348 is better than 355

I have a 348 Spyder and if it only had the taillights of the 355 and the power of the 355 it would be the perfect car in my opinion. I love the doors and the non power steering. I have found it interesting as well that the 348 gets bashed the way it does given the 355 seems to have its own potential problems. I think most people will tell you buy what does it for you, but always get the car checked out to avoid those expensive pitfalls. If you go with a 348 get the Spyder. It falls in the price range you spoke of. If you are not a convertible guy go with a 355. Just my $.02 Good luck

 

The 355 is a better car in terms of performance, no question. Styling as compared to a 348 is strictly subjective. Reliability as compared to a 348 is debatable. So is the F355 worth the extra $30-$35K premium? Not to me. But it surely is to others, as there are plenty of F355 owners out there!

 

ughh 308 is better than 348 then?

 

I'm glad someones finally posted this one. The 348 has a real 'wow' factor, that's someting to do with its agressive looks coupled with the sidestrakes & retro looks. If you can do without the technical advances of the 355 (which there are many), then definately get the best 348 you can.

About 5,500 348's were made versus 11,000 355's- rarity factor gives it that extra boost!!

 

I've owned both a '94 348 spyder and '97 355 GTS, the two cars to me drive very differently. I found the 348 more fun for driving around because it had a more direct feel resulting from the absence of power steering. It also feels faster a low speeds possibly because it has a lower gear ratio. Best thing always is to drive both then make a decision and always make sure you get the history of the car and get a thorough PPI cosmetic and mechanically.

 

The problem with the valve guide issue is there is no definitive answer it seems, no exact assembly numbers to stay away from or look for. On the Acura NSX they had transmission issues and everybody knows the numbers and production dates etc to look for.

After reading alot of threads about this issue I'm as confused as ever on this issue, apparently they corrected the valve guides sometime in 95, yet another bad batch made it through 96, 97 and a few in 98. Not sure if this is a good summary on buying a 355 but here goes.......

1. Buy a 99, no problems.

2. If buying a 98, go for assembly # greater than 27689

3. If buying anything earlier see if the work has been done (having compression/leak down tests ownly tells you things are ok now, not in the future)

4. buy one and take your chance, chances are you'll be fine, if you're unlucky its gonna cost ya.

 

How did you determine the assembly number to avoid on '98 models? What build date is the cut-off in your mind and how did you draw this conclusion? How would we ever know when they 'ran out' of the old design?

 

I've owned a 91ts, a 94 spider, and a 96 355tb. You don't want the 348. The electronics, no matter which year, aren't right on the 348s. They consistently light up the sensors, shut off a bank of cylinders, etc. The 355 doesn't do that. The 355 is faster, looks better, handles better, you name it. For 75k you can get a 95 - 96 355. If you're careful, you'll get a good one.

Don't let anyone kid you, the 355 is a HUGE improvement over the 348.

Art

 

I dont know Jakermc, thats my point, I'm still confused. I'm going on past threads where this topic has arisen time after time. Somebody posted about the assembly # 27689 but I dont recall if that was from the factory or just a chat with a mechanic at a dealership.
I guess strike off #2 and my list and go with the 3 solid facts we do know?

 

what a load of bull. why did you want a ferrari in the 1st place? if you're looking for mechanical excellence recommend a volkswagen. There are many people including myself who have not had the problems you've alluded to. We've bought wisely and that's what this chap wants to know - cause i gotta say, he's not looking for the advice you're giving him. yeah the 355 is a an improvement over the 348 and the 360's an improvement over the 355, we all know that - i wouldn't say huge though - no one's kidding him

 

Just to save you the time of checking my profile, I have a 348.
I cannot comment on the performance or the handling of a 355.
I never had the privilege of driving one.
#1) how can electrical problems be compared on a car that was made
Between 1989-1995 vs. a car made between 1995-1999.
Folks, time will give us the true answer to that question.
My car came with some very good records, electrical problems in 1995 & 1997. Am I due for problems, could be who knows.
#2) the problem with all 1990’s Ferrari’s is the damn plastic they used in the interior. Most of my interior (plastic) has been replaced, the ashtray 3 times.
Next time carbon fiber, end of problem. What is going to happen with 355 interiors plastic in another few years, time will tell.
Would I like to own a well sorted out 355, you bet I would.
However, I figure I can afford an engine out, carbon fiber interior and most likely a crap load of rewiring vs. the cost of the WRONG 355. Dave

 

well said.

 

I was wondering is their a special site for 348's like for 308"s seams like their is all kind of info for 308's but not 348's any input please thinking of buying 348.

 

I love my 348 spider, as it looks great and is a lot more car than I thought I would get first time around F-car-wise. However mine certainly has had its share of fiddles, electrical things, etc, but I don't find them particularly off-putting since almost everything that has been a problem with mine has been (1) a "known" weakness and (2) fixable on a semi reasonable basis.

Frankly in a perfect world I'd take a 355 spider over my 348 but I don't have the shekels and I get most of what I wanted from a 355 from my 348 with an unexpected 'go-kartiness' that goes with the 348, as well as membership in a club that has at max just over 1,000 members. I've seen a fair few pix of wrecked 348 spiders so the club gets smaller every year....

Cheers
Kevin

 

I'm going to chip in here.

I have my 348 biases, but I also watch the F355 market and read all the testimony and hearsay about the car. I've driven one too

The way I see it is this: a good 355 is really a terrific car--more satisfying than a 348 in terms of performance at the very least. Most things regarding 348 vs. 355 are subjective; but the performance part we can agree on.

But here's what I think: it's much more difficult to look for a good 355 than it is to look for a good 348.

The reason is this: on the 355, there are many more parts from the factory that are inherently faulty--parts whose failure is almost inevitable; parts whose failure will cause a nightmare or nightmares.

Let's not even talk about the 355's valve guides issue. I'll leave that aside for now

Even if one were to buy a late '98 355 or '99 355 that had the valve guide issue resolved at the factory, there are all these things to worry about: headers that are prone to cracking; exhaust manifolds that are prone to cracking; and catalytic converters that are prone to failure. The failure of any of these parts can be disastrous. I'm talking a potential for engine rebuild--$$$

The solution? Pre-empt those problems: replace the headers; replace the exhaust manifolds and aftermarket catalytic converters with aftermarket stuff. The only problem with that is this: it's several thousand dollars by the time you're finished.

AND the engine may already be shot at that point. But maybe not--I guess a leak-down test would tell you whether the engine is shot or not. But as many esteemed mechanics on this board have told us over and over, a leak-down test CANNOT detect bad valve guides. I'm afraid you'll have to take the engine apart for that.

I get the sense that the first and second generation of 355 owners were dirt cheap; and it seems that most of the ones amongst them who are trying to sell their 355s now are eqally as cheap. They won't update their cars with these parts, but they ask at least $10,000 more than they should.

So if you're looking for a 355, the only way you can feel safe is if the previous owner bought new exhaust manifolds and catalytic converters (but not from the factory because the factory still can't be trusted) and addressed the headers problem. WHO DOES THAT? NO ONE. As a 355 buyer, you're on your own.

Remember, there's still the valve guides issue lurking in the background. I personally wouldn't feel safe with a 355 unless that problem was addressed as well, but others don't feel that way.

Other problems with 355s, of course, include the failure of the electronic shock actuators (and the shock absorbers themselves), shrinkage or peeling of the interior leather, etcetera. Addressing these problems isn't cheap either.

On a 348, the only inherently faulty part that comes from the factory that can cause a HUGE nightmare is the set of catalytic converters. The 348 has plenty of little things to consider, but all the componenets of the engine are absolutely bullet-proof. You don't have to worry about valve guides, headers, or exhaust manifolds--in short, you don't have to worry about an engine rebuild. I say that with the recommendation in mind that all 348 owners replace their factory catalytic converters.

So here's the point: the 348 has plenty of things to worry about. But no matter which one of them is mentioned, I say that it is not something that will cause an engine rebuild. And to me, like to most people I would say, an engine rebuild is the biggest nightmare of all.

One can mention problematic 348 components like the clutch, "Check Engine" lights, or anything else--but none of those will cause an engine rebuild.

Right here on this board, I've seen so many rejected 355s via a failed pre-purchase inspection; I've never seen a single 348 rejection.

I think it's much harder to find a "good" 355 than a "good" 348.

Which car is "better" I will not comment on, for I do not know.

 

I have been progressing up the 3 series Ferrari and first thing I will say is if I had the money I would still own the 328 and the 348. I put on 10,000 km on the 328 with zero problems, about 7,000 km on the 348 with no problems and to date about 4,000 km on the 355 and no problems there either. The only reason I have upgraded from each car is because I enjoy taking the car on the track and each newer series is easier to handle on the track. One thing I think many of us would warn anyone thinking of buying any of these cars is don't test one unless you are serious about buying one because once you try them it is very hard to resist them.

 

having put about 8000 miles on the 348 and the same on the 355 in the span of two years, my overall vote goes for the 355. There are things I miss about the 348, mainly the direct steering feel, but the 355 handles better.


As to your question: finding a good ealry model 355 is not that hard. There are some out there that have had the valve guides, replaced headers etc. When looking for mine, I wanted a car that had those issues resolved and it had to be black on black. It took me a month, I looked seriously at three cars and bought one. It wasn't the prettiest but a couple of interior pieces is a lot easier to handle than a valve guide job. Maintenance wise I've spent the same amount of money on both in the same time of ownership.

find a car with records, have a good ppi done including a leak down, you should be fine. If you drive both, and can afford either the acceleration of the 355 should win you over. I like em both but prefer the 355. I do miss my first ferrari.

edit: the 355 was a huge improvement over the 348, read some of the old reviews. The 355 came out to universal praise. The 360 is an improvement over the 355, but the gap is not as great as the 348 vs. 355.

 

wow, 348sstb's post is a sobering one. The ideal 355 then should have valve guides done, exhaust manifolds, headers and catalytic converters all replaced.......and all by aftermarket parts as the factory ones suck? Is this the case on just the earlier cars or all of them from 95 through 99? Are the exhaust manifolds, cats and headers like the valve guide problem , as in it happens to some but not all, or this a problem with them all at about a certain mileage? At some point do these parts have to be replaced on ALL 355's at some point in its life?

If these problems were all solved by 98 or 99 then it would be common sense to pay the extra and buy one of those unless you could find an earlier model with receipts proving all this work needed has been done. I'm amazed this wasn't a factory recall, especially if you are talking engine rebuilds.

No wonder you see so many 355's not moving in the market, how many of these cars have had all this work done? Not many I'd guess, and the ones that have, the price will refelct it or the owners are keeping hold of them as they have too much in the car to sell it. If you were to pay 90k for a super nice 98 355 with low mileage (plenty of them about) and you assume its all stock you'd be better waiting a year or 18 months and getting the 360 as you'd be looking at sinking in a similar amount into a 355 over time?

This has nothing to do with being able to afford one, there is different level of ownership of a Ferrari, most people expect to sink alot more money into them than a Toyota but an engine rebuild is a different story, along with other major parts that need to be replaced it sounds like. This isnt dogging the 355, I've drove one and loved it, I, like other people, are looking for one but just trying to do as much research as possible, I could afford a 20k engine rebuild plus parts etc, if I really needed to, but I'd rather not, no matter how rich I am.

 

The valve guides issue was addressed at the factory at some point during the 1998 model year.

That is, some of the earlier 1998 355s still have the "bad" valve guides. Apparently, any car before assembly # 27869 has the old valve guides.

Read up:
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=134539482&postcount=20

Now, regardless of year, all 355s are susceptible to problems with the headers, the exhaust manifolds, and the catalytic converters.

If I were buying a 355, I would make a pre-emptive strike in all of these areas. Thus I'd be shelling out about $10,000--which would probably make the deal not worth it for me.

I hope this answers your questions.

 

I find this thread fasinating and figure I probably shouldn't ever buy either of these cars. But that's not the goal, is it?

Please forgive me for hijacking the thread but does anyone have an opinion on a similar comparison of a 348 to a same year Mondial? Since they have the same engine and it appears that the 348's problems lie elsewhere, is it fare to assume that the Mondial may be more reliable as it has had many more years to rectify its issues?

 

The 348s and the Mondial Ts are virtually the same car--just different bodies. The have the same mechanical and electronic components. They both are susceptible to the same problems.

The problem with these cars is electronic: they have a Bosch Motronic Injection Sytsem that controls the engine--the system was brand new at the time. The system has various electronic control units (ECUs). These ECUs have all kinds of sensors, and the sensors are the problem. Any given sensor has a propensity to send the wrong signal either because it's defective (either from tampering or simply from age), it is connected too loosely, or because the connection itself is dirty.

These electrical issues aren't as big of a problem as other people (i.e., non-348 owners) would have you believe. Read up on some old threads here on FerrariChat and you'll find some first-hand testimony and good debate.

 

Yes, your answers were a great help 348sstb and straight the point. Something all potential 355 owners should know. If these problems are so well known and the question "what do I look for when buying a 355" keeps coming up, instead of answering "search the archives", maybe a sticky would help everybody with the facts concerning this model? It would stop annoying the people that have been on the board a long time from the same questions/issues coming up again and again.

It has not put me off a 355, but I'd like to now get one with all the problems solved, thats a long shot I think for my budget but I'll keep looking, or now I'm more open to the idea of a 348 SS if one ever comes up in the colour I'm looking for. Either that or wait another 12-18 months for a 360 without the headaches. I just can't see me buying a 85k car knowing I have 10k in replacement aftermarket parts to search for and replace otherwise my engine may fail. If i wanted to start upgrading parts here and there I'd buy a Toyota Supra Turbo.

I emailed a dealer this morning about a 355 asking if the exhaust manifold, cats and headers had been replaced. "Its a very clean car" was the reply.

Maybe a 95, 96 that has a few more miles on it for 65k-75k if it has had all the issues dealt with is a better option than a garage queen 97, 98 or 99 that still needs everything done for 85k -95k.

 

348sstb: Thanks for the reply.

I agree, a sticky listing each model's (308 forward) major conserns might be worth while. As newbie, there's nothing worse than being told you've brought up an ancient topic. It takes a while to learn how to work these forums to their fullest potential and I appologize if I appear naive sometimes.