One more vote for the slats. It keeps the cohesiveness of the design. IMHO, the 348 is wedgier a la the 308GT4 vs the more organic 308/328/355/360 (I should know - I once owned the ultimate wedge - a Giugiaro Esprit). The 512M represents the nadir of Ferrari/Pininfarina wanting to try to return to the original round tail light design for a car that was clearly not designed for one, and ended up with a Frankenstein look that would do Pimp-my-ride proud. For those who think that double round taillights represent Ferrari-ness, what does this mean now that the 599GTB has single round tail-lights? Somehow rather, I don't foresee 599GTB owners going for a double tail-light conversion 10 years down the road (but then again, pigs might fly). Perhaps a 348 could be mistaken for an Esprit from the rear, but then again, someone might mistake a double round taillight Ferrari for a C6 Corvette or Nissan Skyline? I know this is rather unlikely but my argument is simply that while the double round tail-light is definitely a Ferrari trait, the lack of it does not imply the car is less of a Ferrari, nor does having it imply that you are a Ferrari wannabe. It's a classic look that just keep repeating itself in various configurations (still not sure about the rocket-nozzle like version on the F430 and Enzo tho). Having said all that, at the risk of being a hypocrite, the "more organic" F355 wheels do seem to suit the 348 pretty well!
Btw, in case you guys didn't notice, the original poster also had done a similar post offering the conversion so this "poll" is a market research in disguise with a subtle solicitation.
I dont think the 355 was a step up,but then i dont think ferrari have taken a step up since the 348.i only drive at weekends and i want my drive to be special,so i want it to be about me driving the car, not how well the computer can drive the car.I went of the look of the rear lights very soon after buying the car, so i did something about it,i have since spent lots of money on my 348,that doesnt make it any less a 348 it just makes it a better 348, my car drives like a new car without all the electronic ****,its as fast as the new cars and handles better,it will nver be a 355 and thank **** for that. I dont know if the kits were made when i made mine but i designed and made mine myself which also made the car more special to me. I like 355s i just dont want one.
Hi VTC4198, I do like this set up too. The more I look at it the more I like it. I really do think it is the best of both world. Got the pic of a mate and believe to be a one-off custom job. From what I can see it shouldn't be that difficult to fabricate, anyone here handy? I will show it to a show and see if they can do it and how much. Anyone else interested? May be a group buy? Here's another pic. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Leave the graters on. Goes with the overall theme of the 348. If you dont like the graters on the back you might as well take them off the sides as well. But then you would have a 355, so you might as well buy a 355. JMO
Why mess with an original design? It seems to me that Pina wanted it this way so it should be left that way.
Yea leave the design alone. It dont mater that "pina"was having a bad day the day they designed the 348 now does itD
Perhaps he had a bad nightmare about a "certain un named car" the NIGHT before designing the 348's rear end.... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Round tail lights look good, but you lose a little of the original design...so what? The design is not perfect, I think the slate thing was overdone on the 348, design theme gone wild! look at the engine lid WAY too busy almost comedic in the lack of design thought (I am surprised they didn't put slates on the mirrors too!). BTW, shouldn't the folks that are against the tail light mod be against changing the original wheels?? Afterall to maintain the design package you shouldn't be messing with those either.
Having participated in this thread, and having my car be a sample of what this thread is about, I say ENOUGH, kill this thread.
Yes the brotherhood is thicker than water.. ur.. ur I mean tail lights. Once again we've shown that we can have differences in opinions with these things. However, in the end we are the BROTHERHOOD!! Image Unavailable, Please Login
For those of you who had missed it early on in this thread. Here is the REAR END of my 348 for you to enjoy! Image Unavailable, Please Login