Faults:

Like all F355s, the top seems to be a real concern. I just leave the top down, but this may reduce the number of days I drive the car due to weather concerns.

General Comments:

I love the car. I also own an older Porsche 911. I love the Porsche, and its reliability. I do receive lots of compliments on the Porsche, but people's jaws drop when driving the F355.

I bought the 'fly' yellow and have more complimentary comments than ever expected.

The engine 'sound' is the ultimate sensory experience!

Faults:

The catalyst went bad the after the first 1000 miles. I believe it was from faulty exhaust manifolds which was a previous condition. Otherwise, everything in the car is perfect.

General Comments:

This is a car made of dreams. A true sports car from the racing heritage of Ferrari.

With the top down, you cannot but hear and feel the engine reverberate through your body. The handling is exceptional. Nothing else can compare other than driving a formula 1. Newer F models are quicker, but cannot match the classic feel and raw power this F355 has.

Faults:

A great car and a lot of fun.

General Comments:

I purchased the car because it has always been a dream of mine to own a Ferrari. This car didn't let me down because it is quick, fast and all that you would imagine a Ferrari to be. If you have a dream and have always wanted one, the 1999 355 F1 is a good way to get started at a decent price. Stick with a 1999; it was the last year of the 355 model and all the bugs are gone - its perfect. I told myself I would keep it for a few years and sell it which I will do, and by the way I will drive it for two and a half years and sell it for what I purchased it for. What a cheap dream to live!

Faults:

I had full major service done, after the belt which drives the air conditioner let go. This was quite scary as the cockpit filled with black smoke - it turns out it was just the belt remnants burning on the engine.

However, the worse nightmare was the convertible top. It would routinely stick (both up and down) and often refuse to move at all. I had both regulators replaced (a Jaguar sourced part), then the entire rear piston mechanism, at a total cost of $6,000.00 The top broke again a couple weeks later (half-way open), I was forced to use the emergency ratchet tool (which only cranks on one side of the top, twisting it brutally. I wouldn't have even dared to do this had I know a replacement convertible top frame is over $30,000 if bent. That fix was less, but I had enough and traded it a month later.

General Comments:

Owning a 355 Spyder was my dream. I had previously owned a 1986 328gts which was largely trouble free. I had sold the car and bought a new 2002 996 cab; however, I found the cab a bit boring after the 328, which was half it's cost.

I was nearly in tears of joy upon picking up the 355 two years ago. Unfortunately, these quickly turned to a different kind of tears. Simply put, the convertible top was unliveable. I read another review with a similer experience and they made the comment that they just leave it down. That's great unless you take it to the shore and are subjected to heavy rains (and can't get the top up). When you drive a Ferrari, a certain amount of people will hate you and enjoy pointing and laughing as you either drive through the rain or struggle with the convertible top. In the end, despite a great engine and transmission and reliable starting, the car ruined more weekends than I care to recall and I traded it back in on another Porsche. I miss the sound and the stares, but the Porsche never misses a beat.

I would be curious what people's experience with the 348 and 360 spyder tops are. Are these better? I would love to get another one someday, but as I told a friend, a Ferrari is not a third car, it's a fourth one in addition to a more reliable sports car if you love to drive as much as I.