348 owners don't "upgrade". A word of warning.

Too kind Sir !

 

Roberto,
Your 348 is one of the best I've seen on the road!
Cheers,
Marc

 

Funny you said "part 334"

Here is the plate on my 1933 Ford.
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Marc, I dunno what else to say! "WOE BE UNTO YOU WHO TRIES TO DEFY ALL THE LOGIC OF NUMBERS!"

Way too strange brother, way too strange.

 

Maybe I shall not do something about that???? Just stay put and not buy a newer F-car.

Even the guys in the 360 forum thinks the 348 is more reliable than their cars.....

I will wait and see if I can find a nice one to a competitive price.

//B//

 

Amen to the OP. Just yesterday a woman next me at a red light asked me "is that fun to drive?" to which I replied "absolutely" and then she responded "it looks very fun to drive".

 

??? I normally agree with you, but the build quality of modern cars is quite exceptional. I do prefer classics cars. I think modern cars pale in comparison in the design department, but there are so many regulations that have to be considered you just can't create another classic like an E-Type or 308 for that matter. I see your point that many cars are a dime a dozen ... but so were Mustangs in the 60's and it seems like that worked out ok for the collector car market. There are future classics in the cars being built today, hard to imagine, but it will happen.

 

Actually the 348 quality issues is not beyond argument. In fact it's becoming less and less of an issue as the years roll by.

I remember when I bought my 348, about 5 or 6 years ago, that's all I heard was what crap the 348 was and how the 355 was soooo much better. A few years go by and I hear a little less about the 348 and more about how the 355 is crap. In those 5 years the "348 is crap" chatter has died down a bit, and I imagine in 10 years time it will be gone all together. Time fixes everything.

I could create a huge list of problems from various classic Jags that were present when they rolled off the assembly line. Today they are considered quirks that add character to the car. This actually gives the owner a greater sense of pride in ownership because he/she has to become more connected and have a better understanding of the car. The 348's problems will be the same thing. Many of the 348's problems will have been addressed by the time the car is 30 or 40 years old so it won't matter anyway.

The new stuff's build quality is so high that you'll never have these little quirks, which gives the car less personality. That being said I doubt any 30+ year old Ferrari will lack personality.

So you can say what you want about the 348's issues, just know as time goes by nobody is going to care.

 

The raw package is what I enjoyed about the 348 for 20 years. The only modern Ferrari replacement I could see was a CS... and after driving one, I was sold. It reminded me very much of my old F40.

 

I never ceased to be amazed how many words are written on the "348 is a good car - honest!" debate! There seems to be no other Ferrari which seems to need so much ego massaging than a 348. So many owners try to convince others and themselves, it would appear, that this car is somehow misunderstood - that its shortcomings (which they admit it has) are, in fact, some kind of virtue and with the passage of time they will not exist. I had a 348 - now I have a 355. I have never regretted the change for so many reasons.

Nothing wrong with comparing any car to another but I cant help feeling there is different agenda when it comes to the 348.

 

Hi John
Glad you are happy with your decision. To each, his own. I love my 348 and do not feel the need to change, ever. I've driven a few 355's and find them "differant" and not of my persuasion. Not "bad" mind you...just differant.

EVERY car has it shortcommings including the 355. The 348 ones are those I'm happy to live with.

 

I bought my 348 souly for it's looks. It's one sexy car! Sure it's not the fastest. Sure it's not the most practical, etc.

It's like dating the hot chick. She might not make the best match, but who cares!

Nuff said

 

Darn! I hate to admit you have a point ... But hey its still a Ferrari and i loved mine. It made mi heart race every time it started

 

When did you buy your 348? My point is, if you don't plunk down top dollar to buy one of the latest Ferrari's your expectation of build quality and reliability is different. Furthermore, most of the issues associated with the 348 were fixed in recalls and bulletins from the factory.

I don't have to convince myself of anything. If I wanted a 355 or 360 or "better" Ferrari, I'd have it. It just annoys me when people like you have some agenda against the 348 and make the car out to be less then what it is. Besides if I'm not mistaking the OP was about regretting the move from a 348 to 360.

Sorry you had a bad experience with your 348. I've had mine like I said for 5 or 6 years and the car doesn't need any ego massaging. If you think there has been no other Ferrari which needed "ego massaging", then you must not remember what people were saying about the 2X6 Dino's. Don't remember that? My point exactly. Time will heal the 348's image ... and lucky for you, it will heal the 355's as well.

 

+1!! Well said.

I'd have a Dino in a second, too. Then, I would have "One of the worst Ferraris in the Ferrari history" and a Ferrari that is "not" a Ferrari...and I would be happier than a pig in #$%^. It's all in your expectations, and in the case of the 348, how much you are willing to adapt to the demands of the vehicle (and that goes for driving dynamics, maintenance, etc). Too many people nowadays assume the car should do all the work.

Perhaps a little O/T, but my 2 cents.

 

So these cam variators - can they be deleted??? I'd like to own a 360 some day, but don't want to poosyfoot around in it worrying that a variator will fail.

 

Ditto

 

.................. the 355 is not for everyone .............. it really only suits those few with carbon steel balls ............ all others can justify and buy something else ...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0OusN1y1Yc

.

 

What can I say.... Just Perfect!!!

I will agry with you but in the Half of what you writing.
I own a 355 Spider,I drived once a 348 and I drive oft a 360 Manual.
With the 348 I loved the name FERRARI it was also my first one, with the 360 i think I drive a very very fast.........Nothing.........
The 355 IS THE BEST FERRARI EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The last 3 years i made with my car over 100.000klm and the only issue was the Headers.
One time change or rebuild,thats it. The major service its costing less than a new 600 Mercedes Major service and in 2 or 3 days the car is ready.If the car is getting driven very oft,never happens anything else!

The Horror that you think is not on the car.... is on the INTERNET!!!!!!
I can assure you that more than the half of the owners have NO IDEA what kind of a car they drive,but they do have an opinion.
The 355 is not a car for everybody,if you are not able to understand it,it will never talk to you or take care of you just because its not just a car!!!!

I dont want to die with it though,i want to live forever driving it