chopper

I wondered if anyone has knowledge of whether this marque will survive quite happily parked on the street ie no garage or am I inviting problems with rain, electrics etc.

The model is question is either a 348 GTS or F355

Thanks

Reffro

I've seen a few Ferrari's that were parked on the the street, and I hate to say none of them were in decent condition. I wouldn't say its a complete no-no, but Ferrari's are bought and sold on their condition, this would seem to easiest way to lose a shed load of cash. Not worth the trouble really, the money you would have lost in depreciation would be better spent in having the car garaged.

TelBoy

I know someone who kept a 348 on the street in London for a couple of years.

It didn't get vandalised, surprisingly, but the elements and people brushing the bumpers when parking all took their toll. Ferrari bodywork at the end of the day is just like any other, and will suffer the same way, though there's a lot you can do to try and minimise the effects. My biggest worry though would be waking up to find a key mark right down the side - it has to be a very high risk...talking of which - would your insurance company like the idea of roadside parking? Doubtful...

Terry

paulr

Agree with Terry,vandalism would be my biggest worry,depending of course where you live.

RichiW

Its Italian, not designed for this country in the first place, and certainly not designed to stay outside 24/7 ....unfortunatley

Rich.

chopper

I had my P1 vandalised in a B&Q carpark in Essex a few months ago, but in 13 years, there has been no crime (burglaries/car) on my street in Barnes, so I'm not worried about that. I accept slight door dents and parking idiots - that's London, but am more worried by reliability if left out in the British weather. I guess I still remember my MGB failing when it was <4'C and wonder if the rarri is equally surceptible to environmental conditions.

Do these things NEED a garage??

alistair

I think the fact that you're asking the question means that deep down you know the answer..........

RON

Surely the depreciation would be more than the cost of renting a garage for it! Can't be more then £20-30 a week in London!

Stephen Read

Renting a garage in Barnes for £30 per week! You'd be lucky! Some garages sell for more than the national average price for a house in the smarter areas of London!

5 years ago, I used to see a street parked 456 in South Kensingtion all the time and a few 355's parked outside, generally on private land.

I don't think that a well maintained late 90's car would be too much trouble on the electrical front.

Just try to find a street with rubber kerbs!

TelBoy

Chopper,

I was just thinking though, how come a 348 is in the same thought process as a 355? To me that's a no-brainer, like comparing a Mitsubishi Carisma with an Evo 7.
If you've never been in a 348 in the wet, do so before you sign the cheque - a Ferrari badge doesn't make up for every shortfall in a car...

Terry

carl

That analogy is just plain wrong. It's more like comparing an Evo 4 to an Evo 5 -- the 348 is just the earlier model. Have you driven both?

TelBoy

Carl,

Yes, but a 348 in the wet, a 355 in the dry. If the 355 is as bad in the wet as a 348 then i'd be very disappointed.
But i'd also draw the comparison on styling terms as well - to me a 355 has completely different road presence. 348's just don't do it for me, along with Mondials and 308 GT4's.

chopper

I agree they are very different cars - but I like the lines of the 348 - sort of mini testarossa with a very similar side profile to the 355 (just take away the vents). My logic is simply that for 50% of the cost of a 355, I get substantially more than 50% of the enjoyment/noise/performance. The GTS version has better suspension, more power and may be a handful in the wet, but what do you expect with 320 bhp RWD!

Adam M

there is no 348 gts, the 348 was available in TS and TB models.

I have driven a LHD 348 and a RHD 355, both TB/GTB and from behind the wheel there is no comparison.

The 355 is in a different league, and dont believe the engine noise of the 348 comes close. It doesnt.

Visually the 348 looks like a poor mans exntrane into ferrari ownership, whereas now even the 355 is the educated buyers choice, as most fanatics prefer it to the 360. I certainly do.

they say teh 355 is supposed to be the first everyday ferrari, not sure I agree with this, but where I live, you certainly see them everyday, and often parked outside on driveways! You can always buy a proper cover if you are really worried.

BTW. the paintworrk is not like any other cars, it is worse. Ferrari paintwork leaves a lot to be desired.

In short, I will be contemplating the same as you one day, but in my mind, like with the 22B, I will be forced to forget about the money tied up in the car and remember the reason I bought it.

and be prepared fopr some massive servicing builds unless you know a competant unofficial ferrari mechanic.

chopper

Interesting comments Adam. It seems a lot of people out there don't rate the 348 for various reasons.

One thing I beg to differ on though - they did make a GTS and GTB version in 93, just before the spider came out. Check any Ferrari database (eg www.carsfromitaly.com/ferrari/index.html) on the web and you'll see this model - it was improved from the std TS in key areas. Obviously still not a 355 though.

I guess it boils down to budget and personal taste. It's a strange world we live in when a 30k car is considered poor man's fodder!

Neil Smalley

This months Evo mag has a used buyers guide for these models..

RichB

yours for £32995 or...

for £38995 or

for £48995

Never driven them but on looks the 355 doesn't win by much...

chopper

Hi RichB - you must be of Forza288 - I've already considered the red spider and must admit, looking at the pics on your website it's pretty tempting. Perhaps you could e-mail me mileage and service history to adi_mitchell@hotmail.com

Thanks

RichB

Chopper, not me but a friend . I will try and find out though...

RichB

chopper you have mail

TopBanana

I reckon the F355 looks loads better. Those testarossa-style slats on the doors are so 80s!

CrisPDuk

Yeah, but apart from the slats & the rear lights, which are both personal taste, there is very little to choose between the two, stylewise. I personally wouldn't turn my nose up at either.

CrisPDuk

But then again I own (& cherish) a 4x4 Sierra, so who am I to judge on styling

chopper

Well on Sat I am going to test a 348 GTS with bankers draft in pocket and I don't really care what anyone anti 348 thinks. I personally am infatuated with the noise, looks and genre of the marque, have considered the 355 but would rather put the extra 20k to a new flat in London for profit and enjoy a 348, so won't be swayed by negative comments by would be Ferrari owners...

The P1 cost me 10k in 9 months so I don't really care about the so-called money drain (I'm used to it!) - it is much the same for Lotus V8, porsche 911 etc (from experience) and I *do* like the side vents....blah! . Come on guys, it's not such a bad car for feel good on a weekend... I've done the megafast track day now and want just a smile on my face.....If a bloke wants a Ferrari once in his life??

DavidBrown

But surely TS = GTS ? With TS being Targa and TB being Berlinetta ?

Unlike your average car, it's common for Ferraris to be resprayed frequently throughout their lives.

Show me any owner of a F355 who hasn't had the rear buttresses resprayed and I'll show you a liar. When I saw my first 2yr old F355 with corroded buttresses I was appalled, but found out that they all do it, without exception.

The same goes for the front end, being so low and with very soft paint, they're resprayed as a matter of course.

So I wouldn't worry to much about the effects of the elements or curious passers by, the car's going to be resprayed anyway.

Not sure I'd leave my F355 in the street though, purely from a theft point of view.

The F355 is significantly better than a 348 not only in appearance, but in handling + performance, and will probably depreciate less. To me, the 348 is a "poor mans"/"wannabe" Ferrari, and any buyer will be constantly reminded of this. I'd rather get a LHD F355 than a RHD 348

Would-be owner ??


[Edited by DavidBrown - 5/30/2002 12:35:54 AM]

RichB

Chopper, You coming down to Dorset then on Saturday?

ianc

Basically, 348 or 355, spend as much as you can afford and keep a huge budget for repairs. Keeping it in dry conditions will help.

I know someone that is looking at the sharp end of a £12k bill for a new gearbox on a 348, and believe me that is not the first thing he has had to replace. It's a very very nice car, but if every month something major needs replacing, I think the attraction soon wavers.

IC

DavidBrown

2 words : Ferrari Warranty.

It costs a Ferrari dealer £1000 to add a years warranty to a F355, and that will therefore be added to the purchase price.. but it's definitely worth it for the peace of mind. They ain't cheap when they go wrong.

chopper

*Sigh*, I'm not sure why it's so difficult for people to understand.

Ferrari made a TS, TB, GTS, GTB and Spider variant of the 348. Plus a whole host of special editions on top of those 5. As I said before, do a search on Google and it will very quickly become apparent that I am not creating these models out of cuckooland (David and Adam...)

btw - if you think a 355 has soft paint, check out the lower lip on a P1. Has more chips than your local fish shop.

Rich - not going down to dorset until I've driven one in London first, to assess whether all this negative feedback is indeed true or false.