common reactor

I just don't think a car like this should be bought because you're getting a lot for your money...the reason you buy an exotic is because you're infatuated with it.

Chris S

Very good point. Being infatuated certainly would make it much easier to put up w/ the "character" and costs of owning such a car over the long term.

DCs2ooo

I've been looking at older used ferrari's for a while, and posed a similar question in the Allegheny forum. A member there told me to stay away from 348's, but never really clarified.

What are everyone's thoughts on these beauties? They're typically in the 28k-45k range, depending on condition.

reedkr2

Oh man, a red 348 brings back childhood memories

Chris S

My ex-neighbor bought one that looked just like that for his first Ferrari. It was a beautiful car. Seatbelts were a PITA, though I forgot the details (I think it may have something to do w/ the automatic bucklers that were in vogue before airbags.

The exhaust sounded wonderful (even moreso after he added Tubis), but driving back to back w/ my stock S2000, they felt very comparable in performance, just that the Ferrari was a more visceral experience.

Shortly after he bought it, the starter went out. Fortunately, he was able to get the motor re-wound locally, no Ferrari premium.

Soon after that, the water pump went out, which was a $3K repair. He had replaced the stock radiator cap w/ a shiny, blingy one, and the mechanic speculated that the new cap interfered w/ the delicate balance of the rest of the system aging in unison, and put too much pressure on the water pump.

The Gasman

348's and 355's are going to be expensive to maintain. If buy in was the only factor everyone with 30-50 k and a love for them would be rocking one. The cars are an expensive pita to maintain. Few things are normal too, the electrics, batteries, services are oddly designed because it's not a mass production car. It's a purpose built street racer and so reliability and easability of service were not part of planning in the build. If you want a reliable exotic the NSX or 911 are pretty much your only choices.

Penforhire

I'll give you the NSX as exotic but most 911's just don't hit the same emotional buttons for me as that 328. Maybe a slant-nose 930...

negcamber

[QUOTE=DCs2ooo,Sep 23 2009, 09:06 AM] I've been looking at older used ferrari's for a while, and posed a similar question in the Allegheny forum.

Dr. WOT

[QUOTE=DCs2ooo,Sep 23 2009, 09:06 AM] I've been looking at older used ferrari's for a while, and posed a similar question in the Allegheny forum.

David1

This thread mad me start looking at 308's again until I saw this one and the bill to fix this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1982-FERRAR...d=p4506.c0.m245