348 or testarossa which is better?

Easy...........Which one do you like to drive?

 

Which would you rather own?

 

I would go for the TR. They are just really good cars to drive and I like the looks. Get the car you want. If it doesn't grab you keep looking.

 

I had a 348 spider and didnt have any problems or issues with the car. It was the first car I had without power steering so that took some getting use to.

 

As others have posted, they're very different cars. TR has been described as a 'battle ax' -- lots of torque, lots of bodywork behind you and to the sides, a fast cruiser. The 348 is usually described as more entertaining on the curves and easier around town. Both are old cars, so make sure you're OK with the driving characteristics of an '80s car -- gearbox, driving position, brakes and most importantly level of attention required are light years different from anything you'd buy in 2008.

If you want specific issues, check the model sections for each.

Some common issues on the 348: single timing belt design means you need to be religious about maintenance or risk engine damage; 348s go through cats faster than most due to their location; C-pillars crack on TB and TS models; flaky electricals (more than usual for Italian cars); interior trim deteriorates (search on 'sticky interior'); early dual-plate clutches are $$$; early cars need spacers to improve handling to acceptable levels.

TRs have the seat belt recall you mentioned, and their differentials don't take abuse kindly -- the assembly was welded when new and can burst under excessive stress -- $15K++.

Services: major on a 348 is probably $6K+ every 3 years; on a TR, probably $8K+ every 3-5 years.

As in all things Ferrari, don't buy the car unless it has been fanatically maintained, and you have records to verify this. These are both old cars, so fuel lines and coolant hoses are all due for replacement (get a pre-purchase inspection, or PPI) if they haven't been done already.

It sounds like you're rushing into this not knowing enough about the cars. Two days isn't much time for a decision. It took me about 10 months to find the right 308/328 back when I bought mine. A bad Ferrari is an unparalleled money pit. You will be spending thousands of dollars on clutches, ignition wires, dist caps, etc., if you don't know what you're looking at. Also, if the car you're looking at has low mileage from sitting around for years, plan to pay and pay and pay to get it up to 'driver' level.

I'd say take a deep breath, step back, learn a bit and then decide.

 

I owned TR roughly about 10 years ago. Very raw and powerful, but it's hard to drive in terms of handling. Costs to maintain should be much higher than 348, I suppose (although never own 348). I think you should drive both, and go with the one you like most.

 

I thought about both, but decided on a 348TS.

I liked the idea of seeing the 12 in the TR, but didn't like the brown dash (anything can be changed). Also thought maintenance may be higher with the TR. TR is also very large for a smaller garage.

348 is more compact, and I've heard that it can keep up with the TR on the track pretty well. I suspect the 348 is more nimble around town, but haven't spent enough time in a TR to say for sure. Since my 348 was cheaper than a similar-condition TR, I decided on the 348!

I don't think either one has an advantage from a collector standpoint, at this time. I think the 512TR is the one to have if that is a concern, but much higher entry price. Think about what you want to do with the car, sit in and drive both. They're both great Ferraris!

Best of luck with your decision.

 

For me it would be the TR. I like style and power of the car. IMO it looks better then the 348. I understand that the maintenance might be higher on the TR then a 348.

 

I'm certain there are other Ferraris in the same price range. I've owned them both and they were the worst Ferraris I ever had. The TR is heavy and ungainly, difficult to park and hard to see out of. Not a particularly nimble car, but reasonably good as a freeway cruiser. Hard to keep clean with those weird side strakes.
The 348 probably represented the quality nadir for Ferrari in the 90's. I had a lovely looking spider in Canna De Fucile, a striking dark Grey, but that's all that was lovely about the car. It had all sorts of electrical gremlins, leaked fluids from so many places and handled poorly.

The 355 was a great improvement of the 348, even though it was essentially the same car with a better body, but it was built better with less problems. If you can stretch to a 355 instead go for it.
If you really want a 12 find a 365 or 512 BB, or stretch for the last TR, the 512M, which was a wonderful car at the end of that model run.

Always IMVHO. Good luck with your purchase.

 

You got that right, even though the TR is a beautiful auto it's dated like the Lambo countach the 348 is still mistaken for a new Ferrari I doubt you get that with the TR plus then you have to find a friend named Crockett...lol

 

I had a 91 348 tb and currently have a 91 Testarossa, as others have stated they are really two different cars. Between the two I'd take the TR. Nothing beats having a 12cylinder Ferrari.

 

I had to make the same choice. Ended up going with the 348. Change the wheels and the car looks 10 years newer.

 

I'd say let fate decide for you. Keep both in consideration and search for either. The first good one that you find within your budget should be the one you buy. Think of it like when you have a kid. You should not find out what you are going to get until you are at the hospital and the baby is born! I did this approach and have been really happy with the 348 I purchased.
Good luck, and enjoy the search!

BT

 

Personally, I found the 348 much more fun to drive. Unless you're driving at absolute top speed - and how often do you really have a chance to do that? - the 348 feels much more nimble than the Testarossa.

I also like the 348 better for looks. I think it's a bit more modern looking and better proportioned.

Of course you realize that anything we can say here on F-chat is of VERY LIMITED VALUE because the real value (or lack thereof) depends entirely on the individual cars in question. My opinions above are based on an assumption of "all else being equal," and that may be far from the truth. Having never seen either of the cars you're considering, I have nothing to work with except generalizations regarding the respective models.

Finally, I very strongly agree with the poster who said that it seems like you're rushing into this. It also appears that you might hold the popular misconception that the 348 is a sort of "little brother" to the Testarossa. Given the side strakes, it's easy to see how popular opinion has arrived at this erroneous conclusion, but these are, in fact, radically different machines. There is far more similarity between the Testarossa and the 512 BB which preceded it - and which was, in my opinion, a better car on the whole.

 

I disagree with the ''hard to drive" comment as a whole. Sure, at low, parallel parking speeds it is a bus. But once you get over 10mph it handles great. And the 12 cylinders ... music to my ears.

 

Agree with these comments I loved my 1990 TR but it was not easy to drive around town and was costly to maintain I would go for a 355 which I did rather than the 348.

 

Is this really a question ?

one was the entry level car, and the other was the flagship.

Its like comparing a 3 series vs a 7 series.... come on fellas....get a grip.....and please tell me what kind of quality TR you are getting in the same price range as a top running and quality 348 if they are the same money ???

PS.if you are buying one for the 29th and this is a rush.....(i dont know why)........have a ton of money avaialbe when you bring either one home if you dont do your homework correctly on checking the cars out.

 

http://www.zrauto.ca/car_list.cfm?listtype=1

Being from Alberta, I imagine he's looking at two of the cars listed here.

Certainly a bit of a hasty decision though!

 

+1

They had to make alot more 348s than TRs. The TR is a classic. An icon of sports cars.

 

348. The TR is HUGE (and the interior is dated).

 

I think that if a person is seriously asking this question, they have not driven both of these cars enough to qualify the issue.

I also think that if you are asking this question after driving the cars, then you probably do not have the obstinate determination to drive and maintain a Testarossa.

Kind of like the 993 vs. 996 porsche thread that went on in the other cars section. Guy ended up with 996.

James -

Of the HUGE PONDEROUS Testarossa and OLD CANTANKEROUS aircooled 993 camp.

 

And made the wrong decision. But my conscience is clear.