Who to check over potential 348

[VEIGHT]

Hi all,

When I bought my vantage I paid a local independent to give it the once over which proved to be a worthy exercise.

Is there someone / a company in the South East that could do the same for a 348 i'm looking for?

With very little knowledge myself I don't want to get something with some big issues that I will miss!

[johnnyreggae]

This suggests you have not found a car yet - if so you need someone local to any car so the south east may not be enough - there are some national operators such as via morethanpolish or Tim @ Walkersport - there are few enough cars for your search sensibly to be geograpically limited

[MerciEnFrance]

AV Engineering

[VEIGHT]

johnnyreggae said:

This suggests you have not found a car yet - if so you need someone local to any car so the south east may not be enough - there are some national operators such as via morethanpolish or Tim @ Walkersport - there are few enough cars for your search sensibly to be geograpically limited

Thanks for the reply. I've found a car I like the look of. Mindful that PH don't like 'which car shall I buy' posts so don't want this removed.
Thanks I'll take a look at those and also AV!

[johnnyreggae]

OK so down this way you could talk to Autoficcina QV or KHPC if any of them are better located

[VEIGHT]

johnnyreggae said:

OK so down this way you could talk to Autoficcina QV or KHPC if any of them are better located

Autoficcina is better located thank you! And they also have one for sale which I might look at. Thanks for your help.

[348jeff]

If you haven't already join:

www.clubscuderia.co.uk

www.ferrarichat.com

Whilst not a professional mechanic (and in the North West) I'm familiar with the 348 having maintained my own for the last 10 years.

Top tips from me are...

1) Don't buy a Left Hand Drive one.

2) Do buy a TS/GTS (removable roof) rather than a TB/GTB (solid roof).

3) Price/Age/mileage doesn't correspond with condition - go and check the car in person!

4) Ideal car if you enjoy some DIY, expensive if your paying someone else to fix it for you.


Feel free to contact me through the club (my thread on mine is in link below)

https://www.clubscuderia.co.uk/forum/showthread.ph...

Pic to keep you motivated :-)

[davek_964]

VEIGHT said:

Autoficcina is better located thank you! And they also have one for sale which I might look at. Thanks for your help.

It was quite a few years ago, so things might have changed - but I was very unimpressed when I viewed some 360s there. They had 3 or 4, all pretty poor - and the salesman really did come across as Arthur Daley. Was very poor.

[jtremlett]

348jeff said:

Top tips from me are...

1) Don't buy a Left Hand Drive one.

Why? Mine is LHD. Doesn't affect insurance or anything.

348jeff said:

2) Do buy a TS/GTS (removable roof) rather than a TB/GTB (solid roof).

Only matters if you want to take the roof off otherwise you're probably better with a tb. Can't remember the last time I took the roof off mine but then it's a faff and I don't much like getting blown about anyway.

[davek_964]

The TS is great with the roof off - but the real world of having the roof behind the seats is less so......... I have memories of driving with my knees practically touching my ears because I had to move the seat forward to get the roof behind it.

[348jeff]

Obviously just my personal opinion and I've no desire to offend but we drive on the left in the UK and most cars are RHD. All the usual arguments apply so wont repeat them - I just think if a RHD model is available (as opposed to something like a 288GTO or Enzo that are only available as LHD) you may as well have the model designed for your country. They may well be considerably cheaper but that will affect you when you come to sell.

The TS/GTS (removable roof) just gives you options and if you have a colour coded one just leave it on all the time. I only put mine on for washing but the rest of the time I use the optional canvas roof that fits on the rear parcel shelf so you have the full range of the seat movement. Best of both worlds IMO

You can just about make it out on the shelf behind the seats here



And in place...




Or just keep your hardtop on all the time if your not into the "wind in your hair" motoring - just nice to have the option.

Edited by 348jeff on Wednesday 30th June 10:59

[sparta6]

jtremlett said:

348jeff said:

Top tips from me are...

1) Don't buy a Left Hand Drive one.

Why? Mine is LHD. Doesn't affect insurance or anything.

348jeff said:

2) Do buy a TS/GTS (removable roof) rather than a TB/GTB (solid roof).

Only matters if you want to take the roof off otherwise you're probably better with a tb. Can't remember the last time I took the roof off mine but then it's a faff and I don't much like getting blown about anyway.

+1
Both an advantage when on proper jaunts around the Alps


Blown about ?

[jtremlett]

348jeff said:

Obviously just my personal opinion and I've no desire to offend but we drive on the left in the UK and most cars are RHD. All the usual arguments apply so wont repeat them - I just think if a RHD model is available (as opposed to something like a 288GTO or Enzo that are only available as LHD) you may as well have the model designed for your country. They may well be considerably cheaper but that will affect you when you come to sell....

I confess I bought my LHD car anticipating that I would do a fair mileage on the continent and it is probably the case that I've done about half my total mileage on European trips but I really don't think anything of where I'm sitting other then when I'm at a toll booth or parking barrier.

Yes, LHD cars are likely to be cheaper and will likely be so if/when you come to sell but then that's money you can spend on something else or don't even need to have in the first place.

sparta6 said:

jtremlett said:

348jeff said:

Top tips from me are...

1) Don't buy a Left Hand Drive one.

Why? Mine is LHD. Doesn't affect insurance or anything.

348jeff said:

2) Do buy a TS/GTS (removable roof) rather than a TB/GTB (solid roof).

Only matters if you want to take the roof off otherwise you're probably better with a tb. Can't remember the last time I took the roof off mine but then it's a faff and I don't much like getting blown about anyway.

+1
Both an advantage when on proper jaunts around the Alps


Blown about ?

Ha!

[jtremlett]

davek_964 said:

VEIGHT said:

Autoficcina is better located thank you! And they also have one for sale which I might look at. Thanks for your help.

It was quite a few years ago, so things might have changed - but I was very unimpressed when I viewed some 360s there. They had 3 or 4, all pretty poor - and the salesman really did come across as Arthur Daley. Was very poor.

The 348 is a nice one that I have seen many times especially when the previous owner had it.

[VEIGHT]

Thanks all of the replies!

The garages I have contacted have been helpful and even given me details of some people that will visit the car with me which is convenient.

Thanks Jeff for linking your thread - that gives me some bed time reading and for the pictures too! I'll keep you posted on how I get on!

[Jon Brown]

Sorry to Hijack an old thread but I've been thinking about getting rid of two of my cars and replacing them with a 348, I'm not sure what two of the cars would be as I have three classics but the main car that would be replaced would be my 5 litre TVR Chimaera.

i just wondered if anyone had an y experience of going from a Chim to a 348 and how they compare etc?

348 has been a dream of mine for a long time and keen to do this over the next 12 months whilst its potentially affordable (before they shoot up in price)

[SS427 Camaro]

Jon Brown said:

Sorry to Hijack an old thread but I've been thinking about getting rid of two of my cars and replacing them with a 348, I'm not sure what two of the cars would be as I have three classics but the main car that would be replaced would be my 5 litre TVR Chimaera.

i just wondered if anyone had an y experience of going from a Chim to a 348 and how they compare etc?

348 has been a dream of mine for a long time and keen to do this over the next 12 months whilst its potentially affordable (before they shoot up in price)

A 500 Chimp is quite a scarce car. I had a gorgeous black ( sadly non PAS ) P registered one a few years ago. Have you sold it yet ?

[larrylamb11]

Jon Brown said:

Sorry to Hijack an old thread but I've been thinking about getting rid of two of my cars and replacing them with a 348, I'm not sure what two of the cars would be as I have three classics but the main car that would be replaced would be my 5 litre TVR Chimaera.

i just wondered if anyone had an y experience of going from a Chim to a 348 and how they compare etc?

348 has been a dream of mine for a long time and keen to do this over the next 12 months whilst its potentially affordable (before they shoot up in price)

Very different beasts indeed. I don't have experience of a Chim, but do of an S-series and it couldn't be more different to the 348... The poise and handling are worlds apart - you are very unlikely to be sliding the tail of a 348, whereas the TVR often did so involuntarily! The Ferrari feels taught, stiff and delicate, the TVR wooly, loose and brash - both huge fun in their own way but absolutely chalk and cheese. My S-series TVR belied its aspirations and was clearly the product of a low volume manufacturer, whereas the 348 feels and looks every bit the higher end niche product.
I would strongly recommend you find a 348 to drive before committing - I suspect you will find the performance disappointing coming from the Chim, but try to drink in the whole package before making your decisions... there is a lot of subtlety to absorb beyond the headline wail from behind.
If you've dreamt of owning one, I would think you owe it to yourself to scratch the itch as they are fabulous machines, though I freely admit I didn't gel with mine immediately. I wouldn't be without it now though and many toys have come and gone in the interim.
Good luck in your search.

[Jon Brown]

larrylamb11 said:

Very different beasts indeed. I don't have experience of a Chim, but do of an S-series and it couldn't be more different to the 348... The poise and handling are worlds apart - you are very unlikely to be sliding the tail of a 348, whereas the TVR often did so involuntarily! The Ferrari feels taught, stiff and delicate, the TVR wooly, loose and brash - both huge fun in their own way but absolutely chalk and cheese. My S-series TVR belied its aspirations and was clearly the product of a low volume manufacturer, whereas the 348 feels and looks every bit the higher end niche product.
I would strongly recommend you find a 348 to drive before committing - I suspect you will find the performance disappointing coming from the Chim, but try to drink in the whole package before making your decisions... there is a lot of subtlety to absorb beyond the headline wail from behind.
If you've dreamt of owning one, I would think you owe it to yourself to scratch the itch as they are fabulous machines, though I freely admit I didn't gel with mine immediately. I wouldn't be without it now though and many toys have come and gone in the interim.
Good luck in your search.

Its been a while since I checked here and what a good day to check. I haven't sold the Chim but I have been enjoying it instead, it makes quite a good drive and I'm not worried about car parks and rain. Quite a lot of my free time has been restoring an Escort RS Turbo so I'm not in a position to decide on cars now until that's done. I plan to enjoy that for a bit and probably sell it at some point to fund the next thing as well as my classic mini,

However, I did drive a very nice 348 through a member of a car club and what a machine! I really enjoyed it and came away wanting one even more, i forgot how good they look up close and it was a very planted and well put together.

As you say they are chalk and cheese and in an ideal world maybe keep both...? My concern is if I wanted another 500 I would be hard pushed to find one as good as the one I have...lots to think about but ultimately no major rush.