Ferrari F355 Test Drive vs Cayman GT4

Well it's time for another test drive note session!

I saw my local dealership Vanquish posted a second F355 6MT that they had taken into stock.  I decided being red/tan and convertible I at least wanted to look at it for pictures.  Since my dad owned one in a similar spec and I had been in it, I wanted to at least look at it for nostalgia sake.  I was pretty sure there was no way I wanted to afford a car with engine out service, but I was curious to compare it to the automatic F360 and 308 I was able to try.  Sure enough he was happy to throw me the keys.

Nothing like a wedge shaped car

Looks
Obviously always subjective but I have to say I quite like the car.  Even in soft top form which I was surprised by it's just that classic wedge.  Shooting pictures there really isn't a bad angle.  Just a great design.  The Red/Tan absolutely drew me more than the silver.  Didn't really get shots of the silver one tho it is on their website since it was against the wall.  (their web is http://www.amusainc.com/ if you want it)

Anyhow despite the age and a few small chips on the nose the car looked pretty clean. Quite surprising even the interior looked really good.  Surprising with 38k on it...  I do wish it had the black challenge grill in the back that the silver car has.  Still it's a looker.

Just look at it...gorgeous from any angle

Ergo and Interior
There are some cars that just work, and some that just don't for me.  This surprisingly worked and worked well.  I literally sat down and turned to my buddy and was like wow, this is comfortable and I fit really well.  He looked and said yeah it looks like you do.  I just slid the chair forward a little but had no issues reaching wheel, pedals, shifter etc...  In fact it felt as close to the GT4 as anything else I have been in.  The shifter sits a bit lower down than the Porsche.  And clutch is lighter.  But everything else was good.  I did slide a bit in the smooth leather seats when I was driving.  It's not a track car with Alcantara... or at least unlike the silver F355 in his possession it doesn't have the Ferrari Buckets which I could see being useful.  Still I was quite happy especially when thinking back to the issues I have in the Gallardo.  And compared to the 308 where the clutch is way way too close to the brake the pedals were spread out in what I thought was a comfortable normal way.

Clean interior

If there is one quibble about the interior it is the location of the gauges.  The center area above the center console (see picture below) has an analog clock on the left and the Fuel and Oil Temp are on the right.  So especially during warm up you have to look over there at the radio quite a bit.  Seems like fuel would be something nice to see up front too.  The front simply gets Oil Pressure, Water Temp and then speedo and tachometer.

Still most dials were understandable and usable.  Setting side view mirrors from a control in the center console was fine altho the side view mirrors are tiny.  I mean super thin even compared to my Porsche which I feel is small.  On the flip side the car even has some useful space.  The area just behind the center controls is a flat leather area and I easily fit my Fujifilm mirrorless camera there during the drive.  The only other annoyance is the dashboard itself.  It's tiny and doesn't look that great.  It is funny because I have a video of dad taking me and Marci out for a drive in the 355 back in the day. And in the video he complains that the beautiful dash is gone.

Driving / Sound  / Handling
After starting it up and getting adjusted we pulled out.  Immediately I was like wow this is actually a usable car.  I felt like the size was understandable, with the top down had decent rear view (altho the rear 3/4 haunches are quite high).  And steering felt normal and the car high enough to drive fairly normally out the driveway.

The sound at idle is great.  You don't get the loud rumbling of the engine in a Porsche.  At least not anymore.  Even sitting at light with the Fabspeed exhaust this car has it was great. I told my friend as much, you just know you are in a special car with the sound and looks even sitting still.

The owner asked me again to skip second gear until warmed up - typical of old ferrari's.  Sure enough at a stop light  I gently started to try second and stopped when it was still cold.  First to third felt pretty normal though even tho there wasn't as much torque.  And once warmed up the car hit second gear just fine in normal usage.

Handling wise the car was quite good.  It didn't feel as tight as the Porsche or like I would trust it as much. There was slop in the steering even at freeway speeds.  But the feel of the steering overall was fine, just felt like an older sports car.  Taking on ramps with a cloverleaf I still was able to get some lateral pull.  And it was super engaging.  Mix in the clutch and shifter and it was great.  Owning my GT4 which is maybe the best modern day 6MT shifter and having tested the Gallardo which has a great meaty throw and feel, the F355 felt somewhere in the middle.  Super satisfying, great click and seat between the metal gears and natural and special.  My friend told me he was enjoying the sounds of the gated shifter.

Speaking of sound the car definitely had a nice growl to it.  That said it didn't have the high pitched F1 whine I have heard from some videos online.  I am not sure if that is down to exhaust or due to something else.  Maybe headers.  Still it had a nice loud sound that I am sure was getting me noticed on the freeway.  EDIT: I had a chance to drive this car a second time and when not getting wind noise on the freeway.... wow the V8 sounds amazing.  For back road or side street driving just insane near redline.  It screams.  Going under a bridge is epic.  Also as far as notice goes this car definitely was getting looks. Convertible.  Red/Tan.  Not as many cars out.  Even on the freeway old moms in SUV's were craning their necks to look at us.  I get looks in the green wrapped Porsche GT4.  This felt like it might be even on another level.

Engine wise I felt like the car made decent power.  Enough to be fun especially on a back road and even on the freeway to move a bit.  That said putting the pedal down the revs would jump up and then settle and we would move.  My buddy said I think the clutch is slipping - I think he was right.  Annoying as I felt like I didn't quite get to experience what the power would be like but still I could tell it was there.  Also anyone have a guess on how much a clutch job on a F355 would cost?  I am sure not cheap.  I may try to test drive the silver car to compare sometime assuming I work with the bucket seats.

Me smiling behind my mask and friend - another Michael

Overall Impressions
I was quite happy with the car.  I was thinking I can see why so many owners and people love the F355.  You have power that would be enough fun for a back road blast.  Handling that is dated but good enough and engaging because of it (and probably adjustable I imagine).  A V8 and gated shifter.  I literally thought "I would be happy with this car if it was in my garage as my weekend car".  No it isn't as fast as a modern day car, but it was fun.  Looks great and is the last of the 80s/90s era wedge cars.  I also thought "there is no way I will afford an engine out service".

Thinking of the "Ferrari" specialness and gated shifter these thoughts were also met with "I sort of wish I had bought my dad's old F360".  Now that I finally have driven a Ferrari with the gated shifter I know I ergonomically fit and it's engaging and fun to drive... wow.  That car would be near GT4 performance but not quite as good.  Dated, but special... and more expensive to own.  Ah well.  On the flip side I swear my F360 drives the engine like this F355 just don't sound as good to my ears as the Porsche Flat 6.  Again tho maybe exhaust.

Even without a Challenge Grill this rear end is lovely

Interestingly hopping back into my Porsche GT4... I was like wow...bigger car, sitting higher a little bit but wow. The Power my GT4 makes, the sound is so great.  Followed by wow this shifter is just so tight and perfect, and the car so taut and engaging still.  It's like the GT4 is the modern day engaging feel of the classic sports cars.  The steering and handling so "taut" again you feel like you can take on anything.  I don't know that the F355 was "worse" in an engaging sense (def worse performance wise) but just different. This test drive again like others gave me an appreciation for modern day Porsche GT cars with manual transmissions.

To anyone who can afford an F355.  I would say go for it.  For me I am happy with the GT4 for a good while longer I think.  If a F360 6MT comes up (more modern no engine out) and I happen to be in a place and mindset to switch... maybe.  Still I love being able to drop miles on the GT4, have modern day feel, power, sound, and comfort and affordability.  But the F355 test will definitely stick with me.  Such a cool car.  My next step will be to find that video and upload it to youTube.

Here is a picture of my Dad's old car back in 2000:

My wife and my dad circa 2000

And time to hop back into the GT4...

Thanks for reading!