Originally posted by NSXaholic:
I've also got some thoughts on the issue, and will post them later this evening, when I've got a little more time.
Regards.
I'd like to echo, and amplify, some of the excellent thoughts that have been brought up so far on the issue of the 360. What (little) I know has come from the fact that I was seriously considering a 360 Modena Coupe, and have test driven about five of them (but have decided to hold off).
First: Aesthetic appeal and cachet
The verdict is still out on the 360, even amongst the F-Car owners. While a significant number love the sleek and ultra-aerodynamic look of the 360, a number of opponents have been vocal about it's design, with the main fault being it's ultra-wide appearance (both front and back). Those who criticize that the 360 has lost the "Ferrari appeal" are usually the same people that embrace its predecessor, the 355.
However, a Ferrari is still a Ferrari, and few carry the name better than the 360. When you add in the name cachet, it becomes obvious that the 360 is a head turner wherever it goes. Not only has it got the styling and the unmistakeable prancing horse, but the sound of an F-car engine has rarely been duplicated in other high-end machines. As beautiful as the raw sound is, Steve rightly points out that the Tubi exhaust is a wonderful addition (hard to think you can improve on "perfect," but you can), especially at when the car is at idle.
Second: Reliability.
While the reliability has improved considerably from generations past (the 348 is particularly known for it's upkeep issues), there are still numerous problems with the 360. The problems I have read about relate to engine lights, fuel hoses, and other engine/mechanical issues (not so much on interior design/trim issues -- although Steve notes that general workmanship is quite poor). I guess a similar analogy to the types of problems are to when Porsche introduced the 996 C2 in 1999 -- the same irritating, but fixable issues that surfaced with the 996 are the sames ones that surface with the 360 from time-to-time. The only difference is that the 360 problems are still there three years after the car has been introduced, and more importantly, dealers -- at times -- don't know how to fix them.
The problems are only exacerbated when you move to the F1 Transmission. There have been numerous posts on the
Ferrari Enthusiast Website related to F1 transmissions not engaging, or getting stuck in a particular gear. For all hype, then, there seem to be significant headaches associated with the F1 transmission, so be forewarned (plus real guys drive stick, right!!).
Third: Maintenance
This is what really caused me to defer my purchase, and the issues relate to the second point above, plus what others have raised.
Not only does the 360 have the tendancy to run unreliable at times, but fixing it is a daunting task -- both in time and money. Authorized dealers are spaced far apart (although, believe it or not there are a couple in the Chicagoland area), and the fixes are expensive. Major repairs -- or even major services, like a timing belt change -- can easily run you into the high single digits. Plus, just think how much fun would it be to get $275.00 oil changes?!?
So, bottom line: amazing car, but still plauged with Ferrari problems -- albeit to a lesser extent than previous cars. The good news is that prices are dropping rapidly on these babies ('99's can be had for around $125K and '00's for around $140 -- don't remind yourself that you could get 4 '91 NSX's for that), but be wary of significant depreciation as the economy continues to remain weak, and there are rumors that Ferrari will be introducing the makeover to its entry-level car soon -- the Ferrari 420.
Of course, if you've been shorting tech stocks since March 2001, and you've got some Dead Presidents to play around with, I wouldn't dream of having any other machine. A truly amazing Italian thoroghbread.
This was a fun thread, so just wanted to post my thoughts.
Ohh, let me also post some pics (since we are on "Off Topic"): a couple of 360's and then one of the 355, so you can make your own decision about which one is stylistically superior.
Regards.
[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 10 December 2002).]
