[r57ed]

I'm new to the Ferrari world but I've always thought they are the coolest cars, ever! And I think the 355 is the King of Cool. I presently have a '64 FI Corvette convertible and a '95 Corvette ZR-1.

I would like your opinion on this car on e-bay: 220950491527. Seller says it had the belt overhaul thing and other stuff done at the same time (shows invoice from Ferrari of Denver.) Forgive me if I don't get the nomenclature correct, but I'm learning!

I'm not in any hurry to buy but I love the color of this car and even though it has high mileage it seems in good shape and has just been serviced. I'm not looking for a garage queen, I want something I can drive the shit out of and enjoy.

I'm an old man and have been hit in the mouth more than once, so let me have it with your opinions.

And is it correctly called a F355 or 355, what's the difference?

Thanks
Red

[355dreamer]

You can't go wrong with a 95 F355. They are the best of the breed. As for the color, my last 355 was Barchetta, and it's beautiful.

That car looks great from what we can see. F355s are temperamental, and I would reccomend that you get a thorough PPI ASAP.

Technically, they are all F355s. 355 is just used when we are lazy.

[champagne612]

It looks good - seems to be very clean and had a lot of the proper work done.

Good luck if you go forward with the PPI - let us know.

[a1exander]

Purely on first glance this looks a more competitive price.

Ferrari : 355 Ferrari : 355 - eBay (item 220947085858 end time Feb-24-12 12:22:09 PST)

Although the 95 has more power the 99 is a compelling look.
Good Luck in selecting your car.

[tazandjan]

Welcome to Ferrari Life. Will let those with more F355 experience weigh in, but they seem to like her.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Welcome to FL, Red. If I take that your name 57 is your age, and that you are after 355, you do not deserve to be coined as old, at least in my book !

That is a pretty 355. If that is the color you like, the history sounds excellent. If the price range is within your budget, I think this is a buy.

Good luck with the search. w/ smiles Jimmy

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by r57ed

I would like your opinion on this car on e-bay: 220950491527. Seller says it had the belt overhaul thing and other stuff done at the same time (shows invoice from Ferrari of Denver.) Forgive me if I don't get the nomenclature correct, but I'm learning!
Thanks
Red

It looks very clean so at least someone cared enough to put a bit of money into it before putting it up for sale. Good sign.

I would get a detailed PPI done and insist on a compression and leak down test. Also make sure the manifolds are in good shape and not cracked (they will have needed to be replaced by now). Also find out when the engine mounts were replaced.

[wetpet]

i would be hesitant about the mileage. no pics of the seats. No pics of the engine bay or boot. looks a little rough around the wheel wells, maybe just from driving on that gravel. but i would have wiped it if i was going to take detailed pics like that. One thing to keep in mind. If you keep it for three years and put over 10k on it, you will be in the 70's. Could have a hard time getting anyone to buy a 355 with north of 70k miles on it. "Frame damage was reported by an auction company". I would want to know who that was reported to. If carfax, good luck. Front bumper appears to need a respray-1.5K. Hey, if you can steal it and the motor work checks out, go for it. If you are looking for a top car in this category, this is not it.

[Sandy Eggo]

Originally Posted by wetpet

i would be hesitant about the mileage. no pics of the seats. No pics of the engine bay or boot. looks a little rough around the wheel wells, maybe just from driving on that gravel. but i would have wiped it if i was going to take detailed pics like that. One thing to keep in mind. If you keep it for three years and put over 10k on it, you will be in the 70's. Could have a hard time getting anyone to buy a 355 with north of 70k miles on it. "Frame damage was reported by an auction company". I would want to know who that was reported to. If carfax, good luck. Front bumper appears to need a respray-1.5K. Hey, if you can steal it and the motor work checks out, go for it. If you are looking for a top car in this category, this is not it.

Tons of pics of the seats and engine bay. Maybe they just didn't load for you wetpet? The seats are in decent shape for the mileage. The engine bay looks like it was very well detailed. Has the power steering fluid cap replaced (original one leaks like a mo-fo) and the fuel block recall done.

Car has a bad case of the stickies (that will be $2k to remedy unless you are a DIY kind of guy). Even the shift knob looks like it has been damaged or etched somehow but I suppose it could be a weird reflection. The mileage isn't a big deal in my book. Mine has 42k on it and it spins like a freaking top with compression and leak down numbers that would make Enzo shed a tear.

About the only thing I see that would scare me off is the detail wetpet found about the frame damage. That will haunt you when it comes time to resell. If it weren't for this, the car would be a relative steal at its BIN price.

As for the color. Holy heck, it's an awesome color. Wish mine was that shade of red.

[wetpet]

for some reason, i don't see those pics. Sandy, there is a big difference between 42k miles and 70k miles. With the frame damage popping up and 70k, i think i make a good case for poor resale value. hell, it ain't selling now. But, it depends on what you want and what you get it for. First ferrari? I wouldn't. add 10k and get a no stories one.

[Sandy Eggo]

Originally Posted by wetpet

for some reason, i don't see those pics. Sandy, there is a big difference between 42k miles and 70k miles. With the frame damage popping up and 70k, i think i make a good case for poor resale value. hell, it ain't selling now. But, it depends on what you want and what you get it for. First ferrari? I wouldn't. add 10k and get a no stories one.

The OP wants one he can "drive the shit out of" - but yeah, no real disagreement with what you're saying.

[wetpet]

might be a good candidate than. specially if he can get a good price and the ppi checks out. Still think it's gonna be near worthless when he goes to sell it in a couple years......

[Denver308]

Unless you inspect/purchase the car in person I would be concerned about seller's minimal feedback.

Looks like fun, hope it works out for you!

[bobzdar]

Originally Posted by r57ed

I'm new to the Ferrari world but I've always thought they are the coolest cars, ever! And I think the 355 is the King of Cool. I presently have a '64 FI Corvette convertible and a '95 Corvette ZR-1.

I would like your opinion on this car on e-bay: 220950491527. Seller says it had the belt overhaul thing and other stuff done at the same time (shows invoice from Ferrari of Denver.) Forgive me if I don't get the nomenclature correct, but I'm learning!

I'm not in any hurry to buy but I love the color of this car and even though it has high mileage it seems in good shape and has just been serviced. I'm not looking for a garage queen, I want something I can drive the shit out of and enjoy.

I'm an old man and have been hit in the mouth more than once, so let me have it with your opinions.

And is it correctly called a F355 or 355, what's the difference?

Thanks
Red

IMO, if you want a car you can drive the shit out of, don't buy a low mileage car as you will just be flushing money down the toilet. A higher mileage car is likely to have all of the kinks worked out for you and you won't be depreciating it like crazy by driving it. Have it inspected thoroughly so you know of any existing issues, but even if they don't find anything be prepared to have it break at any time. I would rather save the 10-15k it would cost for a low mileage car for the inevitable repairs. Mine made it 1200 miles after purchase before the clutch crapped out (T/O bearing went, clutch was worn), but that's just how it goes with these cars.

It's a vastly different feeling car to the muscle cars you're used to. Much more fun for me, and I have/had a few.

[r57ed]

Thanks for the feedback...really appreciate it. As much as I liked the car, I have decided to keep looking. I'm anxious to find 'that one' but not rushing in. And I want a good one, just want to drive with any hassles!

So, tell me what year Spider would you chose and why? And what color? Show me some pictures, too!!!

Is there a check-list to use when inspecting these cars or is it just the opinion of another mechanic? Which/when is the correct time to perform belt maintenance: by a mileage or age?

I know PPI means 'get the car inspected' but what do the initials stand for? I thought LOL meant "lots o' luck"

Hey, what's da stickies?

Thanks
Red

[Sandy Eggo]

Originally Posted by r57ed

Thanks for the feedback...really appreciate it. As much as I liked the car, I have decided to keep looking. I'm anxious to find 'that one' but not rushing in. And I want a good one, just want to drive with any hassles!

So, tell me what year Spider would you chose and why? And what color? Show me some pictures, too!!!

Is there a check-list to use when inspecting these cars or is it just the opinion of another mechanic? Which/when is the correct time to perform belt maintenance: by a mileage or age?

I know PPI means 'get the car inspected' but what do the initials stand for? I thought LOL meant "lots o' luck"

Thanks
Red

The Spider I would get is a '95 GTS. Sorry for being a smart-aleck but seriously, the GTS gives you all the upside of a Spider with none of the downside.

PPI = Pre-Purchase Inspection. There will likely be a litany list of things with any F355 but to me the only thing that really matters is the compression and leak-down test. This is the #1 determinant of a good F355 versus a bad F355. You want a strong motor - one which is not about to turn into a $25k service bill.

Anticipating your next question.
Good compression numbers for a F355 are generally over 200 with no more than 10% variation between the low and the high.

Leak-down. In an ideal world, there would be no more than 5% leak down in any one cylinder. If you get a 9% in a cylinder, no biggie. But if you start to get into double digits on one or more cylinder, I would pass. I believe cylinders #2 and #7 are the ones notorious for having poor leak-down results across the F355 population.

Engine out belt service done every 5 years or 30,000 miles - whichever comes first. If a seller says the service was done "10,000 miles ago" ... well, that's interesting but if that was in 2007 or earlier...it's DUE!

[wetpet]

guess i'll handle the stickies. some of the black plastic in the interior(buttons, bezels, ect.) get "sticky" over time and need to be refinished. in fact, so much so, that a friend in the mid atlantic makes his living doing it!

[Sandy Eggo]

Originally Posted by wetpet

guess i'll handle the stickies. some of the black plastic in the interior(buttons, bezels, ect.) get "sticky" over time and need to be refinished. in fact, so much so, that a friend in the mid atlantic makes his living doing it!

Nice one Ed...I think the OP added that question while I was typing up my reply. I think it's on the up-n-up to give Robbie a plug since he's a sponsor...Home Page

[Vedovatti]

I was just like you this last December I was thinking of a F355 and I put the math in paper and with all the help in here and my compolsive behavior I jump in to a F430 because I dont have to maintan the car as much and when I have to do it I can do it my self.
Please before you buy a 355 just take a 430 for a drive and you will see what i am talking about.
you mention you have been hit in the mouth before and you need to be slap with the facts in your face so here comes.
you mention you are an old men, so your end is coming like to all of us so if you have a passion for this car why dont you feel the greatess emotion about driving a ferrari before your time is up,
you will feel like a child, all the women will love you no mater if you are as ugly as me, all the men will want to be you, all the children will wow owo wow you, and you will just have this feeling of i dont give a ch-t if i am gone tomorrow i drove my passion car.
Death is certain life is NOT, ferrari life.
I hope you follow and get your dream before time is UP my friend
Luigi Vedovatti.

[wetpet]

luigi, i wish i lived near you. the woman around here stick their nose up at my ferrari. if i liked teenaged boys like al, i would have a field day though.