Hi all! The car is a 1991 F348 TB (red exterior with black interior). I will go for a road test this weekend and I am seeking advice on what to look for while driving the car. Also, the owner will put the car on a lift. What should I look for? Thanks in advance for your help P.S.: This will be my "first" F-car driving experience and I am so excited!
Make sure all the electronics work. When you put the key in the ignition and first start the car, there should be 2 yellow check engine lights in the lower bottom center of the instrument pod that come on, but then go off. If they don't come on, the bulbs have been removed and something fishy is going on. You should also see an ABS warning light pop on at start up ( right side of pod), then go off after a few seconds. Check the climate control unit to make sure it all works... A/C, heat, fans, etc. check the electric windows. There are red lights on the end of the doors that should light up when the doors are open. Check the electric door locks. Those are the main 348 specific things I can think of. Everything else is usual used car stuff. Don't let the dazzle and lust for Ferraris cloud your judgement, try to stay objective
The only advice I can give is, if at all possible, drive more than 1. What I mean is don't buy the first car you see if ownership is likely to be along term deal for you as it's tough to tell a poor example from a good if you've never driven a Ferrari before. Easy for me to say as I live in the UK so everywhere is pretty close together (comparatively), before I bought my 348 I drove 328s, 348s, 355s..... Re what pnicholasen has posted is all good info although if the engine check lights don't light up it's not always a show-stopper (forgive the 'correction' pnicholasen ) My car has a non-standard exhaust and cat system and the Ferrari system had to be disconnected (my race cats with non-silenced exhaust run at a different temp to standard). If the system doesn't do a self test as described by pnicholasen it's worth looking in to but there could be a reason. Cosmetically I'd look along the buttress lines where the rear buttress meets the rear wing to check for bubbling. any other minor surface rust is pretty standard to sort but this can be a tad more expensive as you have quite a bit of flex in the car at this point and it needs to be sorted in a specific way (also think my mech said it was more tricky to get right due to different metals joining at this point.....) Last thing I'd suggest on any Ferrari is look at the Odometer and look at the carpet condition. I saw one really low mileage example where the driver's carpet had worn badly. Unless the guy was sitting in it in the garage at night playing then I'd suggest it had been helped backwards a bit. It's child's play to do on a 348 (or earlier) so just check it all stacks up. If it is higher mileage that's no probs, will probably drive better anyway, but you'll pay for a low mileage car but if it turns out to be clocked you'll be selling a high mileage car. Anyway, enjoy it. Not every day you get to test drive a Ferrari
Don't expect it to go into 2nd gear - go 1/3 & 3/1 - this is not a fault its just the way they are especially when cold Read a few buying guides/threads - here and whatever you can find on the net eg http://www.my348.com/
Good link, we 348 owners use it all the time. Re the gear change thing, heard this a lot from mates with the car but mine is fine right from cold. Have fired her up early in the morning and so had to depart ASAP before I wake the whole village - straight from 1st to 2nd to 3rd no probs. Didn't when I first bought her but do the 'gear change trick' religiously every time I drive her and after a few weeks of doing that, no issues. The 'trick' is in the link Greyboxer just posted. Doesn't make any difference for weeks then slowly it started to loosen the box up. I do it totally subconsciously now.
This will actually be my 3rd F348 ride, but the first I will be driving. However, I am not interested in the other models mentionned. The 348 is my youth car !
Mine too but I drove the others to be sure. Glad I did - it served to show that, for me, the 348 was the car, wouldn't swap my car for either of the other 2. But some people prefer the others so it never hurts to check
Try to start the car after sitting for 1/2 hour or so, mine is starting poorly after that time and I read in Fchat that it might need a flywheel repack. It should be simple, but something to know about. Also check the parking brake on a hill. Lots of people burn them up when first learning to drive them. Don't ask how I know that. I'll tell you. I thought the light was a seat belt warning light. Know which lights are which. Read read read all you can. Good luck.
everything should just work like a real car, except the windows will be slow and 2nd gear may be reluctant until warm. don't believe "they all do that". They're all shiny on the outside, it's what's inside that counts. I paid an experienced ferrari mechanic to PPI mine for me, 3,000 miles away, and worked out great. Take your time, look at more than one - avoid marrying the first one you drive
No, it's a relatively easy fix. Some need a little adjustment, others find a different oil in the box helps. Just got back from a drive in mine. Fired her up, ticked over for a minute or 2, backed out of the drive (doing the shifting trick as always - ask if you don't know what it is, it makes a huge difference over time.) into 1st, snicked straight into 2nd like butter. The car had sat for a couple of weeks prior to today. It wasn't like that when I got her - 2nd was 'no go' till the car was fully warm. In no way a deal breaker just might need looking at. Mine went from 2nd being no go (and always had been) to easily going in with no adjustment, just new gear oil and religiously doing the shifting trick (as per Greyboxers' link I think) every time I drive her.
Very much look forward to hearing them. Just remember "It's only a car. It's only a car. It's only a ......." Who am I kidding! Have a blast!
Sorry, just reading this again and confirming - 2nd should be fine on any car when warm, it's just a tad stiff on some when cold.
just at/over 4000rpm, it will slide into the 2nd gear....but the thing is the engine should not be brought up to that high rpm when the engine is cold........so if 2nd is stiff (which most likely it will be) just move on to third till it warms up....
Literally mate, mine slides into second no snags at all regardless of revs or temp. It can be sorted out. I ALWAYS select reverse through first (foot on clutch, then ...down into first up into reverse - all one movement. That in essence is the 348 shifting trick.) The theory is it somehow fires the synchro or something and help the box be far quicker. No idea if that is why but always done this and mone is slick as you like.
I just got a 91 348 yesterday and I took it out after it was fully cooled and 2nd gear was smooth as butter right off the bat cold. I was really surprised and had not expected that. My 355 is a Beotch to get in 2nd when it is cold. I have a case of the Redline shock proof sitting on the bench for them when I do the majors this winter. We'll see if it helps the 355.
Hopefully it will do p.s. Sorry for all the typos - on a phone, up on a balcony looking out over the fields with a glass of wine in hand....... the typos are probably more due to the wine than the phone or balcony
Inspection summary: - Car is is good condition but will require some TLC (some detailing/polishing) - History is unknown and most-likely will require a major service (belts and clutch) - Front hood does not close completely (pops-up when driving); might be an issue with the latch - Sticky parts will need to be re-coated (not a drivin issue, but I prefer having a nice looking car) - All electric system in working order - AC blows really cold air Test drive summary: - very solid car (ie no rattles for a +20 years old car)! - 2nd gear shifts smoothly - brakes are a little soft (not sure if they required to be warmed-up to fully get braking power) - engine power is sufficient (i would not want a car with less power than that however) - engine bay gets really hot! - engine did start after warmed engine (not on first crank however, required the starter to be on for 2-3 sec more than cold start) - parking brake is defective (ie not working) Comments: - It is a true driver's car: no power steering, minimum electronic aid - Comfortable position despite my 6tf2in - Very mechanical driving: clutch is stiff, shifter is stiff, suspension is stiff - Car will require a "loud" exhaust system. Need to get the "Ferrari sound" on that horse! - Going to bring the girlfriend for another test drive NOTE: I did the test drive alone for a 30min period
I will go see another car soon before taking my decision. Best time to buy a "toy" car in Montreal is October/November, when the owners want to empty their garage before winter.
Soft brakes most likely due to old fluid or previously overheated fluid. Do a full flush and I'd bet they firm up.
Agreed, but consider: You could step out in front of a city bus and get squshed like a bug before winter. Why wait just to potentially save a buck. Buy it now. Drive it now. Not next summer. This summer!
