I'm debating which car i should buy next.......

can someone answer my questions below and give me some educated tips to which will be a better buy ?

1) PRICE RANGE (car will be used with mid 60 70.000km on engine)

2) MAINTINANCE/PARTS ( how much repairs and parts will cost)

3) GAS (how far can u go on a full tank in KM )

4) COMMON PROBLEMS ( the usual fix up u cant avoid)

5) RELIABILITY ( which car will not fail me )

6) INSURANCE ( clean record/ house and 2 other cars on my insurance already )

7) COMFORT/STORAGE ( seats headroom trunk storage )

 

The SL is MUCH more reliable than the Ferrari, which will probably spend half its life in the shop. What it boils down to is which car do you want?

 

Go with the SL55. I used to own a 95 355 GTS, and it was an uncomfortable bucket. You pratically always need a major servicing and need to replace the cam belts and everything every 6K miles. Very uncomfortable car. The clutch only lasted 12K on easy driving. Replace 2 left radiator fans within 12K miles also. It was adding up, and not worth owning anymore. It feels like my 55 is faster and more enjoyable.

 

I love the 355s....to me they were the last true ferrari. My dad has a 1985 308 and its very costly to run with the services and everything. I'd go with the SL55 to me there more stylish and more up to date.

 

Having owned a 355 Spider (99'), you should make certain that your budget allows for the extremely expensive upkeep: Here are some examples:

1) 30,000 service: $6000-10,000 (requires complete engine out)
2) 15,000 mile clutch replacement (average life): $4000+
3) Replacement F1 pump (98' and 99' models): $16,000 (not a misprint...I needed one)

Also, because you are buying the first model year, you are likely to have additional problems. The Ferrari rule of thumb is to buy the most current year that you can afford. Do your research...the early 355's (95' and 96') had many additional problems that are VERY expensive to fix (go to FerrariChat.com archives for details). That said, if you know what you are getting into, the 355 is a fantastic weekend car (not a daily driver). Good luck!

Tim

 

Yep, on the 355 they still remove the engine for simple belt change $$$$ - Clutch is going to go on you often as well. IMHO, you shouldnt compare these two cars. One is a weekender, the other can be driven daily. The SL55 will give you a lot more car for your $$

Side note - 95 is a bad year for the 355. Ask any Ferrari dealer how many changes the car went thru from 95 to 99 and he will start from the top (Fuel Inj) and end at the bottom (Crank). Anybody who cares about you will tell you that it would need to atleast be a 97 before you pull the trigger on a 355

 

oofreakoo....is that a fab design kit on your SL????

 

SL>355

But a 360 is a different story.

 

Yes its FAB

And yes about the 360 but ***** we could just start talking about the 430 too but Im sure that price must be a factor in his decision.

Just to let you know, I have an 04 Lambo Gallardo that I enjoy "racing" around town on the weekends. My SL just cannot be beat when it comes to "driving" pure enjoyment of an all around near perfect car. IMO its a no brainer, buy both, but again, stay away from the 95 model year. You can get a "Euro" Model 360 nicely priced if you are just looking to get into the door with an exotic.

Good Luck

 

Let me give you my .02 from a long time Ferrari owner....me!

1- The prices are pretty comparable. The SL55 will depreciate more (Unfortunately)

2- It all depends what goes wrong. My Fcars have been very reliable, as has my SL55. Major services on Ferrari's...(if you go to a dealer), are a rip off. They do not have to be done every 6K miles. If you use your car...5-7 years betwwen $5K services. The SL service costs are much cheaper.

3- It all depends on how you drive. The SL55 get 17mpg around town and 6 at the track. I have gotten 25 on the highway with my 348, avging tripple digits.

4- The SL has IC pump problems which are cheap to fix. The 355 can have issues with exhaust manifolds/headers, which are pricey.

5- They are both very reliable, if you take care of them.

6- The SL is more expensive than my Fcars.

7- There is plenty of room for 2 in both cars, but they are not SUVs.