..... there are more 355s for sale because most 348s are in the junkyard .............. ferrari used 5-valves on the 355, 360, CS and the F50 ................. no question ..... the 355 is most definitely ....... not for the 'whiners' or 'faint of heart' among us ........ .
is absolutely obsolete your comment, in the 80´s and 90's also more Ford Fiesta MKI than MKII were sold this situation is because for more time pass more peapole and more money exist in this world to be more 348's in scrapping is normal......, there are more 355's than f430's because it's not better or worse, is simply because it is more new..... I think your comments are completely obsolete. you can say that the 355 has more power, electronic shocks, is more new....(comentaries as these), but at least for me the 348 is more beautiful. No more machine, more beautiful and therefore to my BEST. ANALYSIS: Winner 348
A figure specified at the output of the crankshaft. After passing through the clutch, drop gear, hypoid gears, the transmission gear and the differential gear, a healthy F355 will see 320 HP on the dyno. There are 2 more gears in the Ferrari driveline than on (say) a Mustang or Corvette; this leads to more losses between engine and wheels. Thus while a Mustang will see 15% loss through the drive line (and a Vette 17%--independent rear suspension) the Ferrari is seeing 20%-ish. Secondly, the 1995 were closer to the 380 HP numbers than the 96-99 models rated at 375 Hp. In any event, these were rated in the same manner as the 300 HP F348s and the 320 HP F348SS. It is very difficult to get those 5 valves in the heads and still have room for cooling. The F355 head is primarily cooled (?exclusively?) with oil. As Ferrari found with 5 valves in F1 racing, extra power is produced, but the headwork and cooling issues often obviate the minimal gains (2% level stuff). In any event, the modern Ferrari heads are making 115 HP/litre for the 430, and 120 HP/litre for the 458; whereas the 5 valvers only made 109. So it appears that 4 valves are sufficient. On the other hand, Ferrari seems to be gaining 5 HP/litre every 10 years. Numbers that only Honda has come close to in a production engine (S2000 2.0 litre); and way lower than what motorcycle engines are achieving at the drive wheel (600 cc-s get 105 HP, 1.0 litre motos see 150 HP--street right from the factory.) The Berlinetta has none of these problems, and never will..... ? M O S T ? I have 57 K total miles and almost 5K track miles on my F355B. It still has excellent leak down numbers (3%-4%) and still has the original bronze valve guides. It still runs like new. I strongly suspect that a lot of the wear comes from overexhuberant drivers running the snot out of the car before the oil(S!) have comeup to temperature. I certainly have run the perverbial snot out of my car. {And then again, maybe it those who DON'T run the perverbial snot out of the cars that get into trouble.....hmmmmm....} I've had my F355B for 8 years, and wil keep it for another 5-ish min.
Another litle known fact is that Ferrari changed to an inferior paint for the 355. Rather than use a pure water based compunds, they added a soda mix into it. This means that when a 355 gets wet, the paintwork starts to bubble and fizz. Which is why most 355's are never driven in the rain. I mean... you never see a 355 in the rain do you???
It hardly even rains in sunny Southern California, but on the rare occasion that it does, I'll drive the 355 in it. Of course, it rains a bit more in the UK, now doesn't it And, it would be worrisome to drive the 348 with its dodgy handling characteristics in the rain, always being one step away from completely sliding off the road in a full spin... I can see why you would be frightened of the rain.
Oh yeah.... I'm reeeeeeal frightened of the rain PS. Pictures taken at Brands Hatch race track where there was heavy rain. I was the only Ferrari there on the day. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Dont know why we always get into this comparison thing with these two cars. 90% of the people you talk to that dont own either of them prefer the 355. It natural to do so as it is the better car by far...in looks, handling and overall power and perfomance. Enzo when presented with the preproduction drawings for the the 348 said that there was no way in hell that they would ever put that one into production. He died and they slid it in and down went Ferrari stock only to be saved when the 355 was built. The 348 never ever recieved the rave reviews that the 355 did infact I dont think it was even talked about. All this aside, the 348 is still a Ferrari and isnt that bad a car. The owners of the 348 love their cars and thats what counts the most. Whatever Ferrari you have, take care of it and you will enjoy many years of driving pleasure.
Do you think that the 355 just came out of nowhere? Do you think that there is no bloodline from the 348 to the 355? This is like saying that the 308 is crap but wow is that 328 so awesome on it's own merits. The later can not exist without the former. So all of you 355 owners should bow down and say thank you to the all mighty 348 who led the way for your 355's. But, you have to live with the fact that your 355 did not come first. It is a modded version of the original. Long live the 348!
+355 again !!! ............ Sy needs to stop his 'ankle-biting' and accept his 348 compares only to an nsx .....
*buzz sound* You mean 18"... http://www.epinions.com/review/Muppets_Plush_Kermit_18/content_109466914436
angelis l love the color combo of your grey/beige 348's on your 2nd photo shows why they change the rear suspension geometry of early "48" cars that many are wonder about in reference to the 348 handling woes. look carefully that the off-loaded inside rear tire is not flat even on a wet day when the corner forces are far lower than a dry track. basically its got dated camber curve on jounce travel. the update geometry flatten that rear tire for more contact area. i memory serves, the late series 348 and all the 355 have this update rear pickup points. glad to see you using your F-car other than for posing purposes. cheers and hit a late apex for me.... hf
Those who have seen the new 458, will recognize that it has drawn on the 348 for at least one important feature of it's magnificent design. Another charming aspect of the 348 that the 355 can't lay claim to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Directional wheels..... HEY.... your wheels are on backwards!.......... Image Unavailable, Please Login
I would say the 458 borrows heavily from the 355 design. But, its a nice bone they threw to the 348 to give directional wheels.
Thanks mate. Actually my 348 is oe of the later GTB models with the 320bhp. Although I do currently have problems with high speed stability. But most of us 348 owners have sold them Wonder if the 458 wheels would fit a 348..........
really? so the early 348 camber curve is even worse? I wonder if there have been any suspension guru's that have altered the geo back there?
