Ooo, that's a fun web site. I can get into all kinds of debt.

Used Lotus Elise For Sale Lynnwood, WA - CarGurus

Used Ferrari F355 For Sale Lynnwood, WA - CarGurus

Whatever you do, avoid the 355 Spider like a plague...

GTS or Berlinetta are fine but make sure the headers are aftermarket...

One of my current projects is the MR2 ax/track car. I looked at 944s for quite a while, and loved them, but the MR2 should be able to take a better beating for less cost.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37...r/P1020285.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37...r/P1020283.jpg

One of the reasons that I chose it is that the layout is fairly similar to the Boxster. It's even got a V6 in it, so it's power to weight is actually pretty comparible. The fact that it looks smaller than the Boxster isn't just a camera perspective issue. The thing is noticeably shorter and lower than the Porsche.

I'm going to take a "family" picture of your old Boxster, my old Supercharged MR2, and the Miata in my driveway together before the MR2 gets sold. :-)

Perhaps something more utilitarian this time .

Just for you JD:

Cars for Sale: 1995 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta in Summerfield, NC 27358: Coupe Details - 293811350 - AutoTrader.com

As much as I admire the beauty of the 355, one would find me in a straightjacket after having had to deal with the maintenance . :(

That's the one in my link above. I'd buy that car!

Then I'd need to change out all my pants for overalls.

If you sell the MR2 for $500, I can use it for Chump car! Kidding - it's a beautiful car.

Check out this rebuild story. This person does an excellent job of documenting all his work. Scary how a $35,000 bargain turns into a $65,000 sink hole. Typical story that even the potential 986 buyer should think about when looking at that bargain priced car.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=341922

That's what happens for finding a "deal" when shopping for a Fcar...

man, I did not realize F-cars had so many issues for low mileage cars!!!!

maybe I will get a NSX next...

When it comes to Ferraris the 355's call me like the Sirens of Titan, absolutely beautiful and best looking of the quasi modern F-Cars. The Lusso is still my personal unobtainium. A couple of friends have had Ferraris (Testarossa and a 360) and my neighbor has a "lowly" 328. After hearing their tales of woe (costs for maintenance / service or just parts even for DIY) I quickly discarded the notion of picking up one, way out of my league. They do look like pure sex though.

^I share the same sentiment... not in my league to own one at this point.

It's like having a really hot girlfriend/wife... most onlookers will be jealous of the guy, but nobody has a clue what he has to put up with.

Almost all Ferraris are low mileage cars. This one, I think, suffered from abuse and neglect. The rust, fuel issues, interior leather problems all suggest the car was just neglected.

My desire for a Ferrari is always at odds with my need to pinch pennies. I can only justify it to myself by going in as a short term deal. In/enjoy/out within a couple of years. If the car is in good shape and up to date on maintanence as purchased, it shouldn't need major investment over a couple of years of ownership.

I agree that the 355 possess a timeless sense of beauty (minus the pop-up headlights). But man, the maintenance is enough to drive someone to the brink of madness .

The pop-up headlights are a part of the allure for me...that and the 355 is just a beauty that'll never come back again. Same thing with the Corvettes. A little something was lost once the pop-ups went away for me...stupid mandates.

It's hard to recognize in pictures, and even in person, but the 355 is a much smaller car than the 360. It's 11 inches shorter! It's also 200 pounds ligher, dispite the move to an aluminum structure in the 360.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/F355_Berlinetta_in_Taipei.jpg

It's 4 inches shorter, 4 inches lower, and 4 inches wider than the 986. With a wheelbase of 1 inch longer.