I should have said CSI. Upgraded fuel injection system with modern computer management. Net results yields 20-35hp (crank), or around 10-20ish at the wheels, putting you well within early 348 'striking' range (we have 270 crank and they have 300, also we have around 210-215rwhp and if I recall, they have 230-240). Now couple that with a test pipe/exhaust, and fine tune the entire system for optimum, and you have any early 348 matched, and most 348 spiders beat (save late). Remember these cars needed to meet 80s emissions and that nonsense. Retuning the system will yield notable gains throughout the power band. Not positive about the cost (I have not gotten to this stage yet myself) but it should be in the 2.5(low)-3.5k(high) range, I honestly do not remember. The man to ask about this is MK E. Now add uprated rubber on the same stock wheels (225F and 245 or 255 rear) and your grip and braking improves quite a bit. Add uprated springs and shocks + sway bars and you outhandle a normal 348. Be really stupid like me and try to figure out how to adapt 550 or 512 brakes (one of my 'to do's') to your car...and well you see my point. BTW sorry, I did not check this thread earlier. Here is more info: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22684 Now if you really want to add insult to injury to a 348, you can swap in the 348's crank that you picked up at a salvage vendor with minimal effort and have a even more notable bump in power. No question 348 has more room though. Now I could say mean things about how 348s look like a midschooler tried to draw a TR, but I will be nice.
As a side note, how interchangeable are the 328 motors with the complete 348 and newer V8 motors? Are they like small block chevys where they use the same block and heads, with different bore and stroke combinations?
Obviously I have to point out the obvious for you as well, and that is that he hasn't posted again on this topic. One post to kick it off, then silence, not so much as a thank you. I'd say after 5 or 10 replies that would be customary, but here we are, over 45 replies later and silence. Just pointing it out for those who missed it. He's gone! Stop wasting your time on him, unless your time isn't worth anything....Ken. AURA- Thanks for the details. It's very encouraging to read. Best! Wes
I know I originally started this topic because I was caught between the 328 and 348. I am now swinging more towards the "classic" design. I love the lines on the 3X8s. I think Im going to stop worrying about strait line performance and just realize the 3X8s are the way to go. And if not, there's always Norwood. Now this car isn't a 328, but It looks clean and I am now considering it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6212&item=4519345463&rd=1, but is that a fair price? The only thing holding me back from this car is the painted roof, it's not a GTB! I think the roof looks horrible painted, it looked good on the GTB because it had the smoothly contoured roofline.
Not very. The overall layout is different. I floated the idea of getting a 355 engine and cannibalizing it for parts I could swap into/onto my car, but the fact was there are not many.
For the record (again). I put 9K happy miles on a 87 328 GTS, then 15K often conflicted miles on a 94 348 TB and now 10K very happy miles and counting on an 89 328 GTB. These are 2 very different cars. The 328 is the last of the "Dino" series (transverse motors, tubular frames) that began with the 206. 348's and 355's are more of a transitional model to the current crop. The driving experience is very different. 328 pros: 1. lovely shape. 2. Very well built 3. Low maintenance by ?Fcar standards 4. part of a classic group 5. low initial cost 6. handling feels beautiful, but it is dated and many modern cars can post better numbers Cons: 1. Tight interior not for everyone (a car you wear) 2. power restricted by emissions as were all cars of the era. 348 pro: 1. Noticeably more power 2. Roomier inside Cons: 1. Styling is controversial at best 2. high maintenance 3. build quality pretty bad 4. handling anything but beautiful. I posted the same track times with both the 348 and my 328 on a tight, twisty track. Summary: Performance is a poor consideration in choosing one over the other, since both compare poorly with modern cars, Ferraris of otherwise. So it comes down to looks, driving experience and cost of ownership. In this regard, the 328 is the clear choice (unless you can't fit in one). Dave
Here is my 94 348 spider - I just photoshopped out the slats on the side. I love the look of the 308 - that was what I wanted, but was going to go with the 328 as it is much more modern than the 308. When I drove the 348 I enjoyed the driving experience more than the 328 plus the 348 available in a full convertible made it my choice. And it does sound magic with the Tubi/Hyperflow combo I have on it. Cheers Kevin Image Unavailable, Please Login
For the record, I disagree with most of your comments. My 348 has cost me little to nothing to drive thus far, aside from normal maintenance. Its build quality is high in my opinion. It's styling is fine in my opinion or I wouldn't have it. Its peformance runs circles around a 328. Any objective driver would come to the same conclusion without a second thought.
Link? I'm not trying to ride you, but I just don't know what CSI stands for. EFI is Electronic Fuel Injection (implying a engine management system, such as a Haltech, Motronic, etc). CIS is Continuous Injection System, like the K-Jet on our cars. CSI is?
Dear Husker, My observations are completely objective. You may not have noticed how many miles (including track miles) I have put on both models. Furthermore, my 94 348 was very trouble free while in my hands. Everything worked when I sold it with 16K miles on it. The new owner has not been so lucky and I can give you names of many more unlucky owners. 348's WILL NOT run circles around 328's. Nothing is more objective than a stop watch. Considering my 348 was a 94 factory challenge model which is the lightest, fastest, and best handling of all 348's, this is especially telling. I had no trouble catching earlier model 348's with the challenge car on tracks.Take your 348 to a track with other makes and you will soon discover why their handling has been widely criticized. When I sold the 348, the interior already looked well used with leather pulling away, seat bolsters worn, plastic parts scratched, etc. My 328 with the same miles looks brand new inside. When local pro racer and instructor Roland Linder saw I switched from the 348 back to a 328, he said (unsolicited) I would be much better off with the 328. He has ridden with me on tracks in both cars and very much liked the way the 328 ran/drove though obviously not in the league with his F40. DAve
Did anyone see the show on speed channel where they were driving a TR & a 328? they kept saying Magnum used the 328 model (which we all know is not true) they also said Ferrari made about 20,000 328's ( that must have been a total of both 308's & 328's) they only made 6068 328's. I know when I owned my 328 people would say " thats a 308 like Magnum used " I would explain the difference because it's not a 308 it's a 328. I think the 348 spider's will command a solid and higher price due to the low production #'s (only 1090 on the planet) and all the bugs are gone & it has all the upgrades. We all know in the world of Ferrari fewer cars = higher price what do you think?
Good grief. Y'all know what fraternity I pledged, and I've never regretted it. Let's get some sweatshirts made, and the "brothers" will go for some pizza and beer. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Right Get: A post 88.5 328 GTB Shocks and springs from Ohlins. Ferodo DS2500 brake pads and better brake fluid A more "racy" 4WA Better and wider tires. No engine mods except air filter which gives 0,5 hp Driving courses. Top that with a few track days Result: The P996 to pull away from me on twisty roads is yet to be seen. Goes equal with my friends 348 Challenge and 355s. The 360 CS is a different story though... What I am suggesting is that you should get the classic 328 for beauty, maintenance, cost etc and improve the whole package including yourself. It will be sufficient and it's always fun to be the underdog. I have surprised many. A 996-owner immediatelly swaped to a GT3 after a humiliation on the twisties. On the track it is more difficult to keep up with some more modern sportscars though. My next step is to order R-compound tires. Looking forward to that... Ciao Peter
Everyone loves a 328 even those that dont own one but know ferrari's. Philistines will say thats the shape that says ferrari to them. Philistines love a 348 too, but you will be defending yourself against anyone who does not own a 348 that knows ferraris, Justified or not, it must be annoying. 328's simply are the classically recognised darling epitomised shape of Ferrari. I drove 348 and felt hardly any difference in power. Really. Bum car ? Your choice should be 328 or 355. Rather compare the best of each shapes bunch. Skin.
I just wanted to offer in my 2 cents. I've been wanting a 328 for as long as I can remember. The lines on that car still make me drool. I have a friend of mine who has one and I have driven it frequently over the last two years since and am now in the market to actually purchase one. I too considered the option of going the route of the 348 since the price is not much more and it is a more exotic looking car for the current era of cars. So, I decided last month on my birthday to rent a '94 348 Spider for 24 hours. I was only the second renter of this car as it was purchased by the rental company from a private party who only had 22K miles on it. Here are my observations: 348 Is a faster car and manuevers well at high speeds. Shifting is a bit sluggish at times and you really feel as though you are driving an exotic sports car. The car is exceptionally roomy for the type of car that it is and the car is quite comfortable to drive in and visibility is very good IMHO. One thing as was mentioned before though is that the car does have a very "plastic" feel to it with lots of plastic rattling noise in the car. It could have just been this one I was in but I have the impression they were all like that. 328 Not as fast as the 348 but does have a better feel for the road from my impressions. Shifting is smooth and although the car is smaller on the inside, it's still not uncomfortable for me at 6' tall and 240 pounds. The car looks only "dated" on the interior but on the outside, the lines on the car just scream sexy. A good analogy is the 348 looks like that hot stripper in a club in Vegas, a 328 looks like Liz Taylor in her prime. Handline is great just like the 348 but has a slightly different feel to it. Not better or worse, just different yet still awesome like a Ferrari should be. One observation I noticed though. When I drive the 348 and park it somewhere or pick it up in Valet at a hotel, heads turn and I hear oohs and ahhs. When I drive the 328 though, people actually come up to me and ask me about the car more and I hear more, "wow, that car is gorgeous" type of statements far more. It's as if guys look at the 348 and think it's a hot car, but look at the 328 in admiration and respect.
All I hear in this forum is that a 3X8 car represents what all people think of when they hear "Ferrari". Well, I really depends when you grew up. Maybe I'm a lot younger, but a TR or 348 to me is what I think of when I hear "Ferrari". To comapre a 308,328, or 348 on this forum should only be for technical reasons. It terms of looks, how it drives, and what you think the build quality is - should be up to you.
Hey, these are ROAD cars, go for looks, 'cause they both go as fast as you want. I have an '89 328 GTS, and when I really want to go fast, I use her Italian baby sister....my Ducati!
Since the 328 has jetronic fuel injection system. Is there any performance chips or other engine improvements to increase performance ? I appreciate any input on this question. cavalli 88 326gts
