[Vomit]

This newbie has spent many hours recently reading posts here and the 355 Buyer's Guide. I am working towards the purchase of a 355 Spider, and have a couple of questions:

Is there any weight difference between the F1 and manual tranny models?

Does the F1 tranny negatively affect the car's RWHP (i.e., is there a parasitic loss associated with the F1)?

I am focused on finding a yellow Spider. All I have seen with the yellow is a black top and black interior. I love the yellow/black/black, but am curious if there were other color combos available with the yellow car (maybe something "stoplighty" like yellow with a green top and red leather (JK))?

Can anyone recommend a good shop in San Diego for a prepurchase inspection?

Gracias!

 

[Dr. Bob]

Every color combo was available since new owners can choose body, interiour and topcolor. Yellow/Black is very popular, and I doubt that you will ever find a 'stoplight' F355 Spider.

 

[Andrew]

Welcome to Ferrari Forum. I hope you found the F355 guide useful.

There is a weight difference in the two cars, what it is exactly I don't know but I will look.

There is no raw bhp loss, and the bhp at the tires (where it really counts) is the same as well.

 

[Stradale]

Is there any weight difference between the F1 and manual tranny models?

Does the F1 tranny negatively affect the car's RWHP (i.e., is there a parasitic loss associated with the F1)?

You may confuse the F1 gearbox with that of the Porsche Triptronic gearbox. The F1 gearbox is actually a manual gearbox but intead of engaging by means of lever system, the box is engaged using electric actuation. The paddle/lever at the stering column engages the gear either going up (right lever) or going down (left lever). The Porsche triptronic is actually an automatic gearbox but can be manually changed by press of buttons on the steering wheel.

The F1 box may be lighter than a maual 6-speed. The Porsche Tiptronic box is heavier than the Porscahe 6-speed box because it's an automatic box. Hope that will enlighten you.

 

[Supernova]

What are the rwhp numbers of a 355?

 

[Dr. Bob]

http://www.ferrariforum.com/models/view/models.php?modelid=121

 

[Vomit]

What are the rwhp numbers of a 355?

It sounds like the parasitic losses for the F1 vs. manual tranny are about the same. I have read that roughly 17% of engine HP is lost between the crank and the rear wheels (plus or minus a percentage point or two, depending upon manual vs. auto tranny) which would indicate a RWHP for the 355 of around 315.

I have a 2002 C32 MBZ which is slightly modded to produce around 400 engine HP, and it dynos at around 325 RWHP, so this calculation appears to be rougly accurate.

Perhaps someone can respond here who has actually dynoed their 355?

 

[Vomit]

Is there any weight difference between the F1 and manual tranny models?

Does the F1 tranny negatively affect the car's RWHP (i.e., is there a parasitic loss associated with the F1)?

You may confuse the F1 gearbox with that of the Porsche Triptronic gearbox. The F1 gearbox is actually a manual gearbox but intead of engaging by means of lever system, the box is engaged using electric actuation. The paddle/lever at the stering column engages the gear either going up (right lever) or going down (left lever). The Porsche triptronic is actually an automatic gearbox but can be manually changed by press of buttons on the steering wheel.

The F1 box may be lighter than a maual 6-speed. The Porsche Tiptronic box is heavier than the Porscahe 6-speed box because it's an automatic box. Hope that will enlighten you.

Thanks for the info Stradale. You are correct in your guesstimate as to the source of my confusion. Wow, the F1 may actually be lighter than the manual??? Very cool! I would love to have the flexibility of the F1, but I am just a little worried about rumors of F1 problems, especially in city traffic. Maybe the gravity of the F1 problem is a little overstated? I suppose that if one were careful to treat the F1 as a manual tranny when stopped (by putting it in neutral), this would greatly reduce the potential for failure(?)

 

[Stradale]

Thanks for the info Stradale. You are correct in your guesstimate as to the source of my confusion. Wow, the F1 may actually be lighter than the manual??? Very cool! I would love to have the flexibility of the F1, but I am just a little worried about rumors of F1 problems, especially in city traffic. Maybe the gravity of the F1 problem is a little overstated? I suppose that if one were careful to treat the F1 as a manual tranny when stopped (by putting it in neutral), this would greatly reduce the potential for failure(?)

In the city the F1 especially on the 355 is jerky. You have to accept that fact and adjust your driving to suit, otherwise you'll be annoyed in traffic. But in the open road and especially on the track it's beyond compare. Pulling both paddle to "nuetral" during the stops does help. In any case if you lift off your foot from the brakes after you have stopped, the F1 box will automatically change to neutral. There is no failure, the clutch gets hot, that's all and the beeping alarm will start, that's the annoying part! :-?

 

[Boxer]

If you are going to be doing a lot of driving in traffic, a manual box is probably better option. IMHO, the F355 manual gearbox is very rewarding experience.

 

[Vomit]

If you are going to be doing a lot of driving in traffic, a manual box is probably better option. IMHO, the F355 manual gearbox is very rewarding experience.

I think that I agree. I will be looking for a 6 speed manual 355 Spider in yellow with black leather. Decision made.

 

[Stradale]

If you are going to be doing a lot of driving in traffic, a manual box is probably better option. IMHO, the F355 manual gearbox is very rewarding experience.

I think that I agree. I will be looking for a 6 speed manual 355 Spider in yellow with black leather. Decision made.

Good decision. I agree completely!

 

[Boxer]

Great decision !