| Author | Message | ||
| scott chivers (Spider_scott)
New member Username: Spider_scott Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2002 |
I currently have a 348 spider 1994 ,looking back at some of the posts I would definatly not say it was a slow car ,even compared with the 355. I drove a 355 with F1 gearbox with was a great car but it was a little too easy to drive, I prefer the involvment you get from the 348. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Junior Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 125 Registered: 8-2001 |
My 95 has 10,000 miles on it (about 7000 track/race miles). My headers cracked last fall. It's a common problem on 95 and 96 models. On the street cars FNA refused to allow authorized dealers to weld then, though some did. If your car was within 7 years of initial delivery FNA would reluctantly replace them. I replaced my headers with Tubi headers which are more durable. Other than the headers I have had none of the problems others have mentioned about the 95 cars. Regards, Jon P. Kofod | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 2052 Registered: 2-2001 |
Get the 95 355, the best one IMO. The stock exhaust is great on the 95s, other years got a lot quieter. Strongest engine too. | ||
| Mike's 1991 RED 348TS (Ts_348)
New member Username: Ts_348 Post Number: 12 Registered: 3-2002 |
i was told my a Ferrari teck the headder's cracked on the 1995 355 but most of them where fixed when they got over sea's or when they cracked | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
Junior Member Username: Intenso Post Number: 71 Registered: 5-2001 |
I too have a 95 F355. The car has 19,500 miles on it. I have never had any of the issues that have been brought up about the 95. I had asked the service department about this valve problem once and was told that if a car had this problem it would have been detected in the very early miles and then fixed. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Junior Member Username: Doody Post Number: 115 Registered: 11-2001 |
i posted the info from the Forza article previously - you might want to do an archive search. doody. | ||
| billy zissis (89tr)
Junior Member Username: 89tr Post Number: 123 Registered: 4-2001 |
Can anyone tell me exactly what problems a 95 355 has? I have my for over a year and more than 19,000 miles on the odometer and it doesn't burn a drop of oil. It is the more preferable motor as well (used in the challenge cars). It is also quicker than the newer models. And one thing everyone is forgetting is that a 95 355 is the second year of production as there were 1994 355 in europe. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 323 Registered: 6-2001 |
John: The picture is there because I'm a lousy photographer. That picture was taken by a friend of mine who can take a decent photo. I can't, and am waiting for him to come back to the Bay Area, so I can talk into taking more pictures, and then I'll use one of his. My first photo was a picture he took of a radar site when I went by it with the 348. The second picture on my porfile was of me getting run over at a motorcycle race. I used this picture because it was the only one of me with a Ferrari which you could see what model the Ferrari was. Art | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Junior Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 120 Registered: 8-2001 |
Chris, Nice to meet you. You were going pretty fast at FATT. BMW makes great brakes but once you start getting fast at the track the brakes just can't disipate heat fast enough on stock brakes. You might want to consider a brake upgrade in the future or in the meantime get steel hoses, better pads, and some Motul 600 brake fluid (much higher boiling point). SCCA Race School was a lot of fun but there was a bad wreck on Saturday during qualifying. An E36 M3 lost it in turn 4 hit the tire barrier on the left hand side then rolled several times and ended up in the middle of turn 5. The car was a total write off and without the saftey cage the driver would have been seriously injured (he walked away with a few bruises). Hope to run with you when you get back. Regards, Jon | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 724 Registered: 9-2001 |
And, remember that it is always better to buy the last year of a production model than the first. I would go with a 1994 0r 1995 348 rather than a 1995 355 because of all the problems with a first year car. | ||
| Mike's 1991 RED 348TS (Ts_348)
New member Username: Ts_348 Post Number: 6 Registered: 3-2002 |
I love the looks for the 348 just paint the bottom to match the car and paint the targa top is you got a TS the car looks munch better oh yeh cant for get about the tubi and red line trans oil | ||
| Chris Richardson (Boozy)
Junior Member Username: Boozy Post Number: 110 Registered: 11-2001 |
Hey Jon! I'm glad I finally got to meet you. I warped my rotors all to hell on my M3 today on the track. Never had that problem before, I guess I'm just getting faster! Oh well. BMW should cover it under warranty.  Warp all you want they'll make more! (We'll see) I hope your car is ready for the next one. I haven't signed up for any others because I'll be in Florida part of April but I'm sure I'll see you at one soon. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Junior Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 117 Registered: 8-2001 |
Hey Chris, I can't make tomorrow's FATT, my car is still at Algar until next week. I might stop out early afternoon before the SCCA race school starts tomorrow evening. Hope to see the M3 there,if not I will be at the next FATT. I would concur with Chris. I drove about 7 or 8 348's before I bought a 95 355. I actually like the looks better on the 348 with the side strakes (most likely due to the fact I was a previous TR owner). On the street the 355 seemed only marginally quicker than the 355 below 100. Above 100 the 355 did feel much stronger but hey you aren't going to be going over 100 at every stoplight. However, if you take your Ferrari to track often the 355 is much faster, brakes better, and handles better (much better balanced car than the 348 even the newer ones). Bottom line is, if cost is no object get a 355 (or a 360 for that matter). But if cost is a consideration and if you plan to do mainly street driving, then the 348 might be the car. If you are a track rat then get the 355. Just my 2 cents worth. | ||
| Chris Richardson (Boozy)
Junior Member Username: Boozy Post Number: 107 Registered: 11-2001 |
You have to look at it according to what is important to you. Here's how it stacked up for me: Looks: 348 is the best looking Ferrari under $200,000 in my opinion. I like its looks better than those of the 355 or even the 360, that's the main reason I bought one. Performance: The 355 will be faster. The 348 is no slouch either. If 0-60 is all you care about go get a Viper or Z06. The handling on any mid engine Ferrari is the stuff dreams are made of if you can drive one well. 348 vs 355 in handling; not much difference in my opinion. I have big wheels and tires on mine so I hang well with the 355s in the corners. Interior comfort/build quality: The 355 is better, but if you were worried about interior quality you probably wouldn't be looking at a Ferrari. Cost: You save some serious scratch by going with a 348. Other little things: The seat belts on the 348 get on my nerves. The shifting is smoother on the 355 when cold. 348 came with pretty tame wheels, the first upgrade for me. 348 looks more aggressive. Power steering: some love it some hate it. I would rather NOT have it. The steering feels more sharper and responsive on a 348. You have to decide what is important to you, drive them both, and make a little PROs and CONs sheet. You can't go wrong with a Ferrari either way. | ||
| John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Junior Member Username: Jjstecher Post Number: 81 Registered: 1-2002 |
Art, I have to raise the question if you love your 355 so much then why do you have a picture of a 348 on your profile? j/k :P I still personally dont think the 348 is that MUCH slower than a 355 but to each their own! Take care. John | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 319 Registered: 6-2001 |
Guys: I didn't mean that on an absolute scale the 348 was slow, but compared to the 355 it is slow. The idea of taking off the various emissions controls is just something that I cannot do. Living in California, where our southern neighbor, L.A. has visible air at times during the year, the idea of avoiding the law to get a better running car seems improper to me. Not that I'm judging anybody about that, but I wouldn't presonally think of doing that. The 348 is a great car, I've owned two of them. However, the 355 is the car that Ferrari joined the modern world of very high performance cars. It is quite a bit faster than the 348, it is much more civilized, and it goes around corners faster than the 348. The first 348 that I had, a 1990 ts, was very squirrly around medium to high speed corners when close to the limit. The 348 Sypder was better, and the 355 is better still. The 355 is an evolved 348, and if you can afford the later car, by all means go with the better car, the 355. Art | ||
| robert di meglio (Robdimeglio)
New member Username: Robdimeglio Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2002 |
Guys,this is my first contribution, though I,ve been lurking and enjoying chat comments for many months. Allen, I have both a '97 993 and a '99 355B six speed. I think you will find that going from the Porsche to any Ferrari is a whole different ball game. I thoroughly enjoy both of my cars, but I would say that one is not a good substitute for the other. Therefore, if it matters with regard to cost, i would suggest keeping your 993 if you still enjoy it. As exciting and involving a drive as the 355 is, it does not have the same level of build quality and reliability as a 993. I would say that the 355 costs 3 or 4 times more to service than a 993. That said, i would take the 355 over the 348 if you can afford it. Consider a '96 or a '97 six speed car over a later f1 model as the cost savings is significant, and a six speed is almost certainly the better drive. To me, coming from a 993 as i did, you need to jump to at least a 355 if you expect to make a ssignificant performance jump over your 993. Moreover, the 355 is tough to beat from an aesthetic standpoint. In the end, I think you'll be happier if you go with the 355. Just don't expect 993 levels of bullet-proof build,etc. I hope this helps. | ||
| Ernie Bonilla (Ernie)
Junior Member Username: Ernie Post Number: 226 Registered: 11-2001 |
If I had the money I would opt for a 355 f1. I have a 348ts and they are fun in good weather. I got caught in the rain once, and they leak big time. In warm weather with the top off and the windows down it is a very nice car to drive around in. How ever the car is NO dragster, it does it's best at speed. 4th gear is very fun to play in. It really performs best from 5,000 rpm to 7,500 rpm The speed band in 4th is about 90 mph - about 125 mph, before you have to shift into 5th, and it gets there with no problem. How ever most cars on the road these days come with 300hp+ and could keep up with you if not pass you. Take the M3 rated at 330hp, or the Infinity Q45 at something like 340hp, the ugly (in my opinion) Escalade SUV 345hp, even the El Dorado STS has 300hp. The at best the 348 spider was rated at 315hp stock. I would got with the 355 just because you don't wanna have some soccer mom embarass you by giving a your Ferrari a hard time, though I haven't had that happen yet. The 355's are rated in the area of 380hp. As I said before I would get one with the f1 semi-automatic transmition, seeing as the track times for that car are very good. Look around and find a nice 355 f1, but MAKE SURE you check the history of the car and have the paper work to back it up. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1611 Registered: 5-2001 |
I disagree with the 355 as well. For the difference in price you can buy yourself another 308QV and strap it to the back of the 348 and who has more HP then ? ...okay not very practical! My 348 drives great. I just can not see spending the extra $$$ for the 355, expecially as I see the 355 coming down further. I will wait till they are in today's 348 waters. | ||
| Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
New member Username: Scott Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2001 |
Argghhh. Idiot (meaning me). The magazine Forza also published buyers guides for the 348 and the 355--I have those and could send you xeroxed copies if you would like. Scott | ||
| Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
New member Username: Scott Post Number: 19 Registered: 6-2001 |
Allen--I was in your shoes 9 months ago. Much good information has already been presented, but I may have a few things to add. The 348 has a cable shifter, which I found to be very unfufilling to shift versus the shifter in the 355. The 348 also has the "automatic mouse" seatbelts, and as stupid as that seems, those two issues took the 348 off of my list. However, the summary of all of the information I collected was to stay away from '95 355's, even though they are arguably faster than the later cars. The early 348's had issues as well, many of which were addressed with the introduction of the spider. Go to the Pacific Northwest Ferrari Club of America website--this has a great discussion on the differences between 348 models. Regarding early 355's, e-mail me directly and I will try to find the list of issues that I had accumately regarding the 95's. Many of the cracked headers, btw, ended up being fixed under the federal emissions warranty, but it is one area to be careful of. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 718 Registered: 9-2001 |
I too disagree that the 348 is slow, slow, slow. While i acknowledge that the 355 is faster, it is not that much faster. When the 348 first came out in 1989 is was faster than the TR in both 0-60mph and around Fiorano per Ferrari's own literature. By 1993 the 348 was doing 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds per the magazine test. I also note that at FOA the 30k service on a 348 is over $1000.00 less than the 30k service on the 355. The 355 has a lot more to go wrong too with all its technological advances over the 348. And, I just like the looks of the 348 Spider better than the 355 Spider, but that's just my personal taste. i like the looks of the TR too. For the money, you get a lot of exotic with the 348 ! By the way Arthur, you could have had stopped up cats on your 348 which would have made it feel slow. I had that with my TR and once I replaced the cats it made a world of difference until I replaced the cats with a bypass pipe and really freed up the car. Bottom line , when buying a Ferrari buy the best car that YOU LIKE with what you can afford. | ||
| John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Junior Member Username: Jjstecher Post Number: 80 Registered: 1-2002 |
Art, I beg to disagree about the 348 being as you put it "SLOW, SLOW, SLOW" in acceleration. I think it is great if you know how to drive it. Hell there is nothing below 4000RPM but once you get about that you have more than enough power. Take the cats off, slap on a ansa or tubi and your pushing 335hp. I know its only 35hp but man you really feel it!! Not to shabby I dont think. Yes the 355 does pull much better under 4000RPM than the 348 and really comes on around 6500RPM, because it is breathing better with 3 intake valves versus the 348's 2, but I dont think unless your use to driving fast you'll ever notice. Like I have said in other threads I personally feel that my 348 accelerates harder than my tuned ZR-1 making 500+ hp because it gives you the feeling and the sound that you are launching ahead. I know it doesnt cause I have the timing slips to prove it but the sounds and vibrations just make you feel like you are in a sports car. Just my .02! Also where did you get that it cost more to service a 348 than it does to service a 355? From what I have heard from most dealers here in the midwest the 348's services usually run a grand or so less than the 355's. Allen - If you would like to know anything about the 348ts email me and I would be glad to answer any questions you have. Bottom line is your looking at a no lose situation, I drove both before I bought my 348 but I just liked the looks of the 348 better and it grabbed a hold of my heart more than the 355. Both cars are AWESOME!! | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 318 Registered: 6-2001 |
Allen: I've had a 94 348 Sypder, and a 1996 355 Coupe. The 355 is much faster, more refined. The 348 is slow, slow, slow. It has good top end but, who but a lunatic would ever use it? The acceleration sucks. The 355 has great acceleration, and with even more top end. The 348 will cost more to service, because it doesn't have hydraulic valve lifters, and so you don't have to adjust the valves on the major service. Don't buy a 95 355. There are major problems with those years. A 96 should be trouble free, mine was. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Junior Member Username: Whart Post Number: 154 Registered: 12-2001 |
The 348 was continued in the U.S. at least as a spider into the '95 model year. My advice:buy the best car you can afford. A ratty 355 will not be as good as a pristine 348, even if in many respects, the 355 is considered the better car. I had a 348 spider which was great fun, my first ferrari; i then bought a 99 355 gts (f1). I found the f1 style transmission to be uninvolving for street driving after the novelty wore off, did not like the power steering on the 355, compared to the heavier, but tighter manual steering on the 348; in other respects, the 355 is almost certainly the better car, without addressing the aesthetics of either. The gts cars may suffer from some cowl shake (mine didn't) and some leakage (never drove it in the rain). Drive both cars, more than once before you make up your mind (indeed, if you can you should drive more than one of each model to see if you can detect differences based on the condition or set up of the particular car); don't be guided by price alone; don't count on extreme bargains, 'cause they never are, and make sure you see the history of the car (don't rely on the saleman's word for it) before you buy. | ||
| James Dixon (Omnadren250)
Junior Member Username: Omnadren250 Post Number: 118 Registered: 7-2001 |
There are definate issues with the '95 355, I believe vavle guide wear and cracked headers are the major ones. As I mentioned earlier, my father had a 97 and it was a nightmare, so perhaps others on the board can relay their experiences. Not to start a flame war, but neither the 348 or 355 is going to be anywhere near as reliable as your 993, and will be very much more expensive to fix as well. James | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 256 Registered: 10-2001 |
Allen, I've always used the motto of buying a model of a car in it's 2nd or 3rd model year...after the bugs have been worked out. When I'm in a position to go for my 355, I'll be targeting a '97 or '98. Pricewise, there really isn't a huge difference between those and the '95. | ||
| Allen Shelley (Allen_97_993)
New member Username: Allen_97_993 Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2002 |
Forgive me...this is what happens when your 5-year old is "helping" create a message on the computer...brain lag! I know the 355 replaced the 348, and that the 348 ended in '94. So I guess I am asking about a '94 348 or '95 355. | ||
| James Dixon (Omnadren250)
Junior Member Username: Omnadren250 Post Number: 117 Registered: 7-2001 |
As far as I know, the 355 was the replacement for the 348. They stopped the 348 in 1994 and the 355 came in 1995. I have heard that the 1995 355 cars have problems with valve guide wear. My father had a 1997 355 and had numerous problems with it, so I am not sure when all the problems were addressed. Now he has a 1994 911 Turbo 3.6 and is very happy. Although I can see an NSX coming in the near future due to the more even power delivery. James | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 253 Registered: 10-2001 |
No question...go for the 355. Please don't interpret that the 348 is not a desirable car. The 355 is just so much more car. | ||
| Allen Shelley (Allen_97_993)
New member Username: Allen_97_993 Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2002 |
I currently have a '97 Porsche 993 and have been considering getting a Ferrari. I have been lurking/watching in the wings of this forum for about 6 months or so and have learned quite a bit about Ferraris. I have also been checking out the 348s and 355s at local high-line dealers in the area. I have the hots for these two models and afraid I'm gonna find myself having to get one soon...but I really want to hear some opinions on the two cars. I want to talk about the GTS ("targa top") version of both. I am thinking of a '97/'98 348 or a '95/'96 355. I realize the 355 would cost more (~ $30K ?), but I'm ok with that. I guess I'm asking would you guys get a "late model" 348 or an "early model" 355. I'm sure for the money there are more "desirable" Ferraris, but I am set on one of these models...other than the 360, none of the others do too much for me. Thanks for your insight. |