| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 315 Registered: 7-2002 |
How you dress when taking pictures is a personal issue Frank...Honestly, I didn't even notice the body color bra when I viewed your pic until you said it was there. Nice color match. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1414 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thanks. I need to take another photo of it with a better digital camera and without the bra on. | ||
| Todd Gieger (Todd328gts)
Junior Member Username: Todd328gts Post Number: 190 Registered: 6-2002 |
Frank, I just looked at your car in your profile...Silver is definitely THE COLOR for the 348...looks like the one at the show...sweet car! | ||
| Todd Gieger (Todd328gts)
Junior Member Username: Todd328gts Post Number: 189 Registered: 6-2002 |
Jim, Come to think of it, that one at the show had Speedlines too | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1413 Registered: 9-2001 |
My my, look what I did ? I never meant to put down the 328, I loved mine. The 348 is just a superior car by a large margin. In fact, the 348 is better than the 328 by a lot more than the 355 is to the 348 IMHO. Steve, the slow down lights have nothing to do with the FI. They are only connected to the Cat ECUs which are connected to the thermal couplers which are connected to the Cats. Their only purpose is to warn you that the cats are overheating. And, you can buy new seats for a 348 from T.Rutlands for less than $2k. I had the entire interior of my 330GTC redone at an uphostery shop for less than $1k ! If you're willing to pay $2k to have your seats redyed then a have a beach house in Arizona to sell you. But, I agree that a Ferrari dealership would probably rip you off. Jeff, since the 348 was designed in the 80s, it should look very 80s, right ? And since the 348/TR taillights look like a TA, I guess the funny round tail lights on some of the other Ferraris look like a Corvette to you. After all, Chevy was using them way before Ferrari. Look at the tail lights on 1949-1958 era Ferraris; they're not all round. As far as the so-called cheese grater look, I like it even though I have never seen a cheese grater that looks even remotely similer to the side strakes on the TR/348 series. I guess the little round scoops on the 308/328 series look like hot dog cookers to you ? Hey, I would rather be part of the wine and cheese crowd than the beer and hotdog crowd any day of the week. Rob, while the word "classic" may be thrown around a lot with the 308/328 series, it hardly fits the definition now does it. A 250, 275, 330 and 365 are classics. Not the little dinos. At least not yet. Take my comments tongue and cheek as I mean them. Don't get mad. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 314 Registered: 7-2002 |
well my gut tells me to go with the 328 as it seems to be a nicer car. Also, I can picture myself keeping the 328 forever even when I get a TR or something. However the 348 does have aspects of the TR that I like because I want a TR, but can't afford one right now with the maintenance etc. I also like the targa tops for nice days. I don't really like the 348 wheels so I would upgrade those to speedlines, but that is $$ also. The asking price for the 348 was $54K or $52 depending on where you looked adn now they say $45-$46K which is great. So might be hard to factor in a reduced price for seats, lights etc as the price to me seems pretty low. I just don't wanna get suckered you know. The car is from a reputable dealer who frequents this site so a bad deal could yield bad results for them and I do think they care. But as we all know it is buyer beware and no guarantees. | ||
| Todd Gieger (Todd328gts)
Junior Member Username: Todd328gts Post Number: 188 Registered: 6-2002 |
Well written Jeff...I couldn't put into words...wannabe TR and TA tail lights. I did like one I saw at a show recently. It was a silver cab that looked classy not so kit car-ish | ||
| jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Junior Member Username: Atheyg Post Number: 68 Registered: 8-2002 |
Styling of each car is a personal issue for those that bash the 328 others will bash the 348 like me. I never cared too much for a 348s styling, they always looked like wannabe Testarossas and the cheese graters on the side look too short for the wheel base of the car as well as those Trans Am tailights, they look very 80s, Dinos are not selling for $120,000+ from their performance, 328s look good from all angles and have the same flowing artistic lines. | ||
| William Huber (Solipsist)
Member Username: Solipsist Post Number: 428 Registered: 9-2001 |
Rob, As a part of the F & C "men in white" group I want to say THANK YOU. I after the Race back in Aug @ TWS you gave me a beer. Very cool, also I forget to mention this but in the raffle later that afternoon I won $20.00 thanks to Rob Lay & Ferrari Chat.  I've heard about the problems the North Texas chapter is having, the best thing to do is stay with them, go to meeting & functions, & run off the bad blood in the group. Work it like a politician would. Stay with it & don't let them pull you down to their level. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2419 Registered: 12-2000 |
LOL | ||
| martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
Member Username: Mw360 Post Number: 614 Registered: 5-2001 |
Makes no difference-they both are DINO'S. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2417 Registered: 12-2000 |
Yes, we ran 2 NASA events this year and will run 3 next year. They're cheaper, we get more track time, they run ontime, and they treat the drivers better. The other organization is COMMA, which is run by the Stephens brothers out of Hallett. They run a few races a year at MSR too. | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 260 Registered: 1-2002 |
Rob, Aren't the issues about politics w/ in the SCCA the reason NASA originally branched off of the SCCA? Oh, and to keep it on topic; if it were a choice b/w a clean 328/308 and a 348 and say the price difference was, as in this case, a few thousand dollars, I would go for the 348. This is not to downgrade the 328's, but just, IMO, the 348 would be slightly more car for the money, in the sense that it's more modern, has more contemporary styling, etc., but in the case of the car being discussed, it seems that it may have a plethura of issues, that once resolved, may yield a nice car, but deifnatly need to be diagnosed and worked into the selling price; just depends on the buyers willingness to buy a car that will be an immediate dent in the pocket and isn't exactly what they want: perfection. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2416 Registered: 12-2000 |
Bobby Archer's sponsor this year was The Lodge. He has these parties every month or so. He invites the Viper club too and there were about 15 Vipers parked up front, but guess which car got the most looks? The SCCA guy ticked me off when he asked me how many worker parties I've attended at the meeting with about 30 people there. At all the race weekends, we do a workers party on Saturday night with free beer and everyone thanks the workers. We were discussing ways to retain and get new workers. I mentioned how our Spec. RX7 class gathers money at each race and gives it to the workers as they're all volunteers. His response was very mean spirited as he asked me in front of everyone if I ever missed a workers party. I have honestly been to more than half and have given over $100 cash to the workers, but he was busting my balls over missing a couple. He then said my money wasn't worth anything and the only thing workers truly wanted was to be thanked. Now everyone by this time was pretty grouchy. The meeting was all about electing next years 6 positions, only problem is only 4 people are running. We have 1,200 members in the DFW area region and they can't even find 6 people to run for the positions. The SCCA is an old old organization with more politics and bureaucracy than about any other organization in the world. They don't like us Spec. RX7 racers much anyway because when they ticked us off last year, we started going to the races of other organizations and they got less of our money. Spec. 7 is the largest class besides probably SRF. We are a real threat to the SCCA and they know, we know it, and we use the power too. What a mess. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 474 Registered: 1-2002 |
Rob, could it be H(.)(.)ters?? Also, what did the SCCA weenie do, anyway? They seem just so damn political anymore... | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 853 Registered: 7-2001 |
Rob, which of the local fine establishments did you visit? | ||
| Todd Gieger (Todd328gts)
Junior Member Username: Todd328gts Post Number: 186 Registered: 6-2002 |
It has been 4 mos with my 328 and I am 100% completely happy with my decision...The 348 just doesn't do it for me...the next jump would be the 355 That was friggin hilarious Rob! BTW, what happened to getting the black tinted TR in your profile? | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
New member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 18 Registered: 9-2002 |
Mmmmmm.....Breasts | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Intermediate Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 1138 Registered: 1-2001 |
I'd agree that Frank's comments are all OK, but what I don't like is that each issue is slanted completely the sellers way: Warning lights wacky? -- with no diagnosis I'd deduct at least $2K and you could wind up putting in $3~4K easy if the warning lights are actually working and the injection system has a serious problem. Probably is just a 2 x $300 DIY ECU-ectomy, but the seller should assume some of the (unknown) risk IMO. Seat skins poor? - redye? Minumum deduction should be the $ for a new set of skins from GAHH, World U., etc. and the labor for an upholstery shop to do the swap (+$100 for your hassle to R&R the seats) -- probably ~$2K+?. If you dropped the car off at FoX and asked them to "fix the seats" you'd probably be luck to escape only $4~5K lighter. Am I wrong? Have I gone over to the dark (cLyDe's) side? Are people busting down the door with $39K in their hand to buy similar mid-mileage 12~15 year old cars? | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2408 Registered: 12-2000 |
I've been real cranky today. Went to a SCCA meeting last night where they just argued for two hours. So I've been nice on FC today, I told the region SCCA head to F off this morning. He deserved it though. That's what I get for staying out until 1am last night. Bobby Archer was having a sponsor party and if anyone knows who his sponsor is, then you might understand why I stayed out until 1am. No hints, well ok ( . )( . ), no more though, I can't make you too abreast of the situation, I might bust out laughing. I'll be back in my happy place tomorrow. | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Junior Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 203 Registered: 3-2002 |
Hard day at the office rob? ;) | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2407 Registered: 12-2000 |
Looks like all of Frank's comments are right on. Except two rub me the wrong way... #1 "348 is the better car by a large margin" That's bull ••••. Ok, I wouldn't argue the point because it's opinion if you just said the 348 is a better car. The "large margin" was unnecessary. You have to remember Frank you have a car 3-4 years younger and more advanced than 75% of the 348's out there. It's all opinion, but R&T 0-60 times showing the 328 a tenth faster (lucky day for the 328, but you get my point) and no significant HP increase until the 355. Do you want a 90's design or a 70's design? That's what it comes down to. 328 is a classic, 348 isn't, but the 348 is modern still today and could pass for a new car. #2 Original clutch either means what you said or someone that babied the car and never drove it like it should of. Do a leak down test. If the numbers are bad, go clear some carbon out of there and try again. whew, I'm done, no responses required, I already know what you'll say.  | ||
| Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
Member Username: Kennyh Post Number: 415 Registered: 8-2001 |
I would get the 348 personally, I prefer the styling. If you are going to spend that amount of money on a sports car, you might as well enjoy it, so worst comes to worst, search for another 348 or 328. I second Rob's comment, ask Exotic Car World! | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1412 Registered: 9-2001 |
Having owned a 328 and now owning a 348 Spider, I assure you that the 348 is the better car by a large margin. But, that being said, have the car inspected before buying any Ferrari. The seats are no big deal as any good uphostery shop can redye them for you for a couple of hundred bucks. The slow down lights will be either a bad CAT, thermal coupler or ECU. If its the CATS, thermal couplers or Cat ECU, who cares as you need to remove them anyway and replace with test pipes which only cost a few hundred bucks. If it is a main ECU, they cost around $300.00 each I believe and the car has two. 43k miles with the same clutch indicates to me that the car must have been driven by someone who knew how to drive. A lot of folks that don't burn out Ferrari clutches in only a few thousand miles. Check to see if the car was updated from the twin plate clutch to the single plate clutch which is much better. Also, check to see if it has the Motronic 2.5 od 2.7. The 2.7 is better. If everything checks out, I would go with the 348. Otherwise, keep looking. They're are a lot of great 348s out there. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2406 Registered: 12-2000 |
I would get the 348 if the slow down light doesn't turn out to be something major. Even something like O2 sensors or cats will cost you 4 digits by the time you're done. I think you should get a car from Exotic Car World! ;) | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 310 Registered: 7-2002 |
$42-45K: 1987 328 gts 43K miles, total service done, clutch everything. Seats have been redyed but look really good with a little variation in color. The car appears to be a great specimen. $45-$46K: 1990 348TS 43K miles, had major 30k service, but no clutch. Slow down lights come on sometimes? what are these? The seats have signs of weather. I don't mean the color is coming off I mean the color is coming off and they have "hard spots" from exposure. Not sure if just sun would do that or they got rained on or just were never oiled? They said no rain. i ask all this because I would like to get the newer, more powerful 348, but I don't want to buy a timebomb with the clutch and seats etc. Obviously a PPI would solve some of it. I read by someone to buy the best car you can in your price range so that would lean towards the 328. |