Which Ferrari to purchase

My opinion is only worth what your paying for it but here goes.

I agree that the 348 isn't universally loved and considered by some to be Ferrari's red headed step child (if you will) but, I wouldn't let that bother me if I really liked the car. Your the one spending the money and you should only worry about pleasing yourself. You'll find those who have something good and bad to say about most models.

My opinion of the 348 is that it represents quite a bargian. No, it's not super powerful by todays standards but it is more powerful than most lesser year Ferrari V8's and even many V12's.

The styling is subjective. I don't like the lines as much as the 308/328 or 355 but I know others that just love it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Wether you you like the spyder for the open air aspects or the GTB for its structural rigidity, I don't think that impacts the cars reliabilty.

As far as reliabilty goes, none of these cars are going to rival Toyota or Honda in the "cheap to keep" catagorie and if you have to pay to have all work done, then it can be a concern, depending on your budget. Not so much becuase they are "unreliable" but more so becuase they require proper, routine and what many consider to be expensive care to keep up. That doesn't only apply to the 348 though.

My opinion is if you like the car, buy the best example you can afford, not the cheapest.

Good luck

 

Buy what you like bcus you may get stuck with it

That said if you are consideringa V8 then you should consider the maintenance costs

the 360 is the 1st V8 that does NOT require the engine out for major service which drops the maintenance cost considerably

 

Welcome to Fchat.

The 348 is a comparatively easy car to work on. I've got two left hands when it comes to mechanics, but a friend (an expert but not a Ferrari specilaist) and I did an engine out cambelt service ourselves. I also do my own oil chnages now and can fix other bits and pieces.

There's a lot of false statements made about the 348. More so than probably any other Ferrari model around.

When I was first looking for a Ferrari, I was considering a 328 or to wait and get a 355, because of what I had read about the 348. It's only when I started researching that I found out that a lot of what was written about the car was crap.

Well, the 348 is coming onto 19 years of age for the first ones and 14 years for the last ones, so things will need to be replaced and refurbished. However, these items are not that expensive to do. Also the engine is largely regarded as being bullet proof.

The achilles heel though is probably the gearbox. A few have had to be rebuilt. I've been told the later models had upgraded parts though.

I've done a few track days and I've never used anywhere near the full potential of the car. Standard is around 300bhp, later models 320bhp, but you can add to it. Mines between 332 & 352 bhp (dependant on what the transmission loss is) and I suspect has been chipped.

No.........but then I'm biased.

Chances are a low mileage one has been clocked at some point or the speedo disconnected. Also, genuine low mileage ones can have more problems as they don't like to sit about.

Who cares which is popular. Get what you like.


Here's a thread I created elsewhere. It started off about my 348, but I started to add other 348 stuff on to it. It gives you an idea of costs (in UK currency) and also has the opinions of over fifty 348 owners.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=582925&nmt=Ferrari%20348%20-%20info%20thread

Good luck with whatever you decide to get.

 

this was well stated...what I am discovering is the cars that are driven have less problems...348 is a engine out major service which is more labor more $$$...learning to do some of the repairs save money...usually the more mileage the more of the idiots things that have been replaced already..also the newer the 348 the better

this site will give u an idea on costs...http://www.exoticars-usa.com/ferrarimenu.htm

 

A 348 will be at least as reliable as almost any 50's or 60's classic car

If you have owned and worked on them then you should be fine

If its a 348 you've always wanted then just do it

 

If power is your main criterion, you'll want a modern Ferrari like a 360, assuming you like the looks. These cars are very fast, and seem to have been well built by Ferrari standards (but maybe not Lexus standards). They're also easy to drive fast. If you like classic Ferraris and want a simple and reliable, old school car that will hold its value, go with the 328.

The cars got more complicated after the 328, and the parts prices in many cases went from expensive to ludicrous (someone posted about an $800 targa latch for the 348...) The 348 has a few well-known weaknesses (self-destructing gearboxes on the earlier cars; single timing belt design that Ferrari abandoned after this model, probably due to the increased risk of failure; flaky electrical system; expensive dual-plate clutches on early cars; etc.)

The 348 does have a bad reputation, which has dragged prices down. That doesn't mean a savvy owner can't maintain the car and keep it running happily forever. But it does mean that a 348 subjected to the average car buyer's drive-it-and-forget-it mentality is going to distintegrate quickly and take your bank account along with it. And the build quality (and material quality) on the 348 wasn't Ferrari's best, to be charitable. The interior plastic turns to goo, for example. If I haven't talked you out of it, then try for a 348 Spider -- they had it mostly debugged by that time.

(Some people also don't like the 348's looks -- I'm not one of them, but that also tends to weigh on the value of these cars.)

For the same money a 328 is likely to be a more durable car. I'm biased, because I've had one for a while, and it has largely taken the fear factor out of owning a Ferrari. The 328's drawback is that it just isn't fast compared to the newer machinery, and there's no traction control, modern ABS, suspension computers, etc., to bail you out -- it's pretty much a mid-engined V8 go-kart. Also, if you're a big guy, the cockpit can be snug. Make sure you drive (or at least sit in one) before deciding.

True, any old Ferrari is going to need some cash infusion when you buy it, and the market right now could make it hard to sell.

308/328 don't require the engine out for the major.

 

Agree with many of Bullfighters points, but I got a 348 about two months ago and love it. It gets badmouthed all the time, but I love the looks of it and apparently so do about 100 people who have now complimented me on it, but as many have said, it is YOUR car, so don't worry about what others say.

PM me if you want to talk and I will give you the new owner's perspective, or for more experience, PM Vince Vassallo or 3forty8 to get an experienced take on owning a 348. We think it is the best kept secret in Ferrari land, but don't tell anyone! LOL

 

RUN, don't walk away from a 348!

What he said. Lots of great posts on this already, so I will simply add: For a person of moderate technical ability that can sort out the minor things that inevitably crop up, it is a fantastic enthusiast's car. If you have to run to the shop for every little thing it isn't for you. If I ever grenade the gearbox I reserve the right to change my opinion!

 

Mark you seem to be in every site that's a good thing at least we know you are serious in your purchase

go to the 348/355 section and use the search function and learn all you can about the 348/355

The two main differences are 348 guys are cool 355 guys use to much gel nuff said...

The 348 is an excellent Ferrari the engine is bullet proof and very easy to work on.

The styling is classic Pininfarina design you cannot mistake this car coming down the road plus it is the last true steering Ferrari meaning no power steering like the girly 355..

I suggest you do your home work and find out all the quirks and bad habits of the car.

Remember this car might have a bad rap in the Ferrari world but it is unjust and it still kicks a$$ to all others.

I also would suggest getting a 348 94 or newer they come with most of the up grades and increased HP by 20.

 

But F355 owners know to use periods.

 

That's because they have them every month





















What.................................????

 

LOL, what he said!!!

The bottom line is get what you can afford and what you like. If you favor the 348, gt the best example you can find. Try to find one owned by an enthusiast because whatever faults the car came with originally have probably been worked through - like rear wheel spacers for better stability. If you want a high performance vehicle and have the cash and don't really care about maintenance, then get a 355. I shy away from the 308/328 series due to price point (they don't have the value for money of the 348 IMO). Also, they are retro cars that drive like sporty 70's and 80's cars. They are too dated for me.

There is an awful lot that you can do on the 348 and we have nearly all the maintenance you can do in these pages. Plus the 348 support group is huge and generous, so you will never be out of touch; a life line is only an email away, or closer sometimes. When a Ferrari reseller recommended the car to me, he did it surrounded by TR's and 355's to sell. That spoke to me. The car is undeservedly bashed, but represents an better value for the money because of it. While we 348 owners would like greater respect from the Ferrari community, we really do not want the message out that these cars are the single best value in entry level Ferrari ownership.

The real negatives are somewhat minor and for me are mostly about finding model specific parts - like driver's lights. I like how you can pull another 10% power from the engine; try that with a 355. Look at the engine bay for do it yourselfers. The 308/328 bay is way cramped. The 355 engine bay is mystifying. The 360 is, well, rocket science dibilitating.

For UK and northern US owners, rust and corrosion is an issue especially for weird Italian electronics. Thank God I live in a desert. Still, any problem youcan have, someone here has probably had and worked through.

So, don't shy away from the 348 based on bad press or opinions of biased and uninformed bashers.

 

I would go for a very nice Testarossa.

 

Only if you need a lobotomy! The car is heavy, handles like a pig with a flat tire and costs more than the treasure of Croesus to afford. You think maintaining a 348 is expensive, heh, the TR is another level above that. Now if you want to tear down a freeway like a demon from hell with a 12 cylinder boxer engine howling in your ears, there is nothing better. I cross shopped a TR on 2 ocassions and still picked a 348 both times!

 

Welcome to FerrariChat!!

I would get one of these Mark!
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The best advice any Ferrari enthusiast can offer another, is to advise you buy the very best car you can afford that allows you to have a keep an appropriatly sized nest egg available to support it. IOW, If you have $50K to spend, buy a $40K car.

 

I had one as a daily driver and went to a few track events and was totally happy with it. The major was $12,000 but that included new tires, water pump and taking into consideration that the previous owner had it "garage queen" and didn't keep up maintenance. Also the major was done after a year and a half of ownership. For me the car didn't handle like a pig nor I felt it was heavy to steer but, back then I was doing my preacher curls with 110 pounds, now I'm back to sixteen inch arms with the newer exotics, lol. Anyway the 348 will be cheaper to run and will be easier to track. It would be nice to be shopping for either one.

 

LMAO I almost peeded my pants

Oh wait I did....

 

I am confused now, i asked the same question and was told 328 or 3.2 mondial mainly because cheaper easier to maintain now i see there are many who feel this way about the 348 ...hummm...also what about the weak gearbox(have to be able to leave "11" once in awhile)...what about cost 348 is at least 10k more...what do u guys think

 

OP said 'my favorite is the 348' hence the question was different