348 over a 355 or 355 over a 348

I have an F430, among other cars. I had looked at a couple of 348's before purchasing the 430. It's truly an amazing car. And I own a few amazing cars!

That said, the 348 is a diamond in the rough. Part of the fun of a car for me is 'polishing the diamond', so to speak. The F430 is done, for me, bone stock. Nothing to do to it but maintain it. I have lowered cars, much faster cars, race cars, and motorcycles, too. The F430 does everything right - a practically perfect performance car!

I remember Count Montezemolo speaking so poorly of the 348 after he drove it. I learned in racing, years ago, that practically ANY car or bike can be made to perform WAY better than it did in stock form. Ferrari's have always been very 'tuneable' and as a result very responsive to setup. Of course this is a double-edged sword; get it right and you have a 'world beater', get it wrong and you have a 'pig'.

So when Montezemolo spoke so poorly of the 348, it immediately became an 'underdog' in my mind. It's a uniquely American trait to root for the 'underdog'. Just look at the number of Chicago Cubs fans or New Orleans Saints fans. Even my own background as an athlete and in business I was very much the 'underdog'.

When EVH's Ferrari became available for what I considered a reasonable price, I jumped. I have the resources to take a forgotten 'diamond in the rough' and make her into a famous little 'world beater'. I have a number of fantastic cars to 'benchmark' against in the development process as well as excellent technical personnel to help me achieve it.

Look out world, this little 348 is gonna ROCK when I'm done with her!
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Yes , the 355 is much faster , that is of course , when its not misfiring due to bad valve guides or whatever the issue of the day is , bad connectors , etc, handles much better , ( i'm sure the guys thay race their 348's will argue that one ) that is of course , when the adjustable shocks are working , much more comfortable , when the power top and power seats ( which are , i believe , exactly the same as the 348 )are working , dont forget sounds better , that is if course when the headers aren't blown out . And of course , is a completely different car ( this one is always my personal favorite ) ,just like a 911s is a completely different car from a 911. . Sorry , i've been following and couldnt resist any longer . Sooner or later , someone had to say it , might as well be me , lol . Dont call me a hater , i like the 355 , just wouldnt own it . Well thats not exactly true , i would condider it , but i'm a mechanic , i should say , if i was a guy who had to pay to have it worked on , i wouldn't own it . Dont take any offense , just my worthless opinion


1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

When I had to decide between a 348 and 355, the 355 prices started at $75,000 (a good one was well over $80,000), which was out of the range that I wanted to spend.

I also was scared off from the 355 from the horror stories of outrageous maintenance costs (not engine out major as the 348 is essentially the same, but the valve guides and headers)

The 355 is sexy, elegant, one of the most beautiful cars built in automotive history (IMO), but I am very happy with my 348.

 

Well actually no one "had to say it". You however, felt compelled to defend your car by slinging mud at F355 and 355 F1 owners. Look in the mirror, and if you're honest with yourself, you'll find the "hater".

 

Lol . The 348 can get crapped on all day , and we 348 owners take it , then point out a few well known facts about the 355 and its " mudslinging " . Lol
Btw , i said nothing about the owners , i pointed out some well discussed facts about the car
This is how civil threads turn ugly , when you create something that isnt there , i expressed a no attitue , and did not even mention anything about the f1 , youre obviously reading what you want to see instead of whats actually there in a failed attempt to start an argument and turn a good thread upside down . if were going to praise the cars strongpoints , lets also agree that it come with a price , some undeniable weak points . I dont think any 355 owner will argue the weak points i mentioned .

To use a term coined by another member " dont make go daverocks on you "
1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

Wow.......zanax?

 

Lol , i'm out


1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

John your post is legit without the sarcasm....its your opinion and thats ok.
My xanax comment was a polite way of saying chillax.

 

Have both, love both.

I know I would not own a 360.

 

You couldn't be more right!

Basically the typical day of me trying to drive my car is I'll wake up and re-pin the engine harness and sometimes remove the engine just to make sure the timing belts didn't fall off.

Once that's done and I drive right to the dealer so they can swap out the valve guides while I have lunch. From lunch I drive to a local fab shop and have the headers and shocks rebuilt.

This is pretty much the minimum daily maintenance to keep a 355 on the road. I'm happy most days if it doesn't start on fire. (which isn't too often)

I actually hired a driver and bought a 348 as a chase vehicle just so I can eventually get where I intended to go without constantly waiting for a tow truck.

 

Taken with a grain of salt . Lol . I 've said it before , i love them both . They both have ups and downs that what makes the dicussion so passionate . Great stuff !!!!


1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

The 348 has always been my least favorite Ferrari. I've collected 1/18th models over the years, and even smaller scale models. I have just about everything BUT the 348. The 355 lines are just gorgeous, the sound is just gorgeous, why would you own anything but a 355?!



Then I bought a 348 and my views changed completely. Love the car, the lines, and so much about them.

 

LOL...I was thinking the same thing. If you buy a 355 with the basics attended too the car is reliable...His post made it sound like these things are daily troubles. I'm taking the 355 out hope its just one thing to deal with today...hope its just valve guides or headers not both and pray I dont have another engine fire like yesterday I was an hour late meeting friends for dinner.

 

If its a spider you forgot to mention a few umbrellas for when the top wont raise . Lol

I was following a 355 once , damn valve guide flew out , landed on the road pierced a tire and gave me a flat . Obviously i was following the 355 , because my 348 is " much slower " lol lol lol

1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

Dont laugh , it could happen ! Lol
Just like the poor handling characteristics of my 348 could make me lose control and hit a bunch of children waiting for the school bus .

1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

Yes, constantly!

This is me on the way to cars and coffee.
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Dont tell me , not following the correct procedure to check the oil , splashed some on the blown out header and boom ! You know your insurance doesnt cover that . Lol


1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

No actually it was hot exhaust gases burning through the oil lines as once again the damn headers melted off the heads.

I'm actually developing a new asbestos based wax for 355 owners to help save the paint from all the engine fires.

 

Finally a thread with some humor , its been way too boring here lately
Damn now its thread about fires , at least we dont have to worry about that idiot from buffalo posting fire extinuisher spec sheets , or charts containing the heat resistance of differnt types of ,asbestos ,since he got himself perm banned

1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

Add me to the would-never-consider-a-348 category. Too ugly, too slow, too many unfortunate 80s styling and tech issues. If the 355 never existed maybe I'd think differently, but seeing as they're so close in overall form there's no way I'd choose the 348 over a 355 since the former looks like a cheapo version of the latter. It would be like choosing to date a supermodel's average looking older sister.

 

And i get accused of mudslinging


1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles

 

Danny Glover addressing Mr. Grafton ( from the movie flight of the intruder)
ALL WE REALLY GOT IN THIS WORLD IS EACH OTHER
That being said whatever Ferrari we have , we are blessed and part of the privileged few!!
After watching Magnum as a kid and seeing that Red 308 I said to myself -THATS ME!! I have to have that car!!!! And I did!!! I just had to wait another 30 years to get it !! LOL but true

 

Sick, sick, sick! And I love you for telling the truth. Maybe this can help get the prices down so I can get a Berlinetta to go with my Spider.

 

the average looking sister is probably a better lay . beauty is in the eye of the beholder . I f could call a lot of cars ugly ( has anyone in history ever bought a 911 for its looks ) but I won't . lol ooooppps . now i'll get called a 911 hater . I owned a couple . nice cars , but I certainly didn't buy em for their looks . great driver car , just not pretty

 

His sounds more like trolling instead.