Calling 348 owners
Discussion
There is loads of info around if you do a search, but to get you started:
Buy on condition as opposed to indicated mileage. Later cars preferred IMO (battery in front models) - they have the suspension mods/Nippon alternator/cheaper single plate clutch etc. etc. A recent belt service, preferably with tensioners is desirable. Odd colours can be tough to sell on so should be priced accordingly to compensate. Again, just IMO but avoid cars dressed up to look like a 355 - can be hard to sell.
Parts can be expensive, so check for 'simple' things like a cracked foglamp carefully (£400). The climate control module must be working. Check for clutch fluid leaking from the flywheel cover at the back. Should have all the same type of tyres all round - they should always be replaced as a set. The gearbox can be grumpy when cold (especially 1-2) but should be crunch-free after a few miles. The oil level is checked immediately after turning off the engine - check much later and it will appear empty.
Buy on condition as opposed to indicated mileage. Later cars preferred IMO (battery in front models) - they have the suspension mods/Nippon alternator/cheaper single plate clutch etc. etc. A recent belt service, preferably with tensioners is desirable. Odd colours can be tough to sell on so should be priced accordingly to compensate. Again, just IMO but avoid cars dressed up to look like a 355 - can be hard to sell.
Parts can be expensive, so check for 'simple' things like a cracked foglamp carefully (£400). The climate control module must be working. Check for clutch fluid leaking from the flywheel cover at the back. Should have all the same type of tyres all round - they should always be replaced as a set. The gearbox can be grumpy when cold (especially 1-2) but should be crunch-free after a few miles. The oil level is checked immediately after turning off the engine - check much later and it will appear empty.
I have had a 348GTS and must say it was not my favourite car.
Could not wait to get rid had it for 18mths & 10k mls lost loads of cash on it.
The build quality is rubbish the seats are poor and the backs can break(as mine did and no i am not a porker)known problem the whole interior is flimsy door pulls are another weak point.
The car had a Ferrari warranty and it got a good thrashing the car was at main agents for a total of more than 6 months of my ownership.
Yes the A/C modual packed up but even a new one did not give you very good A/C it would fry you then freeze you this was a constant problem.
Got F355GTS after MUCH better made car and so much nicer to drive.Build much improved.
Could not wait to get rid had it for 18mths & 10k mls lost loads of cash on it.
The build quality is rubbish the seats are poor and the backs can break(as mine did and no i am not a porker)known problem the whole interior is flimsy door pulls are another weak point.
The car had a Ferrari warranty and it got a good thrashing the car was at main agents for a total of more than 6 months of my ownership.
Yes the A/C modual packed up but even a new one did not give you very good A/C it would fry you then freeze you this was a constant problem.
Got F355GTS after MUCH better made car and so much nicer to drive.Build much improved.
Edited by neil360 on Wednesday 7th February 14:59
... and ignore the people who slate it mercilessly - you get good and bad in all cars 
I had a Spider and it was SUPERB! It had a de-cat and Tubi and sounded awesome, handled superbly, the build quality on mine was fine ... I did 13,000 in the first year I had it (it was a weekend car only!) including one 3000 miles Euro-Alps thrash after I'd had it for less than two weeks, then the following summer down to the south coast of Spain and back.
Huge presence, people love taking pics of it. IMHO the best all round starter Ferrari you can get.
The only pain in the @ss is the engine cam belt change at £1500-£2000 every 3 years or 20-30k miles depending how worried you are.
If I had the spare cash I would go back to one tomorrow. early £20 for a LHD TS ... huge bangs per buck.
I had a Spider and it was SUPERB! It had a de-cat and Tubi and sounded awesome, handled superbly, the build quality on mine was fine ... I did 13,000 in the first year I had it (it was a weekend car only!) including one 3000 miles Euro-Alps thrash after I'd had it for less than two weeks, then the following summer down to the south coast of Spain and back.
Huge presence, people love taking pics of it. IMHO the best all round starter Ferrari you can get.
The only pain in the @ss is the engine cam belt change at £1500-£2000 every 3 years or 20-30k miles depending how worried you are.
If I had the spare cash I would go back to one tomorrow. early £20 for a LHD TS ... huge bangs per buck.
burriana said:
... and ignore the people who slate it mercilessly - you get good and bad in all cars
I had a Spider and it was SUPERB! It had a de-cat and Tubi and sounded awesome, handled superbly, the build quality on mine was fine ... I did 13,000 in the first year I had it (it was a weekend car only!) including one 3000 miles Euro-Alps thrash after I'd had it for less than two weeks, then the following summer down to the south coast of Spain and back.
Huge presence, people love taking pics of it. IMHO the best all round starter Ferrari you can get.
The only pain in the @ss is the engine cam belt change at £1500-£2000 every 3 years or 20-30k miles depending how worried you are.
If I had the spare cash I would go back to one tomorrow. early £20 for a LHD TS ... huge bangs per buck.
I had a Spider and it was SUPERB! It had a de-cat and Tubi and sounded awesome, handled superbly, the build quality on mine was fine ... I did 13,000 in the first year I had it (it was a weekend car only!) including one 3000 miles Euro-Alps thrash after I'd had it for less than two weeks, then the following summer down to the south coast of Spain and back.
Huge presence, people love taking pics of it. IMHO the best all round starter Ferrari you can get.
The only pain in the @ss is the engine cam belt change at £1500-£2000 every 3 years or 20-30k miles depending how worried you are.
If I had the spare cash I would go back to one tomorrow. early £20 for a LHD TS ... huge bangs per buck.
Have looked at lots of 348s and the build quality has been poor on them all IMO.
My car was UK RHD with full main dealer service history. It was only used for fun but is no fun sitting in Ferrari agents workshop for the month of August as factory shut and no parts in UK to repair.
Yes people do look at Ferrari's when you drive them (but who cares) even when the car in question could be rubbish but to them it is a Ferrari. I regret ever buying my 348 in about 60 cars it is the only one I can say that about.
Just goes to show it's all about personal opinions.
I would agree that buying on condition rather than mileage is vital and could end up saving you money as Ferrari's with a few miles on are hit quite badly pricewise.
I looked a lots of 355's and saw no end of badly looked after ones yet when it came to 348's they weren't quite so bad (all in my experience of course).
It's worth driving a few as well because you will find they will drive differently. I think as is true with most models of car they improved throughout their production so later cars have a number of small niggles fixed.
Take your time & if you buy a good one you'll be smiling everytime you look at it, let alone everytime you drive it!
I would agree that buying on condition rather than mileage is vital and could end up saving you money as Ferrari's with a few miles on are hit quite badly pricewise.
I looked a lots of 355's and saw no end of badly looked after ones yet when it came to 348's they weren't quite so bad (all in my experience of course).
It's worth driving a few as well because you will find they will drive differently. I think as is true with most models of car they improved throughout their production so later cars have a number of small niggles fixed.
Take your time & if you buy a good one you'll be smiling everytime you look at it, let alone everytime you drive it!
pdavison said:
Just goes to show it's all about personal opinions.
I would agree that buying on condition rather than mileage is vital and could end up saving you money as Ferrari's with a few miles on are hit quite badly pricewise.
I looked a lots of 355's and saw no end of badly looked after ones yet when it came to 348's they weren't quite so bad (all in my experience of course).
It's worth driving a few as well because you will find they will drive differently. I think as is true with most models of car they improved throughout their production so later cars have a number of small niggles fixed.
Take your time & if you buy a good one you'll be smiling everytime you look at it, let alone everytime you drive it!
I would agree that buying on condition rather than mileage is vital and could end up saving you money as Ferrari's with a few miles on are hit quite badly pricewise.
I looked a lots of 355's and saw no end of badly looked after ones yet when it came to 348's they weren't quite so bad (all in my experience of course).
It's worth driving a few as well because you will find they will drive differently. I think as is true with most models of car they improved throughout their production so later cars have a number of small niggles fixed.
Take your time & if you buy a good one you'll be smiling everytime you look at it, let alone everytime you drive it!
Ah you have GTC rare car, this also has different seats one of the many problems with the regular car.
My F355 was IMO the very best available (within my budget) and had main dealer history I ran this car for 4yrs all of them very enjoyable GREAT CAR. Unlike the 348 I would have another.
Edited by neil360 on Wednesday 7th February 14:40
Edited by neil360 on Wednesday 7th February 14:41
and I've only had it for 6 weeks but I still love it 
neil360 said:
Build much improved.
Apart from the well documented exhaust manifolds (£3k), valve guides up to 98'(£6k+) melting interior (fault carried over from 348 along with the cracking butress joints), shrinking dash, exploding alloy clutch slave cylinder.. They fixed a lot of the 348's problems with the (£15k+ more to buy) F355, but managed to add some very expensive new ones too.
Sounds like you bought a lemon 348, there are some about and maybe not a good advert for the main dealer you dealt with who seemed unable to sort it.
The only problems I have had with mine (in over two years) are the A/C control that went wierd (fixed the solder joint myself for £0), broken wire in the door harness and the butress joint on one side is starting to crack. Other than those, normal maintenance.
chrisx666 said:
neil360 said:
Build much improved.
Apart from the well documented exhaust manifolds (£3k), valve guides up to 98'(£6k+) melting interior (fault carried over from 348 along with the cracking butress joints), shrinking dash, exploding alloy clutch slave cylinder.. They fixed a lot of the 348's problems with the (£15k+ more to buy) F355, but managed to add some very expensive new ones too.
Sounds like you bought a lemon 348, there are some about and maybe not a good advert for the main dealer you dealt with who seemed unable to sort it.
The only problems I have had with mine (in over two years) are the A/C control that went wierd (fixed the solder joint myself for £0), broken wire in the door harness and the butress joint on one side is starting to crack. Other than those, normal maintenance.
Well I had none of the problems you mention (I also had receipts for all the work carried out on the car from new no manifolds, valve guides or exploding alloy clutch slave cylinders to be seen)) with my F355 the butress cracks fixed before purchase and did not return car did alot of track days with me. The F355 is just so much better to drive IMO.
The 348 was with 6 main agents in its time all able to fix problems but always another one would come along. Sounds like you have been lucky!
There's plenty of good advice here too... www.clubscuderia.com/forum/index.php
They're helping me build up knowledge for my forthcoming 328 purchase.
They're helping me build up knowledge for my forthcoming 328 purchase.
- Great looking cars.
- Very hard to find good ones
- Most have been neglected, thrashed or clocked
- Lots of people slag the 348 off. Most have never owned, let alone driven one.
- It's not an easy car to drive...very raw. Which is what makes it so good.
- I test drove a 360 and preferred the 348.
- Majority of owners love the cars and help each other out as much as they can. Owners are often referred to as "The brotherhood".
- Second best place to find help about 348's www.ferrarichat.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=93
- 348's are less expensive to look after than 355's
- Make sure you have a full PPI done on the car.
Remember, these cars are between 13 & 18 years old. Things will need replacing or refurbishing. eg: shock absorbers, cooling system, water pump etc.
You can easily spend £1,000's on fettling your pride and joy.
If it has'nt got one, you'll need a sports exhaust. Add another 1.5-2K for that.
Awesome cars, great for track days and cruising around London.
Current 348 website currently under construction. But you can view some info here:
www.fgear.eu/
Technical info here: www.the348.com/Tech/348.html
- Very hard to find good ones
- Most have been neglected, thrashed or clocked
- Lots of people slag the 348 off. Most have never owned, let alone driven one.
- It's not an easy car to drive...very raw. Which is what makes it so good.
- I test drove a 360 and preferred the 348.
- Majority of owners love the cars and help each other out as much as they can. Owners are often referred to as "The brotherhood".
- Second best place to find help about 348's www.ferrarichat.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=93
- 348's are less expensive to look after than 355's
- Make sure you have a full PPI done on the car.
Remember, these cars are between 13 & 18 years old. Things will need replacing or refurbishing. eg: shock absorbers, cooling system, water pump etc.
You can easily spend £1,000's on fettling your pride and joy.
If it has'nt got one, you'll need a sports exhaust. Add another 1.5-2K for that.
Awesome cars, great for track days and cruising around London.
Current 348 website currently under construction. But you can view some info here:
www.fgear.eu/
Technical info here: www.the348.com/Tech/348.html
Edited by angelis on Thursday 8th February 10:27
neil360 said:
chrisx666 said:
neil360 said:
Build much improved.
Apart from the well documented exhaust manifolds (£3k), valve guides up to 98'(£6k+) melting interior (fault carried over from 348 along with the cracking butress joints), shrinking dash, exploding alloy clutch slave cylinder.. They fixed a lot of the 348's problems with the (£15k+ more to buy) F355, but managed to add some very expensive new ones too.
Sounds like you bought a lemon 348, there are some about and maybe not a good advert for the main dealer you dealt with who seemed unable to sort it.
The only problems I have had with mine (in over two years) are the A/C control that went wierd (fixed the solder joint myself for £0), broken wire in the door harness and the butress joint on one side is starting to crack. Other than those, normal maintenance.
Well I had none of the problems you mention (I also had receipts for all the work carried out on the car from new no manifolds, valve guides or exploding alloy clutch slave cylinders to be seen)) with my F355 the butress cracks fixed before purchase and did not return car did alot of track days with me. The F355 is just so much better to drive IMO.
The 348 was with 6 main agents in its time all able to fix problems but always another one would come along. Sounds like you have been lucky!
348s are the bargain of the age as far as I'm concerned...and mine is not for sale.
Jonathan
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