Motor Trend - may want to buy them a box of donuts!

Automobile did the same route, within the past year pitting an AMG against a Cigarette.

I think I would choose the boat!

 

Sorry all, that was probably a little uncalled for. Anyone is entitled to change their minds after a bit of reflection....

 

In the back of EVO, the 355 is still listed in the "supercars" section and given 5 of 5 stars with the comments: "+Looks great, sounds even better; -are you kidding?"

'Nuff said.

 

I'm in! We should bring cones so we can do a little autocross in their lot as well. I will also bring a stout 2x4 so we can beat some freakin' sense into their pointy little heads!!!

 

I think the Motor Week segments say it all. Once again...from professionals who actually drove and put the car through it's paces. Real world opinions from real world testing.

As it has been said time and time again. To rate a car, you must look at what was said at the time when it was new not 20 years later when it is compared to all the new technology. And taking the words of a new Ferrari exec who clearly, 20 years ago, was trying to stir the pot to make his mark is pretty useless. It is pretty clear that his opinion was expressed so that he could "change" things and prove to the world that he saved Ferrari. He probably sat in his office, staring at a picture of himself while.....well you can guess the rest.

Lookign back in time and using an american car as an example, the 1932 Ford "Duece" coupe was awesome for its day. Compared to todays standards, it was not much better than a horse. But, the legacy is set by what it was for its time, not what it is compared to today. 20 years ago they would sell for a song...given away. Now a rusted out barn find is worth a kings ransom.

With that said, unlike the old 32 Ford, the 348 is still pretty respectable even in todays standard. I just got out of a basically brand new Porsche Cayman S, which has been given almost unreal reviews by EVERYONE. I can say that the Porsche is pretty damn close on the performance level of the 20 year newer Porsche and light years AHEAD for curb appeal. NOT BAD for a car that is damn near reaching antique status.

In the end, we are all fans of the Ferrari's and we should support them all. Great debate and alot of fun though.

Thanks for the laughs and fun.

 

My story exactly -- I came out of an '06 Cayman S. I haven't missed it much! I drove it pretty hard, too.

+1

 

To answer your question regarding the 348, 328, and 355.
I think the all have good qualities. In comparison on reliability, I was completely confident
in the 328 and 348. I can say that my 328 never had any issues at all though.
I put the same mileage on both.
the 348 was a 1990. The shifter was kind of a kludge. The A/C controls really didn't need to
be done like they were, it leak like a wooden boat (21k miles) it only had minimal hp increase over the 328.
Why did I keep it for 6 yrs? Not sure I certainly didn't drive it very much at all. Not like my
328. To answer your other question why not a 328 again. I did look, but couldn't find one in the condition that I wanted without paying %40 more than what the 348s are worth. So I bought a last model yr 355....
Liking it so far so good.

 

People today have no idea what a real sports car is. I find it very sad that anyone claiming to be a car enthusiast cannot see the 348 for what it is.

It's the same discussion that usually get me lambasted over on the Porsche forum(s) when I claim the 996/997 are no longer sports cars but instead GT's.

I'm not saying the 458 isn't a pure sports car, especially now with a convertible version. But something to be said about the raw nature of the 348 and the 355. No, they are not for everyone and that's the way it should be.

I miss the days when a true sports car was a bit uncomfortable, you had to plan a weekend trip carefully due to luggage space, your mother in law wouldn't dare go for a ride in it etc......

Don't get me started on Lamborghini's.

 

Think I know where you're coming from mate. Used to have a classic MGB Roadster. Chrome wheels/bumpers, big wooden steering wheel, 4 gears with overdrive, leaked like a sieve and the tools in the boot were for more than just show. Not exactly a performance car but great fun. Now have a 348. Very different, just as fun.

 

But mate, you've said on several previous occasions how much you prefered the 348 to your 328. You may have even said how much more you prefered it to driving your 328. (sorry but you did) Shifter I'll give you, the 328's direct link shift is better. And the AC controls aren't great. And they do leak a bit more (Engine, not roof). (Why am I defending this car?? )
But you have previously said that you drove it more than your 328 kind of coz you liked it more. Not picking a fight but are you sure that you're not looking back on your 328 through the same rose coloured specticles that I use to look at my new 348?

There are some differences through the production run on the 348 and yours was one of the first so bit lower power (later ones were closer to the 355 than to the 328(just), didn't handle quite as well (updates included weight distribution, suspention setup, track change on some etc) other bits and bobs but I'm not really concentrating on that. I've not yet read a comparison test that puts the 328 above the 348 apart from on looks for some. I've read a lot as someone gave me a book that's a collection of tests of both and comparisons between them. The 348 comes out on top in every one which is what you'd expect, it's newer and was actually quite a step forward in some areas. You've agreed with those tests by extolling the virtues of the 348 and some years into ownership still said you prefered it to the 328, now you're saying you didn't. Why the change of heart?

p.s. Like my 348 but can't fault your next choice of car. Enjoy it.

 

I remember that Review of the 348 Spider and Speciale. I remember saying someday I'd get a 348 Spider. 3 years ago that dream came true. I bought the car without ever having driven a 348. Just loved the way it looked and sounded when I saw that video.
I can tell you it's been everything I thought it would be and more. I'm lucky to have one!

 

You and me both, mate, though mines a '93 348 TS.

BTW all, if I'm being a little harsh on tamf, let me know and I'll let it lie. You too tamf, not trying to be irritating so just tell me to back off if you want. No hard feeling meant, this is meant to be a friendly discussion after all, is it not?

 

Who doesnt like a 348????

Kai


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Nice pic Kai,

I nearly missed the Bianco paint with all those stickers!

Regards,
Phil.

 

Fixed it for ya Kai

 

So you dont think the 355 looks great and sounds great.
Are you kidding?
Why is it that when any artical is writen on how bad the 348 is.348 owners always include 355s into the debate, in an atempt to deflect the original argument. Its got nothing to do with us (355 owners), take it on the chin a.d quit your whining

 

Actually mate, I completely agree with you, I'm not one of those 348 owners who constantly put the 355 down, far from it - what an awsome achievement of engineering. To think that they can take a raw drivers' car like the 348 and, using only hydraulics and electronics, fashion a car that less tallented people can drive, and more importantly drive safely, is one hell of a feat. To think that if LdM hadn't had his way we'd still have cars that needed driving being turned out and people like 355 drivers wouldn't be able to follow their dream and buy a Ferrari, it just wouldn't be fair. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with a lack of tallent, most people need driving aids, nothing wrong with that, and I for one am happy that the roads are safer than they would be if 355 drivers tried to drive a real sports car.

 

Hi Pete,

Now you really are going to wind up all those 355 owning hairdressers!!

Regards,
Phil.

 

Mate, you do me an injustice. I firmly believe the 355 is a great car. Bit Girlie, not for someone who can drive properly but none the less a great car. With the power steering and electronic dampers it's perfect. Where else can you find a high powered sports car that your average primary school teacher can handle? They even make a model for people who can't quite master a clutch pedal. Now how could you find fault in that?

 

Stop press: Wife is a primary school teacher. She just read my last post and is now putting herself on my 348's insurrance to make a point. Boy was that a mistake! Never mess with a primary school teacher, it ain't worth it.

 

Excellent - now we can add one more person to the list of 348 supporters, because I have no doubt that after she does runs it she will comment on how awesome the 348 is

 

You're not implying that most of the people who put the 348 down have never driven it are you? Shocking thing to insinuate. That'd just make them daft, wouldn't it? It'd be like implying that Ferrari improved the feel of the car by putting the power steering on or by having electronic dampers 'sort out' the handling. Just doesn't make sence, mate. I suggest you go and give yourself a damn good talking to.

 

I'll do better than give myself a tongue lashing - I will suspend myself from driving my 348 for a week - man, that would kill...talk about tough love

 

Don't be too hasty mate. Maybe just a day or two. If you had said anything derogatory about the 355 or quoted the article this month in EVO which said the 348 had the best driving feel the guy had ever encountered but said stuff about the 355 like the steering was slow and lacked feel and the suspention was detached and loose, you can't feel what the car is doing and you don't feel wired in to what's happening, all of which I fully disagree with, can't think where he got such an idea. If you had said any of this then you should have been ashamed of yourself. But you didn't. So that's ok. No harm done and neither of us could be accused of upsetting our 355 brethren coz neither of us believe any of that. Though the guy did at least drive a 355. Still he must have been mistaken.

 

Ok, I'm going to whimp out at this stage. Hopefully any 355 owners reading the above will know its all tongue in cheek and just a bit of banter. I actually almost bought a 355. Have to say that the stuff from the EVO mag is accurately quoted though. He did say the 348 was dicey when you get to the limit but prior to that he seemed to prefer it by quite a bit.

When I went looking for a first Ferrari I came up against a whole host of negativity, some from 355 owners has to be said, but most from others. I drove a 355 and really liked it but decided to go and drive a 348 as well, just to be sure. What struck me instantly was that the drive was far more engaging. Not sure I'd go as far as the tester did from EVO in his criticisms of the 355's feel (in his defence he had just stepped out of a 348) but for me it had to be a 348. If I was after a relaxing car to travel long distances in, I'd have got a 355 but I wasn't. I wanted a sports car and to me that means feel and involvement and, again for me, the 348 delivered this more than its sibbling.

The 348 is an awsome car, so's a 355. Different but both really good. I got so many negative comments about the 348 when I went looking but when I dug a bit deeper found that the vast majority of it was from people who not only didn't know the car well, they had never even driven one. Most had never even been in one and one bloke admitted that he'd never even seen one in the flesh! Yet all these people blithely said how bad the car was.

The opinion of the 348 in the printed press is, at best, undecided. Some love it, some hate it. In this month's EVO the tester said the feel of its steering was the highlight of his day and he had just driven a 308, 348, 355, 360, 430 and 458. The only advice I can give people is don't let the negative stuff put you off till you've actually been and driven one yourself. If after that you don't like the raw, conected feel a 348 gives and prefer a more modern drive then I can't recommend a car more than the 355. Thing is I drove them both pretty much back to back (and a 328 as it happens) so that's my opinion but it's based on experience. Go drive a 348. You might be surprized.