348 Vs.... Testarossa!

Neither car has power steering?

The TR has a 12 cylinder engine, the 348 an 8 cylinder.

The 348 has factory models that let you remove the top (TS) or put it entirely down (Spider).

The 348 Competizione LM's raced at LeMans.

ABS on *all* 348 years.

 

Test drove the 348 (brand new) in 93 and settle to buy the Lotus Esprit S4 ... and proud of it since.
Test drove the 348 again in 2004 and settle to buy the Tesstarossa... and proud of it since.

The Tesstarossa accelerates faster and faster in top speed and louder. The heritage of the flat 12.... But, it's big and much harder to handle. Backing up to park is a real hassle. maneuver is harder to do than the 348. tracking is all for 348. and of course bigger bill for maintainance.... I went for the Testarossa mainly and solely for the drop dead gorgeous body of the Testarossa... and proud of it since.

I guess its all for each individual taste.... chiken and egg topic, imo.

 

I love my 348, but would also love to have a Testarossa in the driveway. They are gorgeous. Maybe one day I can own both.

 

Yup. They went to 8 throttle bodies instead of 2, plus they modified the fuel-air maps and spark advance on the 348's Motronic 2.7 ecu's.

They replaced the 348 axle half-shafts with the lighter-weight F-40 half-shafts so as to improve the hp that made it to the ground, too.

Along with a race exhaust, of course.

 

Yeap, what he said! And that bold part is why I got a 348 over the Tesstarossa. But ever since a a boy I wanted a Tesstarossa. Im more happy with a 348.

 

Yes, just move to the states, your money goes further on ferrari's.

 

i think these two are totally different. the similarities are only skin deep. the testarossa does not handle like a V8 model. the V8s are more driveable around town, feel lighter, and easier to parallel park! i can only say drive one of each to get an idea of what each car is like (i'm not so good at describing). each model is better at different things.

john

 

....well i bought the 348 ONLY because the Testerossa was too wide for my garage..LOL

 

Anyone driving a 348 and used to its balance, weight and proportions will be dramatically shocked by the TR. I thought I wanted one then drove it. OMIGOD, what a pig! Heavy, hard to manouver at low speed, and huge huge huge. Accelerates faster than a 348 Spider? Poppycock, I say! Now, once u r at cruising speed and hit the warp drive in the TR, it's bu-bye...

 

Exactly, that is correct, I've owned both and the TR was a much heavier feeling car than the 348, except at higher speeds. The TR is made to go 180 MPH on a long stretch while the 348 is more of a short track car. I also thought my 348 was louder (with a Tubi) than my TR (with a Steebro), but that's probably because the 348 was an open top. All in all, both cars are amazing, and the TR is such a presence on the road, who cares if it's heavy!!!!

 

Both the TR and the 348 were on my short list of potential cars when I was buying. I would have been glad to buy either one, but a good 348 was available first, so that is what I bought. To me the TR photographs better, but the 348 is very attractive in person. My dad had an 86 TR when it was new, and I thought the car drove great (but I was 18 at the time). The 348 is much more twitchy at very high speeds, but much easier to drive around town. Also, I believe the maintenance and repair on a 348 typically is less expensive. While the TR is the original production chees grater model, some literature shows a 348 study with the same treatment well before the TR came out.

BT

 

I could almost buy a Testarossa AND a 348 over in the US for the money I paid for mine here.

 

The Testarossa was the first road Ferrari to be developed in the wind tunnel. The "cheese graters" were function of regulations for road cars (?euro or us?). With the radiators on the side, the openings were restricted to a certain size, hence the slats.

I know someone will argue, but in the 1/4 mile at Joliet Speedway,IL I was able to take a testarossa with my 348 in the 1/4 mile more than once.

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I believe it! Of course had the track gone a little further where the TR could stretch its long legs, u would have been passed. I was thinkning that doing multiple drag runs in a TR is going to get expensive when that famously weak differential breaks.

 

I had a TR it was a Rocket Ship to drive / hard to steer in parking lot but worth the thrill in a straight line on the highway / now have 348 ts / smooth / easier to drive and well satisfiying.....Oh but the sound of a v12....I think Enzo still hears the sound in his sleep

 

Ditto

 

I think if you love a 348 then you also love a Testarossa. They go hand in glove. A 348 is just a scaled down version of a Testarossa, if you know what I mean. I think that the side cheese grates on each model are the definitive answer to their unique and appealing looks, making them instantly recognisable World-wide as a Ferrari no matter what colour they are (Miami Vice also helped to publicise the cheese grate Ferrari look). Forza 348 and Testarossa alike.

 

Only in appearance. Believe me, drive them both. It is very eye-opening. Darty sports car --- Heavy highway blitzerwagen.

 

Yep, exactly what they said. Own both. I think the 512tr was improved for handling/feel. The 348 handles better, the tr travels better. The tubi sounds like a f1 car on the 348 and the most incredible sound on the tr.

Jeff Pintler
89 348tb, 86 tr