Ferrari F355 or 3.2 Carrera

[Antomero]

I’m considering buying an F355 6 speed to replace my 84 3.2 carrera.
Trying to get some opinions if any on the Ferrari. The Porsche has been my weekend car. Not sure if it’s boredom or maybe I’m ready for a change. But I’ve always like the F355. Any on this forum have experienced the F355? I love the visceral feeling of the Porsche and was wondering if the Ferrari would be somewhat of the same driving experience.

Cheers

[proporsche]

well..as far as i know be prepared to sit sideways driving a Ferrari..the pedal cluster is way to the right to the seat of the driver..
Ivan

[Antomero]

Originally Posted by proporsche

well..as far as i know be prepared to sit sideways driving a Ferrari..the pedal cluster is way to the right to the seat of the driver..
Ivan

That’s good to know. Thank you

[ian c2]

Originally Posted by proporsche

well..as far as i know be prepared to sit sideways driving a Ferrari..the pedal cluster is way to the right to the seat of the driver..
Ivan

Yeah , and the 911 isn’t ...

355s are cool .
Looking a little dated now , and in between “newer model” and “classic” .

Running costs and reliability are not on 911 levels ...
Are you going to do your own maintenance and repairs ?

[proporsche]

so Ian you sit sideways to drive your 911 ...strange...;-)??

[Antomero]

Originally Posted by ian c2

Yeah , and the 911 isn’t ...

355s are cool .
Looking a little dated now , and in between “newer model” and “classic” .

Running costs and reliability are not on 911 levels ...
Are you going to do your own maintenance and repairs ?

Yes I would. But I know it requires an engine out service which I’m not capable of doing.

[salayc]

Definitely higher costs with the 355.
The drive is different, more Italian, less precise.
Keep in mind, driving a Ferrari is not like driving a Porsche. The Ferrari will get tons of attention, which can get tiring. You can't park the Ferrari most places and feel comfortable about it. Don't get pricing from a contractor who sees you pull up.

[Oliver911]

Pros:
Really fun car to drive. Go kart for the road
Comfortable for long trips
Incredible sound
Timeless appearance.
Clink of the gated shifter.
Cons:
Attracts a ton of attention.
Complicated electronics
Incredibly expensive parts

I only kept the 355 for 2 years. Moved on to a 993

[ian c2]

Originally Posted by proporsche

so Ian you sit sideways to drive your 911 ...strange...;-)??

I’m not sure what you mean ,
But as you no doubt know , Early 911 clutch pedal lines up with center of drivers seat .
Steering wheel too is offset to right of center of driver , but that’s just like Most small cars .

Once you’ve got used to that , buy a right hand drive version

[Flat6pac]

I’ve yet to see a Ferrari with 100k miles on it and they are all close to a major tune up or twice the price after a tune up
Bruce

[ian c2]

I’ve looked at them a few times over the years , but Never pulled the trigger and ended up with 911s instead .
Last time I looked was Around 2009 when I first emigrated over here and was looking at 355s but mainly 360s .
Great cars , but not as practical or realistic as a porsche when you’re looking at a daily driver .
I bought a 997S instead , as I wanted to try paddle shift .
Ferrari version was expected to last 15k before changing clutch-packs .... engine out dealer job , major cost every 6 months to a year .
My Pdk has now done 140k on original clutch packs , and that includes more than a few too many launch control starts
There was a major hit on a dealer service around 65k iirc , but still nowhere near Ferrari paddle costs .

If you want a car for just weekend use , go for it .
But also bear in mind they don’t “hibernate” as well as a weekend 911 does .

If you want a daily id say forget the excitement of the 8s and 12s , and get a California.
It seems there best option for a daily about town car right now .

Edit :
I’m probobly not the best guy to listen too , as I’m supposed to be looking for an ergonomically correct largish suv that I can use as my daily for work duties ...
Instead I’ve decided I’m buying a 74 bmw 2002 , and I’m currently researching the viability of installing a v10 with 8250 redline and paddle shifters

[pampadori]

348 and 355 are about the most gorgeous cars ever made. I've got one in mind at some point if the prices don't get too much higher.
I don't know anything about working on them other than lots of items are engine-out. That doesn't scare me too much anymore though now that I have a spacious 2 car garage (thank you lord!).

They have a terrific engine note, look just perfect, and are fast enough even by today's ridiculous standards. I say pull the trigger.

[yelcab1]

I owned four of them, and still have two. There is absolutely no comparison from a 3.2L Carrera to a 375HP F355 with a six-speed. The mid-engine design is very different from a rear engine bias of the old 911. They are not the same and you can't drive them the same.

The sound is the best of any Ferrari. Take a 355 into a tunnel, smash the throttle in 2nd gear and explode out the other side of the tunnel with a ****ty grin ear to ear. Nothing else will be the same after that.

If you buy one, avoid the spider version unless you absolutely have to have a convertible and then you have been warned. The Berlinetta (coupe) is the one to have with cleaner lines, manual seats, and stiffer body. The 1995 version is the rarest with OBD1, 96-99 have OBD2. Ignore, avoid, or just stay away from the F1 version.

There are very few Ferraris with more than 60,000 miles because their value drop like a rock after that. Unlike an old 911, you will find 911SC with 180,000 miles and holding decent value.

Maintenance costs are high, much higher than 911's. If you are capable of doing your own maintenance then it is actually quite affordable. The timing belts are replaced at 5 years by taking the engine out of the car. I can take a 911 engine out in 2 hours on the ground. It takes me 8 hours to remove the 355 engine with a lift. Cam timing on the 911 is an absolute walk in the park compared to the 4 cams F355 engine cam timing. You need degree wheel, dial indicator, TDC finder, and an absolute fearless attitude with the car. That cam timing is reserved for the purist DIY and many Ferrari owners will pay someone like me to do it for them.

Buy a 355 that has 30,000 miles, a thick book of service records, valve guides already replaced, newish exhaust headers, non-stock muffler (Tubi or Capristo), and then set aside $10,000 to make it yours.

All the headaches and expenses will be forgotten once the engine spools up at 8,500 RPM in second gear, the exhaust bypass valve opens, and the Tubi shrieking in your ears. They don't make them like that anymore.

[93097004xx]

355s sound amazing.. Interestingly they haven’t aged as well as the 308.. I personally like the 348 looks better.. I know that is controversial..

Testarossa’s are starting to become back vogue but damn it those where the coolest exotics to come of the 80s.

That said the G body 911 aged better than them all and I mean anything from from pinifarina of the 70s 80s or 90s I’m including all the bertone designs barring the lamborghini countach..

I sincerely see the G body 911 aging better and better. I’d also like to say the 930 is still as breathtaking design today as it was 45 years ago..

These porsche’s 356, 911 long hood, G bodies are the timeless collectibles and the pinnacle of porsche aesthetic design.

I feel the 964s and 993 are that last of the classically beautiful porsches and with in the next decade will be recognized as such.

[plexiform]

F355 is beautiful especially the Berlinetta. I almost bought one a while back but was scared out of it by researching the potential maintenance costs. In hindsight I should have just gotten it because I spend a $hitload of $$ on my 911. But I think a well sorted 911 is a more beautiful car and probably more timeless, and it’s really hard for me to like the the flip up headlights even though the F355 has the best looking flip up headlights I’ve ever seen. I did test drive one and thought it pulled pretty strong but not any better than my 911 once fully sorted out with tuned 3.6L motor.

[ian c2]

Originally Posted by 93097004xx

355s sound amazing.. Interestingly they haven’t aged as well as the 308.. I personally like the 348 looks better.. I know that is controversial..

It’s not controversial .
They’re simply not old enough yet .
They’re the last of the “old” mid-8s , and the design was still pretty pure (and cool)

But Look at the rather big leap in the design of its successor .
The 360 still looks modern compared to the 355 And Even too it’s successors and that sits the 355 in the middle ground I talked about earlier .
The 355 is neither “new” nor “old” right now , but it’s classic status is guaranteed .

When the modern “plastic headlamp” curvy cars start looking dated , the 355 will shine .
The 355 is a car that will become an icon , if it isn’t allready ...

[Noah930]

See if you can get ahold of Embraer. He had a 355 for awhile, and found it reliable and rea$onable to maintain.

[slow&rusty]

I recommend starting a new thread in Off Topic, you will get a considerable amount more input with some spicy opinions (mine included as I have experience in both).

[H/O Driver]

I've owned my 993 6 speed for over 15 years. Purchased a '95 F355 Spider 6 speed 2 years ago, expecting performance/experience to be comparable. It's not. The F355 excels in every category relative to the 993. The sound alone is enough to make me want to go out for a drive.
I haven't had to do anything yet but change the oil. No issues at all as of yet. I got comfortable with the purchase because I felt that I am able to do the engine-out maintenance (I have a lift/shop and a fair amount of knowledge). Unlike what some crow about the frequency of pulling the engine for timing belts, based on todays technology, I'm going to wait 7 years before the belt replacement. Most of what I read, is that the belts look fine when going into them, but the tensioners seem to be more of an issue. Oh well-who knows.
I love the car, and the only ass-end that catches my eye more upon going into the garage is my 930.
If you have the funds-I recommend it.

[jac1976]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

I owned four of them, and still have two. There is absolutely no comparison from a 3.2L Carrera to a 375HP F355 with a six-speed. The mid-engine design is very different from a rear engine bias of the old 911. They are not the same and you can't drive them the same.

The sound is the best of any Ferrari. Take a 355 into a tunnel, smash the throttle in 2nd gear and explode out the other side of the tunnel with a ****ty grin ear to ear. Nothing else will be the same after that.

If you buy one, avoid the spider version unless you absolutely have to have a convertible and then you have been warned. The Berlinetta (coupe) is the one to have with cleaner lines, manual seats, and stiffer body. The 1995 version is the rarest with OBD1, 96-99 have OBD2. Ignore, avoid, or just stay away from the F1 version.

There are very few Ferraris with more than 60,000 miles because their value drop like a rock after that. Unlike an old 911, you will find 911SC with 180,000 miles and holding decent value.

Maintenance costs are high, much higher than 911's. If you are capable of doing your own maintenance then it is actually quite affordable. The timing belts are replaced at 5 years by taking the engine out of the car. I can take a 911 engine out in 2 hours on the ground. It takes me 8 hours to remove the 355 engine with a lift. Cam timing on the 911 is an absolute walk in the park compared to the 4 cams F355 engine cam timing. You need degree wheel, dial indicator, TDC finder, and an absolute fearless attitude with the car. That cam timing is reserved for the purist DIY and many Ferrari owners will pay someone like me to do it for them.

Buy a 355 that has 30,000 miles, a thick book of service records, valve guides already replaced, newish exhaust headers, non-stock muffler (Tubi or Capristo), and then set aside $10,000 to make it yours.

All the headaches and expenses will be forgotten once the engine spools up at 8,500 RPM in second gear, the exhaust bypass valve opens, and the Tubi shrieking in your ears. They don't make them like that anymore.

Holy s***. I think we can all agree about the wealth and indispensability of Porsche information on this site, but damn if this isn’t the most succinct and empirical reply the OP could possibly hope for. I’ve never considered a Ferrari, but now find myself perched upon a masochist v. hedonist teeter totter.