I just paid $2700 for a full major service, all fluids, belts and tensioners (which is like 10+ hours labor), full checkup and test drive of everything else.

Your friend did not pay $4k for an oil change. Oil change alone is pretty similar to a 996tt, couple hundred bucks, or you could do it yourself for under $90.

 

Ya, the CS is more of a comparison for a 996 GT2, and even that isn't quite fair. Like I said, you better be ready to write a check for $140k to get a CS. Break off one of those carbon fiber mirrors, and be ready to write a check for $10k (each!): http://www.ricambiamerica.com/produc...ucts_id=262662 . The brakes are carbon and cost like $8k per corner. Fortunately, you can go to steel if you wear out the carbon (only from track use though, not street). General maintenance vs the 360 is pretty similar though. Regardless, the CS is a fantastic car. I still dream about it even though I have a 360, but it is on another level price wise and cannot be compared to the 996tt.

Like I said, maintenance on a 360 is not much worse than a 996tt really. They are quite reliable and reasonable to maintain. (especially compared to the 355's and earlier models). Basically it's oil change year 1, then all fluids year 2 ($900 indy), then oil change year 3, then major (belts/tensioners, all fluids, = $2800 indy). Add in a new clutch for $5500 every 20-30k miles. Perhaps a F1 pump if you have F1 every 20-25k miles for $1k part. Brakes and tires are same as 996tt expenses, and I otherwise dont' think I may exorbitantly more to maintain the 360 vs the 996tt.

 

A lot of Ferrari myths that still lurk. Good to see some of them being debunked by those who know, Ferrari owners. I have two PORSCHE'S, a 84 911 cab and a 04 996TT cab. But I also own two Ferraris, a 03 360 and a 98 456 and a Maserati Gransport (built by FERRARI). Ferrari's are more expensive than Porsche's to maintain, but not as bad as many think. The 360 was a turning point for Ferrari. 1) they made a ton of them so parts (new and used) are readily available, 2) they made them with the goals of being capable of daily driving. I did a major maintenance (every 3-5 years) and clutch 2 yrs ago at 15k miles and it was about $8k. But I haven't had a single problem in 2 years, do annual average maintenance of $2k/yr isn't bad. Now pre360 and things get ugly. 355's require and engine drop to do the major so its much more expensive. My 456 was a low production V12 so parts are scarce and expensive. 430's are a better car but far more technical which means maintance as they age will be more costly.

Performance wise, the 996tt is better in every way, except perhaps with the 360 feeling lighter and more nimble. So bang for the buck 996tt over a 360, absolutely. But wait guys, this mirrors the Z06 debate. The Z06 kills the 996TT for equal or less $, but its just a Vette. The 996TT kills the 360 but its still just a Porsche and the guy you smoked is suffering his loss with a Ferrari.
The Porsche is amazing but the Ferrari is exotic. The looks, the sound, a rush to drive at any speed.
If I had to pick one, daily driver Porsche, otherwise the Ferrari.

Colby

 

Not sure why it capped porsche and Ferrari. Damn androids.

Colby

 

I don't know what kind of test that was...LOL. I am not a national trophie holder in autox but that guy was definitely not using the correct lines and was ALL OVER the place, especially on dry. Tire squealing and sliding is not fast...

 

excellent post, right on the money. I have been instructing for PCA and FCA and FMoW since 2004 and have seen multiple GT2 and CS out on track the GT2 will be faster than the CS given equal driver and a lot of that has to do with straight line speed and power delivery from apex to corner exit onto a main straightaway. The gap will simply get larger with each consecutive lap because the GT2 is has a faster terminal speed into each area that requires braking prior to corner entry.

The CS sounds like nothing else, amazing comes close to describing it. I've been fortunate enough to pilot several Ferraris and Porsches on track, many of which were race cars, and all of which I did not personally own but was asked to drive. Each camp has it's good and bad, but nothing sounds like a F car on track and nothing quite handles like a Porsche RSR.

 

MikeR397, thank you for taking some time to break down the maintenance/service costs. This kind of stuff is of real interest to folks like myself. Reps for you.

 

If only my 996TT sounded like this:


As for straight line performance, put a call into these guys:

http://www.undergroundracing.com/

*lol*

 

Get a 360, and you'll find yourself spending all day driving back and forth through tunnels. What a sound!

You can google hundreds of good 360 sound clips. Here's one with a Tubi:


The first two seconds you'll hear a downshift blip before the corner. That's why I love the F1


Then you've got the Stradale. The Tubi is close to perfect. The Stradale is.

 

Great thread. I have always loved the modenas, and if I ever buy a ferarri, this would be the one. Love the real world comments about actual maintenance costs. Until this thread I had always heard the F1 pumps were more than 10k, and that you could not get used parts. How much of the "regular" maintenance stuff could be done by a determined shade-tree mechanic type? A good friend has a two post lift, and I'm just wondering whether we could tackle the lion's share of that kind of stuff without going to an indy.

 

The only issue my friend ran into on his 360 was access to diagnostic software. Supposedly aftermarket stuff is out the but it isn't as capable. I cannot confirm this personally so take that for what it is. The rest of the mechanical stuff is pretty much nuts and bolts though. I know the f1 stuff requires a decent amount diagnostic interface for the electrical side as pertains to the maintenance.

 

today i learned for a 456GT owner. He had to replace belts at 2.000 miles...

 

MikeR397 this is very good information you've giving us. Thanks a lot for taking the time to write these posts.

 

Belts need to be replaced every 30,000 miles OR every 3 years says Ferrari for the V8s (I think Ferrari says 4-5 years is fine for the V12s). In reality, most owners do not drive thier Ferrari 30k miles in such a short time period, so belt changes are required more by time rather than mileage. Ferrari's recommendations are very conservative though (of course). Most 360 owners change them every 4-5 years unless a lot of miles have been driven. The set I just had changed as part of the major service were 5.5 years old with 16k miles on them (~$1850 for just belts/tensioners at the indy shop). They were inspected at 4 years and said to be fine for another year (by prior owner). When I changed them, they looked worn down, but were not cracked or in risk of snapping (which can cause serious engine damage, so don't push it too much here).

So, if the 456GT owner drove 2,000 in 5 years, then shame on him for not driving his car, and yes, he still may have needed belts! Rubber parts on garage queen cars crack and rot, often faster than cars that are regularlly driven. IMO, I think that if the miles are low, you should have the belts visually inspected at 3.5 - 4 years if under 15k miles, and depending on that, shoot for upwards of 5 year intervals. I don't think $1850 for belts/tensioners every 5 years is bad at all, and about what I'm doing on my 996tt as well (which was $1200 at Porsche when I had that done last IIRC). Of course, that total could be $2600 for just belts/tensioners if you want the Ferrari stealership to do it. Find a good indy shop!

 

F1 pumps for 360's are $800 right now. New at Racambi: http://www.ricambiamerica.com/produc...ucts_id=261690

This is also the newer, more robust version than the orignal pump design that 360's were equipped with, and Racambi also sells cooling fins that will help longevity as well. 25k-35k+ miles should be easy for an F1 pump. Installation should be no big deal.

As for maintenance, if you have a two post lift (can only jack the car from the sides), you can do lots of stuff yourself if you are mechanically inclined. There are lots of DIY's out there and it's just a car, not a rocket ship. I wish I was more mechanically inclined, but I'm not, don't have the patience or right tools, and find my time is better spent trying to earn money elseware to pay for the service rather than spend the time learning how to do the service. I change my own oil and that is mostly about it for getting under the car for me, although I do like to understand the process/issues as much as possible. Maybe in the future sometime I'll do more of the work myself.

The only thing you need an SD2/3 computer for is checking the clutch wear, potentially for clutch adjustments (F1), and checking the brake wear (which can also be done visually obviously). I don't really know what else you'd be lacking, and that stuff can be done at an indy cheap too.