Need help, 348 spider v. 355

355 over 348 for sure.

 

It's really a subjective choice that you must make yourself. Do you REALLY want a spider? If not, spend the extra $10,000 for the 355 for the extra horses and improved electronics. Also be sure you want power steering if you choose the 355, because that's what you'll get (348 does not have it). Many folks don't feel power steering gives them enough "road feel". I think they are both equally attractive cars, but that is only MY opinion.

 

Personally, I would go for a 355 GTS. You get the open air experience, but with a removable panel, which in my opinion looks absolutely beautiful. As said before, its mainly personal preference for looks, but i'd go with the 355

 

you definitely need to drive both since you might be disappointed with them considering what you're currently driving. acceleration will be lacking, ease of use, reliability, service, etc will all be worse than with p tt.

upside of ferrari will be style, prestige, involvement in driving, handling esp if used for track days. try them out and see what you like.

 

Also note that the 348 is not an electric top you have to hand close it
and the 355 is electric.

 

Doug,

I don't have time to give my usual lengthy, wordy, responses, so I will be brief.

348 Spider.

Reasons:

-less issues to deal with than 355 (refer to thread entitled " 348 is better than 355" for my lengthy opinion and opinions of others. Here's the thread: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50604)

-manual top will never break (or at the very least less likely to break than the automatic 355 Spider top
-no engine problems to worry about

-open-top motoring might be nicer for you than a non-Spider 355 for the same money
-348 Spiders have probably hit their bottom of the depreciation curve whereas 355s have a ways to go

I hope I haven't re-opened a can of worms here. Go easy on me, 355 buddies

Doug -- search the archives for plenty of 348 versus 355 debates. I hope this thread won't turn into that.

 

Dave has got some valid points there, but since yer pays yer money I'd suggest you insist on a test drive and decide from there. Either way, you can't go wrong.

 

this guy knows what he is talking about

 

Agreed, although some people like to say the 355 & 348 are similiar bodies they look completely different to me, the 355 is leaps and bounds ahead of the 348 in performance and styling. I would say the 348 is closer in the family of the 328 in those catergories rather than the 355.

 

How anyone can say the styling of the 348 is totally different to the 355 is way beyond me.

Perception I agree is subjective, but come on, the profiles are exactly the same. From the front, unless you know your cars, they look exactly the same.
The major differences are the door grates and rear lights, a few cosmetic touch ups and different wheels add to the fresher look, err....thats about it!

The main differences come in performance. The 355 is a better car all round but 'leaps and bounds ahead in performace AND styling. PERLEEEEEAASSSE!

Unbias in every way

 

This is from a FORMER 348 owner

http://www.***************.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=718
Today the 348 TB does not have the best reputation of the V8 series, which is not the result of the car's shortcomings, but mostly due to the big leap forward its replacement, the F355

http://www.qv500.com/ferrarif355p1.php
Moreover, Ferrari put these figures into perspective by revealing the F355 was seven seconds faster round Fiorano than the 348
7 seconds is pretty drastic in my book.

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/4455/ferrari.htm
The Main Modification are:
Engine: Base on 348's V8, Maranello has added 2mm to the stroke so that capacity increased slightly to 3.5 Litre Conrods are now made with Titanium to reduce inertia. A butterfly valve was allocated to each cylinder rather than one per bank as before. But the most decisive change is the 5-valves cylinder head. It enables smoother breathing so that specific power output is raised to a world record 108.7 BHP/litre from 88.1 BHP/litre, dramatic! No other normally aspirated engine could be more impressive, except F50's F1-derived engine.

Chassis: The wheelbase did not change, but the front track is 12mm wider and the rear up by a huge 37mm. It is also 30 percent stiffer. Engine cover and bonnet cover are made of carbon fiber, so is the flat undertray which was introduced to reduce lift and equalise downforce on each axle.

Yep you right they are nearly identical cars.

 

I've always been a Porsche guy myself and still own a 3.2L 911 as my track car. I don't have the seat time in a 348 to compare the 911 against, but versus a 355 the 911 feels antiquated and the 355 modern. I enjoy the manual steering rack in the 911 on the track, but you do have to work much harder to get around. I have also found that the cluth is MUCH heavier in the 355 versus the 911. I don't find the 911 clutch to be heavy at all, and after driving the 355 it feels like a Honda. I removed the A/C from the 911. The A/C in the 355 works great, even in the Dallas summers.

I have a 355 GTS and the targas were available in all years. Only problem is they are hard to find, I estimate that there are less than 600 in the US. Its a wonderful compromise between a coupe and a convertible, only issue is that it is a little bit of a pain to remove the top compared to a motorized convertible. There are days I don't remove it when I would have dropped the top on my Boxster S (my daily driver before the 355). Of course the 348 has a manual top so the effort is probably the same. A GTS might even be easier if you consider putting the boot over the convertible top, which you still have to do manually on a 355.

Here is a place you can drive a Ferrari in TN: http://lnsmotorcars.com/ They have a GTS listed on their site now but it has a rebuilt title.

The owner is Mike Grande, I bought my car from him and you couldn't ask for a more honest guy. He is also an excellent mechanic who can service the car after the sale, should you ever need it.

Good luck on your search.

 

Hey Michael you need to drive my 348... you'll think differently. It's lots of fun.

 

I've been in it, it's fun, it's not like a 355, just my opinion...sorry.

Most Ferraris are fun to drive, my opinion was thier just not much alike, thier both nice cars.

 

Don't know what to choose really because 348 spyder is beautiful and same goes with 355. It depends really waht you want: a coupe or a spyder. But I would like you to stretch a bit by going for 355 spyder and you will love it.

 

I went from a '90 911 cabrio to a '95 355 spider, and though I loved the Porsche, the Ferrari experience leaves it far behind. The thrill of the F1 sounds, especially in an underpass, at 8,500 rpm does it for me. It is also a much easier car to drive quickly. I cannot wait for my nightly cruises, and have done a couple of 2-3 hour road trips that were amazing. I traded in the porsche at BentTree Imports and got the 355 a year and a half ago, and they were fine to work with. Do a PPI at Norwood's in Dallas if you get serious. Go for it, you won't regret it.
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You will find more favorable response to the 355 based on where this thread is posted on the website (where most 355 owners will look). I just bought a 348, but the 355 may be better for your purposes. I have read varying opinions, but the 355 is more modern, and probably going to have less old car glitches than the 348. You are used to driving a generally trouble free, eay to drive car. The 348 (from what I have read) requires more involvement and effort not only to drive but also to get in and out of. I use the Ferrari for fun, so I enjoy the 'difficulties'. I think that is part of the experience. My $.02. Test drive them both, but I would bet you like the 355 better.
BT

 

Thank you Bill, an honest opinion from a 348 owner, I give you alot of credibilty for that.

 

I have driven my 348 Spider to work 9 days in a row (240 miles round trip each day) and I love it. I have put about 7k miles on it in in 8 months (it was garaged for 4 of those). Yes, I wish it had the power of the 355 or heck the 360 for that matter, but for all practical purposes it is more then enough. Manual top and the boot are sometimes a small hassle, but hell if you can not take a few extra minutes you do not derserve the open air of the spider. Only problem with the car thus far was yesterday when the oil sending unit went. $112.00 plus $20.00 to install at an independent. Yeah, it is hard to get in and out of, but I am 6'0 and 250lbs and I fit fine. The 2 hour trip gets a little uncomfortable on my left thigh from the seat, but I will live. After all it is a boyhood dream come true, so I will pay the price. I just love the look of the car, especially the doors. That stems from my high school desire to have a TR, this fits both for now. Do I think about a 355 spider yes, but usaully just for the extra power so when a ricer pulls up next to me I would have the confidence that I could smoke em and not embarass the F-Car badge. I can not say enough about the non power steering, I love that too, the feel and feedback is killer. But it is your $, good luck

 

Get the compression and leak down done! I did before I took delivery of my '98 with 12,200 miles. It failed! Seller paid to have the problem corrected, per our agreement. Better safe than sorry, its a very expensive repair even if you do it yourself. There are 40 valves in this thing and they are not cheap.

Great pic. Your new 355 will fit in well.

 

At the risk of starting a screaming match where every 348 owner feels blasted:

WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOT TOUCH A 348 - IT IS AS BAD A CAR AS A 355 IS A GOOD CAR, Moreover, if you are coming from Porsches, the 348 will take you right back, while the 355 will make you forget the past!