Selling 996 TT to buy a Ferrari 348...am I mad?
Discussion
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.
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:
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:
k, buy a 355. i wont slate Porsche as i still love 911s. my 996tt was slightly breathed on by dms and if Im honest, in a straight line, it would anihalate my 360 manual. They are slightly different thrills... I quite enjoyed overtaking on B roads or twisty a roads as the 996tt just ate 4 cars in a row for breakfast, the downside is it was 110mph easily which is a 60 zone is getting dangerous. the 360 is so loud that i look down at 85 and i feel Im being just as naughty as i was in the porsche at higher speed. No doubt the ferrari has a lot more soul, because i use the car as a weekend toy it feels special and the porsche struggled to do that.
348 is a lovely looking car and with tubi, it is a lovely sounding car as well. I suspect that given its 23 yrs old you probably wont drive the socks off it but nevetheless will enjoy the experiences, touches, smells and sounds. whereas i was finding i was having to thrash the porsche all the time...
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
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 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...
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...
Nothing mad about it, as long as you go in with your eyes open. Meaning that the 348 will be a lot slower, more difficult to drive and most likely cost a lot more in maintenance. On the flipside it is a great-looking Ferrari, will sound much better with the right exhaust and has plenty of character.
I'd suggest you try to drive a few (and perhaps also try a 355 - although that might not be within your budget).
The steering on the 355 is light but very accurate and fine once you get used to it. Plenty of feedback.
I'd suggest you try to drive a few (and perhaps also try a 355 - although that might not be within your budget).
The steering on the 355 is light but very accurate and fine once you get used to it. Plenty of feedback.
Denyo said:
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
I could've and should've done it years ago. Oh well, I'm here now.Pleased to hear that most think I am not mad! Thanks again for all your help/responses
Chat to Tim at Walkersport about 348s. I would normally buy privately, but he is incredibly knowledgable and an all round good guy. Also Nick Cartwright seem great.
I have owned my 348 for more than 13 years and have adored every second of it. It has never let me down. They are very reliable if used. I have driven it down to Italy 5 times, I think, and numerous other trips to France and Germany. There are certainly some ropey ones about so it pays to buy wisely.
Jonathan
Jonathan
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
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
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