[carlos50]

Hi all my name is Carl and im new to this forum today.I have had a look at lots of threads and read some interesting topics on the 360.

Im in the middle of trying to choose my next car and am thinking of either :-

Ferrari 360 F1
Porsche 911 (996) Turbo
Mercedes SL55 AMG
Aston Martin V8 Vantage

I own a Range Rover 4.4 Vogue at the moment and needless to say its not a good car to own.I want to go back to sports cars after owning a 996 C2 a couple of years ago.

My questions are :-
1. Will a 360 be relaiable for every day short journey use provided i keep it serviced etc correctly ?.
2. Can i expect similar fuel consumption or better than the RR (it does 15)?
3. Is specialist servicing ok with one of these ?.
4. Is there anything is should look out for when buying / testing one ?.

I expect high running costs but dont want to be horrified by it once ive bought a 360.It will be my only car and i will use it for work in every day real life can i expect the ferrari to serve me well or am i better going for the german stuff ?.I dont expect to be problem free for ever but dont want to be let down more than i can drive it.A car being taken to the garage is no use to me.

If anybody can tell me the honest day to day costs and yearly cost of a 360 that is being used daily for short trips that would be very helpful.

The purchase will be with me for a few years so i dont want to make a mistake choosing.I will be looking at the entry level priced ones but wont buy the cheapest purely based on that fact.

Im 100% sure i will love owning the 360 im just cautious having read so many horror stories about Maserati's.

Any opinions are most welcome.

Thanks in advance

Carl

 

[io sono tifoso]

buy the ferrari dude, its so many peoples dream to have one. live the dream. it wont even be close to a horror story. plus youll hear horror storys about every car, even porsche or mercedes. nothing bad will happen if you get all the intervals done. and yes the 360 is a good daily driver, its not like the new f430 thats "always ON" if you get what im saying. good choice by even considering ferrari! props

 

[Boxer]

Im in the middle of trying to choose my next car and am thinking of either :-

Ferrari 360 F1
Porsche 911 (996) Turbo
Mercedes SL55 AMG
Aston Martin V8 Vantage

My questions are :-
1. Will a 360 be relaiable for every day short journey use provided i keep it serviced etc correctly ?.
2. Can i expect similar fuel consumption or better than the RR (it does 15)?
3. Is specialist servicing ok with one of these ?.
4. Is there anything is should look out for when buying / testing one ?.

Carl

Based on my experience:

1. Yes
2. Not exactly sure the MPG but it is not terrible
3. Yes
4. Suggest you take a look at the Buyers Guide : http://www.ferrarilife.com/library/guides.php. Check the clutch condition especially on an F1.

Of the cars that you have listed. The only other one I would seriously consider would be the Aston.

 

[JazzyO]

Fuel consumption will definitely not be worse than 15mpg. My 550 does around 16 and it is thirstier than the 360.


Ono



Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

 

[carlos50]

Thanks guys its good to hear real life opinions. I really fancy one and just wanted to be sure it wouldnt turn out to be a mistake.

Hopefully it will happen and you will hear more from me in the future.


Carl

 

[Boxer]

Thanks guys its good to hear real life opinions. I really fancy one and just wanted to be sure it wouldnt turn out to be a mistake.

Hopefully it will happen and you will hear more from me in the future.


Carl

My only advise would be to consider a traditional 6 speed manual if you are going to use it as your daily driver and heavy traffic is a concern.

 

[Night Life]

Ciao and welcome

First of all buy something you like not what others like
Enjoy all the aspects of your search for a vehicle
Research each car thoroughly
Remember to do PPI when you find your car
As an exotic car owner know what you are getting into
Realize what your yearly maintenance cost will be
Insight of vehicle quirks prevents disappointments


And if you look carefully at my advise there is your answer..

 

[ncng]

360 F1 vs 6 speed

360 F1 vs 6 speed

I saw you recommend a 6 speed as a daily driver in heavy traffic, I am looking at 03 360 F1, I live in a small town, lots of hills on thru roads, stop and go on flat, whats the clutch wear comparison?

Best Regards,
Mark

 

[Boxer]

360 F1 vs 6 speed

I saw you recommend a 6 speed as a daily driver in heavy traffic, I am looking at 03 360 F1, I live in a small town, lots of hills on thru roads, stop and go on flat, whats the clutch wear comparison?

Best Regards,
Mark

You should be OK. It is crawling along in heavy city traffic that puts undue wear on the clutch.

 

[monza]

Carlos, since you posted at this forum, subconsiously you have already decided on which car to purchase. Obviously everyone in this forum will say take the 360 as I will. Take heed in Boxers answers, he has great experiences with ferrari's. Nightlifes advice are important.

My only addition to that is to get that 360, for having a ferrari is next to nothing. I was at a party where someoned owned a carera gt who got attention, but not as much as the red ferrari that i drove in and parked up front. If you are overly concerned about a daily ride, get a BMW for your daily, and take your ferrari out on friday and weekend parties. It's also not what people think of you that count anyway, its the pleasure you will have listening to the engine of that ferrari while driving it and knowing its deep racing heritage.

 

[carlos50]

Hi guys

Im back again but sad to say i havent got the 360 yet.My Range Rover lost 70% of its value last year and it means i will have to wait a bit before joining you all.

As ive said in my previous posts i am still worried how the 360 will react to daily use especially in the winter months. I dont get caught up in traffic and its a fairly straight run for the 20 miles to work so i think the 360 would be ok with that.

How does it hold up when the weather is bad and the roads become icy for example ?.Can steady driving still be done without the huge potential of crashing it ?. I only have parking space for 1 car so this will be it, no 2nd car for use during winter unfortunately !!!

As for service costs i will do around 12k miles per year how does service pan out ?.Do i have to get 2 lots of 6k mile services then an 18k every year and a half ?.

How long would i expect to get from a fresh clutch if i used it correctly ?.

I know people say that if you have to ask this stuff then i cant afford one well the truth is i will be able to afford one i just want to be clear what i am committed to before buying. Running a Range Rover V8 isnt cheap especially since its out of warranty now.I cherish my cars and what it needs it gets i just dont want porblems to plague ownerhsip and always be taking it to the garage for service.

I can recall asking a local dealer what he would take to change my 911 for a 355 he had and he said if i wanted to spend all of the 355 ownership having problems that was upto me. I am sure he was OTT with that comment but i just want to know.

I have a £3k budget each year for car related running costs would that be ok ?.

I am used to 15 - 17mpg so hopefully the 360 isnt any worse despite the data i have read suggesting 14mpg.

Hopefully ownership will come soon, i read the sales literature i have time and again and i cant wait.

Thanks for your patience with my repeat questions.

Carl

 

[Granucci]

I would consider the standard over the F1 for winter driving etc...but if you must, and you are not moving, the F1.

IF you can, I probably would avoid ice driving with any high torque car, or at least have correct winter tires...

Couldn't you consider an alternative driver for the more severe winter time?

RR's are quick to depreciate it seems even if top of the line....just a slug of 'em out there, and, well like you say economy and gas etc.....not many picking up new ones unless that's their lifestyle.

360 prices falling also.....

 

[Gcalo]

---My questions are :-
1. Will a 360 be relaiable for every day short journey use provided i keep it serviced etc correctly ?.
2. Can i expect similar fuel consumption or better than the RR (it does 15)?
3. Is specialist servicing ok with one of these ?.
4. Is there anything is should look out for when buying / testing one ?.

---

You are asking a ton here but some is answerable.

My best advice would be not to have expectations of Ferrari as a daily driver as you would the other vehicles you mentioned. Not only will you accumulate mileage quickly bring closer in time to expensive services, you will find that a Ferrari cannot be driven as a local only means of transportation.

360 Ferrari's need to be driven 10-15 miles minimum just to warm the engine oil! So for short journeys you would be asking for trouble long term.

Fuel comsumption is an area not commonly discussed about Ferrari driving. So again look to something else for that purpose.

Independent servicing is highly recommended over dealer servicing.

You need to have written evidence of the prior services and when.

I would suggest to stay away from the F1 tranny as it can be problematic and will eat clutches especially for short distance driving. It is not an automatic transmission. It is a 6 speed manual with an electric-hydraulic operating system.

I would strongly suggest you do substantial research before jumping as it could be an expensive mistake if you don't.

The 360 is a very reliable vehicle but it needs attention.

Welcome to F.L.

 

[Boxer]

Hi guys
i am still worried how the 360 will react to daily use especially in the winter months.

How does it hold up when the weather is bad and the roads become icy for example ?.

As for service costs i will do around 12k miles per year how does service pan out ?.Do i have to get 2 lots of 6k mile services then an 18k every year and a half ?.

How long would i expect to get from a fresh clutch if i used it correctly ?.
I have a £3k budget each year for car related running costs would that be ok ?.

I am used to 15 - 17mpg so hopefully the 360 isnt any worse despite the data i have read suggesting 14mpg.

Carl

My 2 cents on your questions:

1. 360 can be used as a daily driver, plenty of people have done so. Just warm it up properly.

2. As long as you know how to drive it, it handling in bad weather is fine. Manual will give you more control than an F1 in the really nasty stuff.

3. Assuming you buy a manual, clutch should last 25k miles or more.

4. Your budget is about right to cover maintenance/service costs.

5. It is not great on gas. You get killed sitting in traffic but otherwise 12-15 mpg should be achieveable.

 

[JazzyO]

Hi Carlos,

I wouldn't drive a 360 as a daily, daily driver. Ferraris are not great when we are talking icy conditions, sleet, salt on the roads etc.. Difficult to drive, easy to crash. If at all possible (i.e. do you have garage space?) I have a 2004 BMW 3 series that for those days. In general that can save you a lot of money, and keep your Ferrari in much better shape (both visually and mechanically). I also think some of the magic gets lost if you don't have the option of choosing to drive the Ferrari. If you always drive it, even to Sainsbury's, then you start to lose a bit of the excitement of getting it out the garage when the sun's shining.

Regarding garage space, my BB is stored 30 miles outside of London for 20 bucks a week, so maybe a similar facility could be an option if you don't have a garage. In Holland I have bought a garage - it's a very good real estate investment as fewer and fewer houses have garages nowadays, and of course whilst I own it I can use it for storing a couple of cars. Not sure what the situation is near you but just a thought.

Your budget of £3k for 12,000 miles per annum is on the light side unless you're talking only maintenance, not total running costs. Total costs (insurance, fuel, tyres, services depreciation etc.) you should be looking more at £8k, although I think that is increasing with the Sterling being so low (spares are becoming more expensive, I would guess although my wallet has not been hurt yet). Fuel alone is around £2,400 @ £0.80/l (not sure what the current price is, haven't been there for 6 weeks). The £8k does not include financing costs, BTW. If you go for it, then make sure you have some cash in reserve for a major repair, should it come 'round. If you use it daily, you also have to budget for an annual stone chip correction (£1k). A car like this needs to look sharp if you want to enjoy it fully.

Hope this helps.


Onno



Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

 

[carlos50]

Hi guys

There seems to be a bit of a difference of opinion but i think i can see where the opinions are leading.

I am fully aware that running a 360 would not be cheap and i have no problem in paying to keep it A1 but i dont want to start worrying that things will start to fail or bodywork will deteriorate etc etc.

Out of all the cars on sale today i think the 360 is one of the best looking if not THE best looking (except 430). Ive wanted one for a long time and having already had a Porsche 911 i became bored of that after 18 months of daily driving and sold it.

My budget was for service costs only but i dont have endless funds and if it did start to go wrong the enjoyment would be turned sour very quickly.

I guess i want more from the 360 than it can offer, i need to use my car every day and thought the thrill of a 360 would keep me satisfied for many years.Adding miles etc etc doesnt bother me as i wasnt buying it to keep it parked up for a nice day.If its not a good idea then perhaps i should forget the idea and look at one of the others i listed

Thanks for the honest opinions, they have been received gratefully.

Carl

 

[Granucci]

actually, carlos, I am seeing a lot of agreement here.

Ferraris 'can' be used as daily drivers and have but need to be treated properly and can be a problem. It might be best if have an alternate for either when the car is in the shop or for more daily mundane tasks, like running to the store etc.

Ferraris in the F1 are not great for stop and go, and icy conditions. suggest a manual

Ferraris costs for clutch are as stated above, unless F1 which might wear quicker due either to improper use or just because stop-n-go a lot.

An. costs are in ball park as stated.

Cost of depreciation for a daily, well, expect a lot. SO, consider NOT a low mileage car for initial purchase: get one that is well depreciated, as it will be even more so for daily, AND due to high mileage, will have warranty and other 'issues' sorted already.

kind of sums it up, but ... well, I'd wait a bit, if you are torn from loosing a lot on the RR and choosing a F for a daily...might not be your time yet, regardless of how one thinks the stars are aligning in these down times.

Remember, AFTER this downturn, even when the economy will warm up, there will be a SLUG of these cars, in the market, at even lower prices becuase this economy won't warm up for another 2-3 years making these 360's > 10 years old. Sorry, even with some issues, one might be able to pick up a 'few' sort them accordingly and have a stable...not saying one should, but see that coming.

rik

 

[carlos50]

Hi Granucci

Thanks for the comments. I hadnt particularly set my heart on an F1, a manual would be equally as rewarding and probably sound the better option for my needs.

My girlfriend will be getting a car soon so trips to the shops etc will be doen in that its the daily tripn to work that id use the 360 for.Its a pretty clear run and can be done at motorway speeds so everything should get warmed through nicely.I also give my cars a monthly blast to blow off the cob webs so to speak.

If its purely a matter of keeping it serviced correctly and pampering it like it demands then i can live with that it was just the worry i buying something that simply wouldnt cope with daily use.6k services at independants twice a year is fine with me and tyres, insurance, fuel etc etc are required for all sports cars so that wasnt on my list of concerns. Granted mpg is but only because i want to get a feel for how often id have to fill up.

Ive waited years to get one and instead of keeping the same car during that time ive waisted money changing regularly so i dont have a big bank account at the min hence the decision to wait until i replinish the funds.

Bottom line, if the 360 can live with daily light use whilst being cared for correctly then thats good enough for me. Aslong as it doesnt give me major failure on a regular time scale im happy enough.

I guess if i dont get one i will never know !!!!!

Thanks

Carl

 

[Boxer]

Hi Granucci

Thanks for the comments. I hadnt particularly set my heart on an F1, a manual would be equally as rewarding and probably sound the better option for my needs.

My girlfriend will be getting a car soon so trips to the shops etc will be doen in that its the daily tripn to work that id use the 360 for.Its a pretty clear run and can be done at motorway speeds so everything should get warmed through nicely.I also give my cars a monthly blast to blow off the cob webs so to speak.

If its purely a matter of keeping it serviced correctly and pampering it like it demands then i can live with that it was just the worry i buying something that simply wouldnt cope with daily use.6k services at independants twice a year is fine with me and tyres, insurance, fuel etc etc are required for all sports cars so that wasnt on my list of concerns. Granted mpg is but only because i want to get a feel for how often id have to fill up.

Ive waited years to get one and instead of keeping the same car during that time ive waisted money changing regularly so i dont have a big bank account at the min hence the decision to wait until i replinish the funds.

Bottom line, if the 360 can live with daily light use whilst being cared for correctly then thats good enough for me. Aslong as it doesnt give me major failure on a regular time scale im happy enough.

I guess if i dont get one i will never know !!!!!

Thanks

Carl

Based on the above comments, I see no reason why a 360 would not fit the bill. However I would definitely get a manual.

Right now you can get some great buys on 360s in the UK.

 

[Granucci]

carlos: did I hear you say girlfriend for a daily driver or short runs

sorry, I AM getting bad......pls don't ban me, I'm trying to detox 'the other site'

rik