

[-Tom-]

^^^ I've driven both. I actually really like the 355, in a way that it felt like an old classic car! Like , it felt reeallly old. Still nice direct steering, still felt nimble but it didn't half feel slow and all wow, the interior was horrendous.