2200 miles in my 355!!!! | FerrariChat

2200 miles in my 355!!!!

Discussion in '348/355' started by vincent355, Apr 22, 2004.

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  1. vincent355

    vincent355 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 8, 2003
    6,321
    Wine Country
    Full Name:
    Vincent
    Just looking to give all those garage queens a heart attack.

    As some of you know, I sold the 348 about a month ago. I was enamored by the 365 GTC/4 but unfortunately I don't fit in it so well, and as you may also know I like to drive my car (a lot). I'm not one to keep the mileage low. So driveablity is important, though in the future I would still like to own a vintage front engine 12. I also want to credit and thank Malcom in San Diego for giving me a long ride in his Daytona. What a car, this ride made me realize that I like sports cars better than grand tourers. So....Then I thought I would like a boxer, and I still would like a boxer. BUT I need something to look forward to, and for a nice one it wasn't too feasible with my other project going on. So I kept my eye on the 355. One of the nor cal guys had a hand in this.

    The car:

    355
    26k miles (not anymore)
    all updates: valve guides, headers, serviced by Ferrari of Houston
    black on black (mandatory)
    qualifies for the extended powertrain warranty (unbelievable for a ten year old car)
    k40 radar front and rear, nice install
    12 disc cd, 8" sub, it took a while to figure out where all the bass was coming from but there is a sub behind the pedals, noticed it when I was picking up change. PIMP MY RIDE!!!!! It took us even longer to figure out how to turn it down to a reasonable level.

    This all happened very quickly. When I started looking at the 355's seriously I found 3 Black on black cars. Two had very low miles and thus very little service history, the third looked promising. So I called Ferrari of Houston and after a conversation I struck a deal. The next day I was on an airplane heading to Houston with a friend in tow in case everything checked out. I didn't sleep very much thursday night, it was like christmas eve. you know the feeling.

    the dealership:

    AWESOME! I have never had a car buying experience as positive as the one I had at Ferrari of Houston. The test drive was a bit boring as Houston is mainly composed of highways that are flat and flatter and straight and straighter. Joe (I hope it's ok that I mention your name) was very accomodating and answered all my questions and if he didn't know we consulted the mechanic who serviced the car. In the end I had all of the documents necessary (most where already laid out for me but being a stickler I needed a couple more). further more he offered a tour of their shops: race shop, restoration, paint, and service. I was able to inspect, touch, Ayrton Sennas lotus formula one car....gave me goosebumps especially since this is the 10 year anniversary of his death. Ferrari of Houston gets the thumbs up from me, well done!

    The drive:

    Sleep: 8 hours
    meals: 4
    beef jerky: 2 bags
    cd's: 16 (and we got sick of them)
    weather: u name it (including a snow storm)
    avg. speed: withheld
    fuel: 100 gal. (1.60 in texas)
    oil: none (btw if you're in Fresno and looking for synthetic at at 10:30 good luck)
    Mustang comments: 2 (in texas) "is that the new mustang?" BTW the people in Texas were awesome and friendly.
    Super charged supras raced....i mean side by side comparison: 1 (550 hp at rear wheels, that guy was fast. we chatted as well as you can at speed with your windows down. he wanted to trade........don't think so....the corvette behind us couldn't keep up. Or wouldn't, maybe the guys girlfriend had something to do with that.
    Vegas: "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" though I did get the car sideways on the strip. :)



    I'm not sure where to start but it was an epic adventure. If you haven't road tripped you Ferrari yet, you must. There is nothing like eating miles up in one of these awesome machines. I really look forward to the drive and not just the destination.

    My favorite memory is heading down the continental divide at speed through long radius turns with no one on the road and the k40 staying quiet. especially pleasant after having spent 2 hrs driving on 2" of snow.

    i also enjoyed being "escorted" into Nevada at 3am by an AZ trooper. Only to pull into the hotel and be treated like royalty, I really think the valets call the front desk and lets them know what kind of car you pulled in with.

    All in all, I drove my 348 home and had a blast, i drove my 355 home and had a blast. Drive these things home, why let the truckers have all the fun.

    What a shakedown!

    some pics: still have the same **** eating grin, "no its not the new mustang", buying cds, not my foot but hey 6 speed and flames on your feet, just washed you should have seen it after the drive.

    I would do it agian in a heartbeat.
     
  2. vincent355

    vincent355 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 8, 2003
    6,321
    Wine Country
    Full Name:
    Vincent
    the sub.....washed, tucked in and ready for the next adventure.
     
  3. 911Fan

    911Fan Formula 3

    Apr 15, 2004
    1,294
    Southern California
    Perfect combination -- black on black, 6-speed coupe.

    Always glad to see a Ferrari actually being driven and enjoyed. (Never have understood the garage queen thing...)

    I'm trying to figure out how that speaker is mounted -- seems like it's in a precarious location!

    btw, I get the Mustang comment once in a while too. And they're serious!

    Congratulations and many happy miles!
     
  4. KMS

    KMS Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Dec 22, 2003
    257
    That is awesome! There are few things more thrilling than a long roadtrip in something fun and rare.
     
  5. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

    Nov 20, 2002
    17,673
    Tauranga, NZ
    Full Name:
    Pete
    Nice car and nice story, thanks. Sounds like you had a blast :D

    Pete
     
  6. Strasse

    Strasse Formula Junior

    Apr 12, 2004
    252
    Perth, Australia
    Full Name:
    Phil
    That's awesome Vince. The 355 looks stunning! Congratulations.

    Thanks for sharing your story. I couldn't imagine a better way to enjoy the driving experience than with a long and colourful U.S. road trip, and in a 355: a dream come true!
     
  7. club0

    club0 Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2004
    459
    Helsinki, Finland
    Awesome story, and you car is absolutely STUNNING! I love it! Congratulations :)
     
  8. Anteriore

    Anteriore Formula Junior

    Jan 4, 2004
    863
    Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Ramon
    This is what Ferraris are for: drive them!
    Congratulations with your purchase! Black & 6-speed is the way to go!
     
  9. audionut

    audionut Formula Junior

    Apr 25, 2003
    566
    Toronto, Canada
    Full Name:
    Adrian Low
    Wonderful story and lovely car. Thanks for sharing and enjoy in good health!!!
     
  10. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,043
    Singapore
    Great story and great pics. We should have more of these!
     
  11. 348 Turbo

    348 Turbo Formula 3

    Jul 17, 2002
    1,837
    congrats Vincent.
    Stunning car! This will be my next one, (twin turbo'd of couse!).
    I've also picked up both of my F-cars and drove them home. I also recommend!
    Jeff
     
  12. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    75,396
    Texas!
    Great story. Too bad, we didn't have time to meet up. Maybe this Summer?

    Dale

    ps Joe really is a great car guy, but don't spread this around too much cause it tends to give him a big head.
     
  13. Johnny Bravo

    Johnny Bravo Formula Junior

    Jul 22, 2003
    532
    DC Metro/MD
    Full Name:
    Ben
    Excellent writeup & sounds like everything went just great for ya. Not to mention you got yourself one incredibly beautiful car (which I guess is the most important thing, right? :)). Um, just a quick query, but is that a flame tat on your right foot or am I seeing something? :D Guess that explains why your average speed is "withheld". :D
     
  14. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 2, 2004
    68,831
    Cloud-9
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Absolutely beautiful. Did they have that one in the back? I remember seeing one or two black 355's last time I stopped by FoH.
     
  15. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

    Dec 19, 2001
    4,274
    dusty old farm town
    Full Name:
    Tyler
    Awesome! :)
     
  16. Nick R

    Nick R Formula Junior

    Jan 15, 2004
    786
    Plano, TX
    Full Name:
    Nick R
    Vincent,

    Congratulations on the car! It sounds like you already know how to enjoy the car by driving it! I don’t know if you saw my recommendation but next time you are going on I-10 make sure you go south when you reach Ft. Davis out in west Texas. It is an awesome drive and great location.

    Nick
     
  17. JPF

    JPF Formula Junior

    Sep 11, 2003
    525
    NY
    Full Name:
    Joshua
    love this story. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

    I love your tatoo too. I might have to get me on of those.
     
  18. Art

    Art Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2004
    531
    Southern California
    It's awesome that you actually drove the car and put some miles on it. Congrats on your F355, it's beautiful.
     
  19. Jim Riggs

    Jim Riggs Karting

    Jan 25, 2004
    85
    Hey Vincent-
    I agree with you 100%. There is nothing like driving your new F-car cross country. I got a 348 SS from LA back in Feb and drove it back home in Texas. I got out of LA ASAP after closing the deal and went up the coast on 101 to Paso Robles and overnighted. The next day I drove across CA though Bakersfield on my way to I-40, but missed my turn and ended up in the mountains. Too bad!!! An F-car going thru the mountains!
    The people on the highway was really nice. Several times chicks would give a big smile and thumbs up. This is my first F-car and I was a bit surprised about all the attention. I drive 800 miles from western AZ to Lubbock in one day. Once I figured out that I had to take my wallet out of my back pocket when sitting in carbon fiber racing seats, I was okay. In fact, I was surprisingly relaxed after 800 miles.
    I'm looking forward to my next road trip. Think that I'll go down to Austin next month and in July go up to Durango, CO. F-car are built for touring! Cheers, Jim
     
  20. LA Swede

    LA Swede Formula Junior

    Dec 5, 2003
    373
    SoCal
    awesome and inspiring story!
     
  21. ETW

    ETW Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2003
    577
    MA
    Thats awesome! But 16 CDs? You were listening to music in a Ferrari?! Shame on you! Just kidding... Does it have Tubi?
     
  22. andrew911

    andrew911 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 8, 2003
    2,887
    Northern NJ
    All those CD's and other extended "road trip" stuff in the car....reminds me of the picture of the interior of the Daytona in Brock Yate's Cannonball book! Candy bar wrappers and garbage all over! Brock hit an indicated 170+ on that road trip- wonder if you beat that....wait, on second thought, you better not answer that question :)
     
  23. malcolmb

    malcolmb Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2002
    1,160
    San diego
    Full Name:
    Malcolm Barksdale
    vincent, what could be more fun? Glad you found such a beautiful car, black on black has always been my first choice. Sorry you didnt swing by SD, only a few hundred miles extra. We could have finished the wine.
     
  24. vincent355

    vincent355 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 8, 2003
    6,321
    Wine Country
    Full Name:
    Vincent
    malcom: thanks, that would have been a treat. I'm sipping on some 88 La Jota right now and it's fantastic.

    andrew: :)

    Johnny Jpf: that's not my foot. But I couldn't pass up the picture, classic!!!

    Jim: I agree that you need to be ready to answer a lot of questions and return many thumbs up. My experience driving ferraris and meeting people has been very positive.

    Thanks guys I'm thrilled all around, both with the car and the experience of the drive which I will never forget. I can only imagine how grand the tale will become...."I remember the time when...."
     
  25. BrianDrought

    BrianDrought Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    47
    Milton Keynes
    Wow! Gorgeous car. I'm after a black GTS myself.

    Can you send me a high res version of the pic under the car cover in the dark? Looks stunning !

    [email protected] if you can, cheers!

    Bri
     

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