348

Interesting, as I was steered toward a 348 for my first Ferrari and have loved every second of it. Need to sell for business reasons and breaking my heart.

The more neutral view is that the 3x8 line is cheaper to maintain, but I would argue that depends upon the example you purchase.

Whichever car you buy, buy one that is as nice as you can afford, and take it from there. I just bought a 308QV and it needs some serious TLC. That will cost me some scratch over time, but the motor and gearbox is very sound so I am happy with the purchase.

Buy the example you like, and buy the nicest one you can.

Regards,
Matt B
P.S. Mine is for sale if you are interested, PM me.

 

I just bought my first one (last week) and it was a 348. I think it is personal preference. To me the styling is much more modern in the 348. More HP. I think it is more impressive for the money. Like all ferrari's, you should do your homework and make sure you get a well-sorted one over one that needs work. Get one that you can pay for and start driving that weekend. The smile on your face is non-removeable!!

 

Many people are afraid of the 348 as a beginner Ferrari as they believe the costs of ownership to be to high. The engine out service is the biggest factor in there arsenal. While it is not inexpensive to perform it is also the only major cost factor associated with these highly dependable cars. My guess is that the nay sayers have never owned one. Being a 348 SS owner my opinion is of course biased. That being said I do not ever plan on changing models at ANY point in my life. This car is truely the last of a breed containing some benefit of ECU's with the most important driver senses remaining raw and uncluttered.

 

I've owned a 328, and sold it.
I bought a 348 few years back and still own it. I like the 348 better than the 328.
Problems with my 348 were insignificant. The belt service was pricey, but amortized over
4 years or so, its not really that bad when you think of it that way.
I'll most probably keep my 348 and buy another model the 348 has kind of proven itself to me.

 

Heeeeeey Joe ("...where you going with that gun in your hand?"),

Jimi Hendrix songs aside, I noticed something that might be relevant once you've decided that the 348 is the car for you...

There's a new FerrariChat sponsor: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=255271

And they have some Ferrari 348s on their website: http://www.bobileff.com/

• 1993 348-SS (#63) for $53,500 - last major service Oct 2008, some modifications
• 1995 348-Spyder for $54,900 - last major just completed, OEM specification

​

Happy hunting!

All the best,
Andrew.

 

I too was advised to go for a 348 as a first-time Ferrari owner. I can tell you that I am very happy that I took that advice, I plan on keeping my 348 forever.

 

I love my 348. Besides the looks and performance, I like the fact that if you have any decent mechanic skills at all, you can do many things on it yourself. Plus this forum has many 348 owners with a ton of info about how to care and repair them. If you can find a 348 in good shape that has recently had it's 30K mile service, then you are good to go for some time. Happy hunting!

 

Its often said by people who is not familiar with model OR from sales guys who would make way too little selling 348 to you so they would like you to go for something with more margin for them. So its TOTALLY BS!!!
I had 348 as my first Ferrari, then went to 360 and then back to 348, I just love it. My opinion is that its great first Ferrari, fairly easy to maintain yourself and you should have very little worry about depreciation, and if you are lucky you could even see prices getting up a bit.

 

Just buy the car that YOU like, they are all good choices!

 

A 1994 348 Spider was my first Ferrari and the car has gone way beyond my expectations.

I actually was thinking more along the lines of a 308 or a 328, and ended up going with a 348. I can't speak to the 308/328, but I can say, my 348 has been reliable, and continues to put a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel.

I think you'll find that most of us who have 348s absolutely love them. I've had mine since 2/2004 and I'm still lovin' every minute of it!

 

Looking back I'm very happy with the 348.. I wanted a modern car but not the issues that could pop with the 355 especialy the tops as I'm a Spider guy myself..

Ben

 

Another Fchatter's ownership....
Keeping the 348 for 20 years when you have a Testarossa and an F40 is probably a good indicator of how much people like their 348's.....

 

I will add a 308 to my Ferrari "collection" at some point but I do not think that I will ever sell my 348.

 

MBFerrari steered me from a 328/Mondial to a 348 and I cant thank him enough. LOVE the car. Any Ferrari you can afford is a nice starting point

 

...buy a 348!

Matt, I can't beleive you are selling your car..........

 

It all depends why you want to have a Ferrari in the first place.

If you want all out power, you need to start at least with a 360 or you will be disappointed.

A 308 & 328 are solid cars but seriously lack on the performance side, especially compared to today's standards.

If you want a reasonably priced car, that, if sorted out well. won't break the bank, a 348 is a great choice because it has quite a bit of power, great looks and is the last without the electronic nannies.

It took me almost 2 years to get everything addressed on my car, but I bought it with the lack of maintenance priced in. The check engine light and I because best friends. Now it's running well and I have started turning my attention to interior beautifying.

Kai

 

Even though it took you two years, I am sure that you enjoyed doing it. I, for one, love going over my 348 and tweaking things. My girlfriend thinks I am crazy because I like to work on it so much. But, being a mechanic all my life, I have dreamed of the day that I would spend a Saturday afternoon changing the spark plugs on my Ferrari. Now that this time is here, it is even better than I imagined.

 

I was also in your shoes two years ago when I decided it was time to buy a Ferrari contemplating the negativity surrounding the 348. But based on all of the research I had done - through this forum and elsewhere - and in spite of the negativity from some on this very forum (and elsewhere) I decided that the 348 I had always wanted was exactly what I was going to get. Two years later I have no regrets and can say that at least in my case, the negativity is either bunk, an exagerration or simply relative to the mechanical abilities (or shall I say inabilities) of those who pan it.

In my opinion, don't just "want a Ferrari", rather:

1. Want a specific Ferrari and get the best example (supported by PPI, etc, etc...) of said Ferrari that your money can buy.

2. Be prepared, as others have implied, that the money you spend to purchase a Ferrari is only the beginning of the money that you will spend on a Ferrari.

3. Be proud of the Ferrari you chose - it is, after all, a Ferrari.

I wish you the best of luck in your search and when you realize your dream, be sure to share it with us all.

Matt

 

Very well stated Matt.

 

I also went through this analysis last year. I was going to go for a 3x8 and then met with a very knowledgeable Fchatter here in Miami.

I got to sit in a 308 and it just did not feel right. Very long and tight for me. He also pointed out the common problems in 3x8. Rust in certain sections that hold water, a/c very weak (being in Miami that is important for year long enjoyment), ect.

Considered 355 and then learned about potential problems like headers and valves. Also items like power seats and power top if you want a spider.

So 348 became natural choice. Real A/C, wider body, rust not an issue, valves not an issue, headers not an issue, etc.

348s have issues, all cars have issues, but in comparison, I was much more comfortable with potential issues with 348 so I went for best one I could find and it has been a dream come true.

I have driven a 430 Scud and would not trade my 348 for it. Not because the 430 scud is not amazing, it is, but because 348 requires skill. A skill that you must practice and learn. That is part of the fun. No power steering, manual transmission that you have to master, etc. I would take 430 as daily driver but if you want a change of pace, 348 is a good choice.

I still love the look of the 3x8 and may get one, one day but 348 was a is a better first Ferrari in my opinion.

Just be careful. There are many poorly maintained cars out there and parts are plain expensive. So find a great example and do not be afraid to pay a little more for it. You will save more in the first year.

Good luck with your search.

 

The 328 is better built, simpler and more reliable (on average). In general, it's priced a bit higher than a comparable 348 because, in general, people like the body style. On the downside, the 328 was the last old school body-on-frame Ferrari so it has the 'interesting' Italian driving position, tight footwell, and a snug cockpit. It's either charming or archaic, depending on your perspective.

The 308 is also a simple car, but the 328 was a massive cleaning up/debugging of the already pretty solid 308: improved electricals, ignition, engine internals, brakes/wheels/suspension, steering, cooling system, rust prevention, window mechanisms, etc.

Compared to the 328, the 348 has an additional 40 bhp, much better climate control and more comfortable cockpit. It has Ferrari's first attempt at electronic engine management -- a mixed blessing -- and has a few other design flaws that can be annoying (flimsy door releases, under-spec'ed OEM alternator, cheap interior plastic that turns to goo -- and inexcusably seems to have continued through the 360, at least) to bank-account-destroying (single timing belt mechanism that is more prone to failure, gearbox that can self destruct). The engine, like 328s, is a pretty solid piece of hardware provided the belt and associated bits are kept perfectly maintained and adjusted.

The 348 requires engine removal for a timing belt service, which Ferrari specifies every 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. That interval is debated ad nauseum on FChat. For the 308 and 328, the timing belt is accessed by removing the rear right wheel well lining, with the engine in place. This makes servicing somewhat less expensive.

On the plus side, the 348 crew on FChat has probably uncovered all the flaws, so if you're diligent and a bit lucky the 348 is a better car than its reputation.

Also, these are all old Italian cars at this point. You have to be accepting that they will throw the occasional $1000 tantrum, and that the parts prices make no sense. Because you'll be spending real money over the years to maintain the car, buy the car you really want and make peace in advance with the occasional four-figure bill.

Disclaimer: I have a 328, so I'm not impartial. OTOH, I bought a 328 based on my own tastes and a lot of consultation with Ferrari techs in CA, CO, OH and NC (the states where I looked at Ferraris before buying mine.) What I would recommend is that you talk offline to some of the longtime Ferrari mechanics -- those not trying to sell you a car -- and ask for their input.

 

As Public Enemy says 'don't believe the hype..................Flava flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy."

stop procrastinating and buy it, you will love it, period.

 

Neither can I, and it isn't a want, it is a need to free up some cash for my new business. My plan is to keep the 308QV I am buying and eventually buy another 348 if I can't get this exact machine back in my hands someday...

 

I am also in the market for my first Ferrari. I began looking for a 3x8 series car until I drove a nice 308 carb version. It was less than I had imagined... not bad, but far enough from automotive bliss that I starting thinking of other models. I drove a 348 and liked the feel of the cockpit. I especially like the view out the front (no fenders sticking up in my line of sight), and the fact that all drive train mechanics including the radiator are behind me. I also love the looks of the 348 engine bay--love the north-south engine position and personally I think its a cooler looking engine bay than the 3x8 series or the 355 which is all covered with air boxes. Probably most importantly for me, I love the fact that the 348 has pretty much bottomed out in price; depreciation has run its course and now is the best time to buy. My thinking is, buy one now because the only direction for prices to go is up. Lastly, some guys I have talked to that have owned both the 3x8 and the 348 said the 348 is much easier to work on due to engine accessability, and I am a DIYer. I know the engine-out can be a pain, but there are advantages to is as well since so much more can be done once the engine has been dropped. And then there's the brotherhood to help with all DIY maintenance. Of course it comes down to personal choice and passion, but for me, all comparisons are pointing me to a 348. Happy hunting!