Which was the most advanced Ferrari mid car of its time?

[LukeyLikey]

The dino small Ferrari provided more zip and zing than its predecessors, the 308 GT4 gave Ferrari their most modern look for decades, the 308 GTB is still one of the most iconic automotive shapes 30+ years later, the 328 gave us the first quattrovalvole (I think), the mondial the first Ferrari four seat mid, the BB the first flat 12 mid, the Testarossa defined a motoring decade, the 348 unloved but a modern era car with old school supercar thrills, the 355 hauled Ferrari back to the very top, the 360 the first without a steel frame giving the lightness and stiffness of aluminium, the 430 bringing real F1 learning to the road and well, the 458, 'nuff said!

But with which one did Ferrari excel themselves most?

[AndrewW-G]

The gt4 was the first 4 seat V8 and the 308 QV was the first with the 4V heads.

IMHO the 360 represented the biggest shift in technology, being the first extensively use aluminium in its construction, with the 348 coming second due to its use of a partial monocoque chassis

[jackal]

I could be wrong but the way it looks to me is that as time has gone on Ferrari has come of age and truly put a distance between its cars and other peoples.

Some of the cars you mention are often viewed through the old rosetints and in truth, offerings from competitors were perhaps faster (esprit V8 vs. f355), or more user friendly (NSX vs. 348) or dynamically superior (996tt vs. 360) but nowadays, with the 430 but more so the 458, the cars seem to hold all the aces on every level ....performance, speed, handling, tech, styling you name it. I know its obvious to state the most modern car but by all accounts the 458 does seem to be a collosal achievement.

[LongLiveTazio]

250LM.

[MogulBoy]

250LM must win this narrow question.

Not sure what the point of this thread is but the 599 FX (if you include front-mid) was not too shabby in terms of technology.

458 certainly a landmark for Ferrari but the MP4-12C arguably has the edge in construction technology and brake steer at a similar price point.

[Doofus]

LukeyLikey said:

The dino small Ferrari provided more zip and zing than its predecessors,

Subjective, but ok.

LukeyLikey said:

the 308 GT4 gave Ferrari their most modern look for decades,

Well, no. Most of the predecessors were modern-looking at the time.

LukeyLikey said:

the 308 GTB is still one of the most iconic automotive shapes 30+ years later,

Subjective again, but I agree 100%.

LukeyLikey said:

the 328 gave us the first quattrovalvole (I think),

Nope, 308.

LukeyLikey said:

the mondial the first Ferrari four seat mid, the BB the first flat 12 mid,

Yes, probably.

LukeyLikey said:

the Testarossa defined a motoring decade, the 348 unloved but a modern era car with old school supercar thrills, the 355 hauled Ferrari back to the very top,

Again, all subjective, I don't necessarily agree.

LukeyLikey said:

the 360 the first without a steel frame giving the lightness and stiffness of aluminium

Fair enough.

LukeyLikey said:

the 430 bringing real F1 learning to the road and well

Fair enough, if you say so.

LukeyLikey said:

the 458, 'nuff said!

But that is one ugly dashboard.

LukeyLikey said:

But with which one did Ferrari excel themselves most?

308 GTB QV, IMO. I won't suggest that it's a matter of fact, but it is my opinion.

[burriana]

Doofus said:

LukeyLikey said:

But with which one did Ferrari excel themselves most?

308 GTB QV, IMO. I won't suggest that it's a matter of fact, but it is my opinion.

You could have probably achieved the same with just that last bit!

[Doofus]

True...

[Mario149]

I'm biased so will go for my one and think of whatever I can

F355:

First Ferrari with 5 valves per cylinder giving 60 more bhp than a 348 for only a 100cc increase i.e. massive jump in specific output

valved exhaust

switchable suspension

6 gears

underfloor aerodynamics

Erm, that's all I can think of right now. Just read the spiel at the bottom of this page for more! http://www.rardleymotors.com/docs/cars/show.php?id...

[HowlerMonkey]