I love the 355, but come on now, most beautiful?! More than the classics of the ‘60’s like the ‘61 250GT California and other of that era? Those are on another level like the Countach, ‘63 Vette, etc
The 355 is just the best looking Ferrari ever. It has aged so well over the years and still looks fresh. Having driven one, on a 'drive a Ferrari experience' I was sold! Great sound, looks, appeal and lust. If I could afford one, it would be here in a heartbeat and a Manual all day long! Only the 360 CS could beat it, but the compromise is the F1 box. Great review Jay!
I always thought this was a wonderful looking car, especially those rear lights. As a kid I had three large toy Ferrari models, one a 355, one an F40 and also a "Mythos Spider" which I assume was some sort of concept car. The 355 is the one I played with the most though!
Late and likely very irrelevant reply, the Ferrari mythos was made exclusively for the royal family of Brunei- they made three in total including the prototype 👍
2 роки тому+1
@@SandyCow Yeah that car is unique but never liked the look of it. I saw it first in the Test Drive 3 (Dos game).
Jay....ultimately very insightful and well articulated and reasoned! Good job! I've owned 3 550s (red, silver and yellow) and several 355s (Spiders and road legal Challenge and B). I've also owned over 100 other cars and at the end of the day I've concluded the best all around Ferrari sports car (as opposed to GT) and most fun to drive Ferrari...ever....is the F355. Many real world reasons for this. Unlike 348 and 430 the 355 has an actual rod from gear lever to gearbox whereas most all other cars use cables which never are as direct as a solid metal connection. 355 is basically the same size as a 246 Dino yet it makes more than twice the power of the Dino. Yet its chassis is very similar in construction to the Dino and for that matter the 288 GTO so it FEELS like an Enzo era car. Yet it has an engine that will rev to 9,000 rpms ( I know this first hand) and brakes that actually stop the car. Unlike the 360, 430, 458, 488 the 355 has an honest cable from the gas pedal to the 8 downdraft throttle bodies just like old school webers. After the 355 cars are drive by wire, meaning you are not connected to the the throttle as you are in a 355. Its not just children of the 1990s. Phil Hill, the greatest American racer and only American born to ever be a Formula 1 world champion, called the 355 one of the top Ferraris of all time....in a field of multimillion dollar Ferraris and from one of Ferrari's most famous drivers, that's high praise indeed.
Anyone who’s seen the film “ The Rock “ will have instantly fallen for this stunner - lovely engine note . I’d have one in Red with a manual box. One of the greatest looking Ferrari’s ever !
He has an amazing work flow, planning everything well in advance, recording lots of videos at once, and grouping them together into themed weeks etc. I envy his unwavering dedication.
Sadly, sound/noise regulator restrictions from countries made later Ferraris less charmingly sounding that F355. Nowadays, it is solved by exchaust valve opening regulators over an rpm limit.
Really enjoyed watching that. The 355 was the car of my dreams when I was a teenager and because of that, I think its always going to be my favorite car.
This example is the perfect reason why I've been watching again and again for so long. Old school topgear vibe but with even more knowledge and just as good story telling. Don't get sucked into the newer flashy stuff (regarding your porsche post) keep it up you'll go very far Jayem!
Great vid Jay..always been a favorite of mine. The 355 looks so good in black it's almost a sin ;) With his interior, it would look sweet. Thanks for posting!
Hear it & weep! I shudder for the future of car enthusiasts, arguing over which synthesized digital soundtrack on their food blenders sounds better. Jesus
Would you prefer a world filled with pollution for our descendants? I adore the internal combustion engine and cars. Utterly adore them. But they're becoming extinct. They'll last a while of course but eventually....only in museums. But humans are filled with ingenuity, so perhaps some option to allow their return will arrive via some genius ❤
@@trentweston8306 They’re a start. However it’s a mute point as these kind of cars contribute almost nothing in terms of pollution compared to “normal” cars which are driven a lot more. IMO the ideal future for the car enthusiast will be electric dailies and nice sounding second/third cars.
Just watching this video again 1 year later. I would happily watch an entire series of videos of just Jay driving a F355 and narrating the experience. I don’t think I would tire of that.
Nice vid Sir 👌. It was my dream car too. They say never meet your hero’s .... but I took the plunge to own one 2 years ago, and agree it never disappoints - absolute unrefined perfection 👌..... (albeit the clutch did go pop in a very inconvenient part of London 😂)
Yup, never gets old. Thanks for the Ferrari vids... come back to 355 vid. Classic looks and immense unadulterated v8 goodness. I could just look at it and listen to it, all day long.
Hi JayEmm. Just wanted to say, long time subscriber. Been watching your channel since your first F355 video, wherein you drove your friend’s car. Very happy for you, the hard work and growth of your channel.
I remember a race team that used to prep these cars next to where I worked in Didcot back in the 90's, the noises that came out of that place was epic.
One of your best videos yet Jay - you really gave it some beans - sounded epic - that guy in the black pickup - loved how you just dropped him after two gearchanges!
That's a beautiful 355, my buddy years ago had a blue 355 Spider, looked almost purple, that was just a gorgeous car, I was kind of sad when he sold it.
James this is a fantastic series.... having friends with 348, 355, 430, I have often wondered about them... in fact I sold my 458 spider to buy a 550 or 335 or 430 In the end based entirely on my location I decided to buy another 458 spider... I was lucky to find a higher spec lower mileage car in the bottom of the covid market... however I love the older cars and their Ferrari uniqueness... not living near any service it really does not make sense for me to own ... I appreciate your reviews and perspectives especially now that I have time to view and many other have stopped producing/releasing content. Thank you and Merry Christmas 🎄🎁!
Such a pretty car.... one of Pininfarina's finest! That motor too, glorious! I lusted after a 348 at the time, but the moment I saw a 355 it was love at first sight! Ratarossa Scott recently showed an "engine in" F355 cam belt service on his channel, and busts a lot of myths about maintaining a Ferrari on a *cough* reasonable budget.
Very good Review! My verdict after eleven years of owning my beloved F355 GTS (a bosch 2,7 from 1995): looks and sound (10 out of 10), speed (9), power (8), suspension (7), stearing (6), buying costs (5), usability every day (4), consumption (3... my average is 16 liter every 100 km), reliability (2), running costs (1 - my average total per year, maintenance, repair, tax and insurance: 7000 Euro) feeling, when you want to start on an sunday morning but the red diva says: "check engine" - 0 ! feeling, when driving roofless on a sunny evening on b-roads and everything works fine - 12 ! A Dream car? For me, 100 percent...and I never dreamt of a Jag E...
Had a love / hate relationship with my F355. It is one of the best sounding cars ever and it is quite well made BUT no way is a service £2,700 with cambelts. YES if you have no other work to do but £2.5k is usually a standard service cost with ongoing maintenance added. The belts add around £2k to that. every 3 years. Nice cars, not great, melting interiors, dreadful cold gearbox, awful non oem exhausts, cracking manifolds and buttresses, leaking & creaking targa roofs. Forget the wing mirror just make sure you don't need a new rear curved screen!!! Steering is slow and vague. Brilliant cars to borrow, awful cars to own! It needs to be your dream car and you need to budget £5k pa. average. Much better cars out there but cant dispute probably none that sound better!
I would definitely dispute the none sounding better part - LFA always wins that for me, but I mean really that it's very subjective and I don't see this car mentioned in that regard a lot. A 981 Cayman S is certainly a better car in every way: both faster and far cheaper to own. The 981CS sounds epic too. However...being "good" isn't the point with this thing, so contrary to what my comment so far may suggest, I love it. For me, it's not the best car in any single way, measurable or not, but there's just nothing about it I don't like...but as you say, that applies to borrowing one not owning one! Maybe if I had another few million in the bank...
@@azlean5323 He said "much better cars out there but can't dispute probably none that sound better!". Nothing in the comment says "for the money". Also not saying it's the best car for the money, since it's lots of money and in many ways not the best at all- if best for the money is a criteria then a 981 Cayman S, for example, is an infinitely better choice. The way I read Bispal's comment is that the F355 is expensive and in many ways a terrible car to own, but also a car that provides an experience that is brilliant and hard to match (and price doesn't matter). Only Bispal could confirm if that understanding is right, but my comment was basically to say that I totally agree with that sentiment. Of course, he owns one whereas I've only seen one and sat in a stationary one so I'm basing my opinion on the information given by Bispal, James and many others who are far more informed than me about it!
@@ApothecaryTerry I understood he didn't mean best sounding car full stop, how come you don't understand that? Pointless trying to quote something when it's obvious what he meant.
R&D Automotive in Manchester will do a cam belt service for about £1200+VAT plus parts. And yes, its a full engine out service. Ferrari trained mechanics and very reputable.
I grew up in the same era, lusted after the 355, 456GT and 512TR! The 355 looked and sounded a lot nicer than the 360 in my opinion, that engine sound will never get old! The Testarossa / 512 TR sounded incredible as well!
Engine out service: DO NOT DO EVERY THREE YEARS! The dealer/repair shop will laugh at you behind your back! Having lived with...and knowing the top repair / restoration guys in the Ferrari world, I can tell you every 5-7 is more than sufficient. The experts will share stories of cars that went well over ten years and they were fine. Reality? Same belts as used in BMW, Honda, Audi, etc. I personally have seen cars that had belts that were over 20 years old! This I do NOT recommend but only mention this to underscore the point that going 5-7 years for an engine out service is perfectly fine. And when the engine is out upgrade to the Hill Bearings and might as well do the Hill clutch throwout bearing as well. Doing an engine out service at any interval less than five years is wasting your money.
Using the same belt as other manufacturers has no bearing on the matter. What matters is how its routed around the timing gear, water pump etc and what tension it's under. Plus how often the car is actually started, as that's when it's under the greatest strain momentarily. I do agree though that 3 years is ludicrous, particularly for cars such as this that only maybe do 2k miles a year. Theres an air of manufacturers covering their ass when the comes to this kinda thing. Its a very expensive fix, if it's even worth it, if it goes. AR did the same on the ts and jts engines. Started at 72k 5 years, then reduced it to 36k 3years.
@@psircos I would agree with Remington and sorry, but same basic belt construction does in fact make a difference. Have you noticed manufacturers will list change time frames by miles and by time? Do you know why that is? Because manufacturers like Gates know materials, such as rubber, etc., will naturally decay. So if a belt is properly engineered, like today's belts are and better than belts from years past, with Kevlar, etc. will last a certain amount of time whether used or not. The point here is if we know Audi/BMW/Honda/etc belts last for longer than three years we know material wise these belts as used in the Ferrari need not be changed every three years. If you understand engines you'll understand a 355 Ferrari is not worlds different than an NSX yet NSX belts have a 6 years or 90,000 miles durations. That tells me changing belts in a 355 is nothing short of ludicrous! 5-7 years in a Ferrari and you'll be just fine.
I do understand engines, to a degree. The point you make about construction and how it has improved in the last 15years and, how they stack up in other engines, is a very valid one though 👍
Yes , I agree with 100%, I am writing from Japan, Here, We change belts every 10-12 years, No problem, we drove car 2000km-300km a year , and 10years is 20,000km-30,000km, My friend changed belt only two times from New car, Now 25yeas old
The problem is few people understand how the F1 system works in a 355, even a lot of owners. Put it in sport, keep your foot nailed and hit the up shift paddle at about 8000rpm and you will be amazed how fast it changes. It almost feels like something is going to break. The system is quite clever and will change the shift speeds to suit your driving. People pootle about and complain the shifts are really slow, but start to wind that engine up and dont lift your left foot and you will find out just how fast the early F1 trans can actually shift. The change from 1st to 2nd and even 2nd to 3rd is so hard it can easily break the tyres free if its even slightly damp. It punches you in the back with every shift. Then slow down, stick it auto and its like your mum is driving. Dont get me wrong, I would rather have a manual 355 (I have an F1) but the F1 gets a bad rap for really no reason. Its actually better than a lot of later mechanised manual gearboxes that were on cars produced in the early 2000s.
The looks, the sound, and the feeling it gives you -- this is why people buy and keep these older Ferraris despite there being much faster and reliable alternatives these days. Thanks for the video!
Last Ferrari that caught my eye. Just something about it. I just love the styling and wheels so light and just right looks wise. The open gate with rods to gearbox.
Sees title, runs upstairs, PC on, Switch over to amp and speakers for audio. Turn down phone. I'm ready! The fact i did all this means regardless of what you may say, the 355 is my greatest car in the world. Hope we get to hear the high notes. Edit: 1 minute in and I'm already happy
I prefer the sound of a cross plane crank v8 to a flat plane crank v8 . I always think the Ferrari v8s sound a bit like a very, very ,angry four pot Still a good sound just not got the burble of a normal v8
Was lucky to go out for a few rides in both the hard top and the cabro as a kid and I will never forget the sound. Incredible incredible machine. Never forget the guy pulling a 60mph drift with the engine screaming. Out of this world.
I Remember hearing one pull away in epping forest back in the 90s and the noise completely blew me away. This would be the one I'd get if I had the cash.
I really do feel the 348 looks nicer. Most will disagree. Not saying the F355 is not a good looker but there's just something more aggressive and raw about the 348.
@@kristianspencer1978 I'll ALWAYS love Ferraris in Rosso Corsa, and I'll take my Porsche's in silver, but I can't argue with color too much. That's just personal taste and completely subjective right?
WOW Sir - SO GREAT!!! - totally agree with you - and your words are a masterclass in car knowledge. But also passion. I own 2 355's, a 2.7 GTS and a 5.1 Berlinetta - the point you make about their differences is absolutely true: although the 5.1 is more "correct", the 2.7 is somehow lovingly wrong and pleasantly wilder. Subscribed - good luck. Joao
Another great review, in this instance, of my all time dream car. Thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to that and well done that man who bought it as his first car. You sir, are a legend!
2nd is the artist of the gearbox..always fashionably late...Ha ha haaaaaaa!!!!! Nice one mate. And what a gorgeous car. Merry Christmas to you Jay and to everyone watching..from New Zealand with love. Take care. Drive safe (but, as my brother says,"ïn a spirited fashion"!!). Here's to 2021. It can only be better.
It is the best sounding Ferrari have produced for a road car. I will never forget the sound of a Ferrari engine that changed up so late in the gears with such a scream. Gorgeous.
"2nd is the artist of the gearbox, it's always fashionably late" 🤣🤣🤣
Brilliant!
IMO, this is one of the most iconic cars ever and Ferrari’s most beautiful design.
Beauty is subjective though. I think the 512 TR is more iconic and better looking, plus the flat-12 is just pure exotic
The most beautiful is the 308 gtsi
For me it’s got to be a 275 gtb6
I love the 355, but come on now, most beautiful?! More than the classics of the ‘60’s like the ‘61 250GT California and other of that era? Those are on another level like the Countach, ‘63 Vette, etc
I'd go with the 328 or 288 GTO
The 355 is just the best looking Ferrari ever. It has aged so well over the years and still looks fresh. Having driven one, on a 'drive a Ferrari experience' I was sold! Great sound, looks, appeal and lust. If I could afford one, it would be here in a heartbeat and a Manual all day long! Only the 360 CS could beat it, but the compromise is the F1 box. Great review Jay!
The 328 looks better, both in the garage next to each other... it's clear to see. black 328 next to a Pozzi Blue 355
The music this machine makes is timeless. Still a bucket list car.
Still get excited every I look at my F355. True classic. Thanks for the video.
I always thought this was a wonderful looking car, especially those rear lights. As a kid I had three large toy Ferrari models, one a 355, one an F40 and also a "Mythos Spider" which I assume was some sort of concept car. The 355 is the one I played with the most though!
Late and likely very irrelevant reply, the Ferrari mythos was made exclusively for the royal family of Brunei- they made three in total including the prototype 👍
@@SandyCow Yeah that car is unique but never liked the look of it. I saw it first in the Test Drive 3 (Dos game).
Jay....ultimately very insightful and well articulated and reasoned! Good job! I've owned 3 550s (red, silver and yellow) and several 355s (Spiders and road legal Challenge and B). I've also owned over 100 other cars and at the end of the day I've concluded the best all around Ferrari sports car (as opposed to GT) and most fun to drive Ferrari...ever....is the F355. Many real world reasons for this. Unlike 348 and 430 the 355 has an actual rod from gear lever to gearbox whereas most all other cars use cables which never are as direct as a solid metal connection. 355 is basically the same size as a 246 Dino yet it makes more than twice the power of the Dino. Yet its chassis is very similar in construction to the Dino and for that matter the 288 GTO so it FEELS like an Enzo era car. Yet it has an engine that will rev to 9,000 rpms ( I know this first hand) and brakes that actually stop the car. Unlike the 360, 430, 458, 488 the 355 has an honest cable from the gas pedal to the 8 downdraft throttle bodies just like old school webers. After the 355 cars are drive by wire, meaning you are not connected to the the throttle as you are in a 355. Its not just children of the 1990s. Phil Hill, the greatest American racer and only American born to ever be a Formula 1 world champion, called the 355 one of the top Ferraris of all time....in a field of multimillion dollar Ferraris and from one of Ferrari's most famous drivers, that's high praise indeed.
Great video, loving this week!
I’ve owned my 2.7 355 for 12 years and it makes me smile in a way no other car ever has.
What a car. 👏👏👏👏
Is it feasible to retrofit your own access panel on the 355 like the 360 has?
Great, I had my 2.7 355 (a 95 GTS in rosso corsa leather crema nero from) now (2023) for 13 years - Greetings from Germany !
Loving that opening shot. He properly bottled it coming over the rise though :)
😂 you guys don't exactly hammer it though 😁
@@5thgearouttahere 😂😂😂👍👍
Ha, I drove up and down that road about 40 times- i guess that was the best one 😂
Shirt game has been next level recently
Yes, that sort of distraction could be a cause of the ditch/hedge issues.
I think a big spend up on Claudio Lugili...they feel nice and are different...but buy them discount !! 😎😎😎
Jay is the Clyde Frasier of car guys, I'm always excited to tune in and see what he's wearing. Throw in some random NASCAR stuff for bonus points.
This is how you drive a ferrari mate…..
The best Ferrari Engine sound
The Legend that kept Ferrari in business
My Favorite car no doubt
I had one of these. F1 GTS. It makes me cry when I watch this. I also had a 348 which I LOVED - but the 355 was something else! Great video!
OMG What a soundtrack! This is the ultimate car, no gadgets, no infotainment, just a pure driving machine.
That exhaust sounds like a loose bolt rattling around in a tin can. Not an improvement.
GT 3 RS manual is even better
I can remember these coming out , I absolutely loved it then , can’t wait to watch this video lol
Anyone who’s seen the film “ The Rock “ will have instantly fallen for this stunner - lovely engine note . I’d have one in Red with a manual box. One of the greatest looking Ferrari’s ever !
IT AINT MY CAR
GoldenEye's better marketting imo lol
Do you do drinks? Snacks?
@@Petrospect Onatop... yes please.
@@danielrobinson2861 “ oh well why not !!!!”
Amazing film RIP Sean Connery
355 is the thinking man's Ferrari.... perfect balance of style and substance... perfect!!!.😎🇬🇧
I dont know how you manage to upload videos every day but i quite like that especially with ferraris ....
He has an amazing work flow, planning everything well in advance, recording lots of videos at once, and grouping them together into themed weeks etc. I envy his unwavering dedication.
Its one of my all time favourite cars, and definitely my favourite Ferrari! Incredible car! Thanks for getting it on the channel!
Sadly, sound/noise regulator restrictions from countries made later Ferraris less charmingly sounding that F355. Nowadays, it is solved by exchaust valve opening regulators over an rpm limit.
Or an aftermarket exhaust. The 812 and the F12 I know sound incredible with certain aftermarket exhausts, I don't know much about the V8 models sadly.
Really enjoyed watching that. The 355 was the car of my dreams when I was a teenager and because of that, I think its always going to be my favorite car.
Oh a big thank you, the drive by shots really hit the spot. Have a good Christmas and an even better New Year.
This example is the perfect reason why I've been watching again and again for so long. Old school topgear vibe but with even more knowledge and just as good story telling. Don't get sucked into the newer flashy stuff (regarding your porsche post) keep it up you'll go very far Jayem!
Great vid Jay..always been a favorite of mine.
The 355 looks so good in black it's almost a sin ;)
With his interior, it would look sweet.
Thanks for posting!
Goddamn, still so good looking. No bad angles. Glorious profile. Been my favourite since I was a kid; well, that and the 288 GTO.
Hear it & weep! I shudder for the future of car enthusiasts, arguing over which synthesized digital soundtrack on their food blenders sounds better. Jesus
😭
Could not agree more. We have children commenting on cars now as they heard one on line !
Would you prefer a world filled with pollution for our descendants? I adore the internal combustion engine and cars. Utterly adore them.
But they're becoming extinct. They'll last a while of course but eventually....only in museums.
But humans are filled with ingenuity, so perhaps some option to allow their return will arrive via some genius ❤
@@Romamb electric cars are not perfection on the pollution front.
@@trentweston8306 They’re a start. However it’s a mute point as these kind of cars contribute almost nothing in terms of pollution compared to “normal” cars which are driven a lot more. IMO the ideal future for the car enthusiast will be electric dailies and nice sounding second/third cars.
at "shall we" I closed my eyes and just listened......wonderful.
Great job as always. Thank you. Making this covid time bearable.
This and the V8 vantage are the best car designs from the last 30 years. Currently I'd say lexus lc500
Could not agree for all these 3
458 and V8 Vantage for me
agreed, except the lexus
Looks Ferrari and sounds Ferrari...
I prefer the 90's V8 Vantage, but otherwise yeah. Early Diablo's also
Just watching this video again 1 year later. I would happily watch an entire series of videos of just Jay driving a F355 and narrating the experience. I don’t think I would tire of that.
David, in December, there's a video coming you are really going to enjoy
I'd love to see an IMAX feature documentary about that!
Was too young to appreciate this when it was released, but this has aged so well. I prefer this over the 360 and 430 from a looks perspective
Couldn't agree more! Loved my F355 like nothing else. No other car will ever sound like this again. Will be replacing it at some point. Great video!
I’ve owned 2 of them. My current is a manual spider. I’ve had it for 4.5 years and it’s been completely reliable.
Congrats, mine is also manual, I love it, but the car is sensitive...
Fantastic Video Buddy.! That Glorious Sound Of The Heady V8 And That Beautifull Shape Feeds The Senses.
Nice vid Sir 👌. It was my dream car too. They say never meet your hero’s .... but I took the plunge to own one 2 years ago, and agree it never disappoints - absolute unrefined perfection 👌..... (albeit the clutch did go pop in a very inconvenient part of London 😂)
Yup, never gets old. Thanks for the Ferrari vids... come back to 355 vid. Classic looks and immense unadulterated v8 goodness. I could just look at it and listen to it, all day long.
Hi JayEmm. Just wanted to say, long time subscriber. Been watching your channel since your first F355 video, wherein you drove your friend’s car. Very happy for you, the hard work and growth of your channel.
Thanks so much, come a long way!
My heart skips a beat when I see one of these and has been since I was a kid. So beautiful
I remember a race team that used to prep these cars next to where I worked in Didcot back in the 90's, the noises that came out of that place was epic.
One of your best videos yet Jay - you really gave it some beans - sounded epic - that guy in the black pickup - loved how you just dropped him after two gearchanges!
That's a beautiful 355, my buddy years ago had a blue 355 Spider, looked almost purple, that was just a gorgeous car, I was kind of sad when he sold it.
I've always loved this car even though I was born only 2 years before it came out. This was an absolute treat to watch. Subscribed!
When you said "technical glitch" I thought you drove it into a ditch.
love this car so much, as a kid i new guy who owned a yellow GTS with the best sounding aftermarket exhaust ive ever heard.
James this is a fantastic series.... having friends with 348, 355, 430, I have often wondered about them... in fact I sold my 458 spider to buy a 550 or 335 or 430 In the end based entirely on my location I decided to buy another 458 spider... I was lucky to find a higher spec lower mileage car in the bottom of the covid market... however I love the older cars and their Ferrari uniqueness... not living near any service it really does not make sense for me to own ... I appreciate your reviews and perspectives especially now that I have time to view and many other have stopped producing/releasing content. Thank you and Merry Christmas 🎄🎁!
And you are by far the best Ferrari tester ever. Thanks to you, I will buy one for sure. Thank you
Enjoy it!
Such a pretty car.... one of Pininfarina's finest! That motor too, glorious! I lusted after a 348 at the time, but the moment I saw a 355 it was love at first sight!
Ratarossa Scott recently showed an "engine in" F355 cam belt service on his channel, and busts a lot of myths about maintaining a Ferrari on a *cough* reasonable budget.
Appreciate for the pure sound at the beginning. Spine-tingling even on laptop speakers. Happy Christmas and thanks for some great videos this year.
Very good Review!
My verdict after eleven years of owning my beloved F355 GTS (a bosch 2,7 from 1995):
looks and sound (10 out of 10),
speed (9),
power (8),
suspension (7),
stearing (6),
buying costs (5),
usability every day (4),
consumption (3... my average is 16 liter every 100 km),
reliability (2),
running costs (1 - my average total per year, maintenance, repair, tax and insurance: 7000 Euro)
feeling, when you want to start on an sunday morning but the red diva says: "check engine" - 0 !
feeling, when driving roofless on a sunny evening on b-roads and everything works fine - 12 !
A Dream car? For me, 100 percent...and I never dreamt of a Jag E...
Not even watched your commentary, but you get a thumbs up for the exhaust note alone.
Had a love / hate relationship with my F355. It is one of the best sounding cars ever and it is quite well made BUT no way is a service £2,700 with cambelts. YES if you have no other work to do but £2.5k is usually a standard service cost with ongoing maintenance added. The belts add around £2k to that. every 3 years. Nice cars, not great, melting interiors, dreadful cold gearbox, awful non oem exhausts, cracking manifolds and buttresses, leaking & creaking targa roofs. Forget the wing mirror just make sure you don't need a new rear curved screen!!! Steering is slow and vague. Brilliant cars to borrow, awful cars to own! It needs to be your dream car and you need to budget £5k pa. average. Much better cars out there but cant dispute probably none that sound better!
I would definitely dispute the none sounding better part - LFA always wins that for me, but I mean really that it's very subjective and I don't see this car mentioned in that regard a lot. A 981 Cayman S is certainly a better car in every way: both faster and far cheaper to own. The 981CS sounds epic too. However...being "good" isn't the point with this thing, so contrary to what my comment so far may suggest, I love it. For me, it's not the best car in any single way, measurable or not, but there's just nothing about it I don't like...but as you say, that applies to borrowing one not owning one! Maybe if I had another few million in the bank...
@@ApothecaryTerry He's saying better cars for the money, the LFA is five times the money of the 355 👍🏻
@@azlean5323 He said "much better cars out there but can't dispute probably none that sound better!". Nothing in the comment says "for the money". Also not saying it's the best car for the money, since it's lots of money and in many ways not the best at all- if best for the money is a criteria then a 981 Cayman S, for example, is an infinitely better choice.
The way I read Bispal's comment is that the F355 is expensive and in many ways a terrible car to own, but also a car that provides an experience that is brilliant and hard to match (and price doesn't matter). Only Bispal could confirm if that understanding is right, but my comment was basically to say that I totally agree with that sentiment. Of course, he owns one whereas I've only seen one and sat in a stationary one so I'm basing my opinion on the information given by Bispal, James and many others who are far more informed than me about it!
@@ApothecaryTerry I understood he didn't mean best sounding car full stop, how come you don't understand that? Pointless trying to quote something when it's obvious what he meant.
R&D Automotive in Manchester will do a cam belt service for about £1200+VAT plus parts. And yes, its a full engine out service. Ferrari trained mechanics and very reputable.
Pretty much a perfect review with the shirt as icing on the cake.
Most excellent Jay, perhaps your best review yet. Thoroughly enjoyed it, the sound of the V8 is just EPIC. Petrol heaven!
That is a masterpiece
It'll always be my favourite, despite it in no quantifiable way 'the best', and despite there being no way I'd want to own one.
Best sound in a JayEmm video to date
Beautiful car, so pretty🥰 and definitely on my lotto winning hit list 👍😎
Second is the artist of the gearbox, always fashionably late - brilliantly put!
I grew up in the same era, lusted after the 355, 456GT and 512TR! The 355 looked and sounded a lot nicer than the 360 in my opinion, that engine sound will never get old! The Testarossa / 512 TR sounded incredible as well!
I'm 44 and still growing up.
One of the best sounding V8s ever.... that whine! thanks for the video Jay
Having owned and loved a perfect E type for many years, I can assure everyone it is not the greatest car in the world ever. Not even close.
Probably the prettiest.
Interesting, what would you say is the perfect car, or close to it?
Nice to look at with fair power for its time, but I'd bet a modern Ford Focus is nicer to drive !
It's far more beautiful than an E Type, in looks and sound.
I have both an E type and F355. I agree, the best cars ever made along with the original Mini.
Drove one of these at an experience day in 2005 and it was everything I wanted it to be...gorgeous, and what a sound!
14:54 If I recall, this was the first production naturally aspirated engine to break the 100-horsepower-per-liter barrier.
McLaren F1
I believe that was the S2000 AP1 but I might be wrong
That noise....you could never get bored of it.
Everytime i see a chrome shift knob i think of The Mandalorian #thisistheway
Never seen your videos before. Youre the best presenter Ive seen. Really enjoyed your episode thanks.
Absolutely the best car in the world, EVER. I know this despite the fact I've yet to drive one...
Fantastic summary to a great review. God, I WANT ONE NOW.
Engine out service: DO NOT DO EVERY THREE YEARS! The dealer/repair shop will laugh at you behind your back! Having lived with...and knowing the top repair / restoration guys in the Ferrari world, I can tell you every 5-7 is more than sufficient. The experts will share stories of cars that went well over ten years and they were fine. Reality? Same belts as used in BMW, Honda, Audi, etc. I personally have seen cars that had belts that were over 20 years old! This I do NOT recommend but only mention this to underscore the point that going 5-7 years for an engine out service is perfectly fine. And when the engine is out upgrade to the Hill Bearings and might as well do the Hill clutch throwout bearing as well. Doing an engine out service at any interval less than five years is wasting your money.
Using the same belt as other manufacturers has no bearing on the matter. What matters is how its routed around the timing gear, water pump etc and what tension it's under. Plus how often the car is actually started, as that's when it's under the greatest strain momentarily.
I do agree though that 3 years is ludicrous, particularly for cars such as this that only maybe do 2k miles a year.
Theres an air of manufacturers covering their ass when the comes to this kinda thing. Its a very expensive fix, if it's even worth it, if it goes. AR did the same on the ts and jts engines. Started at 72k 5 years, then reduced it to 36k 3years.
@@psircos I would agree with Remington and sorry, but same basic belt construction does in fact make a difference. Have you noticed manufacturers will list change time frames by miles and by time? Do you know why that is? Because manufacturers like Gates know materials, such as rubber, etc., will naturally decay. So if a belt is properly engineered, like today's belts are and better than belts from years past, with Kevlar, etc. will last a certain amount of time whether used or not. The point here is if we know Audi/BMW/Honda/etc belts last for longer than three years we know material wise these belts as used in the Ferrari need not be changed every three years. If you understand engines you'll understand a 355 Ferrari is not worlds different than an NSX yet NSX belts have a 6 years or 90,000 miles durations. That tells me changing belts in a 355 is nothing short of ludicrous! 5-7 years in a Ferrari and you'll be just fine.
I do understand engines, to a degree. The point you make about construction and how it has improved in the last 15years and, how they stack up in other engines, is a very valid one though 👍
Yes , I agree with 100%, I am writing from Japan, Here, We change belts every 10-12 years, No problem, we drove car 2000km-300km a year , and 10years is 20,000km-30,000km, My friend changed belt only two times from New car, Now 25yeas old
@@psircos Thank you. Yes, thank fully belt tech has improved much over the years with things like reinforced kevlar belts, etc.
Yesssss Jayemm! Christmas just came early! Absolutely love these cars and have done since watching Unleashed On Cars at about 3-4 years old!
With a 6 speed, yes. F1 its not even as good as a 348.
The problem is few people understand how the F1 system works in a 355, even a lot of owners. Put it in sport, keep your foot nailed and hit the up shift paddle at about 8000rpm and you will be amazed how fast it changes. It almost feels like something is going to break. The system is quite clever and will change the shift speeds to suit your driving. People pootle about and complain the shifts are really slow, but start to wind that engine up and dont lift your left foot and you will find out just how fast the early F1 trans can actually shift. The change from 1st to 2nd and even 2nd to 3rd is so hard it can easily break the tyres free if its even slightly damp. It punches you in the back with every shift. Then slow down, stick it auto and its like your mum is driving. Dont get me wrong, I would rather have a manual 355 (I have an F1) but the F1 gets a bad rap for really no reason. Its actually better than a lot of later mechanised manual gearboxes that were on cars produced in the early 2000s.
@@auwz66 Wow i need this in my life !! I ONLY drive manuals !
@@auwz66 "Don't lift your left foot" Give yourself an uppercut, Sounds like you don't understand how the F1 system works, nor any throttle.
The early F1 systems also require you to blip for them on the downshift too
@@nssherlock4547 Oops sorry typo, I meant right of course....
The looks, the sound, and the feeling it gives you -- this is why people buy and keep these older Ferraris despite there being much faster and reliable alternatives these days. Thanks for the video!
Best ever... not sure.
Prettiest mid engine ever... Well, it's a damn strong contender, no doubt.
Last Ferrari that caught my eye. Just something about it. I just love the styling and wheels so light and just right looks wise. The open gate with rods to gearbox.
Haha I’ve literally just watched that Clarkson Unleashed video n UA-cam right before this one 😂
Cracking bit of kit!
Never driven a 355, definitely on my list
Sees title, runs upstairs, PC on, Switch over to amp and speakers for audio. Turn down phone. I'm ready!
The fact i did all this means regardless of what you may say, the 355 is my greatest car in the world. Hope we get to hear the high notes.
Edit: 1 minute in and I'm already happy
Haha well worth listening to on proper speakers
One of the last truly analog ferraris, definitely will get noticed in the future
Best sound V8 road car ever, that's for sure.
I prefer the sound of a cross plane crank v8 to a flat plane crank v8 .
I always think the Ferrari v8s sound a bit like a very, very ,angry four pot
Still a good sound just not got the burble of a normal v8
Edit
Hadn’t watched video right to the end , this sounds better than any modern Ferrari v8
It sounds immense!
Nope, it’s definitely the Ferrari 360 Challange Stradale - don’t forget this is an aftermarket exhaust!
Was lucky to go out for a few rides in both the hard top and the cabro as a kid and I will never forget the sound. Incredible incredible machine. Never forget the guy pulling a 60mph drift with the engine screaming. Out of this world.
I really DID want to know how much the wing mirror would cost 🤔🙄 lol
what a delight to look at this master piece
Yes but let's face how much notice of what Mr Clarkson says is actually worth listening too??
Not very much, if anything at all
I think he now (since 2013) says Lexus LFA is the best car he's ever driven.
I Remember hearing one pull away in epping forest back in the 90s and the noise completely blew me away. This would be the one I'd get if I had the cash.
I really do feel the 348 looks nicer. Most will disagree. Not saying the F355 is not a good looker but there's just something more aggressive and raw about the 348.
Man.... GREAT mic job on the engine + exhaust
This 355 may be the better car, but that 348 looks and sounds miles better IMO. Less power = more thrashing = more fun :D
It's not a better car, it's a better ferrari😁
Pure beauty. The Ferrari, before you jump in and take claim James.
Dangit.
"You wonder how many of your children you might have to sell" to repair your Ferrari.
Who cares?
My neighbor has a yellow 355 he absolutely adores it
360 Modena with a manual is the best mid engine v8 Ferrari, fight me. I said it before and I'm standing by it.
In silver.
@@kristianspencer1978 I'll ALWAYS love Ferraris in Rosso Corsa, and I'll take my Porsche's in silver, but I can't argue with color too much. That's just personal taste and completely subjective right?
7:41 i was caught off guard with that glorious sounds
Another very enjoyable video, Thank you. I love the sound of the 355, and the looks aren't bad either.
The sound... The looks... Simply the best one ever... EVER
Really enjoy your vids, epic straight face talking about "style" whilst sporting the most horrendous pheasant splatted shirt!
WOW Sir - SO GREAT!!! - totally agree with you - and your words are a masterclass in car knowledge. But also passion.
I own 2 355's, a 2.7 GTS and a 5.1 Berlinetta - the point you make about their differences is absolutely true: although the 5.1 is more "correct", the 2.7 is somehow lovingly wrong and pleasantly wilder. Subscribed - good luck.
Joao
Another great review, in this instance, of my all time dream car. Thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to that and well done that man who bought it as his first car. You sir, are a legend!
Thanks mate 😉
Top notch review Jay
2nd is the artist of the gearbox..always fashionably late...Ha ha haaaaaaa!!!!! Nice one mate. And what a gorgeous car. Merry Christmas to you Jay and to everyone watching..from New Zealand with love. Take care. Drive safe (but, as my brother says,"ïn a spirited fashion"!!). Here's to 2021. It can only be better.
Can't be worse than 2020..... can it?
Merry Christmas
It is the best sounding Ferrari have produced for a road car. I will never forget the sound of a Ferrari engine that changed up so late in the gears with such a scream. Gorgeous.
90’ - 2000 , the best era
Love the Morris Minor van cameo at 7.55!