I meant it in the sense that they're both low and the wheels are towards the ends of the body. Yes the 355 having power steering won't be quite as raw but I'll take the noise of it over everything else
348 with solid bushings and stiff springs is very "go cart" feel for a med size car, not as much as a spec miata
348! Not only because I own one, but also because the 348 is far less likely to be mistaken for a Fiero/MR2 replica!
A year and a half in with my 1990 348ts and loving it! My vote was cast for the 348. Plus it was the only Ferrari that I could afford.
i had a 348 spider, a 355 spider and now a 355 berlinetta. my favorite is the 348 spider. great steering feel, great sound with hyperflows and tubi and i like the front end more, with that chin spoiler that is lacking on the 355. i don't think the extra hp is a big advantage for the 355, given that it takes quite a bit of RPM (and therefore speed) to generate big power on a 355. i personally love the feel of a 348/512, which is between the more "vintage" feel of a 308/328 and the moderner stuff like a 355+. this is the car's best attribute--old enough to give you sensations of a bygone era, but not so old that it becomes a "fussy old car." if i could wave a magic wand to get the best of both worlds, i would take a 348 spider with a 355 interior and 355 F1 tranny.
My 2 cents. If you have space, get one of each. If you can only buy one, I would get a 1993 348TB Serie Speciale as my first choice (it is and will continue to be a the most desirable USA 348 and will only increase in value). My 2nd choice would be a 1995 GTB F355 gated, while not nearly as rare as a 348TB SS, it is and will continue to be the most wanted USA F355. The above statements exclude street legal challenge cars as those are in another league.
3 years in on 348 ownership but I like the 355 just as much. Reasons almost cancel each other out. Come on 348, those classy strakes instantly say Ferrari, long platypus nose, charcoal grill over tail lights, multi colored ground effects, manual steering go carting, cool ass mirrors, 308 type rear deck. Of course 355, mo-ponies, awesome classy front end, top notch ground effects, nice looking all the way around and the deck looks bad ass. So both are awesome cars but I think most just want a freaking factory 6cyl twin turbo to make either insane. Why was this not factory??
Just took mine for a drive just then. First drive in around 6 weeks as I have been too busy. Car is filthy in this pic, but you can't tell. Did an 80km round trip, was a lot of fun. Image Unavailable, Please Login
OK this is getting out of hand, too many 348 pics haha Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yep this. My F355 was more reliable than both my current Alfa Romeos and the Mondial before it. In fact I don't know anybody with the leaky valves and only one person with the cracked manifold (headers). I asked the specialist about the valves and in his time as a Ferrari technician both at a dealer and his own business he'd only ever seen one car with that problem and it was 550 IIRC. I'll tell you what, my 360 has only 20-25 more ponies than my F355 had and I can tell the difference. +1 I still find it hard to believe but I was told on more occasions by strangers that my Mondial was replica on a Toyota MR2 and the F355 loads of times too but only my jesting pals ;-). I only once was asked by a kid if it was a Toyota.
The area under the curve difference is huge between a 355 and a 360. The 360 makes peak torque at 4750, the 355 at 6000. The 348 makes peak torque at 4250.
Thanks man, but no kidding..........it's been sitting outside in the carport since the 5th of September and it's covered heavily in dust, which was then rained on from rain coming into the side of the carport. It does look great, but looks filthy in person. Here is a washed pic, can you tell the difference? Probably not. lol. The 360 wishes my 348 was a 360. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great angle, Pap. You have a knack for capturing the true character of the 348. My longtime love of the 355 has cooled over the last few years as I've started to see them as just a little too diluted. I still think they're gorgeous cars, but taking in the details of this pic reminds me that the 348 is like a fine cask strength whisky-- it's not for the feint of heart but the more you imbibe the more you appreciate it, to the point where little else compares.
Not taking sides, I have a 355 and am considering adding a 348b, people should acquire what they love. The 355 maintenance never phased me when I was looking for one...no one here has ever bought a house that needed repairs or renovations? Same idea in my mind - if you love it, buy it, fix it and enjoy it. But I disagree with your design viewpoint. The Dino lineage ends with the 355, the 355 is the final evolution of that design and the perfected version. If anything, the 348 is a bastardized hybrid design of the Dinos and the TR, which the buying public and automotive press didn't react to well so it was a 1 model only design. I am on the side that likes and appreciates the 348's design, in it's stock form with side and rear strakes it's provocative, thought provoking and reflects a design transition from the period of time when the 1980s were ending and the 1990s were starting.
Every year the same question seems to pop up here worded almost the same way. Ive been around Ferrari's for over 35 years. During that time I have talked to many factory Ferrari mechanics and some on the F1 teams. When it comes to 348 vs 355 they all have the same answers as to which one is the all round better car for many reasons. I don't even need to mention which one that is simply because anyone that knows these cars and has been around them long enough already knows the answer.
hahahahaha The crap on this forum about the 355 is amazing. If some poor soul came here looking for guidance they would leave thinking they were spending money to put Satan in their garage. We are our own worst enemy around here.
A lot of newcomers to used Ferraris, including myself, will be following this thread. We probably won't know what you know. Would you enlighten us please?
I prefer the Challenge/race car versions of these cars. A couple of years ago, I voted with my wallet and got a 355 Ch. Fast forward to today, no regrets. Once in a while, I see a photo of a 348 TS Challenge car with period race history and think that a rare TS version would be a nice complement to my 355. But then I can think of other targa style race cars that would look nice in my garage.