Trade e92 M3 for 1997 Ferrari 355 spider?

[Terraforce1]

If you can afford it and you have a DD. Then I say go for it. You're aware of the reliabilty issues and you know it's gonna cost $ to maintain. So pull the trigger and get it

[Alpha///M]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Convertibles are for chicks.

Agree. But this car looks hot with the top down. Don't forget, this seller has a significant other, and the vert may keep him out of the doggy house with her after their first night out on the town with the top dropped! Lol! Go for it bro!

[DiavelM3]

You may also take into consideration that the 355 is an "engine out" belt service done every 3-4 years. This is around $7-10K depending on who you know and if they're a reputable shop.
I agree with some other posts. Save up for a 360 Modena or if you can, the F430. both are cheaper in service (engine in) and more reliable.

Also, do a PPI before you buy anything and make sure all the services are up to date (with records). Consider a pre-owned exotic car warranty as well - just to be on the safe side.
When something breaks on a Ferrari, it's not cheap
Insurance isn't too bad if you go Hagerty or Grundy car insurance for a weekend toy or collectable
Good luck with whatever you choose :-)

[F82_SID]

Thanks to this thread I decided to go on Ebay Motors and look at Ferraris. I found this beauty! Pearl Yellow is the color I would get if I could afford a new F car! Actually, I love everything about this exact car!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2011-...t_58924wt_1093

[UnaBomber]

i would buy the 355 only if you have a TON of money to throw at it

[WarriorEd22]

Don't, Ferrari's catch on fire really easily. http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/mo...i-catches-fire

[CPWINCH]

cool car, but it looks dated as hell

[GTM_Challenge]

Originally Posted by DEAN325i

Yeah, i am aware of the cost it takes to maintain these machines. I do have a friend that has a personal Ferrari tech, that i can get a pretty good rate. The 360 is awesome also, but where i live they are very common. I see one almost everyday in which the 355 i dont and i love the design of the f355 much better!

keep in mind, this will be a weekend car. I do have a daily driver

If this car is on your must have list, and you have another daily, and the means to support it, then get on it Don't let anyone here sway you away including me! haha

[Hurricane]

I'd stay away. The maintenance will probably be a huge hassle.

http://ferraris-online.com/pages/art...=SCM_200609_SS

[///Montreal3]

F355 headers WILL fail and require replacement at some point. Be prepared to eventually shell out for a new header setup if the particular car you're looking at has OEM headers.

If you're really bent on a 355, there are plenty of examples out there and finding a well sorted car shouldn't be too hard. Don't buy a Garage Queen with low miles if you intend to DRIVE her! You can save a few grand by going with a higher mileage "Driver" car, which will run better anyways, and most likely will already have had the expensive major service done!

Have a leakdown test done during PPI, and have your mechanic inspect the headers (if oem) and the valve-guides (if possible) as these are the main problem areas. I'd checkout the 348/355 section of ferrarichat for more info on what to expect and look out for.

I've had a 348tb for several years now and yearly/regular maintenance isn't as bad people make it out to be. That goes double for reliability, as the car has NEVER left me stranded and isn't at all finicky. The major services can get expensive fast, but that mostly depends on the car you buy and how many years you intend to keep it.

I say do it if the car is well sorted and it feels right in your gut!

[first135]

If you are aware of the maintenance to keep it going and you can afford it, I'd say go for it! My uncle has a testarossa and he had timing belt replaced at Ferrari dealership for 14k! Just keep all that in mind which I'm sure you are. Good luck.

[DEAN325i]

Thanks for all the great comments and advice! I appreciate it!

[bates1325]

Maintenance... Save up for a used 2007 430 if you want the Ferrari. They should be in the 120s now. Maybe even less once the 458 spiders start populating. Even the 360s are high cost on maintenance.

[Matterhorn]

Get it If you can deal with the maintenance financially. In my opinion, the F355 is the best sounding road car ever! F355 with Capristo exhaust sounds like an F1 car.

[signes]

Holy shit!

[dvpouldar26]

I love the F355's. One of the best sounding cars of all time. Here's my advice though: A Ferrari is not an expensive car to buy, many can be bought for a relative bargain. However, most don't factor in the the cost of the maintenance. For the F355, timing belt changes were common. If my knowledge is right, these have to be done from under the car and require lowering the engine and is a high-labor job. This changed with the F360 where access can be gained behind the driver and passenger seat and the cost and labor required for maintenance is much lower. I'm pretty active on 6speedonline, and the common consensus is that if you want to buy an "intro" Ferrari, go for the 360 because of those maintenance costs. Visit a Ferrari service department and talk to the techs to see what they say. If you want some more info, 6speedonline or ferrarichat, or ferraritalk are great resources.

[PhillyNate]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about but I'm gonna keep watching those videos over and over. MY GOD, that sound is hypnotic.

[Darth One]

i think Matterhorn just ended this thread

[Onurleft]

360's can sound nice too