this is the day i traded one of my beautiful carb 308gtb's for the 355B ...... bit of a wrench, but no regrets 4 months later! BR, Jez Image Unavailable, Please Login
Lol, I wanted the tint so he organised and paid for it and he put the shields on before I picked the car up. I didn't ask for them, but he stuck them on so I just left them on there. I think I said I was going to remove them when I got the car back home but I just never did.
Five years ago today. This was a project car....just a much bigger project than I expected based on the sellers "description". Sorted and solid now Image Unavailable, Please Login
Trading just one of your GTB's must have made it slightly easier than if you had traded your only GTB! Was The Ferrari Centre in Kent still busy?
Thank you! Finally got some color back in face - my GF said I didn't breathe for the first 10 minutes I was there Exiting day and the car still rocks - driving it today actually - Cheers
Thank you Robb - Amazing day and amazing car - so fortunate to have it and have one with a great prior owner I still talk to who is still a Ferrari owner. Passed on many before this one was available - definitely worth the wait Cheers!
When I first went there to see the 348 TS that I ended up buying they had 3 customers turn up out of the blue at the same time to collect cars and so apologised to Me for having to leave Me on My own in the showroom. I told them: "You're joking aren't you? - I'm in Tifosi Heaven here so don't worry about it!.....I couldn't be happier if I tried!"
Hi Phil, I know exactly what you mean ...... i go to collect my car there and it ends up taking me half a day ,as there is just so much to look at! Really nice people too, BR, Jez
me to dealer, last year: "Hey, if you come across a really nice 355 coupe, 6 speed, that's not a project and is good to go, let me know" 6 months later dealer: "We have a car coming in, it's one I sold new, one owner, 1999 355GTB 6 speed, 4,000 miles, serviced every year religiously, Tubi exhaust, sticky parts fixed, new tires, just passed PPI..." me: "I'll be over at 9am tomorrow" Image Unavailable, Please Login
Technically not the day I bought it but the day I first saw it.... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Lol, very good Scott! Take care and enjoy the weekend mate. Wow man! Awesome car. Car looks awesome!! My 348 looks like that!! VERY COOL CAR!
And it's even the right color! Win! How would you contrast the driving experience compared to its garage mate?
It's Pozzi over a Blu Scuro and Bordeaux interior. Challenge grill, red calipers, original radio. Comparing it to the Speciale is simple - a LOT of contrast but you can feel common DNA. 355: Engine sound is epic, steering is amazing in feel and accuracy, shifting with the gate makes every gear change another vote for why I wanted this car. The car is small and tracks very well, so far it's well balanced. Amazingly while it's only 16 years old, the design criteria makes it seem even older due to the modern cars, but it's incredible. This car was more mechanical than electrical, so its fun to just hover over the engine compartment while its running. The car has more power and speed than it has brakes IMHO. The car has some idiosyncrasies that can perhaps be aggravating at times, but add charm. (engine out service not charming) Speciale: speed. brakes. DCT is obviously different than the gated shifter, but makes every run up and down the gearbox an event. Totally different design language. Steering is fast and accurate, though the "feel" in the 355 has it. Brakes will suck your eyeballs out at 10/10ths braking. Much bigger car, you drive with your eyes and hands, whereas 355 you seem to drive with your ass a bit more. Has some idiosyncrasies that are annoying but unrelated to the function as a sports car (eg. battery tender, impossible to navigate INT system) Perfect complement - eras, design styles, gearboxes, engine philosophy. I use the word "complement" since there is that thread going on with people bashing brains in over 6 speed vs. F1/DCT. IMHO, the 355 was made to have a 6 speed; it works at the pace of the car. A Speciale would seem handicapped by a manual gearbox, almost like they left something major out of the design. Last, I've taught my 13 year old daughter how to drive a manual box in a Fiat race car. One of my small conspiracies is to have her take her driver's test in a few years in the 355.
That's funny. I have two sons that are 10 and 8 and they will learn to drive manual on my 2000 BMW 325 wagon (it's manual and AWD). That's the car that they're going to learn how to double clutch, heel and toe, drift, etc. That is the car that they're going to take their driving test on, too. I have explained to them that everything in life is something they have to earn. They have to master driving the BMW before they get to even drive around in anything better. I don't know if I would subject them to the abuse of having to drive anywhere in "Dad's Ferraris," especially for something like a driver's test. People can be really stupid due to jealousy. I guess it would make for a good story later in life but not as good as the day they pay for their first Ferrari with their money.
