I've just driven my first 348 (and first Ferrari for a loooonnnnggg time!). I was sort of amazed at how unamazing it is! Am I nuts? Acceleration: my Ford Escort 1600 Turbo gave a bigger kick. Changing Gear: My Ford Escort RS2000 is more difficult Clutch: I stalled a Mercedes A-Class more often Ride: My old 308 GT4 was a lot harder Getting in and out: I needed surgery to get in and out of a Crossfire Space inside: My Mercedes SLK was smaller Fuel consumption: I've known many worse All in all, it sort of amounts to a really good package and I have no issue with the looks like many do. The power is all there and it does whatever I want. But hell!!!! - I can drive in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th gear in town! I guess I was sort of expecting something terrifying and adrenalising and the heart is sort of slightly disappointed whilst the head is saying "what a great car this is"! I'm thinking of putting in a sport suspension to make some darned thing on the car unbearable! Anyone else go through this?
But I'm not the sort of person who wants beautiful women to have meaningless wild sex with me just 'cos I drive a Ferrari..... hold it! . . . . . what the **** am I saying!!!!!!
The 348 is an amazing car. For the money and the number that was produced it is an excellent value. In two years they only made 1048 Spiders.
Dasadrew - I felt the same way when I drove my first Ferrari - my wife rented me a 355 spider for my 40th when we lived in Sydney. I was thinking it would be all fiddly, etc, but the car was so easy to drive around town. That really nailed it for me. When I got my 348 spider I was looking for that same sort of thing - I tried a 328 but wasn't comfortable in it but the 348 gives me most of the 355 experience I remember but less expensive-ish. And it is so tractable around town. I don't want people to know though, I kind of like the mystique!!! Good to have another 348'er in the house. Cheers Kevin Edit Do put a Tubi and test pipes or Hyperflow cats on it and drive at 7,000 rpm a lot - that will give you some adrenalising esp through a tunnel....
I had a similar experience. Simple yet quality interior. Drives easily. Starts every time. Nice clutch. Not a TON of power but all of it useable. Corners like a slot car. What's not to like? Take the top down, enjoy the drive. It really is a car you can run to the coffee shop if you want. Pretty fun!
The power is all there and it does whatever I want. But hell!!!! - I can drive in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th gear in town! I guess I was sort of expecting something terrifying and adrenalising and the heart is sort of slightly disappointed whilst the head is saying "what a great car this is"! I'm thinking of putting in a sport suspension to make some darned thing on the car unbearable! Anyone else go through this?[/QUOTE] Please don't tell anyone that these cars are actually reasonable to live with on an almost daily basis. Who knows who we will have to deal with. Disgruntled 996 owners? By the way does anyone know about this 348 ts series special (www.DaveOlimpiAutomobiles.com) Look like a nice car. I am thinking about adding a 348 espicially given all the positive comments about the car. I like the looks of this particular vehicle and would make a great compliment to my TR. Any toughts?
my first impressions were more on looks , and then the unique sounds . i just kept walking around it couldnt take my eyes off of it.., the interior is basic, but uncluttered. im not 6 ft tall, so it fits me like a glove. the handling is tight and responsive . i wont put my title up for a race though against some other quality rides. still id rather be in my 348. its kinda like dating a gorgeous model , and she cant cook . who cares?
i think this car just sold. it was in the thread titled "just bought my first ferrari" or something to that effect. john
Hi Kevin, it's got a Fuchs non-street legal muffler. I must admit to not knowing what it sounds like from the outside (must find someone to drive my car first!). I kind of like the original Ferrari "tinny" exhaust note above 4000 and the Fuchs seems to not have that. Am I alone in not wanting the car to sound like an AC Cobra or a TVR, but preferring the original "cheap, tin metal" sounding note?
Try eliminating the bottom muffler like I did and see how that sounds! You'll swear your sitting in a F1 car or something. It's super simple to do. All you have to do is make a set of pipes to go between the top muffler and the exaust pipe tips. Any muffler shop can do this for next to nothing. It effectively gives you the same set up as the spider exaust. It also makes the rear of the car look better IMO because the differential is no longer blocked by the muffler. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I must admit that looks pretty cool with the clutch housing visible! I'm not sure what muffler set up I've got as there seem to be at least 3 configurations depending on USA/CDN/Rest of the world. The car is with the dealer at the moment for its major.
