I have an interesting question for all the 348/355 family. How many have had NO PROBLEMS with their car for a long time? Example: "My car has been problem free for 5 years with nothing but oil changes and regular service. I have put 10,000 miles on it and it has never missed a beat." Something like that. We hear so much about the quirks of these cars.....how about some long term success stories? Just for fun!!!! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Since I installed Dave's connector kit I've only had one CEL in the past two years - and it was for an 02 sensor that really had gone faulty. But I see you have had the same issue - you might have seen my Walker post in the parts interchange thread!
Those of you who have been here a few years know my initial $20k+ problems I had with my 355 right after buying her in 2008. Well...since Mark @ FoS fixed her....I have not had a CEL or problem in 14 months. I have put about 4,000 miles on her since. And since I have been driving her regularly she seems to run smoother, too. I now subscribe to the theory that these cars stay reliable if driven properly and maintained.
Nearly 2 years and 3,600 miles. Other than oil changes, and minor upgrades (tires) I've spent $3 fixing a seat potentiometer. Have never once seen a check engine light. Has never been taken anywhere for service since the last major (I change my own oil). I did have the advantage of starting with a car that was basically new though. It had 124 miles on it back in 2010 when I got it.
My car drove 10 years and 100,000 miles without any problem except for tires and oil changes. Wait, that is a BMW M3. As for the Ferraris ... The 328 has old and burned out ignition wires, bad protection relays, repeating bad hood shocks, leaky shift shaft seals, and I still don't know what's up with that ABS. The 348 has windows that are unidirectional (they don't go up), a bad Sony radio and a bad case of sticky interior, bad hood shocks, lid shocsk, and broken bezel for the ash tray. The 355 had repeating CEL due to the Hyperflows, spider top that does not close, driver seat that does not adjust, window that does not work with the engine on (spider top related), intermittent brake lights, window brackets broken, window switch bezel, seat adjust handle, hood shocks (do I see a pattern?), lid shocks, and a bad O2 sensor. I did a 3 hour drive today, loved the 355 tubis. Would not change a thing.
When I purchased my 355 a few months ago, I dropped 6K on a major and a few other things before delivery..... When I received the car, no CEL until about ....my first 20 miles !!!, then CEL, slow down, multiple codes etc.... after new hyperflow cats, O2's, ecu's, MAF, 1 month down and 4K...... my 355 runs perfectly, I drive it as my fair weather driver, I have put 2400 flawless miles on it in 2 months !!! I treat all of my cars, my planes, and my boats the same.... to the best care possible which is.........to use them My humble opinion is that the #1 reason for problems with Ferraris is that... most Ferraris are underused, and a few are abused.... "if it flies, floats or Ferrari's... enjoy it !!!", ed
yes fcars are prone to having their hickups and defects, issues, etc...but just like everything else, it is man made and requires lots of attention, upkeep, and service. just like everything in life, you get what you pay for, and you get what you put into it. if you keep your car in tip top shape, drive it, it will do better...if you neglect it, you'll pay for it...maybe not today, but definitely at some point and if you do not pay for it, then the next owner will! man...I don't make any money..but if I don't work, how can I complain about it???
It's the nature of forums...people like to complain and be more vocal about the problems, and come here looking for help (which is good). All those with well running cars...well, we're busy driving In 5 yrs I've had no surprises, never once wished I didn't have it. There have been some mechanical issues, but fixed them and kept on driving.
In my case, I paid an extra $20k or so to acquire the car because of the low miles, so if you look at it that way, even though my car has been well behaved, I'm in deeper than many who have had problems.
Every year I leave the winter of Czech and head to Australia. My cars sit there for about 2-3months every year. The Evo needs a battery re-charge every year........... Then a month later when I finally fire on the 348 due to better weather(4months no use). Starts without missing a beat and boy it sounds good Also the heating system in the 348 is incredibly good.....
My 348 streetcar was a perfect 1990 early subframe car that never stranded me but always had electronic problems. This was in the "Dark Ages" before the SRI gold kit. So I stripped out every wire and every system that did not make the car faster and raced it for 5 trouble free years. The engine lived at redline for all of that time with nothing more than annual timing belt change and oil until it was slain by a P-bug in a racing incident. That 348 racecar never let me down...may she rest in peace...
WTF! I assumed you went though them and sold one to get the other. That is and awsome collection. Very jealous!
5 years and 10,000 miles, and only a bad O2 sensor - that is remarkable. I've had two issues in 3 years of ownership, and both I was able to repair myself in my own garage with the assistance of the wonderful members on this forum
I have owned my '97 355CH for 10 years. The first 6500 miles were spent on the race track. I acquired it after that and it has been a street hot rod since then and it is driven on somewhat of a regular basis. Like all of the other Ferrari's I have owned it has run flawlessly in that ten years. The only problem I have had was small hole that popped up in my upper coolant hose a few miles from home, replaced hose(with a non Ferrari part) and all was well. The problem that I see with these cars is lack use or poor maintainance or both. I do a lot preventive maintainance on all of my cars and so far in the 40 years of my car fun nothing major has stranded me yet. Of course the odds are probably working against me
I have not had a check engine light or anything remotely like that in over 2 years and 5000 miles....
