348 - change of perception?

I suspect Kai was commenting on my post for a no-electronic-aid modern-day Dino.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Lol, yes, I forgot to quote you.

I just tire of the discussion. Just drive the car in race mode with all nannies disabled.
I suspect without electronic assistance, 80% of new drivers would crash the first time they floor it given today's prodigious horse power and torque.

Kai

 

Fair enough.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

As time passes, things come up, and also like anything, when compared to today's model it is slower. That being said, it is an excellent car. What I found particularly interesting was just how easy it was to fix the stability problem, etc. Look at the 1992 and 1993 Series Speciale. They put a small wing on the front bumper, almost a small skirting, and this had a tremendous impact on the stability issue. It's small, barely noticeble, and cheap and easy to do.

I have a 355. But if I had a 348, I'd be looking at what Ferrari did to modify the car to a Series Special and making some of the easier modifications. Just piece of mind.

But no regrets. It is a great car.

 

Then again.... I'd like to get the latest Nissan GTR and drive that around with everything enabled.

 

The truth is irrelevant in this case. The perception was that the NSX was better than a 348 or at least close. That was an embarrassment to Ferrari and the owners. I think Ferrari had become complacent and this was a big wake up call.

Ferrari responded well and hasn't looked back!

 

Good point, Rorie...the SS also has a wider rear track than the standard 348, but I noticed a lot of FChatters with 348's take care of that with the spacers from Ricambi.

 

How did they make it wider ??

 

The track changed in that time....sorry to burst the bubble! (unless you really believe a 360 laps at the same speed as an F40, of course)

and..the truth IS irrelevant in this case....because the public perception is all that matters and THAT'S how the 348 will always be perceived....not as good as a Honda. Facts won't change anyone's mind now...just as it didn't then.

 

Steve, have a look here

Other improvements here (taken from the www.my348.com site)


http://my348.com/Ferrari348Enhancements.htm

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Or... you fill up the wheel wells the proper way, with tires, then drop it down to the ground and put the weight where it needs to be.

It would be wonderful if a car could be designed to work as well at 170 as it does at 70 but that is rather impractical until active suspension and aero came into play. This Mutt is very stable in the triple digit speeds but driving it around town..... that is a challenge. Luggage space, please, what do we need that for? One must consider that different alignment, rake and ride height spec's are used for different tracks with different calculated top speeds.

One must define the playing field and operating parameters then design for that.
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Mine did. I loved the look of the 348 from the time I was a wee little snotling. In the 5 years or so that I took to seriously research and consider what my first F-car would be, I of course came across the "worst Ferrari ever, blah blah" stuff. So, my perception went the other way and caused me to cross it off my list or a bit. Then, common sense took over and told me to make up my own mind about the car, so I added them to my test drive list. Not a single one I drove was a nightmare or the worst car I have ever driven. At the end of the search, I ended up with a very well prepared car that does everything I want it to do. Perception back where it should have stayed!

 

I guess you live in a different venue. To this day I have never met ANYONE who thought the NSX was better than a 348 Spider. A different car perhaps with different qualities, but I've never heard that negative mantra. I know he's part entertainer but Jeremy Clarkson couldn't wait to make fun of the NSX when compared to the 348. Anyway, I guess it's who you talk to ultimately.

 

I'm as sure as I can be. I remember reading "shorter.....a corner removed"? Long time ago.

My data shows 1.30 for both 360 & F40. And there's no way that would happen on the same track,I can assure you.

 

Apart from anything else, the CS is not on standard road tyres. Put an F40 on sticky tyres and see what happens!

Not taking anything away from a CS...very quick car.

p.s. you are wrong

 

Thanks for that.I was already aware that some cars had the track increased by 50mm through putting a 25mm larger offset on each of the rear wheels.I was under the impression that these wheels were only fitted to the very last of the line Spiders in the US market(I could be wrong).

That link also implies that the Euro GTB, GTS's and Spiders also had the wider track wheels but as far as I am aware they did not and I have a GTS and a Spider.

Might be interesting to get some wheel dimensions from different models to see exactly what went on ??

 

lol



but yeah.

 

LOL! That really tickled me.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Ask him about the first time he saw my 348.