In your opinion which car is cheaper to up keep? 348, 355 or the Testarossa? I'm thinking it's the Testarossa!
This brings to mind the comment, "If you have to ask . . ." That said, I think it would depend entirely on several factors. What kind of shape the car is in, how hard it has been driven, and how was the maintenance preformed previous to your ownership. Bob Wassam
In this case, I believe you would be splitting hairs here because none are cheap to maintain to begin with.
If you are talking just maintenance, it's the 355 because they don't need valve adjustments which also means cam seals don't need replacement unless they are leaking. However, other issues are certainly the subject for debate as they relate to overall cost of ownership. Dave
If all cars are brand new , it seems the 355 has alot of scary components that are trouble spots. Manifolds, valve guides . The 348 has gear box problems (correct me if I'm wrong please) the testarossa just has the major services, which all three has.
"Just the major" - hmm, I think you have not owned one of these. +1. I do not think there would be much either way between servicing these 3. And as Bob has said, the condition of the car will have a much higher impact than the model type. Onno
My 90 Testarossa didn't give me any trouble after the major. But i keep reading horror stories about the 355...so i'm thinking I'll pass on a few I've been looking at and maybe try a 348 this time around. I can't see that you guys think they are all very close.
It's hard for me to believe that any 12 cylinder car is as cheap to maintain as an 8. I say the TR by a nose.
I think it really boils down to how the individual cars are treated and maintained. I'm sure overall costs on the TR are going to be more just because it's a 12cyl. I think all Ferraris have problems unique to a specific model but again a lot of it has to do with how it's maintained. I have heard and read the horror stories on 348's gearboxes, electrical and a host of other problems. I personally have not had anything big go wrong with mine or leave me stranded on any trip. My big expense for this year was an alternator tensioner bearing just a week ago. Of course, there is no guarantee that something won't go wrong in the future. I'm very confident in my car and that is because of the way I stay on top of maintainence. I sure hope I didn't jinx myself with this post.
given all 3 engines have to come out for service...labor will be the same....its the parts that wil cost...that said i think the 355 parts maybe a tad more expensive...and the TR next and the 348 last...given that all 3 of these **** boxes are all in the same price bracket now used in the 50K range (for a low average driver) i would purchase the TR...it is the supercar of the 80s and for the same money why wouldnt you want to be in a 12 ferrari over an 8.
Pricing for parts on the 30K all the same http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=60 http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=261105 http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=163
why do people keep saying that? it's not true in the case of the 355 at least. Confirmed in my Ferrari Service Times manual.
i haven't owned the two V8s, but have owned 2 testarossas. if they are well kept by previous owners, expect nothing but routine maintenance and replacement of old parts. this assumes you don't abuse the car and fix things when needed. i bet it's the same with the V8s, so all in all, these cars are probably very close. (assuming you don't have the valve guides, cats and manifolds all go bad, then you have a one time huge expense for the 355).
i would love to see your pics of a 355 having a belt and tensioner services without removing the engine...please post i havent seen it yet....thanks
Remember those pics of Sameer's subframe on the 348 from an 'engine-in service'? Man, that was horrific!
I agree...they all have to come out...I was told that the 348 doesn't necessarily have to (don't know about the 355 or TR) but it is very difficult to do it properly with the engine still in....my opinion is remove the engine and do it right, or sell your Ferrari and buy a Honda, that way you won't have to about the engine coming out for a major.
None if not sorted/in great shape: But in the order you gave, that is what you can expect. 348, then 355, then TR
Testarossas are expensive because everyone says they are expensive and the shops and dealers are more than happy to help the car live up to those expectations. They should be the cheapest of the three. They are the easiest of the three by far to do a major, they break the least and have the least service issues of the three.