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Re: 355 Advice
From: cdatte (cdattespawar.navy.mil)
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:20:04 -0700 (PDT) 
I see 355's on the net for 44ish-50ish then a gap then 70ish and up
of course you can't really tell what it is.

I've looked into damaged ones before and most of the time you loose.
Yep they're always priced too high and they like to charge lots of $'s for the parts.

It would be interesting to talk to people that have bought these projects to see where they came out in the end.

At 01:35 PM 7/29/2008, David Thursby wrote: 
Too much $$$

Didn't we have an email a while ago about a yellow 360M, no damage, but
no garage queen either, that sold for 72K? Same email talked about a
white 355 spider for $44K.

Dave.

LarryT wrote:
> Here's a little 360 Fixer-Upper
> http://www.alltypeauto.com/index.php?category=&make=Ferrari&model=&srt=make+ASC&p=5&submit=Search
>
> You may need to widen your email to get the link all on one line. It's a
> 360 with some damage - they still wat $77k for it --
>
> There's a number of places like this with a variety of cars - some more
> damaged, some less.
>
> Larry T (66 MGB, 74 911, 91 300D)
> www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts
> Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil
> PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net
> 800-583-8601
> Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Charles Perry" <charles [at] carolina-sound.com>
> To: "Larry Turner" <l02turner [at] comcast.net>
> Cc: "The FerrariList" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 2:07 PM
> Subject: [Ferrari] 355 Advice
>
>
>
>> Pierre -
>>
>> I have a 98 F355 spider which I've owned since 2002. I love the car, but
>> have had all but one of the 355's famous issues and one that was my own
>> fault. Overall it is a great car, but like all Ferraris, some
>> development work was left to the owners. Knowing the issues will help
>> you see how much previous owners have done and how much you may have to
>> do.
>>
>> 1995 cars are slightly more powerful than newer units due to the change
>> in Bosch fuel injection systems that started in 1996. Some early cars
>> have had problems with valve guides wearing prematurely, which causes a
>> variety of problems. I don't think anyone has ever pinned down a year or
>> VIN range where this occurred, and there are some people with early cars
>> who have never had the problem and some people with later cars that had
>> it. We all strongly recommend a pre-purchase inspection (PPI), and it is
>> worth the extra money to pay for compression and leakdown tests to look
>> for this problem.
>>
>> 355s also have a habit of melting their exhaust manifolds. They are made
>> out of a cheap, thin steel and some have postulated that if the
>> catalytic converters get clogged, the additional heat burns the the
>> manifold. The manifolds can be replaced, rebuilt with better materials,
>> or upgraded to higher end versions like Tubi. I would recommend one of
>> the two later options if your car hasn't already had the issue fixed.
>> Fixing cost is $1500-$3000 depending on solution.
>>
>> 355s have the rubbery coating on many interior surfaces (door pulls,
>> switch trim, AC vent trim, steering console surround, emergency brake
>> surround, center console) which turns to a disgusting sticky goo over
>> time. No idea what triggers it - some have postulated sun exposure or
>> cleaning chemicals. Solutions are to replace the items ($$$), or to
>> chemically strip them down to plain plastic ($), or to upgrade them to
>> something like carbon fiber ($$$).
>>
>> 355s tend to have shrinkage in the dash leather over time, usually
>> starting with the airbag cover on the passenger side, and then the
>> instrument cluster. Leather wear on the driver's bolster is common, as
>> is road rash on the door intakes and behind the wheels where the body
>> work sticks out. This is cosmetic, so you may not care but it can be a
>> negotiating point if your car has the issue.
>>
>> You mentioned a berlinetta, so I won't bore you with the convertible top
>> issues on a spider.
>>
>> Routine maintenance isn't bad except for the 30k/5 year service where
>> the engine is pulled to do the timing belts. This is crucial and it is
>> urgent that you respect the time limit - not just the mileage limit like
>> all salesman will tell you is fine. I did drag my service out to 6
>> years, and I did break a timing belt, and I paid a painful engine
>> rebuild price as a result. My fault, but don't skimp on scheduled
>> maintenance as it only gets more expensive if you wait. This service
>> will run you anywhere from $3500 with a good independent mechanic and
>> minimal replacement to $8-10k from a dealer with "while we're in there"
>> stuff.
>>
>> Transmission is a personal choice. This was the debut of the F1 paddle
>> shift. Some love it, some don't. It is an early system, so certainly
>> slower and more clunky than current systems with potentially high repair
>> bills for things like the F1 hydraulic pump or actuators. I bought the
>> 6-speed because I like the involvement and because I believe it will be
>> easier/cheaper to service over the long run, but try both if you can.
>>
>> As Clyde says, prices are low on these. I see most Berlinetta's offered
>> in the $60k-$70k range and depending on the dealer or owner, it is not
>> unusual to get 10-30% off asking prices depending on how crazy the
>> offerer priced it to begin with. As a general rule, aftermarket
>> equipment devalues a Ferrari, so if your car has a big stereo or phat
>> chromed rims or some such thing, negotiate against that, even if you
>> like them.
>>
>> My insurance in the states is about $800/year under a collector car
>> policy with generous useage limits.
>>
>> I don't want to scare you off as these are really fun cars (any
>> Ferrari), but they are very much NOT Lexus/Toyota as far as build
>> quality and reliability, so the more you go in eyes open, the more
>> enjoyable your Ferrari experience will be. There are huge assets here
>> and at www.ferrarichat.com if you want to investigate further, or I
>> would be happy to talk to you further.
>>
>> Most important shopping tip is what Clyde already told you - buy with
>> your head, not with your heart. It's easy to get carried away with a
>> gleaming Ferrari in front of you, but if the car doesn't have
>> maintenance records and obvious signs of previous care (original books,
>> tools, etc), then wait. There is always another car, especially with
>> modern Ferraris.
>>
>> Good luck!
>>
>> -- charles
>> -- 98 F355 Spider
>> -- 87 Testarossa
>> -- 99 Diablo
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: bouaze pierre [mailto:pbouaze [at] hotmail.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10:12 AM
>> To: Charles Perry
>> Cc: The FerrariList
>> Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Ferrari Digest, Vol 24, Issue 38
>>
>>
>> hello all,
>>
>> I am looking to buy a ferrari 355 berlinetta, pref a 98 or 99 in the
>> next year. Can anyone help with general info (insurance, service
>> schedule, etc) for a first time ferrari buyer??? just want to do some
>> research before i lose my virginity. Any info is appreciated
>>
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