Well after nearly a year of sublime ownership of a 996 Turbo, I am finally succumbing to the lure of a Ferrari. Question is am I completely barking?!

Have fallen for the 348, a later TB or GTB - the idea of a older/classic Ferrari has a real charm. Very little in it money wise, though running costs are likely to be more for the 348. Or I could pay a bit more for a manual 360.

All help, ownership comments welcome.

Thanks!

PS first thread on Pistonheads...as I spend hours every day staring at various classifieds (and attempting more and more ridiculous man maths), I figured I might as well make the most of such a bank of knowledge and experience.

Not at all mad, IMO.

Moved over to Ferrari from Porsche myself and no regrets yet. I still love Porsche very much, but Ferraris have a sense of occasion Porsche can't match, for me at least.

I would also consider 355 and 360 manuals perhaps? 355 would normally cost more to run than a 348 or 360, I think. I think the 348s look amazing and classic personally.

From the London run to Cliveden House at the weekend:


And a very very nice 348 we followed in:

Absolutely bonkers.

And all the better for it.

Purchase of the heart and not the head is to be applauded for those of us who wimp out.

Thanks for all the replies! Even the succint '348 is ****'

The 996TT is so capable, but to have some fun in it you are doing silly speeds. But it starts first time, can use it to the shops, it's brilliant(ly sensible). But it's clinical, it's got no soul. I want Italian emotion. And having had Alfas and Ducatis I know what emotion entails...deep pockets and a friendly garage.

Test drove a 348 GTB over the week, and it's a lot slower than the TT. But there is so much more to it. Agreed that a tubi makes a massive difference.

This is definitely heart over head.

My biggest concern is that I want to use the car, it won't be a garage queen. I am very fussy about keeping cars clean etc, but they are there to be used. I just don't want to buy a 348 and then for it never to be out of a garage. Reading forums they don't seem too bad? Oh and don't get me wrong I am not looking for Porsche levels of reliability, just not Lotus Esprit levels of off-roadness

Go for it. Obviously a 996 Turbo is a very different beast to a 348 both in terms of character and performance.

I have cars of a similar era and you really need to go into it with your eyes open. They tend to look and sound great but they all have their little foibles. They drive a bit different to more modern cars too and that's not for everyone. You'll find good examples and poor examples and you'll see that asking price isn't a good indicator of which is which. My advice - see a few, drive a few. See if you can find a friendly PHer to take you out for a spin to give you an honest critique and pointers on what to look for. Service bills - expect the unexpected. I budget for a few surprises on the way but it's normally only a few hundred here or there (less if you can do work yourself). Some years I don't need the extra and it'll just roll over into the next year.

And feel free to PM me about the 996 - my Mrs fancies one...

I had heard that the 348 has some of the best steering feel of a Ferrari. The 355 is over-assisted by all accounts, I like the 360 but the steering is much lighter than what porsche do. Interesting read here, and mentions the steering feel:

http://www.exoticcarresource.com/ferrari-348-black...

The thing that would really put me off the 348 is that it requires the engine out like the 355, so for that reason you may as well stretch to a 355 if you can.

That said, surely the 348 is not going to appreciate?

Also worth a read, comparing the range of Ferrari V8s:

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/276598/ferr...

I made this move about 6mths ago.l found the 996t a bit boring even with a remap 550 hp and miltek zorst.Although I went for the 355(don't like the rear of the 348).I don,t regret the move at all.Ferraris are very addictive and I,m totally hooked.Go for it!

I can go budget wise to a 355 or a 360. Main worry with 355 is the running costs, generally considered to be considerably more than either the 348 or 360.

Pleased to hear that most think I am not mad! Thanks again for all your help/responses

Hi. I have had mine for a year now and am happy to discuss buying/maintenance/experience if you want to PM me with your details.

Also not too far away so happy for a mid point meet up if you want to have a look around and a bit of a drive about.

Cheers

I have had a couple of 911's - both great cars but so different to Ferraris in so many ways. Much depends on the sort of mileage you envisage doing. I used the 911's to do lots of miles and the reliability was fantastic. I purchased my second Ferrari last year a 355 spider - I have also had a 308GTS. There is something special about owning a Ferrari which is difficult to put in to words but the sound, smell, history, stunning looks of the marque and unique feeling of sitting in a Ferrari is something very special. I never got that feel in the Porsche. The secret is to get a good Ferrari in the first place - on forums like this you often only get to hear the horror stories of Ferrari ownership - I must have been lucky as during 5 years of running Ferraris I have had no major dramas although they are not cheap to run. As an indication, the 355 does 15 MPG if you are lucky and I have just spent £600 on an annual service at a Ferrari main dealer (so not a great deal more than a 911 I suspect!)Insurance £595 fully comp with an agreed value!

Before you buy, get it thoroughly inspected ( I did this even though I bought my 355 from a main Ferrari dealer) and develop a relationship with someone you trust to look after the car for you. Go for it