Just about nothing describes first world problems more than the difficulty of choosing between a Porsche 911 and a Ferrari F355. In this case the choice is between a modified Porsche 996 with a Chevy V8 sitting in the back and a stock Ferrari F355.
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Porsche or Ferrari; it is a debate that has raged since the two rivals first battled it out on the track. Ferrari makes the more expensive road cars and they are made purely for speed. In fact the Italian automaker started producing road legal machines to help finance their racing efforts.
Porsche on the other hand is a sports car that comes from relatively humble roots. The early sports cars had many parts sourced from Volkswagen, but Porsche transformed all of this into quite a sports car. The original Porsche 356 and 550 Spyder showed just what an air-cooled flat-four engine could do, but the 911 is what really made the German performance car maker into a legend.
In the 90’s the Ferrari F355 and Porsche 911 (964) where two of the most sought after cars, but which is the better drive?
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You’ve worked hard and finally have enough money to buy a Ferrari. Well, you actually made the wise decision to finance the Ferrari so that you can invest the cash that you would have put into the car and get a higher rate of return. You’ve got everything in order and are off to the big city to buy the Italian car of your dreams.
The problem is, unlike brands like Lamborghini, McLaren and Porsche, you can’t simply walk in and buy a Ferrari. Owning a Ferrari is a more involved process and you normally can’t just go to a dealership and buy a new Ferrari.
So, just what is it like to purchase a new Ferrari?
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Porsche and Ferrari have often been considered rivals. Much of this started when they both competed at the top level of endurance racing back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Which provided some great track battles.
Performance of street cars made by the Italian and German companies have often been very close. Although, while both are expensive, Porsche is a more obtainable nameplate so it isn’t seen as quite as exclusive as a Ferrari.
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In the mid-90’s Ferrari replaced the 348 with the F355. The new mid-engined V8 powered Italian sports car turned heads for its improved performance over the outgoing model.
The engine was more powerful than the 348 and managed a very nice 375 horsepower. While by today’s high standards that doesn’t seem like a lot of power, in the 90’s that was more than anybody thought you would ever need (except for maybe Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor).
When first released the Ferrari F355 started at $130,000, but as time and depreciation have set in, it is now one of the more affordable Ferraris.
The F355 is available in three different body styles. The Coupe (a.k.a. Berlinetta), Targa (a.k.a. GTS) and the Convertible (a.k.a. Spider). All offer good performance with the Berlinetta being a little quicker than the others, but the GTS and Spider giving the option for open-air driving.
Prices of the F355 appear to have dropped about as much as they are going to. This makes them a good buy at this point as you are not likely to loose money on depreciation.
Of course with any used Ferrari a pre-purchase inspection is a must. If you don’t get one you run the risk of spending a small fortune in repair bills. Since it is an Italian sports car wearing the Prancing Horse, expect to pay a premium for parts and service.
Remember to try and buy the best F355 that you can afford as this will save money in the long run.
From our research the current market value of one of these cars is below. Remember that depending on condition, mileage and year this price could be higher or lower, but this is the average range.
1994-1999 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta prices range from $30,000-$70,000.
1994-1999 Ferrari F355 GTS prices range from $32,000-$75,000.
1995-1999 Ferrari F355 Spider prices range from $35,000-$80,000.
Picture Source: Chris J. Moffett
For desktop wallpaper of the Ferrari F355 click here.
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