In 1999, Ferrari launched the 360 Modena and Spider. It showcased the marque’s new design language as they shifted away from the boxy, straight, sharp lines they once used on all cars. The 360 over the years has received a lot of mixed opinions. Some consider the looks modern and fresh, while others think it’s a little too curvy and not very aggressive. Both parties can agree that the 395hp naturally-aspirated V8 is an absolute gem, especially when mounted to the brilliant 6-speed Ferrari gated H-Gear manual transmission.
When new in 1999, the 360 started at $138,225 which in today’s money is just over $245,000. In 2022 you can get one for far less so long as you know what you’re looking for. There are plenty of good examples that cost just under $100,000 or less that can be yours in either manual or automatic transmission. In the UK even, you can pick up a good 360 for less than £70,000.
So should you buy one of the cheapest Ferraris on the used market today or are you asking for trouble? Let’s find out.
picture via: evo.co.uk
Can Keep Up With Modern Cars at Its Price Point
If you have around $70,000 to $80,000, there are quite a few sports cars that you can consider. There is the Porsche 718 Cayman S or Boxster S which start at just over $74,000. You can try a BMW M4 if you like which offers more practicality.
Or you can go all crazy and buy a 20-year-old supercar that had less power than a BMW sedan back when it was new. The 360 even by today’s is a quick car. It may only produce 395hp but the 360 can hit 60 in just 4.5 seconds and flat-out hit a top speed of 183 mph which isn’t too shabby at all. The reason why the 360 is so fast is due to the fact it is a light car weighing in at only 1493 kg for the coupe and 1555 kg for the spider. That is 60 kg less compared to the old F355 predecessor.
Handling-wise, the 360 is pretty good too. Around the bends, the car has a lot of control thanks to the low center of gravity, stiff suspension, and mid-mounted engine. The 360 Spider is a little slower due to added weight however, even that on a country road is quite fun.
Compared to a 718 Boxster or Cayman, the 360 definitely is a more exotic car. It looks far more interesting and in some ways more exciting because you can see things like the engine via a glass panel on the rear trunk lid. Furthermore, the 360 definitely sounds better than a 718 since it features a naturally-aspirated V8 rather than a turbocharged 4-cylinder.
Overall, a Ferrari 360 may be a good interesting alternative to a 718 Cayman or Boxster. It may not be as reliable but the 360 isn’t a hassle to maintain. It isn’t cheap but neither is the car too fragile. Find a Ferrari 360 in good condition and you’ll find that maintaining it isn’t too bad.
However, for less money than a used Ferrari 360, you could have the new C8 Corvette which is a far faster car and also in some ways better looking.
It Has Pedigree
The Ferrari 360 was created when Ferrari was at the top of the tree in the F1 world. Therefore, some cars will have a plaque stating that Ferrari was the F1 champion for that year or the plaque would showcase how many times in recent years Ferrari was the F1 world champion. It is a nice touch and something definitely to show off to all of your friends.
Furthermore, the 360 was designed by Pininfarina who at the time had a long-standing partnership with Ferrari which continue till 2018 when the production of the F12 Berniletta supercar ended. Pininfarina has designed many iconic Ferraris over the years including the iconic F40 supercar and F50 supercar. The 360 is considered by some not to be their finest hour, however, the 360 in some ways is a pretty car.
The whole design of the 360 is very minimalist and simple. There aren’t any crazy lines like you got on the previous Ferrari cars and neither are there any big unnecessary parts that just get in the way. The 360 is a very classy yet pretty Ferrari which in some ways takes the marque back to its original roots when it used to make minimalist pretty sports cars and supercars.
Ferrari offered the 360 with either an F1-inspired automated manual transmission which was jerky but at the time quite advanced, or a proper 6-speed gated transmission in the traditional Ferrari H-Pattern. Both gearboxes carry a lot of pedigree in their own ways. The automated manual was inspired by the Ferrari F1 cars at the time, which were excellent and always finished first place. Most cars were sold with this gearbox and it can be a bit costly to maintain at times.
The 6-speed manual transmission is a fantastic gearbox. When changing gears, you hear a click and it is extremely satisfying. That gearbox and its design have been around since Ferrari started back in 1948 and people have always commented on just how good Ferrari’s manual gearboxes are with some calling them the best gearboxes in the world. Changing gears in a manual 360 is awesome and you just don’t get manual gearboxes these days that feel as nice as the one fitted to the manual Ferrari cars.
To Conclude.
The Ferrari 360 is a very cool car that can be yours for the same price as many other modern sports cars today. If you’re looking for a car at around the $70,000 to $80,000 price point that has a lot of wow factor then the 360 may just be a perfect choice. The 360 is a very exotic car that still turns heads today everywhere it goes.
A manual car is the one to buy simply because the gearbox is very sought after and prices will only go up in the future. Therefore, right now is the best time to buy whilst prices are relatively low. The F1 gearbox models (automatic cars) are great cars to drive, however, they are a bit more costly to maintain compared to its manual counterparts.