Opinions needed: 348 vs 328 vs 355 vs TR | FerrariChat

Opinions needed: 348 vs 328 vs 355 vs TR

Discussion in '348/355' started by roester, Mar 6, 2005.

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  1. roester

    roester Guest

    Glad to find this board. I have taken some time to read through some threads, but would like to get some more opinions, if possible.

    I had an 85 308QV a couple of years ago, you know, back when the stock market was at its height. Well I've finally battled my way back and seriously in the market for the one car that gets my heart pumping: Ferraris. Anyhow, I thought I would try a 328 this time around, but I'm seeing 348s and TRs in the relative same price range ($35k-50k). The word "V12" really scares me because it seems like no manufacturer has been able to figure that engine out; not to mention you rarely see a TR with high mileage, which leads me to believe they aren't great cars to drive regularly.

    Anyhow, I'm torn between the beauty of a 328 and the upgrade to a 348. I like the lines on of the 328 more, but if its like my old 308, then you have to drive with your shoes off and trying to shift from 1st to 2nd gear makes it seem like the tranny is about to drop out from underneath. So my questions are: how is the shifting on the 328s and 348s? What are the things I should look for to have already been completed service wise on a 348? What is the one thing you don't like about your 328? What is the one thing you don't like about your 348?

    Any help in this endeavor would really be appreciated.
     
  2. roester

    roester Guest

    Also, what's up with the painted targas? It seems sacrilege to make any change to such beautiful cars, so I'm wondering if this hurts the value of the car. I recently even saw a 355 with a frickin after market spoiler which kinda broke my heart.
     
  3. RAMMER

    RAMMER Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2004
    1,187
    Miami
    Full Name:
    Rammer
    348 is a lot bigger inside but the maintenance is also a lot higher. The same goes for the f355....you have engine out services that 308s and 328s dont have. I have never sat in a TR but from what i have read they are also cramped inside.
     
  4. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    Sheeez. Seems like this question comes up once a week and the flame wars began. Here's my take:

    308 - the all-time most recognizable Ferrari, and among the most affordable. All are now "project cars" of varying degrees.

    328 - a spiffed up 308 with more modern conveniences. The premium is $10K +/- over a 308. You get the 308 lines with some significant updates, power not being the least of those. Supposedly the most "reliable" Ferrari made.

    348 - you get the basic look of a 355, minus $30K +/-, minus 50 hp, and minus power steering. And it's still a modern shape by anyone's standards other than a Ferrari enthusiast's. I had mine in a large car show this weekend and a number of people thought it was near new.

    355 - the 348 with some upgrades, notably power (50hp), power steering, better looking tail lights, and loss of the side strakes. Oh...and did I mention another $30K? Allegedly, the earlier 355's have valve guide issues.

    TR - in a different league than any of the aforementioned. A V12 Ferrari. What more can I say? And can be had for somewhere between the cost of a 348 and a 355.

    Pick your poison. There will be pros and cons with each. Most of all, have fun and drive it!
     
  5. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
    5,559
    TX
    Full Name:
    Sameer
    Nice summary .. thanks
     
  6. Mike328

    Mike328 F1 Rookie

    Oct 19, 2002
    2,655
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Mike
  7. roester

    roester Guest

    thanks for the info. i have taken the time to do a search and read many different threads. i was hoping to get some additional feedback.

    i'm also curious about the wheels on the 348. that is the one thing that i think holds back the look of the car and dates it just a hair. are there recommened wheels to use as replacements like HREs? i saw a thread where someone switched to 355 wheels, is that easy to do? or do you have to make further modifications? in general i think modifications to a ferrari is horrible idea, but the wheels on the 348 just look off to me.

    i understand the maintenance being higher on the 348 and 355. are there specific things i should look for on the 348 that should be done already to help prevent me from having to shell out a bunch of dough? i saw someone mention recalls. how will i know if those have been completed. sorry for all the questions, but this seems like the ideal place to get help that a seller probably wouldn't devulge.

    also, anyone got pics of their cars? any cool wheels out there?
     
  8. roester

    roester Guest

    I am also curious about "gear grinding". I had this on my first ferrari: 85 308, especially 1st to 2nd and it was always a crap shoot to downshift from 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st. other than that the car was awesome, but that grinding drove me nuts and constantly made me nervous that something bad was going to happen. does anyone know what causes this and does it happen on 328s and 348s?
     
  9. VS1

    VS1 Karting

    Oct 16, 2002
    197
    Beavercreek, OH
    Full Name:
    Vishal Soin
    I don't think the gear grinding you are describing is a normal thing.

    If you decide to got with a 328 - please e-mail me about mine.
     
  10. Oengus

    Oengus F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    roester,

    I just bought a 348 a week or so ago and absolutely love it. I think that it a great looking car....................coming from the 911 world I also like the fact that it doesn't have power steering. The car is very roomy as compared to my 308 not to mention the updated look and more h.p.

    I would say for 50k ish you should be able to find a very nice 348.

    0.02

    Good Luck with your search.
     
  11. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Franklin E. Parker
    TR! Why settle for an 8 when you can have a 12!
     
  12. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    #12 Husker, Mar 7, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    First, I would dispute that "maintenance costs" are higher on a 348 than a 308. That certainly wasn't my experience. I guess if they were both in fine running shape that might be true, but every 308 I have ever seen had some issues to deal with.

    As for the 348 "problem areas", all you really need to verify is whether or not a COMPREHENSIVE 30K service has been done in the last couple of years. It really makes no difference whether it has been done, other than the PRICE of the car. A comprehensive 30K will include belts, tensioner bearings, seals, and a water pump. If the 30K didn't include any of these items, assume you have to do it over again ($4-6K depending on the area you live in).

    Many people getting ready to sell a Ferrari will have a so-called 30K (major) service done, but do some short-cutting to save $$ (no new water pump, no new tensioner bearings, etc.). They know that 9 out of 10 people won't know the difference. A short-cut 30K can be done for as little as $2,000.

    I would almost rather find one that NEEDS a 30K service that I could buy heavily discounted so I could have the 30K done MYSELF and know it wasn't a "short cut" 30K.

    As for the 348 wheels, there are a myriad of options for you. I put 355's on mine and am pleased with the result. See attached photo.

    Finally, as for pure looks, the 348 is one handsome car. This weekend, I won a "People's Choice" award on mine with over 260 car entries, including Vipers, Porsches, tons of Corvettes, street rods, etc. So that should tell you something. Good luck with your search.

    P.S. - there's a seemingly awesome 348 buy on ebay right now. I haven't seen a red one at this price level in quite a long time. Could be something wrong with it, though. Check it out good.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  13. roester

    roester Guest

    those wheels make all the difference - very nice looking ride. are they 355s? do you find them on ebay or a wholesaler online?
     
  14. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    Bought them from a fellow F-chatter, JSL, at a very reasonable price. Keep your eye out - they're not the easiest things to find second-hand, but they are out there.
     
  15. tommo

    tommo Formula 3
    Lifetime Rossa

    Nov 29, 2004
    1,245
    Gloucestershire
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    Julian
    I have never driven a 328 or 355. They're beautiful cars, but I guess I just had to go for the looks of the 348, then focus on the right car.

    I've had the car almost a year, and spent £1,000 upgrading the alternator. I've managed to add about 2,500 miles to the car and I'm only now starting to understand how she behaves. The great thing about the 348 is the robustness. The engines an evolution of the 308 through the 328, so hopefully the package has been thoroughly put through its paces.

    You either love the side strakes and the rear, or its not your thing. Personally, it gives the car character and that extra style. As huskerntexas said, the car still looks fairly modern against today's larger cars. Right now, these cars offer excellent vakue for money, and if you can pick one up with a good history, you can't go far wrong.
     
  16. ExcelsiorZ

    ExcelsiorZ Formula 3
    BANNED

    Nov 7, 2003
    1,267
    Beverly Hills
    I'm surprised by the support the 348 gets, particularly when compared to the 355 or 308. This is not just my opinion, but the President of Ferrari's opinion.

    In my opinion, the 308QV is the prettiest of the lot. The 328 is more "fiatized". (I've owned several of both.)

    As for the 348, the President of Ferrari thought it was not so good. Also note, the 355 makes 375 to 380 Hp while the 348 makes nearly a hundred less and takes more than a second longer to reach sixty.

    As noted in one publication comparing sports cars from the 90s:

    "F355 was definitely the star of the 90s and one of the best Ferraris ever made. Oddly, its predecessor, 348, was quite notorious due to poor controllability (by Ferrari standard, of course), harsh ride and less than perfect build quality. Autocar’s triple test in March 1994 ranked the 348GTB last, beaten by Porsche 993 Carrera and Honda NSX. When Luca di Montezemolo became Ferrari’s managing director, declining sales, deteriorating brand image and lack of motivation were the problems he faced. He was shocked that the 348 he drove was so poor, even more surprising to him was that the engineers in Maranello didn’t realise that. He decided to push Ferrari back to the orbit set by Enzo Ferrari by improving handling and introducing new technology. In addition, he wanted to surpass Enzo’s achievement by raising Ferrari’s build quality and comfort up to the level of Porsche. The first new model under the new vision was F355, which was launched in late 1994."

    As far as the TR, its a whole different ball game. Different class of car. The 308/328 is quick and nimble. The TR is big and has lots of beautiful torque and a motor that's a joy to listen to. From the rear, it may be the most striking car ever made. My 308 gets 18-20 mpg while my 512 gets 10-15. Service intervals are much sooner on the TR than 8s as well.
     
  17. MDshore348

    MDshore348 Formula 3

    Dec 24, 2004
    2,460
    Maryland
    Full Name:
    Darron
    i love my 348 . best bang for the buck . just add some new rims, like husker, or i did. check out my profile for pic... it looks modern. all for under 50-60k ...
     
  18. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    OK...I give. My 348 sucks. ;)

    Actually, I'll take the 348 over the 355 any day of the week for $30K difference. 355 "build quality" exceeds the 348? Whatever. How many 348's do you know of that have $20K valve guide issues? Or bubbly consoles? Virtually every panel on a 355 swaps out with a 348; but I guess those are better too, huh?

    As for the horsepower...you're comparing the first 348 series with the last 355 series. Is that objective?

    I have a theory about the 348 bashers:

    1. Most have never owned one.
    2. The 355 owners like to bash them because they look darn near identical to a 355 to the average Joe running around, yet they cost $30K less, so they have to make them out to be a piece of trash.

    Get real.
     
  19. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    Yeah, and my 348 crawls.
     
  20. Jerrari

    Jerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 24, 2001
    5,469
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    Jerry Wiersma
    I agree 100%
     
  21. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
    11,294
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    Dave
    Husker,
    Had my 94 348 for 3 years 15K miles. All the things 348's are criticized for are true i.e. poor build, poor electrics, errartic handling, crappy shifter, expensive maintenance, cheap interiors. Shall I go on? 355's have some quality issues as well that I think are unforgivable, but performance is not one of them. That's why I have my 89 328 GTB which is beautiful to look at, beautiful to drive and uncharacteristically reliable for an Italian exotic. I also have a 430 on order. By the way, my Subie STI outperforms any of the mentioned cars, likes dirt and snow and is bullet proof, all for about 31K. So, performance arguments are not very relevant regarding Ferraris designed 10 or more years ago.

    Dave
     
  22. ExcelsiorZ

    ExcelsiorZ Formula 3
    BANNED

    Nov 7, 2003
    1,267
    Beverly Hills
    Didn't mean to upset any 348 owners. We all need to admit that our Ferraris are loaded with flaws...all of them! For me, the redeeming value of the 308 is its looks. There's simply amazing. Penned before wind tunnels and legislators took over the design of an automobiles lines.(Thanks to the designer who also did the Dino and Boxer.) That said, it flexes too much, needs more power, bigger brakes, etc. The 512 TR shifts like crap, the antithesis of "smooth shifting". The 355's plastic is amazingly bad. It warps in the sun or exposure to Amour All?! And its got no torque! Maranellos, 360s and 355s all need service for silly and expensive things with surprising regularity. Not only are the services expensive (rubber timing belts!) but they get 11 mpg! (Can someone tell me why a heavy V12 512 TR gets the same mileage (EPA) as a modern lightweight V8 355?)

    The quality of my Porsche far exceeds my Ferraris. These cars are flawed. It's just that their positive virtues outweigh, hopefully, their pain in the arse issues.
     
  23. vks

    vks Rookie

    Nov 21, 2004
    45
    LONDON
    Full Name:
    Viresh Sharma
    I have driven a 355 (only for a weekend) and out of 4 times i started it.. 3 times it had problems.. I really liked the looks of a 355 and was told that the 348 did have electrical problems but fewer mechanical problems overall.. although I think I have an equal amount of both, but will be looked into soon enough.
    I reckon if you are gonna get one, it would be a good idea to buy it from a dealer that can offer you some kind of warranty.
    I have a 348 with a full ferrari 355 conversion on it. I love it!

    Not sure if there is a problem at the moment as the car seems to pull to the left under acceleration, but was against a 355 the other day.. on a slow rolling take off.. and there was not much difference between both cars, the 355 was not even a full car length in front by the time I got to a decent speed and traffic around North London prevented take off speeds..

    Good luck.
     
  24. roester

    roester Guest

    please, get that porsche crap outta here. porsche? are you kidding? they don't even compare to ferraris. when i see someone driving a porsche i think "*** trying to be cool". when i see someone step out of a ferrari i think "bastard!" the problem with these boards is everyone is so damn negative. lets see who can knock this or that the most - what a waste. ferraris are fine tuned machines. do you really think they took the time to give a crap about the dashboard? are hot chicks perfect? HELL NO! they are pains in the asses - just like a ferrari. if i wanted something reliable - oh wait, i already have a mercedes. that's the point. this is about touching the hand of God - which is a ferrari. i think i've gotten my answers from the guys who have 348s and 328s, but i would like to continue the conversation with people who are postive. more pictures please of some of your rides. you negative posters can sit this one out. i think the poster that said the people bashing don't even have one is right. its just like how so many that see someone driving a ferrari say they have a small you know what. and i always say there is no one that says that whose ever been behind the wheel driving one - they're just jealous wannabes that will never be.
     
  25. Mike328

    Mike328 F1 Rookie

    Oct 19, 2002
    2,655
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Are you kidding? This thread is downright civil compared to many on this forum. I think really good points have been made in this thread, and done in a firm but respectful way.

    People have their opinion, and that's what this thread was about.

    From where I'm standing, if you're an owner, and you know what you're talking about (that is, you've experienced the cars in person), then your opinion is an asset here even if it goes against the grain of what someone else thought. Nobody's single opinion is fact, but they are valid data points for your question.

    A large part of the friction is 348 owners standing up for their cars, which have deservedly or not gained a less than perfect reputation over the years. Bottom line is, these cars do have different reputations. As much as we owners are all careful to be respectful of other owners' mondials, their reputation by the masses is still sketchy. This month's Automobile magazine referred to the mondial as the "most unloved of all V-8 Ferraris" [Pg. 114]. People who know these cars know that their ownership is far more fulfilling than that last statement would lead anyone to believe; it's just a generalization but people like to sum things up like that.

    I for one would be quite content with a sorted 348 with some updated wheels. They're all stellar cars.
     

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