I became obsessed with lap times around Suzuka in Sega F355 Challenge at a local arcade. One of the lovely sit down, 3 screen cabinets it was. I think my initials filled the entire top 10 fastest times 😄 I also managed to get a ride in a F355 for my 18th birthday when my mum phoned the Edinburgh Ferrari dealer and managed to convince them to take me out in one if she made a contribution to their chosen charity. She was told that was fine but the salesman would not be able to drive fast or break any speed limits. The salesman that took me out did not get that memo.
I wish Ferrari made car designs like this still. All their modern stuff leaves a lot to be desired for me. The paint job in the video looks stunning, miles better then any cars I have seen in a long time. It looks like nail varnish that's how nice it looks.
Pininfarina stopped designing Ferrari's after the 458 and F12. As for paint, I believe around 2012 all manufacturers were forced to use water based paint instead of solvent based due to environmental reasons. The water based paints don't last as long, but the quality of laquer (top coat) has improved a lot over the years.
Totally agree. My favorite Ferrari era begins with the 456 and ends with the 599. The exterior designs were not over-wrought with trendy design cues. They were understated despite looking sensational in person.
They were actually F40LM brakes without a parking brake. They also came with Kevlar OMP buckets and headlight blanks (no headlights and non-pop up) in the dealer kit. The factory removed the carpet and welded in the roll bar strengthening plates in the 108 factory cars. Every year the factory added more and more of the parts prior to dealer delivery. The raced cars were maintained by the dealers meaning you had an entire support team, spare parts, new tires, and full transport. The cars stayed with the dealer, you just flew to the track with your helmet, raced, then flew home for $5,000 USD per race. Sold my 1995 Challenge Evo a few months ago and miss it dearly. In the US, only the 1995 model year could be legally registered since the rest didn't update to OBD2. The last street legal factory race car, the last manual factory race car,
I was wondering why the interior of the car in the video didn't look like other F355 Challenge with the cage and seats missing. I knew the US 1995 year limitation on registration, but does that apply anymore if one were to import a later year F355 Challenge from overseas now that they are all over 25 years?
The pizza shop in my small town in central Victoria, Australia had the F355 Challenge game... I spent so much money on that, Daytona USA and Time Attack... No, Time Crisis. Yeah that was it.
As a kid I used to play the same game at the cinema arcades. But as a kid I would select 'automatic' because I obviously didn't know how to drive back then. Would love to have a go on one now (the proper arcade version, not at home) but this time selecting manual and changing gear myself. I also spent loads on Time Crisis. Me and my mates took that game so seriously 😂 but what a game it was when it first came out. Colin Macrae Raylle using the yellow and blue Renault Megane. Need for Speed 3. Aryton Senna Racing on the Commodore/Omiga.
...in our big capital...there was big pizza chain with promo delivery F355 among their fleet cars, it was in red with italian tricolori stripe over whole body....
That 355 sounds just amazing - That's the sound I never get sick of - If you stood out on a dry calm clear night over a clear stretch and that 355 on full bore that would be heaven to my ears unlike a poppy banging mess of a straight piped Fiesta ST - Loved this review James and went back to the pull clips with the exhaust cams - Just proper !!
Spot on James. F355 challenge on the Dreamcast was ridiculously good at the time and felt far more "SIM" than anything that came before it. I suspect we were very much in the minority for both owning a Dreamcast and the game F355 challenge.
F355 Challenge is still probably the most SIM racing game ever. If you picked full sim in the arcade game, you better know wtf you’re doing or you were going to burn out the entire race. or so a friend told me 😅
A tiny bit jealous right now, not going to lie, but only because that thing is absolutely spectacular. The F355 is a master piece and that sound! I would hand over my left nut to have one of them in the garage. I still reckon Ferrari were at their best in the late 1990s. F355, 550 Marranello & 456 were utter perfection. This content is why I love this channel.
My first Ferrari was a 355GTS. Silver over red. Looked like a spaceship. I loved driving it. Drove like a go cart. But it doesn't compare to the thrill I get when I'm giving my 575M the welly. Lot harder to get in and out of too. Surely your Speciale is more exciting too. I do know the 360 Stradale was as I had one of those for a day once. Love the shirt.
The last Ferrari that I like the design of. They sound fantastic as well. The only downside; constant maintenance. I owned a 355GTS and it remains to this day the only car I've ever sold. I was unable to keep it running on a reliable basis. Great video!
there was a blue one of these at a ferrari customer appreciation day i had the pleasure of attending many years ago. this sucker at full trot was GLORIOUS. EASILY one of my all time favorites.
I actually saw this exact F355 Challenge in the parking area at Brands Hatch for the drivers/personnell many years back, same plate and all. I also used to play F355 Challenge on my Dreamcast as a kid, and recently picked up the game again to play on my original Dreamcast just recently, then this video shows up! And its the exact same car!
Great video. The F355 is my favourite car of all time. I’m with you - it has arguably the best sounding V8 in a factory road car ever (especially paired to a Capristo Stage 3 exhaust).
F355 Challenge is a classic, it was on the PS2 as well. Ferrari Challenge was another great racing sim on the PS2/PS3. This is my absolute favorite Ferrari along with the 348. Great video. 👍
Can remember playing 355 challenge on the Sega dreamcast. Brilliant game. Always wondered what it would be like to drive one in real life. Will have to be content with having a go of a 458 for now.
Great cars. I hired one for a weekend trip to Dorset nearly 20 years ago and loved it, especially the engine note and the gear change which is still the best I've experienced. Only let down was the steering which I found too light and lacking in feel.
This is like Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma embodied in a car. Grace, refinement and of course a sound ending In a musical crescendo of pure Italian passion.
The arcade I used to go to for the Sunday morning lock-in had an F355 cabinet; I have fond memories of playing that after tiring myself out on Dance Dance Revolution.
Fantastic! This video was worth the wait from when you teased it a couple of months ago. A F355 Challenge build has been at the top of my wish list for some time - steering rack, suspension, and brakes being the most important, then the no airbag steering wheel and buckets seats as you discuss. Now the secret it out! I hope you build one and then post more videos of it - take some road trips in it, would be epic.
I was waiting in anticipation to hear what you played Ferrari F355 on and when you said Dreamcast I was like my man, you've earned yourself a subscriber (truth be told I thought I had already subscribed).
Lovely car and great video as usual, the F355 was one of the first cars as a teenager I truly lusted over - that and the 911 Turbo. I enjoy driving around those roads too!
I get the impression that you might quite like that car. Of course I might be wrong, but I don't think so. It's a lovely colour, and makes a very pleasing sound. That, along with what can only be described as an excellent video, provided a very pleasant 20 something minute interlude in an otherwise uninteresting evening. Nicely done James
If I was going to drive such a great car, I would like an old school steering wheel, the metal ones with wood grain. I would also go without the spoiler. Otherwise I love the 355. It’s like a combo of old school and new school
I have an F355 F1, a well designed and executed car and the last of the steel box tubed small Ferrari’s with lineage going back to the 60’s Dino. It’s a comfortable car that is so easy to drive smoothly. From the seats, steering, composed ride and telepathic engine response. Refinement and substance always comes to mind when driving. While not particularly fast, it’s such a mile eater you never want it to end. Also relatively easy to work on if your a DIY type as it does require a conscious level of maintenance. Worth it though as a long term stable mate. ❤
The 355 challenge game is actually made by the same director as the outrun games. He was a massive fan of Ferraris and allegedly used his own 355 to collect data.
Well done James, absolutely brilliant review and its very hard to disagree with any of it. I have never been close to a 355 but like you, I still remember that Clarkson review from the 90's, and I always said if I ever had the money (highly doubt that will ever happen) I would always have a 355 in my dream garage. Top class review and thanks for giving us normal folk, an idea of what its like to sit behind the wheel of what has to be one of the best looking cars ever to grace a road. Thanks.
When I was a teenager I did a paper round and someone I delivered to had a yellow 355 convertible and a Lotus Espirt. I loved looking at it every weekend and I'm a sicker for pop up headlamps (fault of the F40). The car just looks so simple and beautiful, that sound too
The other vital mods in the Challenge pack was a quick rack that replaced the worst aspect of the standard car, a ridiculous 3 turn lock to lock wheel with zero feedback and feel, and also the F40 derived brakes got rid of the hideously over servoed brake pedal which prevented proper heel and toes work. After 100k miles of traditional Ferrari driving I found both these two traits so annoying on the otherwise excellent 355 that I could not live with the one I bought new and so I sold it within a year.
We can see and hear the enthusiasm in your presence. I love this Ferrari, the visuals and sound. I agree that a sports car should be loud, mechanical and raw - i own Honda del Sol VTi, a proper 1100 kg go-kart, and love the racing loudness. But you won't see me driving it on the highway since final 5th gear is at 4500 rpm and i am doing only 130 kmh, yikes!
Great review. I, of course agree. An early F355 is peak Ferrari, with just the right amount of power for the road. Mine's a keeper. Nothing else I've driven has such theatre, even if maybe quicker.
I’ve been in a 348, a road legal 360 challenge and that was one of the best experiences in my life though being driven flat out in an F40 beat that, I’ve only sat in a 355 and one day hope to drive one 😁
It’s not all about power & speed. It’s about how it feels to drive & what it makes you feel like when driving it. I have had many cars over the years & my favourites were not the fastest ones. Amongst my favourites would be my 1989 MK2 Golf GTI 16v with 100,000 miles on the clock, 1992 Corrado VR6 also with 100,000 miles, both of these were fast enough & fun. Slow by todays standards, but such fun.
A drivers car for sure! Like the videos and I get that "Clarkson" was a huge influence on you, (mentioned other videos) but I would leave him out of your videos. You are far more informative .... he was on a sitcom loosely based around cars. You are actually providing info. Awesome car.... agree one of the best. Wish they had done what they did with 348s ..Competizione and made one a bit tweeked and 200kg lighter would have been mad! Closest they got was Forino pkg.
James you got my heart with the latest review of the F355 ❤. I also love the video game Arcade print out of race stats was so cool, (Own both Japanese Dreamcast and PS2 version) and car, sound is truly immense. Always wondered what the F was for.
I’d have to agree. I drove one of these, twice, many years ago. Just perfect. The second time, I drove it rather ‘enthusiastically’ and emerged a sweaty but happy mess 😊
Simon Furlonger had a mint RHD one in stock when i visited to see the cars for sale- they let me look and get in whatever I liked- one I had to was this!! Unbelievable and the raw finished interior made me quiver!! What a thing 👌🏻👌🏻 They didn’t have it long so if you get the chance to see one- take it!!!!! They’re rare!!
Had a challenge in black, brought it in from Japan and sold it to a Slovenian chap and he exported it home. Mine had the challenge spec rollcage , bucket seats, fire extinguisher system, tow loops etc all missing from this car
This guy looks and sounds like a younger Clarkson himself. Anyway, this has always been one of my favorite classic Ferrari’s. My dream sports car when I was in my 20s (a long time ago now 😆) I just also really like the cabin design. To this day, my favorite Ferrari interior. And it’s normally aspirated too! Not a bloody turbo…just to be clear, I’m referring here to the stock F355 Berlinetta not this Challenge variation. I was not aware in period, of the steering feel issues though. So that’s probably the only modification I would have done, if I could get one.
When I used to work in Milton Park, Didcot back in the 90’s there was a company there that used to race prep these. Some of the cars they used to test around the estate were incredible.
You might struggle with pedals in LHD cars because, often, the car was designed primarily for LHD markets and so the spacing is smaller on the right side even in its RHD guise. The reverse might be true for cars designed primarily for RHD markets.
Had a F355 for 20 years and was a great car. Put 60,000 miles on it and had a Challenge suspension and wheels. Had the Challenge steering rack and pump also. Very high maintenance car is its downfall. When things go wrong and they will if you put miles on it, it is very expensive.
Great and impressive content. You continue to push the bar, and create your own lane in the sea of automotive journalists. ,💯. And by the way, nice eclectic shirt...😉.
There’s something about this and cars like this thats been lost in the newer stuff. It just looks nice, sounds nice and isn’t too sort of ‘everything’ all in one go. Or maybe I’m getting old 😆
Videogames really got me into cars. Lotus Esprit Challenge on the Commodore 64. Need for Speed was my first exposure to McLaren. Project Gotham (Metropolis Street Racer on Dreamcast) got me into the Vauxhall VX220 and GTR.
Ur interview was highly superb. U can sell water to a drowning man. Absolutely phenomenal car, description video and you did the video and car justice. Glad I stumbled upon your video.
When Ferrari were just great. No disco light dashboards, no button city on the wheel, no electronic driver's trickery - just one fantastic F355 Ferrari.
One of the first road cars to break the magic 100 BHP per litre for a NA engine... Not big piwer today but big power for the capacity. Also the 94 and early 95 cars had no airbags so they could have a nice looking 3 spoke steering wheel unlike the horrible 4 spoke in the later cars. The 355 also was the first Ferrari to have a Fiorano handling pack I believe as an option in 1999.
Ah yes, One of the very best Ferrari. It is exquisitely balanced on the limit, if you know what you're doing. IMO only the F50 comes close in balance experience. The F40 is still the Daddy, Master and King though. Hahaha yes that soundtrack. It is one of the very best sounding road cars period.
Driving satisfaction is not the same as performance, you can’t measure or quantify how a car makes you feel. I have always felt the 355 is one of the best looking and best sounding Ferrari.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
I became obsessed with lap times around Suzuka in Sega F355 Challenge at a local arcade. One of the lovely sit down, 3 screen cabinets it was. I think my initials filled the entire top 10 fastest times 😄
I also managed to get a ride in a F355 for my 18th birthday when my mum phoned the Edinburgh Ferrari dealer and managed to convince them to take me out in one if she made a contribution to their chosen charity. She was told that was fine but the salesman would not be able to drive fast or break any speed limits. The salesman that took me out did not get that memo.
Noted for my next son's bday
Lol to the last bit. Cool guy.
Memo? What memo? LOL
I wish Ferrari made car designs like this still. All their modern stuff leaves a lot to be desired for me. The paint job in the video looks stunning, miles better then any cars I have seen in a long time. It looks like nail varnish that's how nice it looks.
Pininfarina stopped designing Ferrari's after the 458 and F12.
As for paint, I believe around 2012 all manufacturers were forced to use water based paint instead of solvent based due to environmental reasons. The water based paints don't last as long, but the quality of laquer (top coat) has improved a lot over the years.
Yep, they should look like an old MR2.
I'm fond of the 296gtb design. 1st exciting Ferrari since the F12, for me. The Roma is notably good looking but that's a GT.
@@stephen300o6 you make a comment and then give your self a thumbs up😂😂😂
Totally agree. My favorite Ferrari era begins with the 456 and ends with the 599. The exterior designs were not over-wrought with trendy design cues. They were understated despite looking sensational in person.
They were actually F40LM brakes without a parking brake. They also came with Kevlar OMP buckets and headlight blanks (no headlights and non-pop up) in the dealer kit. The factory removed the carpet and welded in the roll bar strengthening plates in the 108 factory cars. Every year the factory added more and more of the parts prior to dealer delivery.
The raced cars were maintained by the dealers meaning you had an entire support team, spare parts, new tires, and full transport. The cars stayed with the dealer, you just flew to the track with your helmet, raced, then flew home for $5,000 USD per race.
Sold my 1995 Challenge Evo a few months ago and miss it dearly. In the US, only the 1995 model year could be legally registered since the rest didn't update to OBD2. The last street legal factory race car, the last manual factory race car,
I was wondering why the interior of the car in the video didn't look like other F355 Challenge with the cage and seats missing. I knew the US 1995 year limitation on registration, but does that apply anymore if one were to import a later year F355 Challenge from overseas now that they are all over 25 years?
The pizza shop in my small town in central Victoria, Australia had the F355 Challenge game... I spent so much money on that, Daytona USA and Time Attack... No, Time Crisis. Yeah that was it.
As a kid I used to play the same game at the cinema arcades. But as a kid I would select 'automatic' because I obviously didn't know how to drive back then. Would love to have a go on one now (the proper arcade version, not at home) but this time selecting manual and changing gear myself. I also spent loads on Time Crisis. Me and my mates took that game so seriously 😂 but what a game it was when it first came out. Colin Macrae Raylle using the yellow and blue Renault Megane. Need for Speed 3. Aryton Senna Racing on the Commodore/Omiga.
...in our big capital...there was big pizza chain with promo delivery F355 among their fleet cars, it was in red with italian tricolori stripe over whole body....
Time crisis w the foot pedal, played the crap out of tht game back when.
What town?
I read the first part of your first sentence and thought you were going to say they used a 355 as a pizza delivery car 😜
That 355 sounds just amazing - That's the sound I never get sick of - If you stood out on a dry calm clear night over a clear stretch and that 355 on full bore that would be heaven to my ears unlike a poppy banging mess of a straight piped Fiesta ST - Loved this review James and went back to the pull clips with the exhaust cams - Just proper !!
Totally agree, the f355 just has such an amazing sound.. love how it changes pitch as it revs up in gear
This is the pinnacle of Ferrari for me. Others are nice but this is perfection.
Correctomundo
Spot on James. F355 challenge on the Dreamcast was ridiculously good at the time and felt far more "SIM" than anything that came before it. I suspect we were very much in the minority for both owning a Dreamcast and the game F355 challenge.
I played the game too on my Dreamcast, loved it.
Yep, that’s what got me into them, and I love racing them. They are definitely as good as I imagined they would be on the track
I also owned it on Dreamcast, along with a wheel, mastered Suzuka. Certainly wasn't an easy game to master
F355 Challenge is still probably the most SIM racing game ever. If you picked full sim in the arcade game, you better know wtf you’re doing or you were going to burn out the entire race. or so a friend told me 😅
A tiny bit jealous right now, not going to lie, but only because that thing is absolutely spectacular. The F355 is a master piece and that sound! I would hand over my left nut to have one of them in the garage.
I still reckon Ferrari were at their best in the late 1990s. F355, 550 Marranello & 456 were utter perfection.
This content is why I love this channel.
The day is RAPIDLY COMING where we will sorely miss this sort of MACHINERY. Viva Ferrari
I am a car AND bicycle enthusiast. As such I say, thank you sir! For passing those cyclists in such a respectful manner. Peace from across the pond!
My first Ferrari was a 355GTS. Silver over red. Looked like a spaceship. I loved driving it. Drove like a go cart. But it doesn't compare to the thrill I get when I'm giving my 575M the welly. Lot harder to get in and out of too. Surely your Speciale is more exciting too. I do know the 360 Stradale was as I had one of those for a day once. Love the shirt.
The last Ferrari that I like the design of. They sound fantastic as well. The only downside; constant maintenance. I owned a 355GTS and it remains to this day the only car I've ever sold. I was unable to keep it running on a reliable basis. Great video!
So great to see our common love for the 355. It is damn special indeed. Will never sell my GTS or my Spider.
I will never buy sadly, its getting more and more expensive now
My favorite car of all time. You do the best job of trying to put into words what the car is like. You have to drive one to know how special it is.
It's definitely better than the 355 Clarkson bought... He wanted a green, manual, hardtop and he got a red, F1 equipped, Targa. 😂
Apparently he couldn’t properly fit in a berlinetta and thats the only targa he could find 😂
I love the reenactment he did of the ordering process.
"What colour would you like, Mr Clarkson?"
"Ggg, gggg, ggggggg-red."
@@AWMJoeyjoejoe "...damit!"
I think Clarkson’s car was still a manual. 👍🏼
Went to the dealer, asked for what he wanted, and was told what he was allowed
there was a blue one of these at a ferrari customer appreciation day i had the pleasure of attending many years ago. this sucker at full trot was GLORIOUS. EASILY one of my all time favorites.
I actually saw this exact F355 Challenge in the parking area at Brands Hatch for the drivers/personnell many years back, same plate and all.
I also used to play F355 Challenge on my Dreamcast as a kid, and recently picked up the game again to play on my original Dreamcast just recently, then this video shows up! And its the exact same car!
I love stories like this
Great video. The F355 is my favourite car of all time. I’m with you - it has arguably the best sounding V8 in a factory road car ever (especially paired to a Capristo Stage 3 exhaust).
It's really great but I still like the sound of the 360 CS better.
F355 Challenge is a classic, it was on the PS2 as well. Ferrari Challenge was another great racing sim on the PS2/PS3. This is my absolute favorite Ferrari along with the 348. Great video. 👍
Still looks as fresh as the day it was revealed 💯 Thanks again for another great video 💯
Can remember playing 355 challenge on the Sega dreamcast. Brilliant game. Always wondered what it would be like to drive one in real life. Will have to be content with having a go of a 458 for now.
Great cars. I hired one for a weekend trip to Dorset nearly 20 years ago and loved it, especially the engine note and the gear change which is still the best I've experienced. Only let down was the steering which I found too light and lacking in feel.
Best sound from a car on a video game ever. I will hear no discussion otherwise.
F355 Challenge & Sega Rally were my 2 favourite games on my Dreamcast. You lucky so and so getting to drive this Jay! :D
This is like Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma embodied in a car. Grace, refinement and of course a sound ending In a musical crescendo of pure Italian passion.
The arcade I used to go to for the Sunday morning lock-in had an F355 cabinet; I have fond memories of playing that after tiring myself out on Dance Dance Revolution.
Great to see F355CH finally getting some recognition. I adore mine - best sounding car ever!!
Agreed!
Fantastic! This video was worth the wait from when you teased it a couple of months ago. A F355 Challenge build has been at the top of my wish list for some time - steering rack, suspension, and brakes being the most important, then the no airbag steering wheel and buckets seats as you discuss. Now the secret it out! I hope you build one and then post more videos of it - take some road trips in it, would be epic.
What a beauty! Closest I've been to this is a die cast! Great video, James! Thanks!
I was waiting in anticipation to hear what you played Ferrari F355 on and when you said Dreamcast I was like my man, you've earned yourself a subscriber (truth be told I thought I had already subscribed).
I still have it!
Man, 355s are some of the most beautiful Ferraris, along with the 550.
That color is sublime! Especially with those wheels.
Lovely car and great video as usual, the F355 was one of the first cars as a teenager I truly lusted over - that and the 911 Turbo. I enjoy driving around those roads too!
Best looking Ferrari after an F40! Love it!!
This one's gonna go well!
Love the Ferrari F355, a true classic 😍. Thanks Jay for another great video 👍🏻
One of my all time favorite Ferrari noises. So many good times playing F355 Challenge at my local arcade back in the day. ❤
So beautiful. One of my fav cars of all time. After 355 generation, no other Ferrari looked and sounded so good imho.
I get the impression that you might quite like that car. Of course I might be wrong, but I don't think so.
It's a lovely colour, and makes a very pleasing sound. That, along with what can only be described as an excellent video, provided a very pleasant 20 something minute interlude in an otherwise uninteresting evening. Nicely done James
Such an unbelievable sound , epic
The best V8 Ferrari sound in my opinion
If I was going to drive such a great car, I would like an old school steering wheel, the metal ones with wood grain. I would also go without the spoiler. Otherwise I love the 355. It’s like a combo of old school and new school
There is just something perfect about the engine/exhaust tone of the car going by. I could listen to that all day
I have an F355 F1, a well designed and executed car and the last of the steel box tubed small Ferrari’s with lineage going back to the 60’s Dino. It’s a comfortable car that is so easy to drive smoothly. From the seats, steering, composed ride and telepathic engine response. Refinement and substance always comes to mind when driving. While not particularly fast, it’s such a mile eater you never want it to end. Also relatively easy to work on if your a DIY type as it does require a conscious level of maintenance. Worth it though as a long term stable mate. ❤
It's almost the complete package, just needs better steering
The 355 challenge game is actually made by the same director as the outrun games. He was a massive fan of Ferraris and allegedly used his own 355 to collect data.
Great video! The sound is intoxicating!
The 355 was the firs super car I experienced. It was back in the late 90's when they were new. The 355 challenge in this video is absolutely stunning!
Just look at it. It really is perfection.
This must be best sounding engine ever made. If you have not heard this one live, you don`t know what you are missing.
Well done James, absolutely brilliant review and its very hard to disagree with any of it.
I have never been close to a 355 but like you, I still remember that Clarkson review from the 90's,
and I always said if I ever had the money (highly doubt that will ever happen) I would always have a
355 in my dream garage.
Top class review and thanks for giving us normal folk, an idea of what its like to sit behind the wheel
of what has to be one of the best looking cars ever to grace a road.
Thanks.
That sound. Goosebumps!!! Great video!
When I was a teenager I did a paper round and someone I delivered to had a yellow 355 convertible and a Lotus Espirt. I loved looking at it every weekend and I'm a sicker for pop up headlamps (fault of the F40). The car just looks so simple and beautiful, that sound too
308, ,288, 512 Testarossa and the F40
One of the best exhausts I've heard
Fantastic video James. Keep ‘em coming.
My mate takes his 355 out a few times a year, and it’s always a joy to see and hear it.
The other vital mods in the Challenge pack was a quick rack that replaced the worst aspect of the standard car, a ridiculous 3 turn lock to lock wheel with zero feedback and feel, and also the F40 derived brakes got rid of the hideously over servoed brake pedal which prevented proper heel and toes work. After 100k miles of traditional Ferrari driving I found both these two traits so annoying on the otherwise excellent 355 that I could not live with the one I bought new and so I sold it within a year.
We can see and hear the enthusiasm in your presence. I love this Ferrari, the visuals and sound.
I agree that a sports car should be loud, mechanical and raw - i own Honda del Sol VTi, a proper 1100 kg go-kart, and love the racing loudness. But you won't see me driving it on the highway since final 5th gear is at 4500 rpm and i am doing only 130 kmh, yikes!
Great review. I, of course agree. An early F355 is peak Ferrari, with just the right amount of power for the road. Mine's a keeper. Nothing else I've driven has such theatre, even if maybe quicker.
A car without the pops and bangs and flames is truly a supercar!!! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been in a 348, a road legal 360 challenge and that was one of the best experiences in my life though being driven flat out in an F40 beat that, I’ve only sat in a 355 and one day hope to drive one 😁
ooohh, that exhaust note! an absolute dreamcar for me!
It's the best isn't it?
It’s not all about power & speed. It’s about how it feels to drive & what it makes you feel like when driving it. I have had many cars over the years & my favourites were not the fastest ones. Amongst my favourites would be my 1989 MK2 Golf GTI 16v with 100,000 miles on the clock, 1992 Corrado VR6 also with 100,000 miles, both of these were fast enough & fun. Slow by todays standards, but such fun.
A drivers car for sure! Like the videos and I get that "Clarkson" was a huge influence on you, (mentioned other videos) but I would leave him out of your videos. You are far more informative .... he was on a sitcom loosely based around cars. You are actually providing info. Awesome car.... agree one of the best. Wish they had done what they did with 348s ..Competizione and made one a bit tweeked and 200kg lighter would have been mad! Closest they got was Forino pkg.
The F355 Berlinetta was my first true love, and will forever hold a very special place in heart.
Jay, love your channel and your 355. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and thanks for the generous helping of "cinque valvole musical interludes"!
Everything about this car makes me ache. Imagine opening your garage to this, and firing it up. Wow.
my first encounter with the 355 was on Goldeneye opening chase scene. What a profile that was....
Fantastically superb video James! Your exhaust capture is always amazing. This is one of your best, but of course it is the best car ever..
Awesome looking car. That colour is amazing. Please do test on the race cars also unless it is unsafe to do so. Keep up the good work.
James you got my heart with the latest review of the F355 ❤. I also love the video game Arcade print out of race stats was so cool, (Own both Japanese Dreamcast and PS2 version) and car, sound is truly immense. Always wondered what the F was for.
I’d have to agree. I drove one of these, twice, many years ago.
Just perfect. The second time, I drove it rather ‘enthusiastically’ and emerged a sweaty but happy mess 😊
My cousin had a Dreamcast and F355 Challenge was something I would ALWAYS ask to play. Because of that game, the F355 is my favourite Ferrari.
Simon Furlonger had a mint RHD one in stock when i visited to see the cars for sale- they let me look and get in whatever I liked- one I had to was this!! Unbelievable and the raw finished interior made me quiver!! What a thing 👌🏻👌🏻
They didn’t have it long so if you get the chance to see one- take it!!!!! They’re rare!!
It’s so cool that you guys can make Challenge cars street legal there. A little jealous of that.
Amazing machine....lovely review....wishing you and your family a very merry christmas and to a wonderful new year Jay ..
As the thumbnail sais "perfection"! So much nostalgia with all these iconic cars. Car computer games=miss spent youth 🤣💙
Had a challenge in black, brought it in from Japan and sold it to a Slovenian chap and he exported it home. Mine had the challenge spec rollcage , bucket seats, fire extinguisher system, tow loops etc all missing from this car
Outstanding video and a phenomenal car. I have to say it's my favourite of all your videos.
The reason for this car's innovation and brilliance is the NSX.
What a great sound that V8, F355 still looks beautiful after all those years,
Amazing sound of this Ferrari. The last classic Ferrari build. The best 👍
This guy looks and sounds like a younger Clarkson himself. Anyway, this has always been one of my favorite classic Ferrari’s. My dream sports car when I was in my 20s (a long time ago now 😆) I just also really like the cabin design. To this day, my favorite Ferrari interior. And it’s normally aspirated too! Not a bloody turbo…just to be clear, I’m referring here to the stock F355 Berlinetta not this Challenge variation. I was not aware in period, of the steering feel issues though. So that’s probably the only modification I would have done, if I could get one.
When I used to work in Milton Park, Didcot back in the 90’s there was a company there that used to race prep these. Some of the cars they used to test around the estate were incredible.
Thanks J, not usually too much of a 355 fan. The additions here though are all tasteful, add to the overall shape & function. Very nice indeed!🙏🙏
You might struggle with pedals in LHD cars because, often, the car was designed primarily for LHD markets and so the spacing is smaller on the right side even in its RHD guise. The reverse might be true for cars designed primarily for RHD markets.
Had a F355 for 20 years and was a great car. Put 60,000 miles on it and had a Challenge suspension and wheels. Had the Challenge steering rack and pump also. Very high maintenance car is its downfall. When things go wrong and they will if you put miles on it, it is very expensive.
Love that pre air bag steering wheel
Great and impressive content. You continue to push the bar, and create your own lane in the sea of automotive journalists. ,💯. And by the way, nice eclectic shirt...😉.
Driving a 355F1 challenge has been a dream for me since my Dreamcast days too.
You have the coolest selection of shirts my friend. Hats off to your shirts!
Back when it wasn’t just about speed. It was about driver engagement and tactile sensory experiences.
One of the best Ferrari designs ever. I would love to see a restomod of it.
There’s something about this and cars like this thats been lost in the newer stuff. It just looks nice, sounds nice and isn’t too sort of ‘everything’ all in one go. Or maybe I’m getting old 😆
Videogames really got me into cars. Lotus Esprit Challenge on the Commodore 64. Need for Speed was my first exposure to McLaren. Project Gotham (Metropolis Street Racer on Dreamcast) got me into the Vauxhall VX220 and GTR.
Ur interview was highly superb. U can sell water to a drowning man. Absolutely phenomenal car, description video and you did the video and car justice. Glad I stumbled upon your video.
When Ferrari were just great. No disco light dashboards, no button city on the wheel, no electronic driver's trickery - just one fantastic F355 Ferrari.
One of the first road cars to break the magic 100 BHP per litre for a NA engine... Not big piwer today but big power for the capacity. Also the 94 and early 95 cars had no airbags so they could have a nice looking 3 spoke steering wheel unlike the horrible 4 spoke in the later cars. The 355 also was the first Ferrari to have a Fiorano handling pack I believe as an option in 1999.
Ah yes, One of the very best Ferrari. It is exquisitely balanced on the limit, if you know what you're doing. IMO only the F50 comes close in balance experience. The F40 is still the Daddy, Master and King though. Hahaha yes that soundtrack. It is one of the very best sounding road cars period.
That is one of the most beautiful cars ever
355 challenge is the GOAT.
Can definitely recommend. Get one bought and come racing as we still race them today in the Ferrari owners club classic series.
Driving satisfaction is not the same as performance, you can’t measure or quantify how a car makes you feel. I have always felt the 355 is one of the best looking and best sounding Ferrari.