First Post- Maintenance Q

In a nut shell, the 308/328 is about half the cost to maintain, over a 348/355. I have owned a 308, 328 and now a 355. Figure a 15k (or 2.5 to 3 year) minor service (fluids, plugs, and accessory drive belts changed) will run around $1500. About $3,500 for the full 30k (5 to 6 year interval) which includes timing belts, tensioners, air/fuel filters and valve adjustment. You can pretty much double those numbers for a 348/355...give or take $500.

But anytime the car goes in, and an inspection is done, there are always "incidentals" and they can really run up the costs, as the parts are so darned expensive...even cars with low miles will have stuff that goes bad, like water pump seals, brake master cylinders, and shocks start leaking, etc. Always have a back up "contingency fund"...

 

Thankyou for this question Caddie. I want a 348 also. I love the look of them and Testarossa too. Thankyou for answering these questions.

 

If you want to learn just a little bit about the 348, then go here: http://www.the348.com/tech/348.html

As for *any* Ferrari, they aren't for the faint of heart. They are for fanatics. Buy them. Drive them. Learn how to fix them. Get your hands dirty. Learn what makes them go fast and stop even faster.

A basic, generic rule of thumb for your first Ferrari is to buy the very best car/example of the least expensive model that appeals to the fanatic inside you.

So if you dig 308's and 348's equally, then per the above rule you go buy the best 308 that you can find.

If you dig 348's and 355's equally, then you go buy the best 348 that you can find, etc.

With any Ferrari, you will have maintenance. Budget for it. Plan for it. Do not expect to go a year without some sort of repair bill.

Ferraris are exhilarating toys. Enjoy them when/how you can, but don't break yourself financially over one. Buy below your means and drive above your limits for maximum enjoyment.

 

What ND said.

 

I second what ND said as well, with one other point. Do not buy any Ferrari without a leakdown or compression test at a minimum, unless its so darn cheap it wont matter. There have been threads one after the other of people getting into one of these cars for all the money they ever had, only to find themselves stuck with a turkey. Or you have the guys who buy the car, but drive it and maintain it worse than a Honda and cant understand why its breaking down. Dont blind yourself with passion without accepting the reality that these really are race cars, and need much more extensive maintenence than any other basic road car. Even if you do all the labor yourself, a 308 engine rebuild could top well over $5000 in parts and minor machine work, and thats if nothings broke. 355? There is an engine rebuild thread running over there right now, its quite entertaining. These are really very well made machines, but they are complex and highley strung, coupled with low production hand fitted parts. Put together correctly and maintained religously they serve thier owners well. But sadly many are not put back together properly, and or not maintained as well as they should have been, and some sad sucker is gonna get stuck with one. Don't let it be you man, do your homework. I have a 77 308 in my garage right now that the previous owner and former Fchat member had purchased off ebay. The car needed so much work he was disheartened with the car he offered the car to me for less than he paid. He may never own another Ferrari just because of this bad event.