348? TR? Which is right for who?

Boy isn't that the truth. I began explaining which "model" my car was to someone the other day and immediately their eyes glazed over. Most people think my 328 is NEW!!!

And yes, I did get the old "Ferrari? Who makes that?" already. Gotta love it.

Wes

 

I've had a TR and a 348Spider. Get a TR. And, I'm surprized about how much some of you guys pay for service. I put over 50k miles on my TR in 4 years and had one major service at a cost of around $5k by former Ferrari dealer service manager. . And that service included having the entire engine and cam covers refinished. The only "problem" I ever had with my TR was a clutch slave cylinder that needing replacing for a few hundred bucks. If you guys are paying $12k for a major, send the car to me and I'll get it done for you and pocket the extra $6k plus!

 

By chance, were you on Larchmont a few days ago?

 

I was all over the place last Sunday - which neighborhood? I'm thinking it wasn't me but not sure.

Cheers
Kevin

 

It was Monday, as I was en route to BofA at 100 N block. So, that must have been someone else - possibly 348 that was on Hollywood Center Studios Lot for several weeks. Though it was quite bright out, color seemed tad lighter compared to pics I've seen of yours.

 

Wax - definitely wasn't me. Drove more pedestrian motor on Monday.

Cheers
Kevin

 

I completely agree! Most people I talk to have never even seen a 348 let alone a TR. All they know is that it is a Ferrari. I get more than enough attention in my 348. In fact, I wish I got a lot less. I have been driving the same streets for two years now and people still stare. I also think the 348 is a better value. They have a bad reputation which is completely false. That has made them much cheaper than they should be. As far as how it sounds and drives, there is not much that sounds better than my little V8 wound up at 6500rpm and I can assure you there is not many cars that will out handle it. As far as daily driveability and maintenance is concerned, you can do most of the work yourself and the car is very dependable. I have been driving mine every day for two years and it has been just as dependable as my last car. You will have to be careful about the front end. I have had to repair mine several times as it is easy to scrape it on things like speed bumps. Trust me when I tell you though that the 348 is a pile of performance for the money.

 

Push it to 7K+...even better!!!

Cheers
Kevin

 

I use my 348 spider as a daily driver (sunny days only), and it does a great job. It's very reliable and definitely turns heads. I really wanted a convertible and was moving up from a 328 GTS. I didn't really consider a TR because I was looking for a convertible. I'm very happy with my 348, but a TR would be a nice addition someday.

I'm definitely going to need a bigger garage to support my addiction. Oh yeah, and a bigger paycheck!

 

Speaking of screaming engines......

My 328 has a redline of around 7800 rpms. Do you guys know what the redlines are of the 348's and early TR's?

Wes

 

348 is the same. There is nothing like that sound! Bwahhhhhhhhhh.....

 

That's surprising since according to the FNA website:
the 308QV made peak power at 6800 rpm
the 328 made peak power at 7000 rpm, and
the 348 makes peak power at 7200.
So, you would have thought the redline would be moving around, but then again, the early 308's made peak power at 7700 rpm...wow!

The TR is somewhat less at a lowly 5750 rpm.

So if it's a screaming engine you want, then that's something to consider.

Wes

 

That sounds right - peak power on a 348 up over 7K, with redline a little beyond that. The car really starts to pull around 5.5K - 6K. There is nothing like it.

 

When shopping for my car, I looked at several TR and drove several of them some with after market exhuast such has tubi and others stock. I can tell you that they sound great and feel great but are not at all tossable, sorry to you TR owners out there, IMHO a 348 can be tossed around so much more easily and it my opinion the handling is a little more tighter. But the deciding factor was I wanted an open top, so a 348ts for me. A TR will cost you alot more to service, anywhere in the USA, make no mistake about it. By the way WAX I was on Larchmont on Monday heading south on Larchmont from Beverly to 3rd. But then again I have a silver 348ts.

 

Well, both the TR and the 348 are good at something...

 

Good stuff - not sure if you've seen the personalized license plate thread, but I have "GR8S CHZ" coming for my 348 spider!!

Cheers
Kevin

 

Wes, if I were you, playing in the vast expanses of Manitoba, I would get the TR... size isn't as much of an issue, you've already had a V8, and you will get the full V12 'supercar' experience with the Testarossa.

That's just my preference between the two, FWIW.

 

I hadn't seen that - that's hilarious!!

I should say I do have a special place in my heart for 348's, as the first Ferrari I ever sat and rode in.

 

I was in this same dillema last year. After looking at dozens of 3X8s and TRs I narrowed my choices to three examples. I found a perfect 4K mile 1992 348ts, but it needed a major service. Then I considered a flawless, 1 owner red on black 1989 328GTS with only 1000 original miles. Obviously that also needed a major service. Finally I found a perfect 15K mile 1990 TR that had the major completed. These three cars were all around the same price. I asked many Ferrari owners, and several Ferrari techs which was the best car of the group. The feedback I recieved from those I asked was basically the same thing that everyone has said here. The TR is not as "tossable" or "street friendly" as the 3X8s, in fact it "drove like a truck". However, the 12 cylinder engine has a lot more power and if I wanted performance comparable to my friends Vipers and 400hp Cobra Mustangs, the TR was the only choice. I love all Ferraris, from 275GTB4s to Mondials, but since I was a kid the TR was always the top dog. It was the TR, not the 348 that I had posters of on my wall. I guess you could say I bought with my heart, not my head as that flawless 328 GTS has just been serviced and is now selling for $15K more than I was going to pay for it.

 

Very well said, Alexander.

Thanks!
Wes