328 vs. 355 Decision??

I was in the same boat about 6 months ago looking for ...first a 308, then a 328, decided against the 348, and then a 355. People, on this forum, tells me that I didn't really know what I want and was not a serious buyer...etc. But I was...just couldn't find a good example of one that was easily accessible. Came close to a 355, but guess what, it was on its way to a second major and the owner was not on the up and up with me (fellow fchatter that should go nameless).

Anyway, you really have to go and test drive one of each example. I know it's tough to get to find any good Ferraris, much less local, much less drive one but you should really try to get your hands on one. The driving experience will decide it for you. Don't let the repair cost scare you. They will all be expensive. Mine is currently getting a major and it's costing me more than 6k. There will be other items that will need repairing on a > 20 yo car.

IMHO, now that I have a 328 and I LOVE IT, I would have probably still get a 355 (that has been maintained and major issues fixed). I don't think I was really looking for a "vintage" car. They are tough to drive (difficult driving position for me, tough steering, such a tight footwell that I drive without my shoes) but yet still a blast to drive. The 328 makes you feel fast when you're not. The experience is more raw "race-track" car. The 355, OTOH, is much faster, much more modern, better driving position, better handling, more of what people think a < 10 yo car should be. It makes you feel fast when you really are going fast.

I once asked this same question to "Luigi" at one of the Ferrari places here on the Island, and his response was "..if you drive it routinely, I would get a 355 over a 328..." Of course, to him, the repairs are close to cost and free labor.

But that's exactly the point, most people would buy a 355 over a 328, if the repair costs are the same. That would seem to indicate that the 355 is a "better" car than the 328.

Just IHMO....

Ace

 

I also have to respectfully disagree with something that was said here...

The 348 the WORST of both worlds? I think rather that it's the best of both worlds. Bulletproof engine, old school character, both old school and modern driving feel, modern engine management system, fast, timeless looks, awesome engine sound. The 348 is a fantastic machine. It gives you the old school feel of the 328 with some modern stuff.

I know this is a thread about 328 versus 355, and I so I do not wish to hijack the thread

 

If the 308 had 500 bhp, it would be faster than the 360...

 

Huh???? That's one I've never heard on a 348 before.

 

Lol. We can handle those guys.

I think...

 

Whoa!! What are you saying here, Dave? Are you saying you're putting a 355 engine in a 308??? Somebody call the men in white coats! Dave's lost his mind. So where are the pictures documenting this FrankenFerrari transformation? Are you holding out on us? (or am I just oblivious to something everyone else here already knows?...which is probably the case)

 

Neither one are currently for sale. Both provide WAY too much fun (but cost a ton to keep running )

 

That is hysterical!

 

lol

 

Look for a nice classic late model 328GTB enjoy it for a couple of years, at that point it may be well worth more then the 355 for you to trade down to.

 

Regardless of what you buy, you will have to learn to resist others who "challenge" you on the road. You have the Ferrari which means you have nothing to prove.

Dave

 

You have to get over out running everything on the road. This isn't racing. The winner isn't the fastest just the most reckless. You have to realize when you are driving a Ferrari you have already won!

 

Well, I wish I could wrap my head around the "you have a Ferrari, you have nothing to prove" philosophy but sadly I feel the opposite. If I had (or wanted) a Z06 Corvette, I might feel that way since it really WILL outrun just about anything around. If you have a car that CAN perform, then you truly have nothing to prove. But if you have a car that LOOKS like 100MPH standing still, but can be embarrassed by mom in an SUV when she doesn't even know we're "racing," it's a problem for me...

I've never had "slow" cars so I'm trying to act the "I have a Ferrari; you just have a Ford" thing but when I know that the Ford will smoke my 328, it's difficult to accept without wanting to add a bunch of HP.

Don't get me wrong, I love my 328 and love driving it fast. I'm trying to overcome many years of ingrained car experience and expectations and become a believer in the "I have a Ferrarri, I have nothing to prove" mantra. But it goes so strongly against my grain that I think it's unlikely I will ever change. But maybe 10 milligrams of Valium per day would take care of the problem!

Maybe you should get the 355! Certainly doesn't have the looks (IMHO) but it's got the guts to back it up!

 

I have the replacement engine on a stand ready to build up and a spare 355 engine looking for a home.... There are some problems to work out but it is looking like this will happen. There more I thought about it...we are not going to sell this car, might as well make it into something interesting. The 308 GTB shape captivates me and the 355 sound and performance is a must have for me... Emissions regs will be getting tighter so building a HiPerf 308 engine will only create problems in that area in the near future.

My want is to make it a bolt in affair, no major mods to the engine, the 308 trans or the car so reversing the mod is possible. A topic for another thread some day...

 

If you want "fast" go get a sportbike. For 6-10K you can outrun anything on 4 wheels. But still, what's the point?

I've had the most fun in cars that were slow, because you can really wring them out and not be breaking the law. Around here 100+ will put you in jail.

Let's face it, anything built by anyone in the last 30 years is really too fast for street use, and with increased congestion, speed cameras, "revenue enhancement" and all the BS, the street is going to get ever more unfriendly to the auto enthusiast.

 

If you need fast the 328 isn't for you. There's alot that's faster. But that also means you'll never have a Jaguar E-Type, a Porsche 911s, a Ferrari 250GT, a Lamborghini Jalpa, etc etc.

 

Since prices have been dropping I too have been tempted to "trade-up" to a 355 or 360. After carefull consideration I've decided to hold onto my 328 and maybe in a year or so , finances permitting, look for a 355. The trend I've noticed is that most people that "upgrade" to a newer car wind up missing their 328. Like most people here, I too would like more performance than my car has, but I'm also pretty sure that I would become complacent with the performance of anything less than the latest and greatest that Ferrari has to offer ( way out of my price range ). I don't mind so much that there are kids running around in Neons or Civics that are faster than my car. Making most cars fast seems to be realativly cheap and easy, so I don't loose alot of sleep over 0-60 comparisons. I don't street race anyway so it really dosen't matter how fast the car next to me is. I race karts so I get the urge to race out of my system at the track and no car short of an F1 car would compare to that - at least thats what I've been told.
The one thing I don't get is the persistant claim that 308s and 328s are routinly spanked by suv's and minivans. I have to admit that I have zero experience with sports cars other than my own ; I've never driven any other sports car. I have driven minivans and suv's as well as my wifes STS and I don't get the impression that my car is slower. What am I missing ?

 

You're not missing anything. I've never been spanked by a suv or minivan either. I don't know where the concept that a Ferrari has to be the fastest car on earth comes from. They make great sports cars but they don't hold any land speed records and they haven't won any NHRA drag races. If someone needs the ego boost that they passed a Ferrari, I'll pull over for them. Guys that need to prove how fast they are should be racing. I raced for a number of years and got it out of my system. Now who's faster from a light is a joke. Different cars with vastly different horsepower and drivers with different agendas. If you want to see how fast you are, "RACE"! It's alot harder and alot more meaningful when the guys you are competing against are in equal machinery and don't want to be passed. Why would I race a kid in a Honda? Win or lose, I'm a jerk.

 

You had better think very hard, because I want you to say hello to my little friend...from the 348 Brotherhood.
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Back on a serious note I am a little confused about people's opinions on the 348. First of all, the only parts I have purchased from Daniel at Ricambi have been parts I wanted, such as new bolts for the challenge wheels I purchased.

Secondly, for those who say the 348 isn't that fast, hmmm. I have been riding around with guys in 355's and yes they are clearly faster, but unless you are on a racetrack, I am not sure that too many people are going to really outrun me with a top speed around 170. Unless someone wants to go 150 down a city street, my 348 does just fine riding with other Ferraris. My point is, the 348 is clearly fast enough to get you thrown into jail in a big hurry anywhere in the USA the last time I checked.

As far as looks go, it may not be "timeless", but I have had a CONSTANT flow of people from my 35 year old neighbor to an 80 year old woman tell me how beautiful they think my car is, so if YOU think it looks good, that is all that matters, (clearly many others will think so as well). Opinions on a Ferrari's appearance are as varied as the number of people on Fchat, so get what you like.

As Bullfighter is quick to say in these parts; the 328 guys think they have the best Ferrari ever, the 348 guys think they have the best Ferrari ever, the 355 guys think...well, you get my point. We all love our cars or we wouldn't have them. You can't go wrong with either choice. The 328/348/355 are all cool cars in thier own way. I won't loan you my car, but if you want a close up look at a 348 in your neck of the woods, Kip Sheward has one. It has some issues (paint bubbling, etc.) but it will give you a live look at one. Surely someone has to have a 328 and or a 355 up there too. They are common enough, and if they don't, Ferrari has a fairly large show in Wisconsin this Summer you should attend...

Good luck!
MB

 

Well said.

 

Mike, you gotta get over that, man. I have a good friend who's just like you. He can't stand it that a Z06 can beat his Ford GT. He loves his car and it is crazy fast, but yes, a Z06 will beat it. There's always something faster. Even a 355 is gonna get beat by a lot of cars, but every car guy in the world will squirt his shorts when he hears a 355 revving. Your 328 was fast in its day, but that day is now over 20 years ago. You gotta appreciate it for what it is...iconic. Also, consider that it's a 194 cubic inch engine making 260 hp. That's an impressive achievement even by today's standards.