Newbie questions

Hello, I am new to the board... To sum it up... my business has signed several new clients and I am looking to add another car to the garage. I always loved the targa 348, but admit I know nothing about F-cars. If I dont get a 348, I will get a 360.

What are the known issues with the 348?
Are they reliable?
Was the F1 and option on the 348?
Did the 355 come in a targa?

I have friends with 360 and they say they are more reliable than F-cars of the past with lower cost of ownership.

I have many more questions, but will refrain till I get more educated.

Please advise.

 

So I assume you have no desire for a 355?? Can't speak too much about the 348, but the F1 was not a option for that model. And yes the 355 made a targa version, the GTS.. The cost of 360 ownership is certainly cheaper than 348/355...But the 355 looks the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If the 355 came in a targa then I would be interested.

What makes the cost of ownership more in a 355 than a 360

 

- Basically nothing that cannot be fixed
- Single timing belt design - Solution: Ensure the car undergoes a 30K service every 3-4 years or 30K miles
- Darty handling on the older cars ('89-90) - Solution: 4 wheel alignment + Hill Engg. spacers + Make sure all 4 tires are changed at the same time = Car with fantastic handling
- Sticky dashboards - Solution: Use damp cloth to clean and no Armor All crap

Yes. Definitely

By buying a car with detailed service history and records, you are virtually assured of a well maintained car. Mileage doesnt matter as much as the service records.

A lack of electric gizmos and F1 gadgetry makes it a blessing in many ways - you get a raw feel and then there is less to go wrong.

The key is to use the car frequently - say 1-2 times a week - Very little should go wrong.

No. Thankfully not.

Yes. The 360 was the first V8 model w/o targa option.

The service costs are higher primarily because you need to pull the engine out to work on it. More time required = more labor cost = more $$$$. The 360 engine stays in.

Also, the items that could fail in the 355 are very expensive - F1 clutch/tranny (not many cases though), cracked headers, cats. But if you find a car with some of these issues already addressed then you should be good to go. Also get the challenge grill at the rear if you live in a warm climate.

The 355 is a great car with timeless design, fantastic engine and is very fast. The 348 is not as fast as the 355 but is rawer in feel thanks to non-assisted steering. The price difference between an equivalent 348 and 355 can be anywhere from $20K-40K. A big difference. It is quite a bit cheaper to service.

 

A 348 TS (GTS in Europe) is a great car once the items are sorted out. It is the best Ferrari value for the money IMO. All the Brothers, I'm sure would agree. The 355 TS is probably the highest technical level achieved by the Ferrari V-8 cars and is infinitely more sophisticated than a 348. However, with that sophistication comes a host of potential maintenance and repair issues. The 360 is another animal altogether and in some ways is less techincal than the 355. You can research these boards for the general differences and owners' impressions.

The F1 trans is a 355/360/430 item so no there isn't one for the 348. If you r new to Ferrari ownership, I'd take the 348 for its durability and simplicity. It will give you 90% of the 360 experience and a much better price point and for less maintenance over your period of ownership. If you grow to ove Ferraris, then move up to either the 355 or 360 depending on your sense of styling and budget. Lastly, 348's are at a low price point and likely to increase while 355's and 360's are still downtrending.