| Author |
Message |
Jeffrey Wolfe (86mondial32)
New member
Username: 86mondial32
Post Number: 19
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 8:35 am: | |
John,
As I said in my post no flame was intended. And I also would never group my Mondial or any of the post 80's cars in the same vein as a 275GTB. My intent was to point out that the newer "FIAT" generation cars (such as the 348 and 355) are using methods of construction that are much less trad and feature, other than the ENZO, much less hand finishing. A unit Chassis is the norm on almost every production car made today. Add that to the engine designs that are being used not being derived from the Classic Ferrari starting points and you can see why I disagreed with calling a 348 more exotic than a 328. I would add that, in my opinion only, any car designed after Enzo's death actually lacks some of the purity of the company history. |
John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Member
Username: Jjstecher
Post Number: 450
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 12:45 am: | |
Dave - I dont know maybe its just different driver different tastes. I personally feel that I am more comfortable in the 348 at speed than in the 328's I have driven. Who knows maybe there was a change in suspension from the one I drove being an 87 to your 89. I just know at first when I got my 348 it was twitchy just like a older P-car like the 930, but after messing with the setup, tires, and rear spacers the car is planted every bit as well as any 355 I have driven. Once again though handling comes down to the sheer confidence you have in the car, if you dont trust it you will never feel it is as good as a car you trust fully.
Jeffery - I guess by exotic I mean it looks far more exotic than the 328. I never meant to include the sort of sub frame and frame assembly into the equation. I was commenting more on the looks of the car here, and as in the handling equation once again am just voicing my opinion. Its all about what you like. As far as the old versus new Ferrari goes I dont quite consider the Mondial to be in the same class as a 275 as far as rarity if that is what you are implying. I think production run of the Mondials was around 5000 total units and the 348 was around 7000. None of these cars can be considered in the same class with the 275, 330, 365, 512BB, etc.
Bottom line is observations on the 328 and 348 is you cannot lose with either car they are both Ferrari's and fun as hell to drive. |
Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member
Username: Hardtop
Post Number: 574
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 10:54 pm: | |
Re handling.
My 94 challenge had all the suspension upgrades plus some additional only put on the challenge cars. It was also the lightest and quickest of the 348's. I drove it a lot, including lots of track time. It was unpredictable, sometimes tight, sometimes loose and this kept me from really probing the cars limits. With comparabale wheels and tread width plus same model tires I have found I can take the 328 through curves quicker and with less drama. In absolute terms, perhaps the 348 will outdo it, but it would be with considerable drama and white knuckles.
I forgot the biggest minus of 348's.....motorized seatbelts.
Dave |
Jeffrey Wolfe (86mondial32)
New member
Username: 86mondial32
Post Number: 17
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 7:19 pm: | |
"The 328 is a beautiful car without a doubt but the 348 is more exotic". Not as a flame but as a point of conversation I would have to disagree. The 348 and 355 are conventional Monocoque frames versus the historically more "exotic" tube frames of cars such as the Boxer, Daytona,308 and 328 series,Lusso, California and most all other Ferraris prior to the mid 90's. Adding in other Exotic cars such as Lambo's and the backbone frame of the Lotus's the folded box section frame of the newer Ferrari's, while very technical in design, is on the same design plane as more pedestrian autos.
And not to fan the flames of the Old vs New owners I think it was pretty well shown in the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds" when Nick Cage went into the F car dealer and said he was seeing 355's on every corner and wanted a car that would stand out...a 275GTB. I choose the 3.2 partial because It was rated by most sources as the best way to go in a Mondial. I wanted 4 seats and hate the 400i. I choose the coupe and had to search for 4 months to find a really clean one. But it was knowing that the 328 and Mondial 3.2 were the last tube frames that helped seal the deal. They may be FIAT era cars but they are the last to be built like a trad Ferrari. |
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 876
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 6:57 pm: | |
When I follow my buddy's 348, I find the stock exhaust note intoxicating.
He had much of the electrical gremlins go away after having every connector in the engine compartment treated with Stabilant 22a. |
John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Member
Username: Jjstecher
Post Number: 449
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 6:51 pm: | |
I dont know about your experiences but personally I think the 348 handles much better than the 328. If you have a later model car with the wider rear track the car remains firmly planted well past the limits at which the 328 starts to drift.
Of course this is my own opinion but I was fortunate enough to drive them back to back. The 328 is a beautiful car without a doubt but the 348 is more exotic, sounds better (mine is awesome with a Tubi and no cats), and is much more liveable to take on a trip.
However the the fricking electrical glitches are a pain the ass big time!! |
Jeffrey Wolfe (86mondial32)
New member
Username: 86mondial32
Post Number: 15
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 6:19 pm: | |
Agree totally with the other poster. The 348 has been dammed with faint praise by most reviews from FORZA to Classic Car. Rodger Bell called it a "flawed Gem" in his book Modern Sports Cars. Most agree that the chassis is not as well thought out as the tube frame cars and the handling can catch a novice offguard. I have driven a 328 spyder many times and a 348 coupe only once. The 348 felt smoother but for a coupe is was not as taunt as the 328. |
Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member
Username: Hardtop
Post Number: 572
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 5:53 pm: | |
J Scott,
I went from a 87 GTS to a 94 TB to a 89 GTB. I now have about 15K seat time in both (combined on the 328's) Here is my thoughts....
328
pluses: better ride. better shifter. friendlier handling. better looks. better fit & finish interior. very reliable.
minusus: could use more power. a/c in my 87 was worst of the 6 Fcars I have had. a/c in my 89 is the best of the 6. Go figure.
348
pluses:
responsive, robust motor. better sound (I had challenge exhaust)
minuses:
high maintenance costs. lots of electrical glitches. squirrely handling. hard ride. interior quality pretty bad and wore quickly. strakes and louvers. crappy shifter.
other comments:
re: handling. Lots of testers found 348's to have suspect handling and I agree. I had a lot of time track time in it often with instruction and it never seemed neutral or inspired confidence. My 89 with 17 inch wheels and fatter tread is giving me higher corner speeds than I ever had with the 348.
re: comfort. neither was especially comfortable to me but I can easily see why at 200+ lbs. the 348 would feel better. For me it's a wash.
Dave
|
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 852
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 11:28 am: | |
I have ridden in a friend's 94' 348 spider several times and driven it once, and compared to my 328, I believe the 348 is a much superior performing car. Handling is "slot car" like and much firmer, perhaps even a bit less comfortable. The engine performance is noticably better as well, and while I would agree that the sounds from the driver's seat may not be as nice as in the 328, I really love the sounds of the 348 when I follow him. I suppose a Tubi could improve things a bit, from a driver's perspective.
I'm a short little guy, and I noticed your observations about the knee room differences between the cars and would agee.
But, I still prefer the more "traditional" look of the 308/328 series over the 348. "Kit car" comments not withstanding (I have had people ask me if my former 308 was a kit car). I have really warmed up to the 355 in the past year and a half. 360's recently too. |
j scott leonard (Jscott)
Member
Username: Jscott
Post Number: 454
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 9:45 am: | |
Now that I have had a little time, (very little)to drive my new (to me)348, I have a couple of observations. I like the size of the 348. I'm just 6' and 210 but I have a little trouble with the head room in my 328 that I don't have in the 348. Second, the 348 dash gives my right knee more room instead of hitting the air cond. vent as in the 328. The engine is much quieter, I am not sure if I like that or not. It is also a smoother running power plant. The best thing about the 348 is the air conditioning. I live where it is very warm and the air works in the 348!
Now to the 328, I like the shifting much better in the 328, more sure and quicker. I also like the clutch feel better since the clutch in my 348 engages fairly high it may need some adjustment. The engine sound in the 328 is more robust and deeper, I like that. As to styling, it is hard to beat the 328. Yeserday I was asked if the 348 was a "kit", that would never happen in the 328!
Both cars are in excellent condition, the 328 styling is more to my liking, the interior of the 348 is superior. Both cars are fun to drive! If I had to choose, I think I would keep the 348 just because the interior is a little more comfortable and the A/C works much better. But, I just love the lines of my 328. I think I should keep them both but I'm sure that I will probably sell one in the near future, probably the 328. I listed it in Ferrari Market Letter but haven't gotten a single contact. That seems fine to me. Right now I enjoy them both. I am truly blessed. At least I still have something Ferrari to drive while one or the other is being serviced. (348 goes in for a major the first of August.) If either car is down, I can still drive the Infiniti coupe, loads of fun and gets as many looks and even more attention than either F-car (don't understand that).
Any one else have some observations on the 328 v 348? |
|