So what's up with this 348?

I'm not even sure where to start. So many modifications there is no way to tell what makes it look "off". How bout all of them? To each his own, but this one will have a hard time finding a buyer with the same kind a taste for anywhere near what a typical 348 goes for.

 

While at it, the owner should have replaced the door side vent to F355 ones to make it more natural look.

 

Is that a Civic under there? Seriously, I'm not sure why you'd do this to a timeless and beautiful car. But to each his own. I don't think they swapped the body panels due to damage necessarily - looks like just the owner's taste (or lack of, in my opinion). But the driver's left-hand popup light looks to be sitting oddly, too - maybe just bad fitting with the after-market hood or possibly damage there?

As for it's mechanical quality, I'm only a newbie so I'm nowhere near qualified to say. However, the comment about having a receipt for the 30k service is troublesome considering there's no mention of how long ago the service actually was - 1 year ago or 5? The car now has 37k miles. The owner may have been more interested in big chrome wheels versus maintenance.

 

I love the Phillips screw in the middle of the passenger door panel... Nice!

 

You mean that's not OEM? What the heck is the air intake modification in the engine bay. It's strange looking and doesn't seem to be directly connected?

 

What's he done with the air intake ie airbox etc? Can't see how that helps get air into the engine as if you're going along surely you get a bit of natural 'boost' from the air being forced into the intakes? Seems a tad pointless .......

 

I don't mind the mods at all. Maybe not what I would do, but I want my 348 to look like mine, not exactly like the one parked next to me. Changing the seats to lighter components definitely saves weight and therefore improves performance. The 355 front bumper may have better aero and definitely provides ducts for brake cooling. The round taillights are a Ferrari signature, tho I prefer the 348 rear grille with cheesegraters. The intake system is sold as performance enhancement, but I agree with Nosevi. I'd go back to near stock there.

 

Looks like an MR2 Replica. Agree with as already said this car will struggle to find Ferrari enthusiast home.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was some historic events that have happened to that car for it to have had so many panels replaced and mixed and matched.

 

The doors have obviously been really badly recovered or something - the pleats in the upper inside door cards are not done properly but the foam or whatever underneath the leather clearly still has the grooves in it. Can't work out what the screws in this bit could br for?!?

 

Poor bugger....clear case of 355 wannabe syndrome. Just couldn't quite afford the real thing...!

I've seen this before in the rare tropical cases of GTO wannabe syndrome. You know the ones with the Datzun 240Z's only thats a much more severe illness than this one !!

 

Lol

 

It will suck *hawt* air directly from the engine bay.

 

Yep got that but just thought that this would be a bad idea because:

A. Air going through the normal intakes is forced in by the fact you're traveling into it which would surely be better.

B. The hotter the air you take in the less power you get out. Because cold air is more dense you're effectively putting more air in if it's cold. Also with hot air going in, because there is less difference in temp between the temp when it goes into the cylinders and the temp when you ignite the air fuel mix, you get less expansion during the explosion thus less power.

All in all, bit of a daft mod IMO. If you want less restriction just open up the existing intake and exhaust routes. If you feel the need for some 'ram induction' put a fan in that route but before you do, do a little test. Drive along at say 70 mph then stick you hand out the window. It's going to have to be one hell of a fan to do anything other than slow that air flow down. While fan units you can stick on may give you an extra bhp or so when you're stationary, I pretty much guarantee they'd have the opposite effect if you could measure it at speed.

 

...........sorry to say but I think very little thought or investigation went into that air intake mod other than the perception that it might look good !! I agree with previous comments the effect in performance will be nothing but negetive for the reasons (obvious to most) given above !!

Highly likely the next owner will put it back to original !!

 

That car looks like a Ferrari abortion

 

I dunno. Kinda on the fence still.

I asked the dealer to drape the rear view mirror with some gold chains. I'd have to see some pics of this to make up my mind.

 

Would have to be fake gold chains, obviously ........