Ferrari 360 Modena

• Engine The 360 is a car that likes to be used regularly. Long periods of rest can result in the oil film draining off the complex valve gear, so check for rattles when starting from cold.

The engine can spring oil leaks from the cam covers and crank oil seal. You might not find a puddle underneath, though, because the oil is caught by the undertray. If they’re minor, many owners just live with the leaks.Engine mounting rubbers have been known to sag. A set is only about £200 but fitting adds to the bill.

The exhaust note is controlled by a bypass valve to keep it quiet below 4000rpm. Many owners jack the valve open to give a much more rorty note at low speeds, so don’t be surprised if you encounter this.

As ever, it’s essential to have a full service history, but servicing is reasonably straightforward and if done regularly the engine and gearbox should give no problems.

• Transmission Both the F1 and manual gearboxes are in fact the same ’box, the F1 just has computer-controlled actuators added to where the shifter and clutch slave normally goes. Interestingly, the clutch wear is worse on the F1. Typical life expectancy is 8-15K miles, whereas the manual version lasts for 20-25K miles. There was a software update for the F1 ’box in 2003 that improves usability and clutch life.

The electronic wear indicator for the clutch can be a bit inaccurate, but it’s still worth checking before you buy. Although a clutch change is relatively straightforward, sometimes the flywheel and release bearing turn out to be shot too, which adds £750.

• Body and chassis The ally body should have no rot problems, but check for badly repaired crash damage. Have a squint underneath the car as it is easy to smack the nose on big speed bumps or prang the rear when parking.

Another thing to look at is the door check strap. Although a new part is only about £30, there is a lot of labour in taking the door apart to fit it.

• Brakes and suspension The 360’s brakes are excellent, but pads can wear quite quickly and may need replacing after just 12,000 miles. Brake squeal around town is common and nothing to worry about.

There is a known issue with the front suspension ball-joints on some cars, so check for any rattles or clonks on your test drive. Fixing this may cost in the region of £1000.

Find used Ferrari 360's for sale on the Classic and Performance Car site here.

Specifications

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