348 over a 355 or 355 over a 348

He's a straight shooter, I can appreciate that and definitely not offended at all. Heck, I feel the same way about the Mondial. Beauty is subjective, there is no right or wrong.

The positive reactions I get while driving my 348 especially with people wanting to pose and take pics with is quite telling. The 355 is no doubt a beautiful car, but it comes with a price. If I could afford one I would most certainly buy one, but I would not be giving up my 348 to get it.

 

Big difference between a straight shooter and a **** stirrer.

Regarding offense, I own a 348 and a Mondial (my second) so "to each their own".

 

Shootfighter started a thread asking why we chose one car over another. I gave my answer and now I'm a troll and a sh*t-stirrer? I'm sorry I didn't respond to this thread in a manner befitting your viewpoint. From now on I'll be sure to ask your opinion before giving mine.

 

My reasons for getting a 355 as follows. I had a 328GTS at the time. Wanted to take a step up in performance. 348 was just too similar for me and didn't move the game on. 355 was a quantum leap faster, to me looked better, and to me sounded EPIC. The 360 was just coming out and didn't really like the looks at the time, although it has since grown on me (like many Ferraris they tend to mature like fine wines over many years&#8230.

At the time, I had no idea how 355 vs 348 stacked up on the maintenance front. I had friends with 348s as well as 355, so got to see both sides. To be honest, they are both quite delicate cars and need the $$$ spent on looking after them. The annual up keep bill was always eye watering, but then again, the 355 was and still is a highly strung thoroughbred. It is clearly more mechanically complex than a 348.

I kept mine completely stock with the exception of Pagid front pads and a Tubi de-cat exhaust. My god - you could hear that car from miles away and the sound was pure petrol head music the likes of which you will not hear in a newer Ferrari V8 in our lifetimes.

Would I do it again? I think I've moved on now and wouldn't go back, but I enjoyed every year of ownership and the memory of many of my epic drives (e.g to Monaco twice, Burgundy and the Champagne region) will last for ever.

 

nicely put . everyone will have their personal favorite , that's what makes the world go around ,and , as you have done so well, the preference can be expressed without using insulting words like " ugly " and so on . thank you , well done !

 

Fair Dinkum... I thought I was parochial, and biased about these cars.

Just buy the one you like the look of most.

I started out looking for a 348 because I loved the look of them and they were the "best" Ferrari I could afford. I knew all along that the 355 was a better car but that was irrelevent.

It turned out that I could afford a 355 after all. As long as I made the effort to import one (very long explanation mainly related to dopey Aus attitude to imports).

Bottom line is, the 348 is a stunning looking car and a well sorted example is a bargain in Ferrari world.
But, the 355 is a "better" car in virtually every respect unless you are particularly enamoured with the design of the 348.
To pretend that the 355 is not "better" is, frankly, a joke.

Just as I accept that a 360 is a "better" car than a 355, and a 430 is better again.
Etc.
Would I buy a 360 or a 430? Hell no.
They just don't appeal the same to me.
I'll happily accept the inferiority of the 355 because it appeals to me more.
But I'm not going to run around pretending that a 355 is "better" than them.

 

Not so fast there hot shot.

Better by what measure?

If you are solely using performance -
Sure the 355 is a step up in stock form. It's quicker, handles better, has more power, higher top speed, sounds better. So sure, in stock trim a 355 will out perform a 348.

Now if you are talking about better from a reliability aspect -
Let me rain on your parade, the 348 is the "more" reliable car.
Meaning less goes wrong, and, there are less THINGS that can go wrong with on 348s vs 355s. The things that do go wrong on 348s are usually less expensive to repair in total than what goes bad as a whole on 355s.

While the 355 my be a "superior" performer, it's the 348 that is has "superior reliability".

 

LOL!

 

LOL! And this...
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what good would it be , in terms of a race car, it could be the fastest , best braking, best handling car on the track , but if it breaks down 5 laps before the finish , is it really a better performer ?

 

Totally WRONG !!!!

You got 10 years I got 13 before our "required" belt change

 

true that brother

 

Or the "eye of the beer holder".

 

So here is my take. I like the 348.


1) The nose. I really like the nose of the 348 vs the 355. The 355 has that mid-90s jellybean stuff going on--too rounded, too contrived a bit. Too 456. Not ugly per se, but the nose of the 348 is just mean looking. I love it.

2) The interior. Some people diss the interior of the 348, but I like it. The door panels, especially in contrasting color, are amazing looking. I also prefer the dash to center console connection containing the two gauges and HVAC. I've never been a huge fan of Ferrari's "open" space under the dash where the console comes in.

3) Gauges. The 348 gauges are fantastic compared with the 355. The orange, the font--they just look the business. I've never been a fan of the 355 gauges, even back in the F355 Challenge video game days! haha.

4) Tail lights. I actually like the 355 rear taillights--but the 348 lights are mean looking....I like them, although I will say this is a tie between the cars.

5) Rear deck area. I strongly prefer the rear deck of the 348....it's clean and uncluttered--not contrived. The 355 rear deck has that little rounded flip up at the end that in my opinion sort of ruins the flowing lines of the original 348. Again, they are close here, but I really prefer the flatter rear deck of the 348.

6) Lack of power steering. The 348 is still raw. The 348 has some of the best steering on any production car per the motoring press.

7) The steering wheel. The classic non-airbag steering wheel is wonderful in the hand. The huge early airbag contained in the 355 is uhh.....one of the ugliest steering wheels I've ever seen?

8) Wheels. I don't know about you guys, but I've always liked the angular wheels of the 348. The 355s just don't do it for me, although I really like the 348/355 Challenge wheels the best.


Yes, I know the 355 is more refined, handles better, is faster, has 1000 rpm on the 348, has the best exhaust note, people like the lack of strakes in the side vents...etc...etc...etc....

However, I view the 348 as harkening back to the 1980s. The 355 is the start of the LDM-era jellybean.


And.........when I see a 348, I always think of this:
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You 355s need to show some respect for your father, the bad ass 348 with the comb over!

 

As much as I love my 348

Nothing beats the sound of the 355 clearing her throat in the morning LOL


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbDVofybJXY[/ame]

 

So well written Brian. The joining center dash looks great which really gives it a classy look and the doors inside the car look amazing as do the side strakes in my opinion.
I do like both the 348 and 355 but the cost of ownership is a huge factor if your on a lower budget.
Enjoy them guys!
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Haha! Great comment.

 

Data point just to expand the topic. Local guy here just bought a 360 Silver/beige Modena for 66K. As far as I know its a well sorted car.

 

Lol!

So out of everything I wrote about how much I like the 348 you still managed to take it as a criticism because I stated the obvious that the 355 is undeniably a better car?
As you say it's faster, handles better, sounds better, some say it looks better but that's up to the individual.... Surely these are the things that matter? We are talking about a Ferrari, after all. If you're not going to be interested in those qualities, you're in the wrong showroom!

I'm happy to admit that the 360 is a superior car again - I wouldn't buy one as I don't like the looks - but it is a better car.

Reliability? Give me a break. In that case I should have stuck with my old Camry: Most reliable car I've ever had, so it must have been the best.

Generally speaking, the only 355s that are really unreliable are those which have been poorly maintained.

 

And...as far as interior goes, check this out. Look 3 or 4 messages up to see that black/crema/red RHD interior of the 348.

And now look at this one...same interior basically but in a 355. The 355 interior just lets the car down a little bit.

And then finally.......check out what a beautiful interior the 348 can be when say, black and red. Those door panels and the center console just set off the car--not to mention the gauges and the steering wheel.

That's a huge reason why I really, really like the 348 more than the 355. The interior.
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Hahahahahahaaaa!!!

However, my water pump was the original from the factory which lasted 24 years. So neener neener neeeeeeener

 

YEAH BOSS!!!

In the Italian Grand Prix no less, and in front of the Ferrari home crowd.

 

Exactly!