Looking a a few 348's and have a few questions.

At 6'2", you will want to leave the TS top in the garage. It eats up significant leg room behind the seat. I'm only 5'9", and I hate that thing behind me.

That area behind the rear window glass originally comes in a matte black, at least it does in the early model years.

That knob is not stock. Probably an owner mod - subwolfer? alarm doohicky maybe?

 

+ 2 on Tom's response.

I'm also 6'2". The roof never comes with me. I have recently purchased a folding canvas roof available as aftermarket only. They are very difficult to find but stow on the "shelf". Its the only answer if you plan on taking your baby out when the possibility of showers exists.

FYI...You may have difficulty taking your car on track for one of those track day events with the spider. You'll need a roll bar. Not necessary with the Ts style.

 

Black on the early cars, color matched on the later cars. I forget the year, maybe 93? That portion became color matched. So all spiders will be color matched.

 

Spider top movement.

I am 6'1" and here are my directions when I had a Spider (I now own a TS SS).
Top down from inside the car:
release latches by sunshades
pop top up from the windscreen header
get out of car
move seats forward about 10 degrees using recliner mechanism
fold front part of top back a bit
using pull handle, fold the top down guiding forward section manually
make sure the rear window folds in center and does not crush
raise the top and realign and continue to do this until it sets in the boot correctly
always install the tonneau cover over folded the top
top should rest inside the boot and poof up a little - use the tonneau to flatten it
button all snaps of the tonneau especially the center rear one or it may scratch the paint
reposition the seat backs

Top up:
pretty much the reverse process except the iterative part comes when trying to snap forward the closed top so that it fits over (not inside) the groove along the rear side of the B pillar
the top should not be bound or folded but lie flat and tight
make sure the seat backs are out of the way for putting the top up as they were when you put it down

Practice it and you might actually be able to get it done inside of 5 minutes. Do not count on being able to put the top up with your date in the car if it starts to drizzle on a drive. You are likely to end up with a very wet, very POed pet.

 

Love the directions on putting the top up and down. I did it once in under 2 minutes.
I have that same knob in the same position on my spider. It's for the radar detector, at least mine is.
As for using the spider on the track. The are okay to use without a roll bar in the novice group.

 

The knob is for a built in alarm system. My car had the same. Check behind the rear bumper drivers side and in the spoiler air intake passenger side to see the escort units hidden.

Kai

 

I have a 348 Spider. I’m 5’10” 165#. It is not any easy task getting in or out with the top up. My car has seen rain once; it took about 5 minutes to get the top up. Luckily I saw the clouds moving in. This car not a daily driver so what the heck. I love driving it with the top down and don’t care how long it takes to put up.

 

I'm 6'2", tried once to put the top behind the seats and drive. It was worse than driving my kids go-cart. I leave the targa at home. This winter I hope to fabricate me a folding top - as noted above they are pretty much impossible to acquire - at least I haven't been able to find one.

 

My 348 is for sale, just major serviced and very well sorted out .... Las Vegas area, PM me if you are interested ...

 

I am going to sell mine, too. It's a '91 TS, nero on nero, major done 1500 miles and 2 years ago, and well sorted also. LeMans Grill, 360 wheels, exhaust. I'm in Oregon. PM me if interested. (Just bought a 355).

 

Funny, I'm more of a Nero guy, but now have a rosso corsa over tan spider! Might have to keep the black beast ....

 

If you still need a PPI in Chicago, let me know. I had an engine out service there last year.
There is another guy in Central Ill. too.