WINTER BLISS

Equipped with a short and precise 6-speed manual transmission and a fold away roof, the Ferrari 360 Spider is one of the more affordable entry points to Ferrari ownership. We take one for a drive outside of Johannesburg

- Wilhelm Lutjeharms

Before I get behind B the wheel, it is worth my while to stand back and take a good look at the 360. Design is subjective, but one thing is clear: The shape of the 360 has to be one of the most rounded modern/ modern-classic Ferrari there has been. Or let's call it smooth? Its predecessor was the F355, which was pretty in its own right, but still had more direct lines with sharper edges than the 360. Its successor was the F430, which once again offered a sharper design. The result is that the moulded design of the 360 (by Pininfarina) has split opinion, but what you can't debate is what it offers as a package, or its performance.

The Spider was offered with a single clutch automated manual transmission, with 670 units produced as a six-speed manual. Today the manual derivatives (both in the coupé and Spider versions) trade for a significant premium above the automatic models.

The owner of this car has been a car fan his whole life. "I always wanted a Ferrari. However, I first had a Porsche 911, which was a good car. The first Ferrari I drove was a friend's 308. I didn't expect much, but after driving it for a few days I realised it was quite a car. Then a manual 360 Spider came up for sale and I went and drove it. I was blown away. It just exceeded my expectations. I missed my chance to buy it, but when this one came up for sale in Cape Town, I grabbed the opportunity and acquired it. My first drive was in Cape Town and it is truly magnificent. Honestly, I'm still coming to terms with the fact that I own a Ferrari."

Heading out towards the quieter roads around The Cradle of Humankind, I'm immediately impressed with the small footprint of the 360. Modern cars have grown in size and it is a welcoming experience to pilot a car that feels so compact on the road, by comparison. You sit very low to the ground, almost on the floor of the car.