Guys, just sold my Testarossa and I have now got to decide what to replace it with. It down to either a 550 or 355, and this is a summary of the plus points of each: 550: 1. V12 engine 2. Noise 3. more modern than 355 both in looks and mechanics 4. no change of shape - still current model 355: 1. more agile than 550 2. mid-engined 3. prettier than 550 With good cars costing similar money £55K which one should I go for and which one will be the most practical as a limited use every day car?
The honest answer is this is a win-win situation for you . The cars are so very different tho'. Having come from a V12 the 355 may well feel a tad underpowered/down on torque. We kind of visited this queastion with Basher earlier in the year when he thought about changing his 355 Spider for a 550; http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14859 http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18090 http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18089
Mark Collins is your man- he's had both, and I'd be interested to read his reply! FWIW, I'd say the 550 will be the better everyday proposition, just a feeling. The 550 monstered all comers in every test I have read, and is Evo Mag's drivers' car of the decade, no less. But somehow, the 355 is more 'interesting'. Only IMO, and maybe down to the more exotic styling, layout. I think it is also fair to add 'noise' to the credit side of the 355. Robert.
I went from a testarossa to a 355 kept it for 2 months hated it then bought a f512m so it looks like a 550 for you drive a 355 then you will see what i mean they are a good car but once you have had a 12 cylinder a 355 seems gutless and will not impress you at all but they are easier to drive and park with power steering and loads more mpg but try before you buy never been in a 550 so cant comment on it you could buy a lambo
What sort of Lambo is he likely to get for £55k ? I tend to agree with others on here that as much as I love my 355 the 550 has to be a better daily driver. It is a car that I would consider as a replacement for my 355. regards James
a diablo once you have had a testarossa nothing with 8 cylinders has the grunt actually they are a lazy drive as you just put your foot down and they go in a 355 you have to drop a couple of gears to make it go ask simon 355 as he now has a lambo murchi its a different way of driving
ufo I have only had my 550 for a few weeks but the 355 for 3 1/2 years before this. The 355 is a great car, great noise, quick when kept in the power band, looks to die for and in the right colour (Red/ Yellow) a real head turner. Nice to have an open top (GTS for me) when the weather deserves it and the noise is so much better with the roof off. I did a couple of European tours in it and it did a great job as a GT. Downsides of the 355 are reliability of some components, Manifolds, dampers for example also my engine exploded with an appropriately large bill although I think these problems are rare and I was unlucky. The 550 is simply fantastic, huge power and torque and easier to get the pace out of it without needing to thrash it to within an inch of it's life. V12 noise (with a Tubi) is stunning once going (one of my mates says it sounds like a Max Power Nova on idle and to be honest he's not far wrong!), cabin space is huge inside by comparison and it's definitely more a Gentlemans carraige, not so shout on the road infact in the 355 I found most other road users lept out of the way as soon as you got near them but no so with the 550 although that maybe because it's Blue not Red. having said that the 355 was unreliable it has to be said that the 550 is proving a bit fragile, I wonder if it's been sitting around for a while, it's back at the dealer with a Power Steeering problem that caused such huge high frequency vibration that it cracked the Windscreen! Only comments I'd make about your comparisons is the handling between the two, I always found my 355 a touch nervous, it seeemed as though it was sitting on the road and never really gripping it, I would say that I only ever felt comfortable using 70% of it's ability on the road (I did a large number of track/ handling days in it and know where the limits were) and in the wet as others have said it was downright lethal with an ability to aquaplane at 30 mph let alone motorway speeds. The 550 seems far more planted (probably all that weight ) I drove back from Swindon to Reading on Thursday on the M4 in torrential rain and it was fine. In the dry it feels like it's got limpet like grip even at substantial speeds Lastly I paid somewhat more than the £55k you mention but then it's done virtually no miles, had some options I wanted, A Tubi added and 2 years factory warranty.
I didnt want to say this on my first thread but I have actually driven a 355 and to be honest I found it rather hard work. It didnt help that I had just been driving my BMW 745 (333bhp), but I really struggled to keep the power coming. I wasnt sure if it was just that particular car. I suppose the only thing that i dont like about the 550 is it Toyota Supra looks and that its not mid-engined which takes away a bit of the X factor. But I agree that its huge torque will perfect for my rather lazy driving style. Has anyone gone form a 550 to a 355, or have those people moved on to the 360?
The reason why I find myself edging towards the 550 is for everyday useability. I know that a V12 Ferrari cannot by any stretch of imagination be considered "useable" but many a times I felt like a "show-off" drving round in my red Testarossa, especially in a busy city centre at lunchtime!
They're completely different cars - it depends on what you want. The 355, compared with a 550, is a farty little runabout. Very competent, most certainly, but a beginner-mobile. The 550 is a big, complicated, and powerful cruiser. How do you see yourself? Badge.
Sounds like you want a 550. If you can compare a 355 to a BMW 745 you obviously don't like the thrill of driving! My other car is an M5, which has more power than my 355 and is as quick in a straight, but, so what? One is a lardy saloon (745 is lardier with less power), the 355 one of the worlds most beautiful cars with an engine note to die for and sublime handling balance? You've also ruled out 911's in another thread? Maybe you need to rev these cars above 3000rpm Perhaps a turbo diesel would suit your driving style better? Of course i'm only joking, but the peaky power delivery of the 355 isn't for everyone. I've just come from a Noble, with huge torque across the entire rev range, and initially the 355 seems a bit flat, but once you get the 355 in the power band it really is quite quick!
I think they are 2 different types of cars to have a fair comparison. V8/V12, front/mid engine. I think you have to choose first what you want: 8 or 12, mid or front. Then you can narrow down your choice and the comparison would be more realistic.
Sounds like you've had enough of the show-off, in-your-face, bright red Testa and are looking to transition into something a little more refined and practical. Go for the 550!
Or how about a 456m? Even better looking car IMO than a 550, not as focussed, but very quick, refined and discreet. Great value too. I too found the 355 unimpressive on test drive- you do have to work at getting the best out of it, and just love it now. I guess that is why it is a great sportscar when you are in the mood, but less rewarding when you are pootling. From what you've said I think you'd be less likely to be disappointed with a 550 than a 355, but I still reckon driving a a 355 would be more of an "event".
ive never driven a 550 but had a maser 3200 before the 355 i have now. That was all easy power vs the 355 which is all about revs. I think it depends on what you use the car for, if you just want a weekend toy then the 355 is great, if you want something more akin to a "normal" car in terms of engine behaviour then a v12 will be more similar and an easier drive (more power for less work). I love my 355 but miss the easy power the maser had sometimes. Drive both for as long as you can. If it wasnt so expensive I would suggest hiring both for a day. Its all about personal preference...
I had my Testarossa for a year and only managed to drive it once a week (weather permitting). It was frustrating not being able to use it everyday. For my next car I want something I can use more often, but to be able to enjoy it for every mile that I cover. I work in the city, I have to meet with clients, drive in rush hour traffic etc. i like my 745 because in this enviroment it is very good. i just dont find myself drving off in to the sunset without a care in the world.. I need a car that performs on a rainy Monday morning! I had a NSX before the Testarossa, and although it was great on the track, I never quite managed to drive it at 8000rpm from A to B. Is this what the 355 is like?
You'll choose on taste as we all do, but having had the use of both on a number of occassions, I found the 550 to be a truly great Grand Tourer, but wildly impractical if you wanted to drive, and more especially park, around town. I could never find a parking space wide enough to get the foot-thick doors open in (and I'm a skinny bugger). I found myself driving forlornly round NCPs eyeing the disabled and baby with pram spaces as the only ones I could actually get out of the car in. Test drive one and try and find a parking space somewhere. The 355 on the other hand I've driven all incarnations of and is currently on my list of possibles (as a spider) when I change the cars around in the new year. It seems to be as practical as Ferrari's get - which is in itself probably an oxymoron. To put in context my every day car is a DB7 (as I probably mention too often), which isn't exactly reknowned for being practical and the Fcar is a 328. i.e. one big V12 GT and a small V8 (half) open sports car.
