Evo video. Watch at around 20 minutes for 348 comments by Harry Metcalfe. Filmed at friends workplace by Evo Magazine RM Auctions, London 2014 - behind the scenes | evo TV - YouTube And some pics taken yesterday at my new country home (is it April 1st yet?)
What a great programme, lots of great cars and interesting what he says when they tested the V8s and had the most fun with it and one to watch. Thanks for posting.
Ferrari 328 GTS: "Let's not mention Magnum!": Yes, let's not because Magnum never drove a 328 GTS! Ferrari 348: "This a 1990 car......a GTB.......": Oops!....wrong! It's a TB not a GTB. Okay, I'm being seriously pedantic and you can't expect everyone to know every detail about every car, but these two did annoy Me. I was also surprised that when they were discussing the differences between the 365 GTB/4 and the 365 GTC/4, they mentioned the sump and carburettor differences but didn't mention that the GTB has a trans axle whilst the GTC has the gearbox mounted to the engine. I noticed the guy saying how he'd done a group test of V8 Ferrari's and the 348 was the one they had the most fun with. I'm not sure if it was the same group test but somewhere in My attic I have an article where they tested the 308 GTB/S, 328 GTB/S, 348 TB/S and the 355 GTB/GTS, and their conclusion was that the 348 was the surprise winner out of all of them, being the best combination of old and modern technology. If I recall correctly, they said it lost out to the 308/328 on looks and the 355 on performance, but overall, it was the car they had the most fun in, saying that they loved the go-cart like steering that they felt, communicated what was going on with the road far better than the 355, and slightly better than the 308/328's (both of which are noted as being supremely communicative!). Overall they said the 348 was one of the most under-rated Ferrari they had come across and most of them had forgotten just how good it actually was to drive. I think the final sentence on the 348 was something along the lines of: "One day, people will realise how good these cars really are and prices will rise rapidly - Get one while you can!" I'm so glad I got in before the serious rise begins! (NOTE: In the UK, 348 prices have gone from @ £19K to @ £30K in the last 3 years!)
I've seen really good ones selling nearly £40k, the later 93 models with battery in the front and in excellent condition. Foskers just sold 2, £38k and £40k. Let's enjoy them
The Ferrari Centre had an 8K mile 1990 TS in red with tan leather (which I personally couldn't take to), up for @ £49K a few months ago when I was buying mine, which I thought was too strongly priced. They eventually dropped the price to @ £43K at which it sold. In the UK now, the prices are all over the place! There's a couple of RHD's up for @ £25K (which I personally think is a bit on the low side, making Me a bit suspicious of them), and there are two or three LHD cars @ £30~£32K that don't seem to be selling. There's a 47K miles 1990 TS at a dealers in Essex that's currently up for @ £40K (which is funny because it wasn't selling previously at @ £30K and now they've bumped the price up massively!). And near where I live there's a 37K mile 1991 TS at a dealers that has just been bumped up from @ £35K to @£37K in the space of 4 weeks. The problem is, these cars are so far away from each other that it's a lot of time, effort and cost to find the right car for you, and there's a big risk of someone else getting there before you, leaving you to start again. When I bought mine, I was chasing cars only to find they were sold and it ended up with there being only two TS' for sale in My price range (and only a couple more beyond My budget). I looked at both (one was up north, the other down south), and they were in similar condition, with similar mileage/history etc., etc. Both dealers were good to deal with (although the one up north wouldn't allow Me to test drive the car as it was a rainy day and he'd just had it detailed, which put Me off a bit - It was a fair old trek just to look at the car! I also asked if some additional, minor problems could be sorted within the sale price only to be told: "Not really. If you don't buy that car as it is at that price, someone else will. I've spent enough on it already!" Whilst I understood what he meant, it struck Me as being a bit arrogant). The other car was at The Ferrari Centre in kent (an even longer trek!), and they were great to deal with. Down to earth, relaxed, no pressure, they just let the car sell itself. There were pro's and cons to both cars (they were very very close in condition), and in the end I think it was the fact that I felt more comfortable with TFC than the other dealer that tipped it for Me. They were going to replace the cambelt as a matter of course, and offered to replace and upgrade the tensioners and water-pump at the same time for the cost of the parts alone as the engine was already out - Which I agreed to for piece of mind (They actually informed Me that the tensioners didn't really need doing but I had them done anyway just in case). There were a couple of minor things I'd asked them to sort out as a condition of sale which they agreed to do - Only for Me to find out that they hadn't done them when I went to collect the car (To be fair, they were rushed off their feet with car sales at the time - When I arrived there were 5 more people ahead of Me who had turned up to collect cars [3 of which turned up unannounced!], and the issues were all things I could easily sort Myself). One thing that does come to mind every now and again having had the choice of two cars is: "Did I buy the right one?" I'll never really know (and if I'd bought the other car I'd still be thinking the same thing!), I've made My bed as they say but as things stand right now, after 36 years of dreaming of owning a Ferrari, I own one, she makes Me smile when I look at her and drive her, I love her to pieces and I have no regrets! (I wonder if the person who bought the other car feels the same way?)
I spoke to him on Thursday at the Salon Prive here in London. It's a one off special order and looked stunning in the flesh but not everyone's cup of tea. He's a very nice guy, had a chat and was an amazing day.
And don't forget the 348GTC that sold at Furlongers a few month back. That was confirmed at £100,000 ($160,000) - it went to a collector. Top cars are getting top money. I bought mine 11 years ago with 8K miles and drove it - just like Enzo wanted - its now got over 40K and drives better than ever - and it still enters concours.
