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For me I grew up on video games. Instead of a wall poster I had the yellow Lamborghini Diablo SV from Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. In terms of Ferrari, when I was in high school I lusted after the press photos of a Grigio Silverstone F430 spider.
*Bit awkward innit,* the 348 was last of the shit Ferraris and the 360 was the first of the modern ones while the 355 combined classic styling and rubbish interior with nearly-modern material matrix and chassis stiffness.
Jay, you need to zoom back the camera so we can watch you stick shift while you talk. You always cut that off to your face only. Know what I'd say??? FOCK your belly! We know you are fat. Alright??? So, please ZOOM back so we can enjoy the art of stick shifting. Understand???
On maintenance costs, it is interesting. I added up all my bills over 15 years recently. I bought a good one in the first place, but I've spent £32k over 15 years looking after it, including a few belt changes, new clutch, alternator, shocks, tyres and have the sticky bits sorted in that time. It's increased in value more in the time than I've spent on it. I've done 29k miles. They are very special if you can find a good one.
Well done, and top man maths. I did the same thing with a Honda NSX 16 years ago, that was a good time to buy. Adding up all the running costs it’s cost me around -ve £2,000 per year😁
I've had my 355 for 15 years. I absolutely love it. It hasn't given me hardly any issues over the years. I watched a lot of videos talking about how bad these cars are, and for me, it's simply not true. I think it's a very fast car. I love how it handles and how it sounds. It's not great from a dead stop, but right after you get moving it can really accelerate. It's almost comparable to turbo lag. I have had offers to buy my 355 and have always declined. I recently had an offer of $130k. To me, it's one of the best sportscars ever.
In answer to your poll, this was mine. My friends all lusted after the F40, but this was the Ferrari for me. Although controversially I wanted the targa in yellow.
I'm turning 33 and my "childhood Ferrari" was the 550 Maranello, although I remember the F40 and Testarossa still being considered the most iconic at the time.
My childhood Ferrari was a Lotus Esprit. The British Ferrari. But seriously, when I was around 12 it was the F40. But once I was around 15 I knew the F40 was dreamland, so it became the 355.
F355 Berlinetta, manual, since Jeremy C treated us to his first review of it . And I’ve been lucky enough to own one the last 5 years. Makes you feel alive. And fully agree - it averages £2-£4k pa including even a few cosmetic fixes like the sticky interior plastics .
Not bad at all. I’m more of a super bike guy as that’s the best performance value for money out there. I’ve always had Japanese 600’s and 1000’s and have flirted with the idea of owning a Ducati or MV Agusta but my Japanese bikes have always treated me well
The 430 Scuderia, it came out when I was 11 and i remember some of the fuss around it. Back in the day I had been buying top gear magazine Italy and the oddball cars section was my favourite. I remember there the Caterham RS, the Ultima, the Mosler, the Noble, the Tramontana, the Caparo... Now I understand what shaped my obsession with low volume quirky cars
The Ferrari 308 was my childhood dream Ferrari; Magnum P.I., Christie Brinkley in Vacation….. Back in the early ‘80s, most cars were crummy boxes- the 308 looked like something from a different planet!
I'm a late 90's to early 00's kid, the first time I saw a Ferrari was a F355 spider on NFS 2 SE in 1997 I think then I saw the real thing around the same era. The F50 was definitely top dog then but that 355 always win my heart and is my favourite Ferrari of all time
Childhood Ferrari: F430 Scuderia, but my dream is to own a 355, partly because it was the F355 Challenge car (the arcade game) but mostly because I heard one accelerate away from me at Silverstone one day and I fell in love with it.
The last steel bodied Ferrari, mine suffered from rust in just 3 years, nothing serious but the kick plates on the sills were steel painted satin black with no primer. Water would get trapped underneath as they are attached by some small self tapping screws and partial adhesive bonding. The rust was between the bottom of the plate and the top of the sill, I bought composite replacement kick plates for mine, but it was almost impossible to remove the rusty ones due to the bond, they had to be removed with extreme force which destroyed them in the process. The red body paint was luckily undamaged, and I was able to add Vaseline to prevent water getting in again and refit the plates with the original screws. Being all steel this is a very heavy car. I would suggest the 360 is much much better, all aluminium, traction control, very powerful at low revs and totally usable in town, a 360 will outlast a 355 and cost much less to own and be a more enjoyable drive, Still going for sensible money, don't buy a Spyder or one with the F1 gearbox as it was well from perfected at this point, try reverse parking on an incline to be ridiculed by passers by when the temperature sensor on the clutch prevents you from going backwards any more.
Whenever I think of F355 I think of a day in 1996 when I was punting a 328 down a Bavarian mountain when an F355 came into view coming up the pass sideways, smoke pouring off the tyres. The driver had a smile so big I could see it from 100m away. And the sound…oh the sound!
Back in 94 when every youngun was modifying their car, I was walking through Leeds and one of these trundled out of a side road right in front of me. A young lad stood with his GF waiting to cross the road next to me said “I could not improve that in any way” at the same time I said the same thing in my mind… This was the time when normal people were lowering their cavaliers to get the look. Ps I think “slow” is pushing it, they will show most 964’s a clean pair of heels. They are long geared - 1st 60mph, 2nd 90 ish - so I’ve been told.
37 yrs old - suspect similar age to you JM. F355 is 'the' Ferrari for me. The best car in the woooorld as the oaf states on the VHS. F50 was the poster boy though.
SW20 MR2 GT-S , ironically many sw20's were used as chassis donors for the 355. The car the SW20 was actually faster than the 348TB. Dream Ferrari is the 360 modena (NFSHP2, in the formative years).
owned a 95 355 spyder in Rosso barchetta. Loved the looks and driving of the car but the engine-out servicing and valve guide issues and exhaust issues is a serious deterrent. Having all that sorted at one time is a $20-$25k bill. 1995 is the best year to get as they are OBD1 cars, fewer lights and errors to trigger. Get a carbureted 308 in my opinion.
Great review and content as always James. There is one correction though: the 993 Turbo is actually a much rarer car than the F355, with total production being at 5,937 vs 11,273 for the Ferrari.
The F355 was the first Ferrari i was properly aware of as a young kid and i had a model of one in yellow, yellow has been my favourite colour on any Ferrari ever since
In the US, the belt service can start at around $7k but it can easily jump to $10k when the mechanic tells you of other parts to replace while the engine is out. I enjoyed my glorious gated F355 for 4 years until I bought an M2 Competition and realized it was time to replace the old Ferrari with something modern. I also got tired of the repeated issues I was having with various parts and how difficult finding replacements has become. My mechanic replaced the ABS pump with a similar one out of a 90s Jaguar. I would constantly see CELs on my dash coming on for a bit and then disappearing. The car leaked oil constantly. If it wasn't one thing, it was another... I finally let it go. I'll always cherish the fond memories of the driving experience. Reliability issues aside, it's one of the most beautiful and best sounding cars ever produced.
I was born in 81 so obviously ferrari wise was F40 and testerossa but had a soft spot for the 456 and non ferrari was the jag xj220 and probably my favourite the Aston Martin vantage 550 brake horse from the 90s stunning car ❤ I do love the 355 though amazing car and the sound is spectacular
My next door neighbour had a red one, vert shoddily built and poor panel gaps. The doors were fitted to very flexible hinges so when you 'tried' to shut the doors the plunger would hit all round the catch rather than central, easily resolved by using rose joints or even humble track rod ends of a mini or something similar. Quite quick but more like a kit car that the Mario bothers had put together.
1986 Testarossa, yes the Out Run computer game. Damn I remember put my entire holiday pocket money into the arcade game in Italy (family holiday circa 87) my mum went mad! 2500 Lira to the pound in those days!
Another gem of a video James, thank you. And what a subject to cover, you did it justice IMO. I hope this channel continues for a very long time to come!
Born in 88 and the 355 was the childhood Ferrari for me. I remembering seeing loads of them when going to Silverstone for the F1 in the mid nineties. Still one of the best looking and sounding cars ever made.
F40 or testarossa were the bedroom wall posters but its moot anyway as we all had the Countach on our walls instead. The white one with the different views of the car, specifically. Edit: early 40s.
Honestly, while I was aware of Ferrari, they really weren't important to me as a child. Growing up, playing Gran Turismo, Ferrari wasn't on the game - nor was Porsche. It took me a long time to really start to appreciate those cars, especially since no one owns them in my neck of the woods. I have a 996 911 Carrera now, because the car was attainable. It was the most car I could get for the money. It's brilliant. But Ferrari has always occupied the space of a status symbol, with the price tag to match, and that just doesn't appeal to me. I'd love to own a classic Ferrari someday, but it isn't an end all, be all car. You can get a lot more car for the money that will still give you just as many smiles. Cars are to be shared and experienced, and all too often it seems Ferraris are to be looked at or talked about, not driven.
I put more than 10,000 miles on my F355 over 4 years of ownership. I bought a car in okay-ish condition, gradually restored it to near-new condition and began to drive it as often as I could. Lo and behold--the more you drive and fix things, the more reliable and predictable the car becomes. So many of these cars get a bad rap because they sit unused.
@@canto_v12 I would never argue with that! Cars, like anything else, are much better off when they get regular exercise. Ferraris are no exception. I'm glad there are owners like yourself that take these cars out and drive them. I've put 7,250 miles on my Carrera since I bought it a year and a half ago. Love letting others drive it, too, assuming they know how to drive stick! I was just saying it's a shame that most Ferraris with "high-mileage" are sitting at about 40,000 miles on the odometer after 20 or 30 years. My understanding is that they are more than capable of 150,000-200,000 miles of ownership, if well-kept. I wish I had the money to buy a decent example and keep it on the road to share with everybody!
The 355 was the first Ferrari I ever drove. I was 21 and the year was 2002. Flash forward a few years to 2020, I’m 40 years old and thinking of buying one. I go to look at one realize the door is so long, the door sill so wide, and the seat so low it was impossible for me to get in and out of the car gracefully especially in a tight parking spot next to other cars…. So I bought a 360. Much better choice for more reasons than just comfort factor.
The 355 is the last truly beautiful Ferrari from every angle. The only Ferrari's I actually lust after are the 250 California, 288 GTO, F40 and 355 GTB Manual
370hp and 270ft lb = relative lack of pace? How much power do you actually need or realistically use? For me this is the perfect Ferrari as opposed to the stupidly expensive, complicated and overpowered ornaments they currently offer.
Like all Ferraris, they are meant to be on the race track and not on the drag strip. The 355 is no exception. It likes the high revs and it feels like that is where the power range is. The 355 is fast enough and handles very well on the track. Normal road driving isn't as thrilling but it has a sweet spot for Sunday drives like I have never experienced in any other car.
Childhood poster cars ... showing my age badly with these two! The original LP400 Lamborghini Countach, and the Ferrari 308. The latter was just so drop dead gorgeous, even if it wasn't the fastest car around, and things only got better when it was upgraded to the 328. The Countach, of course, became Battlestar Galactica on wheels, and became a fantasy for millions of teenagers for that reason alone. Though it still had near racing car dynamics in a street legal car. Ferrari went a bit silly with the Testarossa, which is probably the hardest of the 80s "dream cars" to live with, courtesy of a heavy clutch that has achieved legendary status, and of course the Countach will *always* be an opera on wheels, probably Götterdämmerung. But the 308/328 gave enough thrills to keep you happy if you could afford one, and was a work of art. I think of the 308/328 as sort of the automotive equivalent of Nadia Comaneci in her prime, petite, graceful, pretty to look at, and performed with panache when called upon to do so. Can't ask more than that. :)
Nice! It has the type of power that is entirely useable. In the meantime it’s a joy to appreciate the refinement in terms of a supple ride and comfort. A reliable, beautifully made “delight” as you say. The F1 exudes character IMO. No regrets.
If you are ever in the area of New Hampshire, you'd be more than welcome to take my track focused 95 Berlinetta (color yellow) for a good run and would sure like to meet you!
I had several car posters/ cut outs on my side of bedroom wall, so did my brother on his, but the only Ferrari I remember was a magazine folded poster of the Ferrari 308GTB Quattrovalvole.
I was born in 1962 and my poster Ferraris were always racing cars: 1970 312B, 1972 312PB, 1975 312T, 1967 330/P4. I really tried to like the Daytona but it never really fit my eye, always looked fat. Aesthetically the greatest Ferraris IMO: 250 SWB California, BB, 308 GTB, 355 and 458. 355 may well be the most balanced design aesthetically - though never been a fan of flip lights. It is like the Audi A8/S8 of late 1990s - perfect proportions. Proportions is the foundation for good looks. Unfortunately so many modern designers try to hide bad proportions with extra unnecessary superficial forms to cheat a buyer. Someone has said trends are for those who have no sense of style…
I own a 98 F1 GTS. Nearly perfect car. I also own a 95 Berlinetta. The F1 is awesome and shift’s fantastic. Very enjoyable car. I just got a 14 McLaren MP4-12C. It will blow the doors off the 355 but not the sound. The Mac is too perfect of a car and not raw like the 355.
I was from a family of Merc lovers so my childhood grails were a McLaren Mercedes SLR (still love the look of them) and a Gullwing. Definitely wouldn’t say no to a 355 Berlinetta with a manual box though and your video has given me pause for thought re the relatively modest servicing costs which was the biggest factor weighing against them so far. Part of me though wants to revert to Merc and a Pagoda SL is definitely on the cards as a relaxed classic to pootle around in.
Miura and Countach were my first posters - then moved onto the Testarossa. And would love to own any of them. But I'm very happy with my Maserati Granturismo S 😉
I've Owned a 355 for 7 years, amazing sound, looks and drive, however like most Ferraris is expensive to fix, especially when it come to the engine just cam belt replacement every 3years or 30K engine out etc..easy US$20K bill. So think before you purchase this amazing machine.
Now I was born in 1995 but I have always been a bit weird I suppose, I've always loved older cars so the newest car on my bedroom wall for a long while was the F40 and it's still my favourite Ferrari, I'll never get to drive one, but to me, someone says Ferrari, I think of the F40
well, its the rag top - one of the most beautiful -and so much fun with stuck- faster then anyone needs to go= and feels amazing doing it = all the new cars are too fast- - 355 is right in the pocket- glorious howl at red line- and you get to use the gears- favenugen all the way
Still the last truly beautiful car that Ferrari made. They've made the odd handsome one (f12 & lusso), and the occasional pretty one ( f430 & 612). But the 355 😍
Ferrari red is nice. But I've seen these in black at local car shows. They look sick. Love them either way. The 288 GTO and 250 are my favorites though. I'm 45
All the best Ferrari colors are never red. Every time I see a lesser spec'ed color, I get reminded about how right I am with that statement. A red Ferrari always tells me that the owner was after the the resale value and or had no individuality.
The Mitsubishi 3000 GT, if I'm not mistaken, was the first production car with a valved exhaust as standard, as well as active aero & some other goodies. Beating Ferrari by a few years.
