From a 348 to a 355: Immediate impressions

Sweet!! Thanks for that Dean!!

Good to hear you love it and so you should mate. The 355 is a wonderful machine and you now own a beautiful example.

 

I agree with what Dean said. But the 355 is a lot more freight in terms of maintenance headaches and costs. Ferrari parts and service departments thrive because of the advent of the 355.

That said, it is one of the most beautiful sports cars ever made.

 

Thanks for the comparisons Dean I'm still planning to keep my 348 for years. I think it will be enough to keep me occupied & happy for a long time... at least until nice 355s are under $50k I was thinking of a 355 before getting the 348, but was a little more concerned about the 355's complexity and a couple of the mechanical issues, and also the much higher initial price. Can't blame you for being happy with the 355, though!!

 

Apology accepted ............ friends do let friends buy 355s !!! Everything you said about the 355 is true......... ........... I drove a 360 and at WOT it felt no faster than my 355. The 360 gets its lower 0-60 time primarily from the better torque at the lower revs IMO...... ............. and after some mods I am working on ...... I antcipate my 355 to be at 360 power at the very least ....

For PAP, Chris and the entire 'brotherhood' ............. this is what you need ...... !!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAGYP-iUsag

I admire your very honest and extrememly accurate description of the almighty 355 !!!!!

Congratulations Dean355!!!!!!!!!!
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Where is Andy when we need him????

 

Nice writeup, Dean.

I would like to make one footnote here.

For some reason -- and only God knows why -- no one talks about the sound of the 348 engine. The 348 engine has a GREAT sound. I mean, it's really visceral. Raw. Nasty! I think the 355 has a great exhaust note, and even a great engine sound; but the intake sound of the 348 is really ferocious. The 355 engine to me seems to be much more refined and actually a little quieter than the 348 engine.

I won't go as far to say that the 348 engine sound is better than the 355. I'm just saying that the 348 has a really awesome sound which no one ever talks about. The tubi on the 348 masks the sound of the 348 engine; but with the stock setup, the 348 intake sound under hard acceleration is just awesome.

Can we establish that the 348 has a really awesome engine sound and give it a little credit?

 

..... well yes it does ........... especially this particular nero 348 ss owned by a fellow f-chatter ........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJw8t5vEpQc

 

So, as far as Ferrari improving on the 348, mission accomplished with the 355 (and I am not implying that the 348 is a slob-they just refined a nice foundation). Now, as far as improving on the 355 with the intro of the 360 or 430... still has room for improvement, why did Ferrari even bother, or should they have taken more cues from what was working for the 355.

 

+1 as a former 348 owner

 

Dean, I echo your driving impression over similar roads in the 348 versus the 355. When I first drove the 355 on a race track that I had driven the 348 on the first thing I noticed was how much easier it was to go faster with very little effort. I don't have any regrets owning not only a 348 but before that a 328 and eventually the 355. They are all great cars with varying degrees of strengths and weaknesses I like to drive my Ferrari on the track once and a while and that is the main reason I changed models. I have owned a 355 for more then 4 years now and I don't have any plans on changing it. Enjoy your 355 and keep sharing your experiences with us.

 

Nice write up Dean, it is interesting for me to hear these points of view considering i have not owned a 348.

Enjoy your new car brother, life is good!

 

Ok, while I don't want to be a thread hijacker, I have to post a video that I dug up of my own 348 engine sound...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bBWUqm25eI

Now isn't that awesome?? Perhaps we should start a whole new thread on this subject. The 348 has an AWESOME engine sound.

Ok Dean, back to your thread!!

 

Congratulations, a wise choice was made. The 348 is great and the F355 is better, why because it is a refinement of an already great body design and engine.Move up to 6 speeds and power steering also are part of the refinement process. 360 design, someone had too much vino the night it was signed off. That's not to say that if I had a 360 I would be unhappy, its easier to get into and out of but the F355 looks and exhaust note shame it hands down.

PS I am not biased to F355's ...... then may be I am, I absolutely love mine.

 

Dean Dean Dean, is there no hope for you?! Sigh, I am reserving a nice pot of hair gel for you, along with a skirt, calf skin gloves and some ballet slippers lest you mar your pretty manicure and pedicure.

I do have to drive one of these things though just to see what the fuss is about. Maybe when I get (much) older I'll appreciate it more...

 

Yes you definately need to drive one........ a nero 355 spider with custom exhaust to be exact .... ................ don't fight it ............. hair gel is your destiny .... ............. out of curiousity ........ what is a 348 owner doing in possession of a pot of gel, skirt, calf skin gloves and ballet slippers ...

 

I was helping another F-chatter......
I ended up selling the 348 and just have the 355 now. After living with the 355 It would be tough to go back to the 348 although I do miss some aspects of it. The 348 does feel more "raw" and I miss that. My wife enjoys the power steering on the 355 and the overall more modern feel and build quality is better in the interior. It is harder to know the limits of the 355 because of the power steering and suspension...it doesn't have the "go-cart" feel of the 348. I have had no major issues with either car but more annoying small stuff with the 348 such as ecu's and check engine lights. My 355 exhaust is all stock and sounds great..when the bypass opens nothing sounds like a 355...it is the best sounding stock Ferrari!! If the price jump is going to be large for you keep the 348. However, it the difference will be close as my case was get the 355 and you will not regret it. It is definately faster and overall a more modern car which is nice. I will eventually move into a 360 when it makes sense financially. You can't go wrong with either but if I had 1 choice it would be 355!! It is almost like choosing between Carmen Electra and Jessica Alba........hope this helps.

Jeff
www.SouthBaySportBikeRentals.com

 

In my new status as "looking for my first Ferrari" the issue I have between these two cars is probably one that I shouldn't, but I do.

I have never purchased a sporty type or muscle car that was slower than my last one. From all the specs I have looked at, it appears that it would take the 355 to be quicker/faster than my 2000 911 was. I realize that I shouldn't be looking at it that way but it's hard for me to get over that. My wife doesn't care at all. She could drive the Ferrari around and, if some kid pulls up next to her in a "whatever" and tries to race, she'd just laugh at them, just like she did with the Porsche. Me? I'd rev 'er up and dump the clutch in a heartbeat...just like I did in the Porsche and all previous cars!

Maybe I need some advice/counseling on how to overcome my boy-racerness. Note: I am a LOOOONG way from being a boy (at least years-wise; my wife would declare that in the aspect of cars/bikes, I'm definitely still a boy)

I'd appreciate any thoughts/ideas that might help me here. Surely I'm not the only person afflicted in this way!

I'd LIKE to like the 348 over the 355 because both of us prefer the look of the 348 but...

 

you guys are funny!!!

 

Ok. My turn and I fully expect the dogs to be let lose on me.

I've been thinking too of getting a 355 and I've had a decent amount of seat time in the car. First of all let me say it is a fantastic machine. With that said, I don't see why I would get rid of my 348 for it. In fact, if I didn't own a Ferrari I would buy the 348 over the 355 all over again. Prices seem to be closer to each other than they were when I bought mine.

I guess it comes down to what you expect out of the car. I can see how the 355 could be used more on a daily basis - it's certainly the more drivable car. It's way easier to drive and that's what I'm having trouble with. The more I think about it, the less I think that is a good thing. It adds an element of normal-ness to the car. Again, I'm not saying the 355 is normal, like a Honda, just more normal than the 348. The suspension isn't as stiff as the 348, even with the shock setting to race or whatever it is. No mad-mouse seat belts, but the trade off is a bad steering wheel. In Ferrari's defense nobody knew what to do with an airbag at that time.

You can notice a difference in power - of course that is a great thing. I'm a horrible measure of this, but the 348 still feels pretty damn fast (quick) even though I know most luxury sedans could take it. The 335's 8500 RPMs is awesome. Although, I have some sort of block against it as I shift in the high 7k range. The clutch is nice as is the gear box. The overall build quality is much better. Really I'm amazed at how different the cars are.

In the end I think I'm happy with what the 348 offers and it's really a shame this car got as much bad press as it did. I think for new buyers my advice would be to drive both because they are so different from one another.

In the end if I add up what both cars offer, I honestly prefer the 348. Of course you could say I am biased, maybe I am, but I was ready to part ways with the 348 and now I'm not.

 

Very nice writeup Matthew of why people should try each car and get the one that suits their use best.

 

+1 ................. true ................ hair gel isn't for everyone ................. but it is definately for me ...........

 

I thought seriously of a 355 a few months back. One in particular. But I got scared away because of two or three major issues that can arise that can really cost you big bucks. I can't pay that kind of freight.