What is the worst, most expensive thing that's happened to your 348?

Might, MIGHT, be to where I can start considering a 348 of my own within a year. I will have another car available when it's down, but I will daily drive it as much as possible. I've been running S2000s for the last 4.5 years and 121,000 miles, which cost me a total of less than $500 in repairs. I don't expect 15-20yo exotics to be like that.

I know already there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Ferrari. If I can't afford one with all systems go, and likely to stay that way for awhile, then I sure can't afford one that breaks often. But Ferraris are only human, and even the best cars make mistakes.

So to plan how much money I need to have standing by after the sale, what's the worst thing that's happened to anybody?

 

Didn't happen to me but my son knows a fellow in San Diego who had a cam belt tensioner "go bad". The result? 25K engine rebuild; he had to take a second on the house.

 

Gearbox and engine damage..the rest is chump change to fix...If your use to 500 dollar repair bills..leave the Ferrari as a fantasy. Oh..Your S2000's are much more fun to drive by the way.

 

The problem with the 348 and 355 is that they nickel and dime you all the time. But those nickels and dimes are measured in hundreds and thousands.

I'm not picking on these two cars. Most Italian cars from the 80's have this problem. Part of it is the age and part of it is the engineering and quality control of the time was not of the highest standard.

Most people who give up owning them do it because they just get tired fixing it or see it deteriorate over time.

 

$$$$I started racing it.$$$$$$

 

I spend about $37k in maintenance one year. Blown up gearbox + lower cam gear broke and ripped out 30+ valves. These were two different incidents, not really related to each other.

No kidding.

 

the hvac

 

I think that unless you are rich you are always going to be taking a chance with a car like the 348.
I'm not rich. I'm OK but not really well off. I bought my Mondial t earlier this year because I always wanted a Ferrari. There are various faults that COULD occur that would see it sat in the garage for ages, or sold as a non-runner. Gearbox failure. Cambelt failure. Major engine issues requiring rebuilding....etc

So I took a chance and bought my dream car. So far it's been OK. I can afford the servicing and maintenance, but not major failures.

Some might say this is foolhardy, but I'd never own a Ferrari if I tried to account for any failure that might occur.

 

oh no
thats why people go for a porsche over a ferrari
and i can see there point

 

holy cow

 

Good thing you have The Ricambi

 

Well this is a short thread, Daniel wins!

Agreeing with Ferrari 512 TR, yes you must somewhat of a real Ferrari nut to jump into owning one. Porsche is much better for the masses...

Personally Ferrari was always my dream car...Lambo's and Porsche's are nice but IMHO they can't touch Ferrari's race history (F1) and exotic styling.

ooops getting off topic...yes, they're expensive to maintain

 

I sold my Porsche to buy the Mondial t.

The Porsche was undoubtedly a superb car, just as fast as the Mondial and arguably better built.

But.....it wasn't a Ferrari.

 

In seven years the most expensive thing to ever happen was the clutch went out on my first FC drive to Santa Barbara. Was still able to nurse her home. The key is preventive maintinence and the best Ferrari mechanic on the planet. Eugenio of course.

 

3 months after taking ownership, I had to replace my clutch.

Genuine Ferrari clutch kit was AU $4600 from the dealer here (excluding T/O bearing), I had old mate 'Ferrarifixer' make me a new clutch plate and new ceramic clutch plates for AU $2200 (excluding T/O bearing).

 

F errari Me

 

Only by a little....

No, they are expensive (!) to RESTORE, they are really quite reasonable to maintain. We know all of the faults and have solutions for the vast majority of those. Bringing them up to Top Shelf condition can be trying, keeping them there is simple and reasonable.

 

Yeah, Daniel wins!

Keep the stories coming. A follow-up question would be:

In each case, what could have been done to prevent it? Or at least how could you see it coming?

 

"oh no
thats why people go for a porsche over a ferrari"

I went for one of each so double trouble for me

 

I bought my 348 knowing that it needed an engine out....on purpose.....did a full major stayed within budget and now I have a fairly trouble free car that I drive every week and have even been to a couple of track days with nothing but pure fun....I paid 30k for the car then did 9k in pm and this thing is a blast......don't let them scare you just do your homework and have fun........you only live once!

 

Colliding with a wicker lawn chair at 70 mph on the freeway. Insurance paid, thankfully. About $9K.

 

Thankfully with the help of the Stooges, what should have been at least a $1500-2000 job was reduced to a $15 job

Therefore, so far (in 2 years of ownership) the most expensive job has been an oil change (thank God!!)

 

Yeah, but how much did it cost to fix the chair?

That must have been a very fast chair if it was doing 70mph on the freeway.

 

Yikes!

 

It was my 355, but it's close enough and being that misery loves company, I will share: Connecting rod bearing spun when the car was 3 years old with 17k miles on it. Full engine rebuild with new valve guides, exhaust header and much more = $30k+