I'm currently in the market for a 355 - I've been told 'stay away' from automatic/F1...the shifts are slow and the clutch maintenance is a nightmare. Can anyone shed light on these issues? Very excited to add a Horse to the barn.

 

I have friends who own both and both love their respective cars. Shift speeds nearly the same, not true with 430 Scuderia. F1 clutches typically need to be changed more frequently than stick setups. I got 20k miles from my clutch but the car had a previous owner and I dont know how well he drove the car. $5000 repair including used flywheel from independent shop. I prefer the F1 since my wife can drive and enjoy the car, plus i dont like driving stick in traffic.

 

not familiar with the 355, but the 360 was about the same regardless of transmission. F1 has clutch wear and pump issues. Manual has clutch wear and flywheel issues. i know for the 360, you can upgrade the F1 TCU to that of the CS. not sure if anything like that is available with the 355... but yes, it was definitely not the best application of the F1 as it was early in developement.

 

Whoever told you that, speaks the truth, stay away from that F1, too many problems.

 

Start reading threads on ferrarichat.com, there is a section for the 355 there.

 

I'd stick w/the stick. These manual-matics cars are great to own when they're new and under warranty. Its reflected in the availability used. Always a bunch of DCT M3's or F1 360's for sale, less so their manual counterparts. But then again, its a Ferrari so if you cant afford the repairs, etc, etc...

 

I've only owned my F355 for a year so my advice doesn't come with the experience of having to change its clutch, but at 24,000 my service advisor at Ferrari of Seattle told me the advantage of my 6-Speed is that it is up to me how long the clutch lasts as it relates to how carefully I use the clutch, where the F1's clutch mechanism wears at the same rate no matter how carefully you shift. Not enough to sway you either way, probably, but I thought it was interesting reasoning.

 

You will buy it, drive it for a few times, you will hate it, wont be able to wait to get rid of it. 3 friends went thru the same, only kept the cars for 1 summer. Parts and Labour is killer. But the Sound with Tubi. OMG the Sound is to die for, Best Exhaust Note Ever

 

Thanks for the heads up. This is my first Ferrari and I'm sure there will be lessons to learn, maybe sooner than I think! You're right about the Tubi, however. I didn't know there was a Tubi installed when I bought it. Soon after, someone pointed it out to me and I heard the contrasting sound of his stock exhaust. I appreciate the advice.

 

The 6 speed is more reliable and bulletproof compared to the auto/F1 technology for a 355.

 

I hope my choice of the 6-Speed was the right one, as you say.

 

Price out an F1 pump for the 355. . Then go buy a 6 speed!

 

$1100 from Ricambi? I think I like the pedal clutch!

 

Start with a 360

 

I think Ricambi may have a new one (177687 1 ACTUATOR $ 6,850.00)

...last time I looked it was ~$8,000 to have it done should it fail for the same part since Ferrari only sells the whole unit. I have seen people having success using the 360 F1 hydraulic pump, which is a lot cheaper.

Having said that I LOVE the 355 and preferred the pedal clutch.