Motor Trend - may want to buy them a box of donuts!

The boys at Motor Trend seriously don't like the 348 according to their article on Page 83 where they rate the 458 the Best Driver's Car. The SoCal Brotherhood may want to consider buying them a box of donuts and taking them out for a spin out on some canyon roads to right this wrong. Ouch!

 

As stated in the article, "regailing the young uns' with TALES of lousy ferrari's of yore, in particular the 348". It also goes on to speak of the 355, 360 and the 430 and how each generation represents a huge improvement over each of the others.

So lets recap. If you own a 348 it is no good. If you own a 355 it is no good....go get a 360. Wait a minute....the 360 is not good, go get the 430. WAIT..WAIT!!!!, to hell with that crappy 430....the 458 Italia.....now thats a proper Ferrari!!!!

And when the F760FW (fight wing version) comes out and can fly to europe in less than 6 hours the 458 will be a pile of crap that can only...hold your breath.....drive around on the ground. What a piece of junk.

The moral of the story....every new car will always overshadow the old one. It is soooo easy to now call an older model crap when everyone was praising it when new. The Dino legacy tells it all. Wait and watch.

By the way...to all those out there with those so called "crappy" Dino's that, according to many "Ferrari" EXPERTS of the past were not even real Ferrari's, I will gladly take those scrap heaps off your hands...I wont even charge for the tow.

 

The problem I see is the basis of a relative comparison. If you start at the 348, then, compared to a 458, it's a piece of junk, although it is a critical and seminal piece of junk in terms of Ferrari's manufacturing history. Now, if your basis is a 1976 308, then I would beg to differ. It's the 308 series that is lacking. Or what if you used the Mondial series as your starting point.

Everything is relative and relatives generally are tedious.

Now the unfairness in the statement by the MT guys is that they are comparing obsolete views with current ones. TYhey really should get in one of our cars, as modified as they may be and tool around the canyons with us. They would then see what we do, but honestly, I really don't want those yahoos publishing flattery about our cars.

 

They can say what they want; simply put it's water off of a duck's back

 

Ok, different kind of road test:: Both cars are driving down the road and the engines quit. Guess which car will be easier to get back running (with tools one keeps in the boot) without calling for help? 348 or 458?

 

Is this a trick question?

 

Well dah, we all know that 348 owners have lots of practice at that.

 

Just sent them this:

Oh boy! Another "Man, that 348 sucks!" comment, complete with a reference to LDM's obviously self serving commentary on the model. As a very happy 348 owner, I can tell you that the car, while not without it's faults (what is??), is an inherently solid platform that responds very well to relatively simple tweaking. It also has a phenomenal engine. I almost crossed 348s off of my Ferrari list due to comments like yours, but thankfully, common sense prevailed and I decided to make up my own mind. I was taken by the car's personality and the fact that it does require some effort from the driver. It is and will always be a raw, involving car that is not suited to people who would sooner drive a glorified video game. Granted, my car has some serious factory upgrades, but the soul I fell in love with remains. The 348 has a loyal and vocal following, so I'm not some lone nut, either. Cruise over to the 348/355 section of ferrarichat.com and see for yourself.

Really, folks, the 348 bashing is pretty stale.

Tripp Johnson,
Virginia

 

Does it really bother you guys that much what other people think of your car?
Its yours... you bought it because you like it... who cares what other people think?

I never understood why people get all bent out of shape over stuff like this...

 

It's simply a matter of being respectful in a Passion motivated industry. Something of a lost trait these days. Why one would feel it required to talk down one model to build up another is beyond me. Things.... they are a changin'

 

Guys, the crap they print in MT matters only two times in life:
1) When you're waiting to get your haircut and you need something to read, and
2) When you're 15 or 16 debating with your friends which car is better, because at that age all young men will have the FCar of their dreams by the time they turn 22. ;-)

348's don't have the F1 issues and complex SD2 related diagnoses that the later cars have been experiencing in greater frequency. As these cars age, the electronics will not age well as the sensors and ECU's oxidize from use and heat. MT conveniently passes over this.. The 458, while superior in every way to earlier cars does not have a gated shifter available, thus 100% of the cars are at risk for the same "my car shut down all of a sudden in the middle of the road" that 360 and 430 F1 owners have posted here on FChat about. Granted the 348 has gremlins as all cars do.. you don't need an SD2 or SD3 to diagnose and fix it.

 

In my case, this letter has been coming for a long time. At the core, no, I don't give a crap what ANYONE thinks about my car. I love and will continue to enjoy it no matter what...but, as Dave pointed out, it IS a matter of respect. I constantly see disparaging comments about the 348 in articles about other Ferraris and what bugs me is how inaccurate they are and the fact that they seem to be based on heresay instead of actual experience with the model. A lot of these guys dismiss it before giving it a second look, and effectively imply that you are an automotive dullard if you own one. I respectfully disagree.

In the Evo article that Nosevi posted about in the change of perception thread, the journalist went into the experience less than thrilled about driving the 348, but came out impressed! He actually drove the car instead of taking the word of some old crotches who were "drinking beer and Whiskey from paper cups". I can't help but think that, if some of these automatic detractors were to experience the 348 properly, especially in some of the cars that belong to people here, this garbage might not make it into print anymore.

It's kind of like when someone loses a lot of weight, then gets into great shape, but all anyone wants to talk about is, "Hey, remember the time when your fat @&! got stuck in the toilet?? Hahaha!". Not funny! So after the umpteenth time of rolling my eyes, I decided to write 'em a note. I do not expect them or anyone else to care, but I thought it needed to be said.

 

No

 

I like the idea of paying them a visit. Not just one car, but many. We've had as many as 6 together at once. We could meet at their parking lot during lunch and have a roach coach there so as to attract their employees outside. Act casual.

 

It's kind of like when someone loses a lot of weight, then gets into great shape, but all anyone wants to talk about is, "Hey, remember the time when your fat @&! got stuck in the toilet?? Hahaha!".

TOO FUNNY....Good stuff!!!!!

 

Hi all. Regarding does it bother me people putting down the 348, no not a whole lot. What is irritating is as some have said, that it's based on hearsay not fact. On a personal note when I went looking for my first Ferrari all the negative talk almost sent me in another direction. How can all these people be wrong? But the more I asked the more it came to light that all the 'noise' was from people who had very limited, if any experience of the 348. I went out drove a 328, 348 and 355 and made the decision myself. I got a 348.

What I like best about the EVO article was that the author, by his own admission wasn't looking forward to driving the 348 as much as the others (the line up was 308,348,355,360,430,458) He had always been told what rubbish it was. He drove it and was pretty much blown away by the feedback the driver gets through the wheel, the involvement with the car. He did say that at the limit it's scary but up to that point it was the most engaging out of the bunch. The conclusion of the article was interesting:

"But the reassuring thing is that the 458's astounding pace and wizardry don't diminish the other cars here. There are similarities and differences from first to last but each has its own distinctive personality and you could find multiple perfectly rational and perfectly irrational reasons for being excited by any one of them. For example, my highlight was probably the 348's steering, and that's not something I'd expected at the beginning of the day."

Amongst that line up his highlight was while driving the 348. He described it perfectly and says that as you gather pace the steering comes alive, you get perfect feedback, it has constant communication, it is possibly THE best wheel in term of feel he has ever sat behind, brakes are full of feel but it's the corners that he enjoys. The nose feels direct and eager to react.... Sounds like he quite liked it but it was the fact that although he had dismissed the car before the start he recognised that what some see as twitchy handling is just a car that is alive and gives its driver a thrilling, exhilerating drive. Still, guess many of us know that anyway.

 

One fact that seems a little odd, I've been on the Motor Trend web site and done a search but I'm struggling to find a road test of the 348. Strange. Surely they would have tested the car rather than just making disparaging comments about it. Can anyone help me out here, they can't be that daft, must be my mistake.....

Nos

 

Well, I'm not anti- 348 but a better question is which will get down that road without a problem in the first place.

But, aside from this, car mags just fill space with controversy to get people to talk and argue. Usually, you can take whatever they say and see the exact opposite.

Besides, when owners of 94 lowered, kitted Honda Coupes with exhaust pipes out the back the size of stovepipes read anti- Ferrari stuff, they get all giddy.

 

I have not been able to find a M/T test either but I did find a Road Test article from "Autocar & Motor" from Spetember 1990 on the 348. It is a pretty good article that is honest and well written.

To qoute the article: "No amount of technology wielded by the German and Japanese can be a substitute for the charisma of the 348. And in it lines, engine and outstanding chassis control its pedegree shows."

 

Pete: Motor Trend did a whimsical article "Miami to Key West: Ferrari versus Powerboat" in their September 1993 issue, driving a white 348ts with an outrageous lipstick red interior. That part of the article says almost nothing about the 348.

They also did a test of the 348 Serie Speciale as a sidebar to that article. "...the Serie Speciale's performance barely tops that of the Chevrolet Camaro Z28...", "...a Toyota Supra Turbo will almost certainly whip it around any road racing circuit..." , "...unlike the Ferrari, the NSX spoiler doesn't drag on everything taller than Botts Dots, its shifter doesn't demand a big bicep, and you don't have to rest your chin on the steering wheel hub to read the speedometer. And it costs half as much...."

I think it's fair to say that Motor Trend didn't care for the 348 when it was new.

 

Odd, isn't it, Motor Week loved it...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5UC0gYG4Mg[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1IzqJVrQ6A[/ame]

 

i've owned/own 328/348/355
348 I felt was the lesser of the three
owned 348 for almost 6yrs, it never really had any issues to speak of.
but I can see where the writers are coming from

 

Bingo - so let's not feed those trolls

 

Mate, no issue with that. You had a chance to form an opinion based on experience. I drove all three, prefered the 348. Each to their own. If you owned a 348 for 6 years and now have a 355 (guessing on the progression but tricky any other way) was yours an early 348? What year out of interest? Not that the advances over the model's run were the be all and end all but they made a difference apparently, in particular shifting the battery forward (generally '92 reg on as was changed in nov '91 on the production line). Also when you say writers I'm guessing you just mean those who put the 348 down? Many say it's great. I can quote any number of road tests and articles that said/say its fantastic. Top Gear - simply superb, EVO - highlight for the author of the afore mentioned article, Motor Week, CAR magazine, Auto Car, the list goes on.

Also as an aside, and not being cocky but if you had it for 6 years you had to have had a 328 first, right? If it was clearly and markedly inferior to your previous 328, why did you keep the 348 for 6 years? why not go back to a 328. Seem to recall that back then the 348 was more expensive than a 328 so why drive around in a car you don't like as much and costs more money? Just curious.

 

Hate to do this, mate, but this is what you've previously written. Care to comment?

"I've owned a 328, and sold it.
I bought a 348 few years back and still own it. I like the 348 better than the 328.
Problems with my 348 were insignificant. The belt service was pricey, but amortized over
4 years or so, its not really that bad when you think of it that way.
I'll most probably keep my 348 and buy another model the 348 has kind of proven itself to me."

(search for previous posts is great isn't it? )