348 service intervals
Discussion
going to look at a nice RHD TB tomorrow as well as a LHD TB and also a RHD spider (that I blatantly shouldn't look at as I can't afford it at all, but nice to check out as it's in the same place...)
Reports here on monday...
Craig how many did you look at / drive before you gave in and paid up?
Reports here on monday...
Craig how many did you look at / drive before you gave in and paid up?
Well, I only got to see one car at the weekend due to other things coming up, so thanks to my local independent dealer who were extreemly helpful.
The car was a 1990 red/crema TB with 14k on the clock and a FSH and buckets of supporting docs. Drove the car for about 30 minutes. The car itself inside was immaculate, as was the paint. Engine fired smoothly with no discerable smoking on startup and sounded like a million dollars (though the 355 with the tubi they moved to get the tb out sounded like $2,000,000!)
The big quirk was that you're not supposed to use second gear until the gearbox oil warms up (can anyone confirm this idiosyncracy?), this isn't really a problem as theres plenty of torque, and round the lanes where I did most of the driving, 3rd was the ideal gear. Gearchange is firm, and certainly a bit stiff until the oil does warm up, at which point changing was a little bit of an effort. (still given its only done 14k in 12 years I guess you'd expect it to be a little on the stiff side!)
The car sounded great, steering feel and feedback (no pas) is absolutley amazing, definitely the most positive steering of any car I've ever driven. Brakes were good, took a while to get used to their very positive nature (given that I'm used to my hire car fiesta at the moment which has a brake pedal that behaves like a victoria sponge when stepped on)
Accelleration is excellent, though it is very very smooth, no turbo kick, just mighty and progressive power, plently of torque (5th pulls from 30-170). This made the car a pleasure to drive, and even in traffic it wasn't daunting - though the learner who held me up for a couple of minutes would probably disagree. Must have been a little intimidating to have a big wedge of rosso corsa looming in your mirrors! The real wave of power seems to kick in at about 60 in third, and is darned exciting.
Overall, despite the notchy change, and 'character' that denies use of second for the first ten-twenty minutes of use I really love this car.
Still this is the first one I've seen so the chequebook stayed firmly away. There are a lot of practical considerations to owning a car like this, the main one for me is to have a garage, so I'm researching that at the moment. Also I've got to drive a porker 993, I don't think I could love a 993 like I could love a 348, but until you've tried you don't know...
More info on test drives when they happen..
The car was a 1990 red/crema TB with 14k on the clock and a FSH and buckets of supporting docs. Drove the car for about 30 minutes. The car itself inside was immaculate, as was the paint. Engine fired smoothly with no discerable smoking on startup and sounded like a million dollars (though the 355 with the tubi they moved to get the tb out sounded like $2,000,000!)
The big quirk was that you're not supposed to use second gear until the gearbox oil warms up (can anyone confirm this idiosyncracy?), this isn't really a problem as theres plenty of torque, and round the lanes where I did most of the driving, 3rd was the ideal gear. Gearchange is firm, and certainly a bit stiff until the oil does warm up, at which point changing was a little bit of an effort. (still given its only done 14k in 12 years I guess you'd expect it to be a little on the stiff side!)
The car sounded great, steering feel and feedback (no pas) is absolutley amazing, definitely the most positive steering of any car I've ever driven. Brakes were good, took a while to get used to their very positive nature (given that I'm used to my hire car fiesta at the moment which has a brake pedal that behaves like a victoria sponge when stepped on)
Accelleration is excellent, though it is very very smooth, no turbo kick, just mighty and progressive power, plently of torque (5th pulls from 30-170). This made the car a pleasure to drive, and even in traffic it wasn't daunting - though the learner who held me up for a couple of minutes would probably disagree. Must have been a little intimidating to have a big wedge of rosso corsa looming in your mirrors! The real wave of power seems to kick in at about 60 in third, and is darned exciting.
Overall, despite the notchy change, and 'character' that denies use of second for the first ten-twenty minutes of use I really love this car.
Still this is the first one I've seen so the chequebook stayed firmly away. There are a lot of practical considerations to owning a car like this, the main one for me is to have a garage, so I'm researching that at the moment. Also I've got to drive a porker 993, I don't think I could love a 993 like I could love a 348, but until you've tried you don't know...
More info on test drives when they happen..
Dealer suggested that 2nd was best avoided until the gearbox was warm as slamming it into second when not warm could be bad for it. After 15 minutes driving, I tried second and it was fine.. Dealer was just suggesting that doing this could extend the life of the gearbox a bit... Could also be that at <1500 miles a year this car isn't exactly fully run in and the gearchange could be a bit smoother generally.
Still I've got to drive some more, roll on the weekend!
Still I've got to drive some more, roll on the weekend!
Hi Rich,
Try the 993 (itis actually a FAR better car than the 348) by all means, but I totally agree that you won't fall in love it. I've just bought one but a 348 was a serious contender on the 'to have' list. I looked at a few and whilst they were better looking, driving, handling, flasher etc the 993 was just a far more sensible option (which maybe I'm regreting if you've seen some of my Porsche posts regarding making them more interesting).
The 993 will 'feel' 10 times newer and better, but will have far less character. (and far lower bills too!) - it really depends if you want to have that extra hassle for the 'Ferrari' experience.
I need to drive it every day for 30 miles, may have influenced my decision somewhat too.
Try the 993 (itis actually a FAR better car than the 348) by all means, but I totally agree that you won't fall in love it. I've just bought one but a 348 was a serious contender on the 'to have' list. I looked at a few and whilst they were better looking, driving, handling, flasher etc the 993 was just a far more sensible option (which maybe I'm regreting if you've seen some of my Porsche posts regarding making them more interesting).
The 993 will 'feel' 10 times newer and better, but will have far less character. (and far lower bills too!) - it really depends if you want to have that extra hassle for the 'Ferrari' experience.
I need to drive it every day for 30 miles, may have influenced my decision somewhat too.
I have been watching the porsche board mate, I'm still dithering. Arranged to drive a 993 this weekend, so we shall see. Thing with the ferrari -particualy in LHD is that I could realisticly run 2 cars - something with 4 doors and a boot that will soak up the 'boring' miles and use the ferrari as the balls out drivers car that it undoubtably is.
Or I could try and split the difference and have the car for all seasons - ideally a 993 carrera4, which would be the 'sensible' option. Still why should i spend my whole life being sensible?!
I shall find out whether I'm sensible or not at the weekend....
Just can't help feeling that although the 348 makes no sense at all, the amount of time i stood ogling the car outside the showroom was close to unhealthy..
Now if I can rent that garage off my neighbour I'm in business......
Or I could try and split the difference and have the car for all seasons - ideally a 993 carrera4, which would be the 'sensible' option. Still why should i spend my whole life being sensible?!
I shall find out whether I'm sensible or not at the weekend....
Just can't help feeling that although the 348 makes no sense at all, the amount of time i stood ogling the car outside the showroom was close to unhealthy..
Now if I can rent that garage off my neighbour I'm in business......
quote:
Or I could try and split the difference and have the car for all seasons - ideally a 993 carrera4, which would be the 'sensible' option. Still why should i spend my whole life being sensible?!
mr tony, it's a tricky dilemma. I've had similar things going through my head too. Think I'm going to go down the 993tt route and use it every day - reliable but quite exiting when 'on boost'. It's just the ferrari's look and sound soooo amazing. The allure is almost too much. I've thought if a 348 would be 'only' 35-40k, then it would leave me some 20k spare for the potential problems / servicing. When I'm having a sensible day I remember the Evo running reports (355) and put it right out of my head. Tricky...
Thanks for all these posts guys, they're great to read.
Im planning on moving to a 348/vectra type combo in a year or so (dreamed of a 'rari since long,long ago) and its interesting to share youre experiences.
A friend has got a 355 (the same guy I bought the M3 from) and I just luuuuurve it!.
Im planning on moving to a 348/vectra type combo in a year or so (dreamed of a 'rari since long,long ago) and its interesting to share youre experiences.
A friend has got a 355 (the same guy I bought the M3 from) and I just luuuuurve it!.
Two cars is the only sensible option, but I'd be careful of running the Ferrari at weekends only for 10 miles and caning it for nine of them.
Running costs may be more palletable if you give it regular exercise, say once mid week as well.
Now that I can actually afford a Ferrari, I have gone off them. Drove a 355 two years ago and fell in love with the sound, but I have thrown enough cash away on my Lots of Trouble Usually Serious in the last 2 years so don't fancy a similar experience.
Porsche is the answer for me (12000 miles service intervals at 300 notes a time for gawdsake), but that is on the 993. I will get one with a ton of character... the 964RS, and maybe get a 993RS later on.
OK, and then after that, when I've forgotten about running a Lotus, I'll get a 355 :-)
Running costs may be more palletable if you give it regular exercise, say once mid week as well.
Now that I can actually afford a Ferrari, I have gone off them. Drove a 355 two years ago and fell in love with the sound, but I have thrown enough cash away on my Lots of Trouble Usually Serious in the last 2 years so don't fancy a similar experience.
Porsche is the answer for me (12000 miles service intervals at 300 notes a time for gawdsake), but that is on the 993. I will get one with a ton of character... the 964RS, and maybe get a 993RS later on.
OK, and then after that, when I've forgotten about running a Lotus, I'll get a 355 :-)
No worries there!
Chances of me having a 'rari in the garage and only taking it out at weekends are pretty remote.
My friend bought his 355 when he was due to go off to Thailand and Aus in 5 months time
"I've worked it all out, if I only do x number of miles in it between now and then, I wont have to service it before I sell it and go off to Aus for the year"
Then he started commuting from Bournemouth to Reading in it............
Two years later, 'rari's now with him in Holland!
;-)
Chances of me having a 'rari in the garage and only taking it out at weekends are pretty remote.
My friend bought his 355 when he was due to go off to Thailand and Aus in 5 months time
"I've worked it all out, if I only do x number of miles in it between now and then, I wont have to service it before I sell it and go off to Aus for the year"
Then he started commuting from Bournemouth to Reading in it............
Two years later, 'rari's now with him in Holland!
;-)
hmmm well I think when it comes down to it a 348 engine is a pretty reliable piece of kit. It's very similar to the 355 engine, but running at 300bhp not 375, figure its less stressed and several people in the know (along with evo mag) suggest a 348 engine is easily good for 100k without issues. As usual though it still means you've got to buy a good one.
As for runing it, you're looking at letting the gearbox / engine warm up for about 15 minutes so it's not a car to just drive down for a paper on a sunday. As you say a good midweek thrashing is probably good for it too and I'm sure I could manage to make the effort ;-)
Seems that a LHD car is the way to go given the lower prices, and having a second car is a must. KHPC and Talacrest who have both been very helpful to me have more or less said don't even think about this without a second car and a garage.
So far I'm not put off. Went to see a 993cab at the weekend. It's a wonderful car, but I think the flexibility of having 2 cars might suit me better. I travel a lot and leave my car overnight regularly in london, and not always in nice areas - I could never leave a 993 out on the street and not spend all night stressing! A knackered supermini, and a (not so knackered old supercar would in theory mean ease of travel in the capitol, and fun on the roads outside.
Anyone else got any experience of doing the same - (day car / weekend car) ?
As for runing it, you're looking at letting the gearbox / engine warm up for about 15 minutes so it's not a car to just drive down for a paper on a sunday. As you say a good midweek thrashing is probably good for it too and I'm sure I could manage to make the effort ;-)
Seems that a LHD car is the way to go given the lower prices, and having a second car is a must. KHPC and Talacrest who have both been very helpful to me have more or less said don't even think about this without a second car and a garage.
So far I'm not put off. Went to see a 993cab at the weekend. It's a wonderful car, but I think the flexibility of having 2 cars might suit me better. I travel a lot and leave my car overnight regularly in london, and not always in nice areas - I could never leave a 993 out on the street and not spend all night stressing! A knackered supermini, and a (not so knackered
old supercar would in theory mean ease of travel in the capitol, and fun on the roads outside. Anyone else got any experience of doing the same - (day car / weekend car) ?
Yes have done it for about 3 years now since starting my own buis mainly as customers didn't like late 20's bloke turning up in flash car seperate issues really.
Started with Nissan 200sx (96) and Tvr Chimaera 4.0L and smart, Now have Bmw M3 coupe and Chimaera 5.0 (one of the last) for me works really really well as no stress at leaving the M3 at work or worrying (too much) about some arse oppening the door into the chimaera in car parks. Financially it probably also works as I don't think I am spending as much or loosing as much. Now saving up for 348 or 355 as well just don't tell the other half !!!!!!!
Started with Nissan 200sx (96) and Tvr Chimaera 4.0L and smart, Now have Bmw M3 coupe and Chimaera 5.0 (one of the last) for me works really really well as no stress at leaving the M3 at work or worrying (too much) about some arse oppening the door into the chimaera in car parks. Financially it probably also works as I don't think I am spending as much or loosing as much. Now saving up for 348 or 355 as well just don't tell the other half !!!!!!!
I take the two car theory to the extreme... Lotus Carlton (soon to be changed for Porsche 964RS) and a Rover 414i.
The Rover lets me:
- park anywhere, dodgy areas are fine and I couldn't care about parking dents much either
- get sensible mpg on long trips
- pile on the mileage without worrying about depreciation
- have something to run about in if the nice car needs some work doing on it
- have a car I can go to the tip with, or the DIY store, and fill with sh!te, without worrying about connolly leather and wilton carpets
- have a car that's quiet, comfortable and takes four people with luggage, whilst satiating my desire for performance and handling with my other car
- realise how quick my other car really is ;-)
So all in all, it's the best thing I ever did!
When you think my N-reg Rover cost 2.5k with 55k on the clock, you can see the sense it makes. My first Lotus Carlton service was as much as that...
Rgds
Domster
The Rover lets me:
- park anywhere, dodgy areas are fine and I couldn't care about parking dents much either
- get sensible mpg on long trips
- pile on the mileage without worrying about depreciation
- have something to run about in if the nice car needs some work doing on it
- have a car I can go to the tip with, or the DIY store, and fill with sh!te, without worrying about connolly leather and wilton carpets
- have a car that's quiet, comfortable and takes four people with luggage, whilst satiating my desire for performance and handling with my other car
- realise how quick my other car really is ;-)
So all in all, it's the best thing I ever did!
When you think my N-reg Rover cost 2.5k with 55k on the clock, you can see the sense it makes. My first Lotus Carlton service was as much as that...
Rgds
Domster
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