Hello: I'll be buying my first ever F-car in early 2005 and I've decided on a 348 (that's if I find the right one) and I'm currently collating all the info I can before taking the plunge. I've used the search function to good effect but the question of possible roof-leaks on the ts model is bothering me a bit. My basic question is: concerning the roof leaks, are they caused through bad design or through seals going bad? Reason why I am asking is I quite fancy the ts model but not if it's going to leak. In that case I'd rather save myself all the hassle and buy a tb. I realise with many people their cars never see rain and all that. But I'm the kind of person who likes to buy a car to drive it, and that means in the rain too. Which is why this question is important to me. You see, if it is just a question of the seals going bad then I could buy a ts and simply replace the seals. But if it's a question of bad design in that area then replacing seals will solve nothing and I'll plumb for the tb instead. Also, for people who have driven both, is there any difference in the feel of the car strength-wise? I know Ferrari strengthens the body of the ts to compensate for lack of structural rigidity sans roof, but did they do a good job of this? The last totally roofless car I had was a Mercedes SL500 and that was built like a brick toilet. Scuttle-shake was simply not in its vocabulary. But can the same be said of the 348 ts? Many thanks for any info. Regards, Jim
They all leak. If someone says theirs does not, they are either lying or they don't drive in the rain. If you are going to drive your F-car in the rain, get a tb.
My ('92) ts is mostly watertight, but water does collect just where the roof meets the front windscreen pillar and if you open the window you get a puddle in your lap. Haven't driven a tb, but don't notice any scuttleshake. I was originally looking for a tb when I bought mine because of the leaking roof issue, but even though I use the car in England and France (where it rains a lot) it hasn't really been a problem and it is nice to be able to have the roof off from time-to-time.
