Yup they do. It had its belts,clutch replaced in 2001 when the car had 18,000 miles. I thought that there would be another service by now but the guy was saying its good for 30k miles so it's fine. I'm not sure if that matters or not in my test drive
These things are time dependent as well as based on mileage, so if the car has not had its belts changed since 2001 then many would say it is alarmingly overdue for a major service. The low mileage of many Ferraris means that "30k service" is therefore a bit of a misnomer and belt changes are often done by many owners every 3-4 years. Disclaimer: I am not yet a 348 owner so this is all second-hand knowledge. All the best, Andrew.
I was thinking the same thing.... Isnt it 30k or 3 years which ever comes first? If that's true then the guys are smoking some serious stuff thinking they can get $45k for it. Judging from the records the last bill was $9600 for the work. Realistacly this is a $30-35k car no? Also if it's been kinda neglected maybe there's other areas that need a tuneup (suspension) comes to mind.
Belt services should be every 3 years, but I occasionally get the impression that people will sometimes try to eek out an extra year before doing it. Belt change intervals are an often re-hashed subject. My gut feeling (without solid empirical data, just occasional wistful browsing of 348 adverts) is that someone selling a 348 that was long-overdue a major service would be very fortunate indeed to achieve a price of $35k. All the best, Andrew.
As for the 348's lack of oomph. I have to agree. In bone stock form the 348 is choked off big time. The car just cannot breath properly to make any kind of serious power. Especially running a single plenum with a TINY 54mm TB on each bank. But the good thing about that is, guys like me get to have fun modifying our 348s, and find that plugged up power. Get some of that plugged up power out, and they get more fun.
Oh wow, Jesus,,, I don't know what price range this car should be, but definitely not over $40k. You should have told them Ferraris aren't like Caddy nor Hyundai, I believe Doug's carries both brands on their lot.
Oh wow, I live a few miles from this dealership. They have no idea what they have on their hands with the 348. As others have said, they would be lucky to get $35k for it being 9 years over due for a major service. That being said someone who doesn't know what they are looking at just may make them an offer they would be stupid to refuse.
Maybe you test drove it with the handbrake on... I'm ashamed to admit it but the first time I drove my 355, I had the handbrake on the ENTIRE TIME... I assumed that because the lever was down it was off and that the parking brake light on in the instrument was defective. Silly me.... But you know what? Even with the handbrake on, it felt amazing!
just cruising thru and caught ur thread,,, interesting,,,, i just recently bought a mondial as my first ferrari which is obviously a less horsepower then a 348... (sold my late model carrera for this car) my experience in my short time ownership is if ur going to compare a vintag-ie ferrari to modern cars then you should probably not buy a ferrari,,, like i said earlier i had a late model porsche for my fun weekend car,,, which would out perform most any early model ferrari ,,,but you dont have a ferrari for just the performance ,,,its a lifestyle,,,a piece of art u own/drive,,,the styling , sound ,energy is in a class of its own... lots of good input from all the responses to ur thread,,, my opinion a ferrai is not for you,,,,unless you want to spend almost a 100 grand,,,then you might get the action ur looking for... good luck,,,
If the suspension was messed up, it could certainly make for a bad test drive. Even with low miles, someone could have made some "adjustments" while not knowing what they are doing or there could be a problem with one or more suspension parts. Wrong tire pressure, bad alignment, something loose. If a 348 is set up correctly, handling is not going to be one of the cons. While it will not blow your head off with power, it should still give a great ride. So my vote is that the car has some issues. Either that or a Ferrari is just not for you as stated above.
I know I upset a lot of happy 348 owners with my review but looking back at all comments made me realize. The one I drove could have been in better mechanical order and I didn't judge the car fairly for its era... It is a beautiful car, that's what got me interested in them. But your probably right, I should look at the more modern examples to find what I'm looking for. But I do not agree with what you said about ferraris not being for me.
That's what I'm guessing too. Since I learned that the service was 9 years over due and from what everyone is saying, the car most likely has more issues which ruined my first impression
Nobody is saying that a Ferrari is absolutely not for you personally. But after you see many people come here and talk about the things they did not like after a test drive in one, you do come to realize that Ferraris are not for everyone. This is not saying that you are not good enough for one. Just that for some, they do not fit their driving style or get their blood going. But to say that the handling in a 348 was like a Honda, that just says something was not right with it. If it has been 9 years since the last service, the tires are probably a big issue on handling as well.
Hi Igor, lots of responces to your thread. To be honest not sure about the car you drove. Power wise, and even more throttle responce wise, I'm not in Ernie's league but it makes a huge difference to open the air flow out a bit. I bought mine stock but now have high flow air filter, MAF grills removed, high flow 200 cel sports cats and a custom built Nouvalari Supersport exhaust (they're made just round the corner from me). The difference from stock is huge. Regarding being like an early Honda CRX, I'm not going to get upset about it but you've totally lost me, I'm afraid. Other than the US ones not having power steering, I'm at a loss to see any similarity at all. Clearly performance is not similar, handling isn't anything like each other and I mean nothing at all like each other - one's a front engined car with narrow tires, pretty soft suspention by comparison, narrow track - steering responce isn't similar, driving position isn't similar..... In fact bearing in mind they are the same era, other than neither having power steering I'm struggling to think of two less similar cars. Didn't own one, a friend of mine did and I drove it from time to time. Sorry, but they are nothing alike. As some have said, a late 80s early 90s Ferrari isn't anything like a modern performance car. That said a mate of my Dad's has a '91 Porsche 964. In theory the performance is pretty much the same as a 348. When he went in my 348 though and got out his comment was "Bloody Hell!" His 964 didn't feel close. And with all respects a Honda wouldn't have either That said, welcome. If I were you I'd have a go in a 360, 430 if you can. Think that may be more to your liking.
Just very quickly Igor, here's a recent test drive article. Most of 'us lot' are familiar but you might find it interesting. Does this sound like a Honda CRX to you? Comments welcome Happy reading...... http://articles.exoticcarresource.com/ferrari-348-black-sheep/ http://articles.exoticcarresource.com/the-2012-ecr-featured-car-of-the-year-the-ferrari-348/
Hi Igor I've had my 348 very nearly ten years now. I always wanted a 348 - it just looked sensational. I bought the first one I saw - always a dangerous thing to do, but everything about it was right and it only had 8000 miles on it - as close to a new one as you could get. I have to say that I also had mixed feelings about the way the car drove on that first drive. But I had been driving a JaguarSport 6.0 XJRS which was fact and super smooth and the 348 drove like a plank in comparison. Basically, the car had hardly been driven and needed some exercise to loosen it up. Needless to say, I bought it and it has been wonderful. The suspension is hard - harder than my friend's 355F1 on sport mode, but that's part of the attraction. This is a race car for the road with sublime steering - not a boulevard cruiser! Don't expect a modern car - the 348 has to be driven. You have to become part of the car to light it up. It really comes alive towards the rev limiter. It may not be as fast as a F430, but I got mine around the Top Gear track in the UK within 0.1 seconds of a new 360 Modena - televised on Channel 5 for posterity - and it blew the challenge winged 355F1 away by 2.5 seconds. So it no slouch. Various 348's have been the most successful UK Hillclimb Championship winning cars over the past ten years ago. So, Igor, give the 348 another chance. Drive another one. Live with the car and it will blow your socks off!!!!!! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
348's are notorious for being quite sensitive to proper set-up re suspension and tyres. This might explain your "loose" feel of the car. Also a 0-60 time in 5.5secs is quicker that a base Cayman and only just slower than the 1st series CaymanS.......and although not mind numbingly fast by modern standards is still pretty bloody quick and a CRX shouldn't even come close. Specifically the 348 GTC ....(though a standard 348 has won also I think) Image Unavailable, Please Login
Dude are you for real? this car is a classic, pull the Cayman and the 348 up to a gas pump and see the eyes that stare upon the 348. You probably need to visit Dave Helms in Co. You probably like comparing a 21 year old model to a 51 year old grandmother too.
The car the OP drove was clearly not a fair representation of a decent 348, just as your car could not possibly be a "normal" 348 if it was 2.5 seconds quicker than a 355 around the Top Gear track... Unless of course the 355 was being driven by James May's blindfolded grandma, while The Stig drove your car on slicks. Any normal person driving a standard 348 back to back with a standard 355 around a track would be significantly faster in the 355, and to suggest otherwise is to distort what this thread is about. The 348 is an awesome car. There are only 2 possible explanations for the OP's disappointment: Either the car he drove was a piece of ****, or he had totally unrealistic expectations and should be looking elsewhere for his next car.
I personally didn't buy my 348 for it's power. I bought it because it's a Ferrari and I can still work on it myself to a degree. Plus the smells, the feel of it wrapped around my arse and the fact every time I go in my garage I look at her and have permasmile. If I wanted something fast, I'd buy that CRX, take it to the drift shop (who I might add, when I take my 348 there everyone oohs and ahhs at it) put $15k in it and have a screaming fast ride. for me it's not about the speed.. never was. but hey, that's why there are so many different cars out there... there's something for everyone.
To my fellow 348 owners and defenders. I suppose I understand the "sensitivity" as all us 348 owners have been repeatedly demoralized by the opinions of people that have never driven the car. That being said, I'd like to point out that the 348 suspension has always been suspect in that the setup must be correct. So many past owners have experimented with different sized tires, wheel changes, ride height, spacers, corner weighting and virtually endless list of adjustments. All of these have the effect of creating an unbalanced, loose, and tricky car that will hold well right up to the point where it doesn't. Is this really the first time we've hears about a 348 that disappointed a new driver or owner. As I recall the threads, after the car was sent out for proper adjustments the new owner was thrilled by the result. It also bears repeating that the mighty 348 is not for everyone. Being the last of a breed of cars that are not assisted with driver nannies, it requires your complete attention and focus. That is the reason I so love mine. Igor...I respect the fact that you drove one and are making comment. If you do appreciate the 348, I strongly suggest you try another one for the reasons I've outlined above. I am confident your comparisons will fade. The rest of us need to grow some thicker skin. (although the Honda comment was a bit shocking)
Steve - My 348 is certainly 'normal'. The fact is that all these Ferrari's are incredibly quick around a track or hillclimb. Around Ferrari's Fiorano track the 355 is timed at 3 seconds quicker than a 348 but the mighty 288GTO is only one second faster than the 348. Driver error/ineptitude is always the main factor at this level and is going to mean a slower car can get around a track quicker when the Stig is driving but the margins are so so small...................
the 348 was not the first Ferrari I had driven.......prior to that, I had been behind a 550, 360(which I love as well) and a few 355s (since then i can add a 430 to the list).....the 348 with me now which i own was the first and only 348 i'v ever driven till today and trust me i was pretty thrilled by the way it handled, sounded and behaved on my very first drive..i remember test driving it just because one happened to be available at a place where i had gone to test drive a 355 and wanted to see how much of a "rubbish" it was...i remember that day pretty well and man was i wrong.. not sure what sort of expectation you were looking for, but i reckon you should test drive a GTR and get one.....now that's one fast car if all you're looking for is solid speed.....
I have driven two 348s. First one was well overdue for service but it drove fine. I pulled up to the dealership in my Boxster. So I had a decent starting point. It didn't blow my doors off but I liked it enough I bought one which was the second I drove. Other than going around a turn at 80 and felt the twitchiness that early 348s were semi known for the car was a lot of fun. When I got mine I put wheel spacers on in the rear to help dial it in a bit more. It is an old car at this point. My comparison which I feel is pretty fair was my 240sx I used to own. It was modified with coil overs. Yes there were some similarities. And it was probably just as fast. But that is where the comparisons stopped. The 348 was not the best Ferrari to roll off the production line. But in the present market of exotic cars price wise they are the best bargain around except maybe a lotus esprit. And maybe it is me but it seems like 348 prices are increasing finally. Not by much but I noticed dealer asking prices are a few thousand above what they were in June.
