348 vs 355 Value for money comparison

thats real nice to insult my wife,!!! dont worry we all think your be
348 is beautiful ..dont be so touchy, and if you read my quote i didnt say anything about the 348 being rosanne barr!!! i had a deposite on the 348 in 1993!!! someone stated that looks are subject and i made a joke about 2 famous woman and you get insulted about your car..relax and dont so insecure...we all love all ferraris and all things ferrari or else we would not be members here!!!!

 

I dont like it when people make ridiculous comments. So I make ridiculous comments back. Ya know, the ol' saying "ask a stupid question...."
You need to phrase your words better if you miscommunicated what you were trying to say. I lot of people would have taken the same interpretation of your post as I took...and what was your point by saying...

"i totally agree, looks are subjective...and Rosanne Barr is better looking than Heidi Klum!!!! "

..that extreme cases causes things to be less subjective? I think we all know that.

If you want to make a fair comparison (I know, I know....you werent trying to compare them in the 1st place, but this is how I compare them) how about this....
"If the F355 is Pamela Anderson, then the 348 is Carmen Electra"

Everyday some posts about how the dont like the 348, or this about the 348...or that about the 348...couldnt care less...let them all bash it...maybe it drive the price even lower that way I can buy another one. All of us 348 guys are used to it...but to incinuate (have no idea how to spell that word) what you did....thats when i gets beyond opinion and to the point of just plain rude.

 

In almost every way the Ferrari 355 was superior to the 348. The 348 had a little more reliability issues I think, and the 355 is quite a good increase in performance. Overall, the 355 is the more refined, and fun car to drive. It will also have a better resale value in the future. The 348's prices have just about bottomed out.

 

i'm of the opinion that 348 spiders could eventually settle in the mid 50s.

john

 

I personally like to compare the 348 to the 355 in many aspects. However, one thing that has never been mentioned nor discussed (not that I am aware of), is the interior of these 2 models. I would especially like to hear you guys' opinions on the speedometer. I personally liked the red illumination as compared to the 355's green or the newer models for that matter. I think the red is classic and sporty although it may looked a little dated to some. Maybe Ferrari should have maintained the red illumination while modernizing the dials through the years. What are your thoughts on this?

 

As for reliability issues, I have driven 9k since March of 04, no real engine issues, but I have replaced a transmission and hub. But again, it is a challenge car with drop gear and upgrades. 600+ miles 4 weeks ago, 700+ three weeks ago, all in the Blue Ridge mountain area, and 375 yesterday, some of it in the ice and rain. The lack of power steering feels awesome. What ever you get, just drive it!

 

i have a 348, and i am in love with it, never drove a 355, for that fact never drove any other type of ferrari. but i do know its a great car and like alot of people say , any ferrari can be tempermental. all depends on how well the previous owners took care of it. its all what your preference is my friend. i did not buy mine for an investment i bought to fulfill a dream i ve always had..

 

Along with some of the issues mentioned that are additional maintence items on the 355, how about the power/automatic convertible top vs the 348 which is manual? I bring this up since this spring I'm going to have to dump a couple grand into the power top on my 12 year old 911 (under 20K miles, similar to many Ferraris of the same vintage). If I'm spending that much to replace the motors/cables on my 911, I can only imagine what it would cost on a ferrari (and I have read other's post woes with the 355 top, similar to reading postings on the power tops on 10+ year old porsches on the porsche forums). Just an additional potential expense to note.

I still love the 355 spider and have contemplated the same as you for as an eventuall goal to jump into F-car ownership (348 vs 355). Since I'm still a ways off, I leaning to the 355 which may move down in price a little more over the next couple of years, but as of today the lower price of the 348 makes it a tougher decision for you.

If you can swing it, I think I'd still go for the 355 as of today, but based on my experience driving a 348 spider for a day on my honeymoon- (rented it for 6 hours in Hawaii), you're getting an awesome car either way.

 

MY vote is 355 all the way. The 348 I think has many more electronic issues and wiring problems and the 355 has those things corrected. The 355 is a great track car and hanles like a dream. The sound is the best. The engine just puts out the right music.

 

While the 355 is faster, the 348 looks better and has less reliability issues than the 355...The 355 has the header problems,valve problems and electric top problems which are way more expensive to repair than the minor electrical issues the 348 sometimes has. The 348 sounds much better too...without those trouble prone exhaust bypass valves. At the current market prices, the 348 is the better buy.

 

I'm in same boat looking for a 348 or a 355. My situation is a bit different as intend on keeping the car.

I originally wanted a 348, then I was dead set on the F355 after I heard all about the problems of a 348. Then as I starting digging - I was warned of valve guide problems and other major issues with early 355's which were in my price range.

So now what? Finding a good example of either will take work. It seems that people want to unload them before a major service. So take your time. I personally think that the problems with 348's (late model 348's are apparentyly much improved over early versions) and 355's are overstated. If you find a car that has been maintained you should be ok.

You should be willing to accept the fact that the car may need a repair that could cost 5k, 10k, or even 15k. This is why I decided with a 348. I love the 355, but I also love the 348. So instead of using all my spending money on purchasing the car, I bought the 348 and have money just in case something goes wrong. I've always wanted one of these cars and I do not want to regret buying it. So if it does break and I have to fix it - at least I am expecting to.

Also, the only people who seem to think the 348 is less Ferrari than others, are Ferrari owners. How many Ferrari owners to you see on a daily basis? And if it is less Ferrari - who cares. It's still a Ferrari and despite what anybody says on this forum it is a beautiful car. Maybe not next to a 355, but next to just about anything out there on the road.

Good luck.

 

good point, the power stop on the 355 is a disaster!!! it s rare that someone doesnt have a problem with it....give me a simple manual top, esp on a ferrari, except of course the 360 top, which is a very good power...

 

well said!!!

 

I have a 1984 308QV GTS. No experience with a 348 or 355. I read the 348/355 post.


I would go with the 348. Have money in the bank for a 348 transmission. The 348 tranny seams to be the weak link. The radiators seem to have problems too.

Do a search on Ferrarichat ernie.
If you were leaning towards the 355 for style only.
You could always remove the 348 door side rakes and buy the 355 style rear tail light kit
There has been at least one 348 on this forum that had the door rakes removed.

I do think the 348 is more reliable and they are priced around $40k

Good luck in your search.

Charles

 

Agreed. Also, I wouldn't be worried about buying an earlier 348 if it has been maintained and upgraded, and there ARE examples out there that have benefited from meticulous owners. My 348 was with the same owner for 20 years, and he consistently upgraded the car and maintained it very well. I a/b-ed 348s and 355s and found that the rawness of the 348 is much more fun. I even really enjoyed driving a 348 spider I checked out, and I'm NOT a convertible person.

Unfortunately, the automotive press that the 348 initially received is taken, by many, as gospel, whether they have direct experience with both models or not. My advice is drive both and make up your own mind. Really, the cars are pretty darn similar in terms of aesthetics, main differences being the taillights and the lack of strakes on the 355. But the lines are so similar, I'm not sure how anyone could call a 348 ugly and a 355 beautiful.

As for power, I've never really worried much about that. I guess I'd still be driving my C6 if I did The feel is the deal. You can get into plenty of trouble in any of these cars.

 

That was from 6 years ago

 

Wow...I really need to start looking at the top left corner!

 

Whoah. 6 years indeed.

 

A lot stays the same - just change £ to $

I think the topic is still relevant - I personally like the style of the 348 over the 355 and even though I was told to stay away from the 348, I'm enjoying mine.

Erik

 

I have driven both on many days and I would still take a 348 over a 355. No power steering in a 348 makes it more fun. I like the looks of the 348 better, but I am in the minority I believe on that one. I also believe that the 355 as cool as it sounds (it is one of the best sounding Ferrari's ever) is too much like a "normal" modern driving car to me.

They are both very unique cars in today's world though, and all Ferrari's are fun to own so pick the one you like and go for it.

MB

For the record I used to own a 348 but sold it to add cash in pocket for business and now own a 308QV. If I bought another Ferrari it would likely be a 348.

 

One problem I see is going into an older used Ferrari for one year as a "step on the ladder". (Up to a Daytona? Up to a 458?)

You will tend to be "debugging" an older Ferrari after buying it, and the 348/355 era saw an increase in the complexity and cost of spares.

If you want value for the money in the sense of being able to buy and enjoy the car for a year without major investment, I would suggest a 328. If you need more cabin space, the 348 Spider is also a good choice -- perhaps the best sorted of the 348s. The manual top is dependable, whereas the 355 convertible top is complicated and can be troublesome.

Your criteria:

a) Desirability/ Street cred: The 308/328 series is universally liked, pseudo-classic. 348 has admirers and detractors, styling is polarizing. 355 still looks good (actually better than what came later) and modern-ish despite pop-up headlamps. There is still a part of the Ferrari community that regards the 348 as poorly designed/built -- the cars were improved over time, and the reputation is probably worse than the actual problems, but FWIW the 348 isn't the most cherished Ferrari.

b) Resale value: 328 market is solid. 355s probably have some depreciation remaining and can scare off buyers due to being potentially the most expensive V8 Ferrari to maintain. 348 market is soft, but obviously that helps you as a buyer and you should get back whatever you spend, apart from repairs.

c) Fun Value: All are great - I like the go-kart feeling of the 328 with none of the electronics/ABS, but the 355 is a full second faster 0-60 and feels it. If I could buy one with a lifetime warranty and free servicing, a 355 GTS with a manual gearbox would be a very tempting car. But a 328 GTS with the top removed is wonderful -- not so fast that you're bored on public roads, but makes all the right Ferrari sounds and has one of the best driver's cockpits I've ever been in.

d) Maintanance cost: 328 - generally very low; 355 - potentially very high; late 348 somewhere in between unless the gearbox gives up.

e) Overall value for money: Considering resale and probable ownership costs, 1. 328; 2. 348 Spider; 3: 355 manual; 4; 355 paddle shift

f) Any other points that I've missed: As others have said, buy what you like after a test drive. One thing to decide is whether you like classic (stick shift, unassisted steering, minimal amenities, body-on-frame construction) or modern (unit body, much faster, electronic driving aids, climate control, etc.) If it's a weekend toy, I like a minimalist sports car. If it's to drive daily or on long trips, "classic" can get old fast and a 348/355 will be more comfortable. With the 360 the cars became borderline luxurious.

 

I have a 1995 348 Spider and moved up from a 1985 308 QV.
I also test drove a 355, the manifolds and F2 tranny as well as other repairs on the 355 scared me. I also loved the looks of the 348 Spider and didn't feel the added horsepower of the 355 meant that much difference to me.
I have to say I love my 348 and was looking to move up to a 360, after careful consideration I have decided to keep my 348 as I have made many impovements and do not want to start all over again. I know exactly what I have. The best would be to test drive both and decide after that, It may be an easier choice then you think once you test drive them
Good Luck

 

I read all three pages and until I saw your post didn't realize this was an old thread. I wonder which he got and if he sold it and got something else?

 

Not much point in my comments then unless others could benefit, so what the hell here goes!!
This was my position last year as to which to go for 355 or 348, so I spent three months reading all the info I could get my hands on and made a decision to go for the 348 Spider. Mainly because I wanted a drivers car not one with all the electronics associated with the 355 as that's the way I like to drive, and boy is it good FUN !!!!
It also seemed desirable to buy a later car and the Spider I found was a late 1994 build registered in 1995 with at the time 17500mls on the clock.
My main purchase since has been to the exhaust which as standard seemed rather quiet and boring !! To liven things up a bit then I purchased two Hyperflow cats and a Tubi box, now I spend a much time as possible with the top down in the tunnels on the A55 between Angelsea and the mainland !!
So for me it's a 348 Spider !!