How difficult is it to find a 1995 355B built with factory manual steering ?

forgive me for asking, but I really curious... Why do you want a manual steering car ?

 

I am also curious.

I have heard that 355s could be special-ordered from the factory without power steering.

(Any model year 355 without power steering would be interesting to me )

 

Power was the only thing offered in the US. The manual steering cars in other markets have a slower steering ratio. They also have a very different front end set up so that you can drive it. That set up is not designed for good handling. Also all Challenge cars had power steering and they never complained about feel at high speed. Have you ever driven a 355 fast? Maybe you should. Oddly enough Ferrari seems to know what they are doing.

 

Brian,

You're like an encyclopedia!

But I mean, would these manual steering 355s be "worse" to drive than, say, a 348?

It seems to me that a 355 would feel just fine with manual steering. I mean, the 355 is the same size and weight as the 348 (if not lighter), right? So wouldn't the handling and feel be comparable to, if not better than, the handling and feel of the 348? It doesn't seem to me that Ferrari would use an inferior design (inferior to the 348 steering setup) when they set up the manual steering 355s. What do you think about what I'm saying?

 

So 360's are being crashed because of power steering?

 

Those people ran out of talent, not car. Talent is not a requirement for purchase.

Also, I thought we were talking about 355's?

 

I think what the forum members are trying to tell you is to go and try a 355 at speed first and then decide whether you need manual steering or not. As it is, it is not something you will easily find in a NA 355 if you can find it at all.

 

I understand what you are saying, and I also understand what the forum members have been trying to tell the original poster.

However, the original poster DOES NOT WANT POWER STEERING. Period.

He likes the feel of non-power steering.

He knows what power steering is, he knows what it feels like; he knows what it might feel like, and he knows the advantages and disadvantages. We all know this stuff--it's called common sense.

I also like the feeling of non-power steering. I don't ever think I'll buy a 2-seat Ferrari that has power steering. I like the way non-power steering feels--period. I don't care if the F430 has 490 horsepower or if the next Ferrari has 1,000 horsepower. I don't want power steering in my 2-seat Ferrari.

I would never buy a 355, since 355s have power steering. But if one of these non-power steering 355s ever popped up, I would be interested.



So, thus far we know:

No non-power steering 355s were imported into the United States as US-spec cars. That said,

Has anyone seen one in the United States?
Has anyone seen one outside the United States?
Does anyone know someone who has one?

 

I read once on F-chat that on the challenge cars some of the drivesrs purposefully let the power fluid level get a low. This helped reduce the amount of power steering. fact or fiction I'm not sure. But I have read it and it was corroborated in the same thread.

Since these cars are power assisted and not full power it is possible.

 

somehow i am a little bit surprise that 355 steering is so light, its even lighter than my 993

no doubt 355 is a much faster car than the 993, however, i am able to push the 993 much harder i guess party is becos of the response from the steering.....

having said that i only took delivery of my 355 a week ago, so after i spend more time with it, hopefully i am able to throw it around the corners just like the 993, i guess practice makes perfect!!!!

 

I thought the 355's steering was a power variable assist that shuts off after 45 or so miles entirely?

 

I just sold a 1995 355B and took a 1994 348 Spider on trade.....the difference of driving a car without PS is like night and day......sure......you need over developed forearms for parking lots......but the feel of the car is downright delicious !!

 

Throwing it around in the corner is different than doing triple digits through turns. I am not sure about all those 360s that got banged up and are in the shop because the driver couldn't feel the slide at 160 MPH when they should have been at half or third the speed.

 

Ralph,
Remember that anything changed, can be changed back. So, assuming you could source a left hand drive 355 manual steering rack, you could install this in your USA 355. When you sell, you can swap it back, like nothing happened.

So, contact Ferrari UK, and see if they can provide you with the rack.

Dave