Discussion
Has anyone on this forum got a Ferrari 348? I currently have a 1996 Chimaera which has been superb - but I am itching for a change and I really would like to get something ''classic'' that will not suffer huge depreciation. The Ferrari 348 seems like a nice car for less money than Tuscans/Tamoras. 300bhp and its a Ferrari! Good ones seem to be going for £35-36,000 or less for LHD. I know that cam belts need changing every 3 years at about £1500 (!) but I reckon I lose more than that every 6 months in depreciation on the Chimp.
What do you learned fellow petrol heads think?
Hi Brian, I had a Griffith 500 and after considering lots of other cars (Tuscan included) have changed to a LHD 1994 348 GTS, 7000 miles.£34000 Made sure i had the cambelts changed before I collected it & had a full service.
So far, very pleased, handling is great, interior is too. Performance is obviously not as great as the Griff but in real driving terms ie. point to point & in traffic, I'm sure its virtually the same. Doesn't get as hot either!!
Gets a great deal more attention (good & bad!) MPG is a bit better, insurance was about another £400 on top of the griff (for remaining 10 months of policy)
Overall very happy, hope it doesnt cost too much to run in long term, I use it every day, apparently they are better if used more.
Look at lots, I did, some were terribly shabby and drove appallingly. I wanted a GTS as it has better suspension and 20bhp more.
If any more questions drop a post and i'll try to help.
Thanks Craig, it is very interesting to hear from someone who has made the transition.
I have had some insurance quotes, and like you they are about £400 more for the Ferrari. (33 years old, 3 points, nearly 6 years NCB - £939.00). Does not seem to matter whether they are RHD or LHD either. Who have you insured with - my best quote was from Footman James. (Based on a 1992 car. They said that once 10 years old - it can go on a classic car policy which is less expensive still).
Did you buy yours privately or from a dealer? Only ask as in Top Marques there are huge price differences (possibly reflecting what you said about condition). Some left hookers from 1990-92 going for £25,000. RHD going anything upto £40,000 from trade.(All ts/tb models).
Did you drive a ts to compare to a GTS? How is the GTS different to the ts to get the extra 20 bhp? Any other differences other than suspension (again, what is the difference - uprated shocks and springs?, different sized tyres?), and the black trim now being body coloured?
I know one thing, the GTS/GTB are less common than its fellow stablemate!
Any particular things to look out for on the cars - their own quirks and faults/shortcomings (every car has something!)? I expect that a full dealer service history is reassuring - as are plenty of evidence of cam belt changes.
Are there good web sites for Ferrai owners who are enthusiasts rather than millionaires. e.g. Pistonheads forum and the The Griffith/Chimaera Workshop notes - is there anything similar for the 348 that you know about? Have you joined the FOC?
Thanks for your reply and looking forward to learning as much as possible from you.
Hi Brian,
The gts felt quicker and more stable, not sure what the suspension mods are but I would guess you are correct- springs etc. I did hear that it was the interim model before the 355 and had similar suspension to that(could be rubbish!)
It has colour coded skirts & I also had the roof laquered and sprayed body colour so it looks like a hard top when on. They apparently changed the front grill on later models, the pracing horse in a different place.
I bought from an independant dealer Arun cars, West sussex. They have others.
I think if you go for the cheaper cars you'll end up paying out the same in the end. The 25-30k cars and even some 40k cars were in terrible condition - rust, fading paint, cracked leather seats, drove sloppily.
There aren't many GTS>B's around from what I've seen. There was a company called Elite cars in kent/essex who had one for 34k also Joe Macari in Wandsworth had one.
The later cars only need the cambelt change every 4 years not 3 also. There is a back issue of EVO magazine which had a 348 buyers guide. If I can find it I'll post it to you.
If you are around SW London give me a shout, you're welcome to come & have a look (although I'm away at weddings on lots of weekends at the moment)
PS. Haven't found any good websites apart from the ferrai owners club.
Things to look out for - rear buttresses (where wing joins b pillar) get rusty and are pricey to repair, 2nd gear synchromesh, if you open bonnet, look straight through gap at the front, there should be a black strip, if its red it has been resprayed.
Otherwise look for the obvious stuff & get a good warranty. I personally wouldnt buy privately.
Hi Craig, thanks for the update. Wish I could get to SW London - but I am up in north of Cheshire - thanks very much indeed for the offer.
I am a little nervous re buying one of these. I have had my TVR from nearly new and no that it is a well sorted fault free car - so no surprise expensive bills there. Just concerned that I could end up with a money pit car if I don't get it right first time. Doing my homework now!
Yes, I would love to see the Evo guide - if you can let me know what issue it was I could order a back copy. But hey, if you are willing to send a copy to me I would be extremely grateful. My email address is bryanlister@ntlworld.com
Thanks for your help Craig
The way I figured (and backed up by the evo article, which I will look for& if not will find out which back issue)
even if it does cost a bit more to keep on the road, you shouldn't lose out in depreciation and it should be more or less equal.
(I lost £6000 in 18 months on my Griffith 500)
I live at the top of Putney hill and only walk down to the station - just noticed you- only recently regulary going up and down. But I do own an Exige but changing it for a M12 GTO early next year- neither of which like being driven into the city at low revs! 
...small world isn't it! 
...small world isn't it! Come to think of it there is a Lady who used to drive a Chimp out of where I live, not sure whether she's changed it or not- she came up to me once and said '... and I thought I had the noiseyest car in the garage!' - (my Exige is fully de-Kated and sport exhausted up and often spits flames when it's hot! )
Edited by guysh on Friday 10th August 14:35
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Edited by guysh on Friday 10th August 14:35 Guys
Most of my postings have been on the Cerbera board. Originally when I was looking for a nice sports car - I was very much interested in the Ferrari 348 spider and did lots of reading around (inc the EVO buyers guide). Since then I changed my mind to a cerbi because:
1. It is quicker
2. It has an outstanding shape
3. Insurance is NOT a killer - I was getting quotes of 3000 (with full NCB). I suppose that is due to my younger Brother who is 26.
The 348 had a mix review in the EVO mag and most sites talk about 355 as a better car.
If I could get insurance for 1500 I would def consider it again.
Avi
PS Bryan Lister if you still have not got hold of the Mag I can scan the pages and send them to - let me know
Bryan, Graypaul have a 348 Spyder at £47,000 (not sure if it's at Sheffield or Loughborough) and it will probably be sold for a good deal less. LHD ones are much more reasonable, like Craig's car, but whatever you find check it out with a microscope. A good service history is vital, but I don't need to tell you that!
I had three and a half of these devices (330/Dino/Daytona/308GTB - the Dino only counts as half). None of them ever let me down, and I had no mechanical disasters, despite hammering them across Europe. Good servicing was expensive, but a more modern Ferrari is a vastly improved bit of tackle and shouldn't entirely bankrupt you!
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