348 vs 512

512tr has 428hp ...there is no comparison

 

512 BB or BBi is a beast. The 348 is bit more drivable. In a nutshell that is the differance.

I would buy the 512 over the 348 anyday if you have another sports car to drive.

IMO, driving a Ferrari is supposed to be a loud, hot,heavy, massive torque car with beautiful lines. The 512 is everything and more. Not for everyone.

 

I like the 512BB/BBi just fine, but as alluded to, it's a little bit of a beast to drive. I'd say it drives more like a garbage truck.

The 348 hands down. Quicker, and actually faster in my opinion. Not as torquey, but agile. The 348 is a modern machine. The 512BB/BBi is an antique.

Remember, I have a tremendous liek for the 512 BB/BBi. But we are sort of comparing apples to avocado.

 

Tough call ........ it would really depend on your reason for buying it ............ if you want to drive it around canyons and have 'drivers' fun ... get the 348 ........ if you want an investment to polish, restore and take to shows ....... then the 512BB would be the one

 

The 512BB is a serious investment car and worthy of inclusion. The 348 is much more fun to drive and far less costly to acquire and maintain. It would be a far better car to have if you want a nice sports coupe to toss around. Plus with Stooge mods, you can surprise a lot of people with it. I don't find a 512 very tunable. It's not likely you'd hang out with the 512BB Stooges and discuss affordable performance mods with them. I would not be afraid of a 355 either.

 

Who said your wife needs to step into the car? I'm sure that wouldn't go over well. Maybe you should get the 348. LOL.

 

Wow, I am suprised at these posts, I've driven a lot of 308 and 348, not one handles or can come close to keeping up with my 84BBI. without question.....The BBI will and does stomp the living @#$%^^ out of a 348 in acceleration, and top end. Flat 12, torq, etc. hands down. Handling? okay, I do have 17x8 and 17x10 with mich. pilots....so stock compared to stock tire combo's, okay, mostly because a stock 348 has new tech rims and tires.
Remember, a Boxer is a race bread car, with history. Yes, to the inexperienced boxer driver, just going from a dead stop is very different than starting out in a 308 or 348 and many drivers that just drop in and go stall it until they learn a Boxer.
And regarding Boxer owners not driving, having fun, spirited drives, or doing mods to there car???? Well, I have done rims, tires, tubi, smog and cats removed, MSD ignition, power tuned by Ferrari Tech in LA etc. It has never left me stranded, never. no issues, no crazy maint. nightmares, battery holds charge for months, get in and drive.
( yes of course all original parts kept and put in a box ) I have never shown my car and never will....the car is meant to be driven.
Now all that said, for those who wonder why I selling if it's so great, After 5yrs of owning a Boxer, it's time for something different. that's it.
Daniel
PS it does not cost any more to do a engine out service on a 348 vs 512BBI the only difference I suppose the amount of oil, spark plugs etc. time spent is almost the same.
driven on the scales, with me @ 180lbs the boxer weighed 3440, 1/2 tank of gas
and regarding drives like a garbage truck? I would never say anyones f-car drives like a garbage truck, I dont know who's BBi youve driven but it clearly had issues from the way you discribe it.
I drive the city, and mountain roads, and it an absolute joy to drive. how stable is a 348 feel at 160+? yes, I am spoiled, montana is 45min away and now speed limits to speak of.
the faster you go in Boxer the better it feels.

 

Many of our 348's are equally as modified if not more than your 512. I'd stack up my car to yours for overall usability. The 512BB is clearly the best choice from a collector standpoint and getting that older Ferrari V-12 experience. But, give the V-8's their due. Sure I wouldn't run my car at 160 for very long due to a lack of courage, but who drives that fast? When you hit the twisties, like the Malibu canyons, dude, you need a 348 SS with 18" wheels and Stooge mods. And when you hit the Kaanan Dune tunnel, the sweet exhaust note reverb will have you saying, "What V-12?". If it were my collection, I'd get a 512BB or a 512TR, but if I wanted to just have a ball driving, it would be a 348 SS like mine. What else could I say?

 

Where are Stooges's mods? Bring them on..

 

Well....I don't know what you mean by usability, I guess maybe having power, gears, power band, redline, to weight ratio thats usable on the street? Okay. I never been on the malibu roads, but in NORCAL we have/had the oakland hills, santa cruz mountains, donner pass to tahoe, skyline ,ran most of them with many cars....again my boxer has 17's, might make the difference and not to be to much of twelve guy....I don't need a tunnel to have the ultimate sound. I think the next time I'm down south you should drive my car thru the malibu hills, you may change your perspective...thats an open invitation next time I down, hopefully this summer.
Daniel

 

Why are you frightened of the 355

 

Thank you for the offer, but if your car is like the last one I was in, you couldn't get me in that thing for money. I think I felt like I was attached to the point of an arrow and just as vulnerable. Granted it did not have 17" or 18" wheels so it had that high side wall, floaty, ancient tire design handling feel, which I don't mind as long as I can see the white lines on the pavement.

 

The BB is one of the all time great road Ferraris, the 348 is just another model ... no contest.

Pete

 

Don't want to burst your bubble but I was side by side with a 512BBi on the weekend just been, my 355 was faster. Don't see how you can say a 512BBi will "stomp the living..." out of a 348.

Yes a 355 is a faster car than the 348, but it is also quicker than the 512BBi I was along side.

No one is bagging on your car, enjoy it for the stunning classic it is and feel secure in the fact it is a very fast 12 cylinder Ferrari. No need to exaggerate the truth.

To the OP, go the 355. Find a well sorted one and drive the wheels off it. They are truly great cars!

 

We have a 348 spider and a 512bbi in the stable, the 348 is much quicker than the 512, but it is also 10 years old newer technology

 

You need to DRIVE one. I went to look at a great car with money in hand and found the car to be crippling to sit in. It just didn't matter after that.

The 512TR has a bit of both worlds, and it is a huge step up from the 348 in every area. You should consider looking at them also. Personally I think it is one of the best balances of usable (modern) and classic feel.

 

That is very true, sitting postion is aweful if your tall in a 512bbi, The shifter is stuffed into your leg, I had to put a spacer in the steering wheel, great classic, tough to drive (if your over 6')

 

fyi-

http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/articles/0-60times.html


apples and oranges

 

FWIW, I tried to buy a 512BB carb before the 348TS SS. It would have been a much better investment but it kind of scared me to drive. Sounded fantastic like a Ferrari should. I was pretty intimidated by it mechanically. Not like the 348. Still, if things had turned out differently, I might be posting over in the BB section. I agree that 365BB was a lost opportunity. Those will be Daytona priced soon and can Miura be far away?

 

1. Now that Ricambi stocks QV, headers don't cost much more than tires.
2. Valve guides are a real issue, but overblown. If you know to look, you won't get bitten.
3. No sorted 355s around? WTF???
4. If you think for a second that a 512 BB is a smart way to save on maintenance over a 355... think again.

Now I am not saying don't get a 512, but you need to go ahead and enjoy a 355. You are totally missing out, I promise you that!

 

Agree completely with this post.
MB