Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1996 Ferrari F355?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1996 Ferrari F355?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1996 Ferrari F355?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1996 Ferrari F355 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 265 vehicles, the 1996 Ferrari F355 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1996 Ferrari F355?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1996 Ferrari F355 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (36.7% of vehicles), Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (36.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1996 Ferrari F355?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ferrari F355 (1996)

265 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.2% first-time pass rate

1996 Ferrari F355

CarHunch analysed 265 real MOT records for the 1996 Ferrari F355. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1996 Ferrari F355 passes its MOT first time at 88.5%, which beats the UK average of 80% and suggests these cars are being maintained to a reasonably high standard by their owners. The dangerous defect rate sits at 11.7%, which is acceptable, so safety isn't a major red flag for the model.

These F355s average just 34,662 miles, which is remarkably low for a 28-year-old car and reflects their status as cherished collector vehicles rather than daily drivers. The average of 1.46 failures and 3.5 advisories per test indicates minor wear items crop up regularly—expect suspension, exhaust, and trim issues—so budget for ongoing maintenance and always get a pre-purchase inspection from a Ferrari specialist before committing.

We have limited data for the 1996 Ferrari F355 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

89.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

11.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.46

Over 13.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

31k

Middle half: 22k–42k

For context

These stats describe 265 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 265 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 37%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Exhaust & emissions 36.7%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive · …

Other issues 36.4%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak

Brake wear 20.3%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 265 Ferrari F355 cars.

Before you buy a 1996 Ferrari F355

Based on MOT data from 265 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,390 Ferrari F355 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 69.6%

967

Yellow 9.6%

133

Blue 9%

125

Black 5.9%

Silver 2.9%

Grey 1.6%

Green 0.6%

Maroon 0.4%

White 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Ferrari F355 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

31,243

typical

21,718

low mileage

42,484

high mileage

Half of all 1996 Ferrari F355 vehicles fall between 21,718 and 42,484 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 21,718 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 21,718–42,484 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1996 Ferrari F355s sit.

⚠ Over 57,353 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1996 Ferrari F355 — Still on the Road

Most 1996 Ferrari F355s are still being driven.

124 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 73% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.46

Avg failures per vehicle

3.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ferrari F355: All F355 years → Which year to buy? →

1995 1997 1998 1999

Or browse all models: Ferrari →

Compare with another model

See how the 1996 Ferrari F355 stacks up against a rival.

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