Have had a 996TT for the past 7 years, ready to do something else. While I'd like a f430, money wise that $50k gulf (and $125k for a 430) is making me hesitant. So I was wondering about a 360, but everytime I come back to does it really have better performance than what I have?

My Turbo is lightly modded (flash, exhaust, suspension, clutch).

Thanks

 

Well, first off you have to think about maintenance. I've talked to a few Ferrari dealers and the consensus seems to be that unless you have an absolute love for the 360, to stay away from it because of crazy maintenance costs. The F430 was supposed to be much better. Also, in terms of performance, a 996TT will beat a 360, but probably lose to an F430. Unless you really want the exotic Ferrari sound and feel, I'd suggest keeping the 996TT or just getting a 997 for the same price as a 360.

 

I've owned both at the same time. Still have the Turbo, sold the 360. The Ferrari is like a wild passionate weekend with a supermodel. The Porsche is a long term relationship. Both are fun but I prefer the later.

Good luck.

 

360 better than 996tt? Performance-wise, no. Maintenance costs, no. In every other way, by miles.

 

I own both 996tt and a 360. To anwser your question: it depends...

First, to make my comparison more fair, let me say: my 996tt has a flash, europipe exhaust, 997tt wheels, and that is about it in the mod department. My 360 came heavily modded ($30k in mods by prior owners) both cosmetically and performance wise, and I did a few things myself. Noteable mods include CS TCU (HUGE!), tubi and test pipes, tons of carbon, ect. Full mods and upgrades and some 996tt comparison can be seen in my thread: https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ari-360-a.html

As for "better" than a 996tt, I dunno man. They are very different creatures and interchange "better" in different categories. For example:

Sound: Ferrari, hands down. My catless Europipe Stage 2 Loud sounds good on the Porsche, especially on cold start, but it's not even a comparison to the scream (loudness and quality of sound) the Ferrari's flat plane crankshaft V8 with the right exhaust produces (note the 360 stock exhaust is very weak, you need an aftermarket exhaust, just like with the 996tt).

Looks: I love the looks of both, especially with the new model rims, but if you want third party attention, Ferrari wins hands down again. I hardly get noticed in my 996tt, but essentially every single time I drive the Ferrari there are people taking pics, coming to talk to me about it, commenting on it, little kids going crazy, ect.

Cost (to buy and maintain): Porsche wins. Its 1/2 the price sticker for a medium mile car. Ferrari is definately more to maintain, but not prohibitively so, and the 996tt certainly can have a beefy maintenance/repair bill as well. Insurance is more on the Ferrari, but it's a linear relationship to price IME, other than many insurers refuse to cover a Ferrari for young (under 40) drivers. Geico gave me 6 months of coverage for $204 total on the Ferrari. When they gave me the boot, the ONLY insurer I could get (I did lots of comparison shopping) was Barret Jackson/AMIC at $1529 annual (plus $1200 annual Geico for 996tt and G35 coupe)

Practicality: Porsche wins. No cruise control in 360, difficult to parallel park, blind spots, is very wide and can be tough getting in a tight garage, makes lots of loud annoying beeps when you put the key in/out, have to press the engine immobilizer EVERY time before you start the car, crappy stereo, weaker AC, ect. Ferrari is much more jerky (especially first gear), and the Porsche is very smooth shifting gears (tiptronic VS F1 that is) (I do LOVE the F1 for aggressive driving or solo driving, but not with a sensative passenger in the car). Ferrari does have a MUCH bigger front trunk than Porsche, but Porsche has some rear seat storage room. Porsche could be a DD, IMO a 360 is not.

Speed/Performance: Porsche is faster, no doubt with a tune it just hauls *** and keeps accelerating relentlessly until 175++. The feeling of torque in the 996tt is much stronger, but the Ferrari is still very fast, IMO more than plenty fast for street use, especially considering how it feels while driving. The Porsche's brakes are much stronger. The confidence level while driving the Porsche is much higher due to AWD. The Ferrari is a prancing pony. The steering is light in comparison, feels effortless as it prances about, but at least wrt to the 360, it can feel very twitchy on the limit, and that holds you back from pushing it. The 360 does power slides with very little effort (for better or worse depending on if you are intending to do them), and the 996tt is just planted unless you are WOT around a corner.

Excitement: Ferrari, hands down. I often drive my 996tt just to get from A to B, and I sometimes drive it to tear up the roads. However, driving the Ferrari is never just an A to B. Driving the Ferrari is an event. The sound, the feel, the looks, the attention. You are doing more than just commuting or going fast when you drive an F car.


If you have any specific questions wrt to thier comparison, let me know. Choosing either or is almost an impossible decision becuase they are very different and fill different roles, even though they are both 2 door, effectively 2 person, fast sports cars.

A couple pics of the two side by side (more can be seen in my link above if interested).

 

Thanks Mike R, great writeup!

Kind of confirms my gut feel of you don't get alot of value for a 2001 996TT plus $50k.

yes, the 360 looks better & sounds better, but thats about it.

At least with the 430, you can honestly say its better in EVERY respect. Was hoping I could get a 360 and keep my kid's college fund, but Shark Jr better look at community college

 

I've had a 996tt and sat in a 360. I would take the 360 over the 996tt. But I still dearly miss my 996tt. I believe the 360 has more character, and I like its interior a lot more. I also don't like turbo lag >.<

 

I've had both. I regret selling my 360 (and still miss it), but can hardly remember even owning the 996TT. That about sums it up huh?

 

I am a big fan of the Ferrari 360. I think there is a big difference between the 996TT and Ferrari 360.

Here are some to help your decision: Ferrari 360 - Ferrari 360 For Sale

 

But looks and sound are some of the most important qualities to look for in a car!

You can pretty easily get a beauty 360 for $70k these days (that is what I paid), so its not 996tt + $50k, but it certainly is more (and higher tax bill, higher insurance, higher maintenance, ect).

The question of F430 vs 360 vs Challenge Stradale is a much harder one if your wallet can stretch to $150k but you don't necessarily want to spend that much . I struggled with it for 6 months while learning everything I could about these cars. I was deadset on an F430, then fell head over heals in love with the Stradale, but then in Oct of 2011, an Fchater sent me a PM offering his car for sale and I could not say no to it given the unique build and options it had, everything which was exactly to spec that I was looking for, and at an effective half off sale to me on a car that was essentially done depreciating in any meaningful fashion and 1/2 the cost to insure. I'm sure I would have been thrilled with an F430 or CS, but I love the 360 and never once have felt like I "settled" and didn't get exactly the experience I was hoping to get with a Ferrari. I also like the fact that I'm never concerned about putting miles on it or driving it in the rain b/c the sticker was so high; it's a car, it's meant to be driven and not saved for the next owner! If you are looking for the "ferrari experience," the 360 delivers 95%+ of what the faster newer models offer, at 50% or 33% of the price. 99% of people I see think my 360 is a 2012 and are shocked to learn it's a 2001; the 360 is a very timeless design, although I admit that a 360 can look more dated without the full list of options/upgrades such as carbon fiber interior, updated wheels, ect.

Anyway, these are good problems to have .

 

totally different cars....you need both...

 

I have both. Like the guys said, Ferrari for the looks, sound and handling. Not a DD but man you feel alive when you drive it as you need to be alert or it can bite. Porsche is the old dependable. Doesn't look or handle as well but more space esp if you need to carry more than 1 passenger at times. Also safer with awd ESP in wet and maintenance and parts easier to get.
Good luck!

 

But yet you went and bought a 997TT instead of a 430...so your 996TT experience had to have been positive

Its cool you can choose cars on this level...

 

I don't get it...why are 2005 360s listed on your site...they stopped in 2004

 

Not really an option...as neither could be DDs for my lifestyle, and as 11 year old cars they will be maintenance hogs.....plus only have 1 garage spot open.