My first post, and my first Ferrari!!! - '94 348 Serie Speciale

Congrats on the car!! Sometimes reality is even better than the wait!
I'm not a 348 owner, but I think an annual oil change, and brake flush, and general inspection should keep it in tip top shape.
As far as the wheel, I think most Ferrari wheels are like that, and the go kart feeling is not a bad problem to have IMO.

Congrats once again.

 

Well done on a fine purchase. Some of the negative press seems to have stuck to the 348 which is a pity.... on the up side, it probabaly saved you several £/$ 0,000's... so the cup is half full!

My wife used to find me in the garage "stroking" my car for weeks after I got it. Still get a buzz each time I open the door. Enjoy.

 

Nice one!

No1 - Do NOT put it through a car wash, their stuff is industrial strength detergent - get some decent car wash stuff like Zymol or Autoglym. Just look at one of the recent posts on here regarding Zymol. It looks like it has had liquid glass poured over it, incredible.

Using water only can leave water spots, the shampoo has a wetting agent in it that stops it drying so quickly. also, following advice on F.Chat, I never use a chamois, I use a clean towel and it does seem to leave a better, and easier finish.

Waxing, a lot is said about Zymol, but it sure is good and smells gorgeous. McGuires is also highly spoken of. AutoGlym is good out of the mid-ranges.


No2 - I do hope you were joking when you said 1500 miles a year!!!! These cars are built for driving! If you are doing less than the service intervals, then a once yearly service makes sense, but seriously, unless you are planning on selling it soon and need to keep the miles down then get it driven and get your money's worth, you won't regret it.

Try F.Chat classifieds or owners club for an original wheel, they are quite good and there must be some around somewhere.

Like I said - ENJOY

ps. and fill your profile in, we want to see it! don't even know if you are europe or stateside?

 

I suggest the following for cleaning products:
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
I read an article on Fchat about the various polishes / waxes and the Zaino's #2 polish was rated second best overall shine with the best durability for an overall rating of #1. I have also used Zymol and while it smells great (like you are at the beach), the shine is best if you apply the wax at least once every 6 weeks. I bought a kit that includes car wash, accellerator, clay bar, polish and applicators for around $85. They have similar product at Griot's garage, but I think Zaino's might be a little less $$. I also have a 348 and don't burn or leak any oil. I agree that they are great cars and a real blast to drive. Welcome and enjoy the ride!
BT

 

drive it , and drive it often! just keep the maintenance up on it and monitor all systems . and drive it as much as you want! thats it . enjoy!

 

Congratulations!!! I got my Speciale in Febuary and I traded in my 97' 993TT for it. Yes ...the TT would kill this car. But I have always wanted a Ferrari and this is what I could afford. I love my 348TS!

 

If you haven't joined the Ferrari Club (www.ferrariclubofamerica.org) you probably should. Meanwhile, if you go to the "Concours & Detailing Tips" archive from their monthly newsletter at www.fca-se.org/concours.htm you'll find answers to those questions.

To get other sizes of MOMO steering wheels (stay with Momo so you don't need a hub adapter) check out sponsor www.polepositionusa.com or RHAD performance at www.shopmomo.com/steeringwheels.html

 

Woo Hooo, congratulations!!

Drive it often, these cars want to be driven (hard!). Just change the fluids annually. Set aside about $1k per year on maintenance and you're set.

As for washing, just wash it like it's a new car, apply generous clean water & soap then drive it for few miles after drying.

Please post pics .. what number is your SS?

Enjoy,

-n

 

Congratulations on your SS - the nicest looking 348. Have fun.

 

Welcome to the club!!! How about a few pics.

 

Congratulations!

1. Zaino Products

2. Service it according to the manual by either years or miles whichever comes first. Either way you need to drive it more then 1,500 miles/year. If you don't have the time, I do! LOL

3. I can get you the stock 348 steering wheel with airbag and whatever else you may need for it. Just email me at [email protected] for a price quote!

Hope you enjoy your 348 and best of motoring to you!

Forza,
Kevin

 

Congratulations !
John

 

Drive it. You've got to circulate your radiator water, gear oil, motor oil, etc...in order to keep your seals from drying out, becoming brittle, and cracking. The less you drive your 348, the more you'll have problems with belts, seals, etc. Use your air conditioner. Use everything. It will work for the longest amount of time if you are constantly using it.

Flush and fill your radiator at least annually, and keep a zinc anode ($12 from www.JCWhiteny.com) in your radiator fill tank.

Click on the profiles of your fellow 348 owners. Lots of them have useful tips on their 348 home pages.

For instance, our Ferrari's have dry sump oil systems, so you only check your oil level when your engine is hot, never cold. Check it cold and you'll think that your car has no oil!

Change your spark plugs. There are good and even some great spark plugs available on the market. research and go with what works for you, but changing your plugs is dead easy to do on 348's...perhaps the easiest car to change spark plugs on ever made.

Service your 348 per your owner's manual, but most of all, drive it!

 

WELCOME TO THE BROTHERHOOD OF 348 OWNERS!!!!

You're now in a very rare and elite secret society. Drive it hard, drive it often. There is a wealth of information on Fchat so when you have questions there are two basic rules:

1. Use the "search" function whenever reasonable or possible, before asking a question

2. Trust your 348 brothers. Between fatbillybob, ernie, miltonian, and all the rest (sorry if I left somebody out), there are some absolute 348 addicts here with plenty of knowledge to share.


.

 

or the other ferrari tech gods like Brian, Tom, and Malcolm...Any of these guys can help you out with any technical aspect of your 348.

Post some pics!

We love 348's!

I am very curious myself about what soaps and waxes to use, as my 348 is coming back to me next week with a brand spankin new paint job...

I have learned one thing about 348's, you can do your own maintenance because of the help on this board. These guys will steer you in the right direction...

Congrats!

 

check out this thread for some very detailed cleaning info...
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5385&highlight=place+find+cars
Glad to hear you have joined the 348 brotherhood. You will not see many on the road.
BT

 

Good choice. I really enjoy my 348. If you have half the fun I have for the past year, you'll have a great time. From what I have read, the SS is a special car in every sense!

For washing I use Zymol. Smells great, looks fantastic.

 

First off congratulations on your 348 SS - you are clearly a person of impeccable taste who enjoys cheese....

Secondly, there's no airbag on a 348 steering wheel so no, it is not missing...

Thirdly, 1,500 miles a year doesn't even get the oil hot so you'll never know what it's like to shift in to second gear...

Enjoy and welcome.

Cheers
Kevin

 

My first Ferrari was also a 348- a black/tan 94' spider. It was a terrific car, and a blast to drive, partly because it was small, go-cart like, and in some ways, less sophisticated than the later cars, eg manual steering, which made it a little more raw.
If you search for some threads by a guy named Sunny also known as xj6 i think, on the main board, he gives fantastic, detailed (no pun) advice regarding car care. As to products, there are two camps- the synthetics/polymers and the traditional waxes- each have their devotees.
On maintenance, i drove mine pretty hard for the first year, and found that i burned some oil- not to worry- the car had been pampered and i was giving it a real running in. I agree that these cars fare much better if they are driven.
Post some pics when you get a chance. BTW, you didn't have to wait until you bought one to post on the board, but now that you are here, welcome.

 

Regarding washing your Ferrari...

I've had my 348 since Feb. 04, and it has never been washed. Of course, I don't drive it in the rain. When I get home from driving it, I first use a California duster to get any dust off of it, then I use Meguiar's Quick Detailer for any bugs that I picked up, then I put the cover on it, and she's ready for next time!

 

#5 of 15? I have seen that car 4 years ago and I thought it left the area as I have never seen it since. I believe that's a TS and it's originally from NY.

Enjoy!