Why I hate Ferrari's

[Embraer]

crown wheel and pinion

[speeder]

And the F355 is every bit as much of a Ferrari as the hyper-valuable collector cars whose photos you plucked off the internet. It was designed, engineered and built by Ferrari and no one else. It's also a beautiful machine, even if the one on your rack is a toilet.

It's like saying that only the GT40 is a Ford. They're all Fords. The Mustang II is as much a Ford as the best car they ever built. But the F355 is nowhere near the bottom as far as schit cars that have Ferrari badges.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Embraer

crown wheel and pinion

Thx.

[126coupe]

Originally Posted by speeder

And the F355 is every bit as much of a Ferrari as the hyper-valuable collector cars whose photos you plucked off the internet. It was designed, engineered and built by Ferrari and no one else. It's also a beautiful machine, even if the one on your rack is a toilet.

It's like saying that only the GT40 is a Ford. They're all Fords. The Mustang II is as much a Ford as the best car they ever built. But the F355 is nowhere near the bottom as far as schit cars that have Ferrari badges.

It's still a piece of crap, proven by the insane depreciation, 40K?? soon to be 20K, then 0
After crawling around German engineering since I was 5 years old I think my opinion carries some weight. I yeah did I mention that the F-355 is a **** box

[speeder]

Also, they were ~$130k new, not $200k.

And I can't seem to find any changing hands @ $40k, can you provide a link? Here is an actual sale, (presumably), for $57k:

Ferrari 355 Spider | eBay

There are things called facts and things called opinions. You have a right to your opinions, but they would carry a lot more weight if you had your facts straight.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by speeder

But the F355 is nowhere near the bottom as far as schit cars that have Ferrari badges.

IMO, Ferrari is fairly unique in the auto world in that they really have never built any schit or completely undesirable cars. Prior to the 360, everything they built was in fairly limited numbers, and they all have merit.

The closest to a "bad" car would be the U.S. 2 valve Mondial of the early 80s. The US smog laws etc made for a 9 second 0-60 car, which is really subpar. But even those are Ferrari through and through, same engines as the 308, built in the same factory as all Ferraris by the same workers, etc. etc. (Unlike things like a Porsche 914 or 924, etc). Even an '81 Mondial, park it at most car shows and people will be interested, because it's still recognized as a Ferrari.

But by the 3.2 and T years (86 on), the Mondial was a pretty good Ferrari.

I like the 355, but I have to admit, the stories on them with their expensive problems would scare me. The 348 and 355 always seemed like "transition" cars to me - the transition from the relatively small production, hand built cars up through the 328 to the Luca di montezemolo relatively high production cars starting with the 360.

If I were ever to get another one (doubtful) I'd probably go with the "old(ish) school" 308 (a Euro version 84/85 GTB), or the new school 360.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by speeder

And I can't seem to find any changing hands @ $40k, can you provide a link?

I only looked for 15 seconds, but here's one that went for less than $40K

Ferrari 355 | eBay

[speeder]

I'd be willing to listen to an informed opinion on why F355s are not great cars but this thread ain't it.

[McLovin]

$36K.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ferrari-355-Spider-GFG-RIMS-W-NEW-PIRELLI-TIRES-SERVICED-CALIFORNIA-CAR-RUNS-GREAT-TOP-INOP-/251389983677?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3a8802bbbd&item=251389983677&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Find one with over 60,000 miles on it (i.e. "high miles" lol) and they are hard to give away because they are considered worn out.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I only looked for 15 seconds, but here's one that went for less than $40K

Ferrari 355 | eBay

That car must have been "mit out service records" or something. That's a great looking car, a 911 from the same year looks like an AMC Pacer next to that thing and sounds like a Hoover vacuum cleaner in comparison.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by McLovin

IMO, Ferrari is fairly unique in the auto world in that they really have never built any schit or completely undesirable cars.

saved by the "completely" qualifier I guess.

[speeder]

Ferrari has built some dog's-ass cars, IMO. But perceptions change a lot over the years, I remember when a Lusso was considered "the Buick of Ferraris". Now it's one of the most coveted, (and valuable), models.

The Modial is a pig, again IMO. They were usually driven by eurotrash middle-aged dudes in Beverly Hills with nose hair combed over to the side.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by speeder

That car must have been "mit out service records" or something. That's a great looking car, a 911 from the same year looks like an AMC Pacer next to that thing and sounds like a Hoover vacuum cleaner in comparison.

No disagreement from me there!

The 355 is a great looking car to me. And it has some neat tech, like the 5 valve head (which was basically an experiment that Ferrari quickly abandoned, but interesting nonetheless). And everyone agrees they sound about as perfect as a sports car can sound. And if you want to give me yours for the day to cruise around in, you'll have to pry me out of it at the end of the day.

Dollar for dollar, though, for my own garage and with my own money I'll still take a 911!

[Embraer]

hell, the 246 Dino was a poor man's Ferrari. So bad, that owners felt the need to put a prancing horse on them, when they never got one from the factory. Now they're 400K cars.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion. I guarantee if I gave 126coupe the keys to my Ferrari, and he ran it through the gears at 9000rpm with the factory Challenge exhaust installed, he would be grinning like an idiot or laughing like a little school girl. if he wasn't, then there's something seriously wrong with him as a car guy.

although, I probably wouldn't put him through the torture of having to drive such a POS.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

saved by the "completely" qualifier I guess.

That kind of proves the point. 60+ years of production, and the Mondial and the 308GT4 like above are the "worst."

The GT4 styling (Bertone) isn't a high point, but it still has the all aluminum all Ferrari quad cam V8, full set of glorious carbs, mid engine, 5 speed, etc.

If the GT4 is the "worst" in 60 years, it's been a pretty good run for Ferrari! Any other manufacturer would love to have that as their low point.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by speeder

The Modial is a pig, again IMO. They were usually driven by eurotrash middle-aged dudes in Beverly Hills with nose hair combed over to the side.

Umm, doesn't that describe most Ferrari drivers?

[Brando]

I think ferraris are gorgeous cars. They have also done a fine job of turning their brand into market-wares.

I would definitely enjoy owning one, but I don't have enough 1%, first-world problems yet (like too much money in my swiss bank acct to be fully insured).

[Embraer]

funny thing about my 355...I paid so little for it. The guy was in hurry, was moving and needed to sell. The market spoke...it was cheap. Immediately after buying it, I took it down to FastCars in Redondo Beach. One of the most highly regarded Ferrari Shops in the country. I had the major done (pre-emptively...the condition of the belts was fine, even though it had been 7 years since being done). They rebuilt the waterpump, and did some other things for it.

The cost of this service was more then what I just paid for my '77 911S. Fact. BUT...that being said...I have had offers on my Ferrari, from members of Ferrari Owners Club, that would allow me to net over 15K after the cost of the Ferrari plus what I've paid for service over the last 1.5 years.

Apparently, the fact that my car was owned by one of the most famous vintage Ferrari collectors in the world (he's owned over 100 vintage Ferrari's..somebody Speeder might know), had the major done at FastCars with a clean bill of health...plus the car is a Berlinetta (they cost more then convertibles), and it's not red...all make it desirable to people who actually know about these cars.

Am I selling it? Nope...it's just too much fun. It's just too much fun to take it out to the desert and let her rip.

[Embraer]

Originally Posted by McLovin

That kind of proves the point. 60+ years of production, and the Mondial and the 308GT4 like above are the "worst."

The GT4 styling (Bertone) isn't a high point, but it still has the all aluminum all Ferrari quad cam V8, full set of glorious carbs, mid engine, 5 speed, etc.

If the GT4 is the "worst" in 60 years, it's been a pretty good run for Ferrari! Any other manufacturer would love to have that as their low point.

exactly. not the best cars, but look at the values of the GT4 over the last 3 years. they have exploded. I know where one is sitting in the desert. I tried to buy it two years ago, but the guy claimed he was going to restore. I should check back again.

[Embraer]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I only looked for 15 seconds, but here's one that went for less than $40K

Ferrari 355 | eBay

three things going against car:

it's a spyder, it needs a major service, and it's a 5.2 car, instead of the 2.7 (refers to engine management)