The Ferrari 348 met stiff competition when it was initially released, which has left it forgotten by many. Now it would be a great affordable investment for classic car collectors.
You can't help but wonder how a car that looks so good can be all but forgotten. The Ferrari 348 endured the derision of Ferrari fans who saw the 348 as an inferior cousin to the F355 or 360 Modena. But the
enthusiasts are starting to give this overshadowed car a second look. And what they are finding is that the unappreciated 348 actually deserves much more respect than they first thought.
Why the Ferrari 348 didn't live up to expectations
The Ferrari 348 was originally designed in 1989 to replace the popular Ferrari 308/328 line. It was a hard sell at the time because expectations were high and the competition was stiff. The mid-engine V8 was a victim of unfortunate timing, getting lost between the iconic 308 and later models with higher performance.
The Honda/Acura NSX was introduced to the driving public shortly after the 348 debuted. The Ferrari 348 seemed lackluster when compared to the well-loved Japanese sports car. According to
, a Car and Driver quarter-mile test between the 348 and a GMC Syclone left the Ferrari in the dust.
The car company found itself dealing with unaccustomed criticism of one of its luxury brands. By 1993, Ferrari started updating and tweaking its 348 lineup. But by then, 348 was already doomed to take a back seat to other supercars on the market at that time.
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Despite its less than stellar place in Ferrari's list of supercars, the 348 deserves attention in its own right.
It was first available in both the Coupe TB (Transversale Belinetta) and the Targa TS (Transversale Spider). Ferrari later added the Serie Speciale which juiced up the engine and upgraded the exhaust system.
Only 100 of the Ferrari 348 Serie Speciale were built. Several focused and detailed engineering changes were made then, including optimizing gear ratios for a shorter final drive. This change also reduced the 0-60 acceleration time to a faster 5.3 seconds. For the early 1990s, it was an impressive run.
The Ferrari 348 looks good too. Like the F40, it features matching body-colored bumpers and a similar front splitter. It was also enhanced with new taillights, grilles, and cool leather seats and door panels.
Ferrari continued to add updates to the 348 but it never was able to compete with the powerhouse supercars of its day.
Auto enthusiasts who are looking to add an affordable supercar to their collection need to look no further than the Ferrari 348.
Now that it has come of age, it offers classic car lovers a chance to own a piece of Ferrari history. Its polarized release gives it a unique place in a competitive industry.
It is especially attractive to those who don't mind putting a little extra effort into the maintenance it will likely require. The Ferrari 348's complex mechanical system is known for requiring regular overhauls and frequent tweaking.
Finding a Ferrari 348 in the major marketplaces might prove to be a challenge. It is not considered the best in turnover investment, unlike the 328 and 355. Still, it allows drivers the opportunity to hit the road Ferrari-style and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.
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