FYI golf g60 zero to 60 was 7.8 seconds. Lets just call it like it is... He flat out didn't drive the 348 properly.
I do know the Mondial sales took a big hit, and I know that Luca said the 348 was rubbish and afterwards said it wasn't selling, but the 5 year waiting time (in fact in California) was during the 348 production run, taken directly from a magazine at the time. Here are some other quotes from magazines in '89 to '92 (ie basically before Luca came in) refering to 348 sales: "But it still competes, still does great business for Ferrari, which sold out of the planned production of the car long ago." "For what it's worth, right-hand-drive versions of the 348 should appear in March or April. If you were thinking of rushing out to place an order, don't let me put you off, but you may find that the nice man in your local Ferrari dealership will laugh." "That Maranello has successfully taken the 328, shaken it down, and made it modern in a way that appeals to an even wider audience has already been shown by the bulging order books." These are all from magazines on both sides of the 'pond'. I really could go on (but won't, don't worry ) but the reality is that up until LdM came in and said it was rubbish, 348 sales were far from poor. In fact the initial 100 SSs were sold out almost imediately, hence the second run of cars. Sales were not really hit all that much by the release of the NSX which was in fact released only a couple of months after the 348 (both were in production at least in '89). Yes there were financial issues at Ferrari, and LdM did a great job of turning that round, but the sale of the 348 wasn't really one of them. At least it really doesn't seem to have been prior to LdM taking over. Initially it seemed more like they couldn't come close to keeping up with demand.
Sorry, know this is 'old news' - those that have wanted to read this thread already have done - but something just occured to me so thought I would add it, for completness if nothing else. What was the last 2 seat Ferrari that, all things being equal, actually would have been beaten by a 1990 Mk 2 Golf GTI in a traffic light dash? Taking 0-60 as a pretty reasonable measure.......... Answer - The 1973 246 GTS Dino would just have just been pipped at the line, all things being equal. I say the GTS because even a 1969 246 GT was apparently quicker than a 1990 Golf GTI to 60 but the GTS was obviously heavier. That is how totally ridiculous LdM's story was. Still, made for good 'print', and appealed to lots of people at the time who could go out and buy a Golf but not a Ferrari. What a pillock.
Indeed. Possibly because he's said them ......... again and again and again. To be fair I was looking at the viability of what he said - not his opinion or whether or not I agreed with it. Quite frankly, did he merely make it all up. Then repeat it every time he wanted to make his time at Ferrari look even better. Some context? The Ferrari 348 is far closer in performance off the line to your 458 spider than it is to a 1990 Golf GTI - far far closer. Now if I said I had a drag race the other weekend and blew away a 458, couldn't stay with me, I think you might just call my bluff. Luca's story about his 'race' is even more absurd than that. Look at the numbers, have a think. Why in the world did anyone ever believe it.
Because if there were ever an expert on Ferraris, it would be LdM. In essence he was saying he's not drinking the Ferrari 'cool aid:' that just because it's a Ferrari, it's the best. So he made sure that the following Ferraris were not merely good, they were the best in the business. The 348 'story' was just to illustrate that point. I personally disagree as if you look at the v8 (and dino) history, it was never purported to be a 'supercar' in performance. Until the 355, the v8 model was always well below the v12 models in performance. Compare a 308 (even a fiberglass carb'd car) to a BB, a 328 to a testarossa or a 348 to a 512TR and there was always a large gulf in performance, so I don't know why LdM thought that was odd. A dino or 308 would all get creamed by any number of cars being made in straight line performance. With the 355, though, that changed. They were also raised in price accordingly, which I think takes a little away as the dino/v8 started as a lower priced alternative sportscar to the v12 supercars. Now they are all super expensive 'supercars', and that's fine but I think takes a bit away, romantically, from the marque as they used to make really good sportscars alongside the supercars. Now they're all technological masterpiece supercars, they've just diced the supercar market up as finely as they can (and are making loads of money at it, so it looks like the right financial choice if not emotional).
Bob, thanks for that. The only things I would slightly debate if that's ok, and it is relavent, is the model in production at the time when the 348 came out was the latest iteration of the Testarossa, not the 512TR. And for the first time the V12 was not actually noticably quicker than the V8. Like you said, that was a big change. Just have a scan over the numbers - 0-60, 1/4 mile, time round Fiorano - whatever you like really, the introduction of the 348 saw a V8 catching up with the V12 for the first time. Only other thing was, hope you don't mind, but in real terms a 348 cost almost precisely the same as a 458 does today. At least looking at UK prices in both cases.
The 348 and 512TR overlapped directly (both ended in '94) and the 355 and 550 overlapped. Heck, the 348 with 355 wheels even looks exactly like a 512TR, just shrunk a bit. Technically the top v12 was the 512M when the 355 was introduced, but it was in it's final year so the 550 is the natural comparison.
Can someone please tell me what the 348 does on the 1/4 mile. I have asked this many times before but I never get the same number. I had a 996 turbo and 996 c2 , both quick cars. I sold them to buy a 348/355 and chose the 348. Side look I never had the chance to drive my car yet, no idea if it's fast enough to scare me. What I can say is that I had the opportunity to race a 348 with my 996c2 at the time and the 348 never left my site always next to me. I could not lose him at all. My Porsche was a 4.9 12.9 1/4 mile car on the book. So the golf it's silly to compare. Now is it possible that a 348 does 14.1 on the 1/4 mile ? That's slower than a 93 mustang lx ! This speed thing worries me with this car, I know it's not a drag car but tell me it's faster than a golf Nothing looks or sounds like the famous 348/355. Please help me sleep.
LDM never raced a GTI. Just a story he made up to build the myth of the man who took the company back from the abyss. I call BS.
Ok Bob, not going to go round and round this, the point I was making was that the models in production when LdM took over were in fact the 348 and the Testarossa. Those were the models in production at the time of his 'rant' as well as the alleged race, as it happens. He immediately (like that month - he didn't hang about I'll give him that!) ordered big changes to both models which resulted in sweeping changes to the 348 that month on the production line, and the Testarossa was immediately replaced with the 512TR. It actually appears that production of the Testarossa was practically suspended until the the 512TR came in. He seriously updated both models, primarily handling on the 348 but primarily everything on the Testarossa - steering, suspension, engine.
He did indeed. But isn't this in itself kind of what I'm getting at. If I got beat by a Golf GTI it might be believable (still not gonna happen mind). But a racing driver in a car that my granny could blitz a Golf in? Really? All this thread really was, was not to ask whether LdM was right in not liking the 348, that's been done sooooo many times. It was to look at the reason he time and again gave - to look at it together with the numbers and simply ask how in the world could it have happened. The press lapped it up but frankly it's nonsense. p.s. Sorry for earlier, chill pill taken
It' all right because Nosey reposts his own comments over and over and over again zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz And let's be honest here, WGAF what LDM or indeed anyone else says about the 348.As owners we know it's Ferrari's best keep secret as one of the most under rated Ferrari's ever.
Steve, you ARE alive! Was worried for a moment there. I posted something over on CS yesterday that you didn't comment on, was worried about you. Second part's spot on though.
Don't worry Dazz, take more than my friendly 'cyber stalker' to do that. Would miss him if he wasn't there, popping up each time I post.
One last thing, then I'm done - golf course beckons (can almost hear Steve's sigh of relief ). Luca obviously made some comments about the 348, we all know that, and he centred the whole thing on an anecdote about a race where he was left in the wake of a hot hatch. In all the accounts I've seen, searches of forums including this one, articles that regurgitate the story, I have never once seen anyone actually look at the cars involved and ask if it is conceivable that it could have actually happened. Another member started a thread asking how fast is a 348, I thought this donstrated it pretty well. I think about 15 members have commented (one merely to say he's read all about it before - still can't find where on Fchat, maybe the search feature is as bad as they say it is) so I guess some people have an opinion on it. Anyway, snow's gone, it's well above freezing now (don't want to know what temp it is there, Daz!) so I'm back on the course.
If you had a 996 turbo, the performance of a 348 or a 355 is going to disappoint you. The Porsche turbo has supercar performance. However, in style the 996 wouldn't win and that is even within the Porsche community.
that is why i chose the 348, the looks are incredible compared to a 996 turbo or c2. i am just wondering if a 348 can keep up with a 996. if so i will be very happy
