Whole heartedly agree....I bought mine to drive it, not to stare at it parked in the garage....also, I didn't buy it to profit from it, that's what real estate is for...the "profiting" I receive from my 348 are the endless smiles it gives me each time I look at it and drive it
348 owners should feel fine. With the glut of used 360s and F430s on the market, the mantle of "entry level Ferrari" will soon pass.
If you look at performance, panache, and intangibles, the best sports car bargains now would be the 348, Turbo Esprit, and XK 8. Any I missed?
Great attitude! Personally, as someone trying to get into one, I'd like to see prices depressed - though I realise that some owners looking for a change might equate that to me wishing them financial loss (sorry guys!). I do worry a little bit about the goal posts moving if more people realise how fantastic a car the 348 is and sale prices perk up. It'd make it easier for me buy one if the prices stay low and I wouldn't care about any potential investment opportunity as I plan on driving it often. All the best, Andrew.
I am sure no likes to make a bad investment. These guy that complain probably conn their wives into believing that they made a wise investment. Well, a ferrari is an investment just like enron and Freddie mac is an investment. Come on, Man up and just say Fu** it! I'm gettin a Ferrari and there's nothing you can do about it! (woman) (you might as well have some fun with it.)
Ditto on the Turbo Esprit! I have an '87 and it certainly does fit the criteria of what you described. However, I simply MUST have a 348 or a carbed 308 at some point in addition to the Lotus. Saving up now....
Small thread hijack here, but ... Happy w/ the lotus? I do believe that your year is the last of the Guigiaro pure wedge shaped cars ... with injection, right? Great cars!
I really am happy with it. Always liked them as a kid and just had to have one. Huinted around a while - much like a Ferrari you really need to be patient and find the right car that was owned by the right owner and when you do - pounce on it! It is the final year of the angular, Giugiaro design and yes it does have Bosch injection. Its also got the HC engine and euro cams for more power and torque. The car has been really good to me. However, Im not "done" yet. I simply MUST have a Ferrari too. The 308 was always my favorite but the 348's are growing on me and they are available for reasonable prices right now and might stay thsat way for a while. Just think - for about $55K or so, I could have both of my childhood dream cars and Im just a working stiff. Aint America great? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yep - Fikse profil 10's. 17". Stock wheels were only 15"(remember when those were considered big?) and ironically I have way more & cheaper tire choices with these different wheels. They look era correct too, which is cool. Wouldnt the Esprit look great next to a 348 in black or yellow? Ive shown the old lady pics of the 348 just to get her warmed up to the idea....
I agree with you Mike. Always loved the "G" Bodied Lotus Esprit's! We had a 1978 Series 1. Always wanted to get an '86 or '87 Turbo Esprit, but ended up getting a Lamborghini Jalpa instead (since sold and now have a Countach). Here is a shot of my old Lotus Image Unavailable, Please Login
Funny you mention the Jalpa! Thats another one of my 70's/80's favs. Those are even harder to find than a good Esprit. Was that a good car? Just curious how they are to live with. The good old S1 - in black too which is a great color for them.
I loved the Jalpa and still do...the first time I saw one was in Rocky 2.....I actually thought of buying that instead of a 348 but couldn't find one for sale at the time. Mike, was it a good car to own? ~ Mario
Mario & Mike: Yep, it was fantastic!!! I owned it from 2002 until 2009 when I had Roy Cats (Cats Exotics) sell it and my 2002 Maserati GT Coupe. I took the money from both of those sales and put it with another stash and found my Countach out in New Haven, CT. I've owned that for 2 1/2 years now. LOVE IT!!! I found the Jalpa's exhaust to be amazing!!! That 3.5 litre V8 really puts out a growl under full throttle acceleration! I really had no problems at all to speak of. It always started, ran like a charm and didn't cause me any grief! If I had one area that caused me the most problems, were the brake boosters. I had an early version of the Jalpa (#71 out of the 410 they built), so mine was equipped with twin boosters (one behind each headlamp). These are the same Benditalia boosters that came on the 60's Alfa Romeo's. Even after having them rebuilt, they still didn't work correctly, so I just plugged off the vacuum assist and "man handled the car" old school without power assist. ;-) Here is a shot of both my old "toys" and the new "toy". Mike Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Awesome pictures..... I know what you mean about the growl....my 348 is awesome too.... I have read such horror stories about the Countach, the drive, maintenance, heat in the cabin.....how is she? ~ Mario
It's not as bad as people say it is. but, one thing I will say is the cabin does get hotter than all get out when the ambient temperature outside is hotter than 70°. it gets unbearable inside the cockpit. I need to get my A/C recharged and that will help some. When it gets hotter than 80° outside, when I pull up to a stoplight I'll actually raise up the driver side door to let the heat out and let some cool air in. You got to love exotic cars!!! Mike
Thats pretty common for mid-engined exotics when its hot out: The driver overheats faster than the car will
REALLY??? You open the door??? whoa....people must think WTF is he doing??? Do you drive her is 90°-95° temps? ~ Mario