Page 124 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

The 348 and F355 both require an engine-out belt service at regular intervals; exhaust manifolds are prone to cracking.
375 horsepower compared to the 316 horses of the final year 348. The F355’s six-speed manual transmission was soon joined by the first of the F1 twin-clutch automatics. Together with a revised chassis, the F355 would achieve 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds, and the quarter-mile in 13 seconds. It’s no wonder that the press loved it and buyers flocked to Ferrari showrooms to lay down deposits. More than 25 years later, the F355 is still a mainstay of Ferrari clubs and reasonably affordable supercar performance.
that Montezemolo’s insistence on a better car saved Ferrari as a company entirely.
The F355 is not without its share of problems, though they’re far fewer and less serious than the 348’s issues. Exhaust headers have been prone to cracking and are expensive to replace, and the electrical gremlins of 1990s cars are still present and working their nefarious evils on the car’s nervous system. The Spiders are known to have issues opening and closing the top. But overall, if you have a choice of comparably priced older Ferraris, you want the F355, and you still want the newest, best-documented, most religiously maintained F355 you can find. The adage about
The F355 Spider came along in 1997, giving buyers in Los
Angeles and Miami just the car they wanted. Overall, any
F355 was guaranteed to be fast, nimble, and sexy, setting the
standard for mid-engine Ferraris since that time. It’s possible spending more to spend less still holds.
The Knowledge
dThe Ferrari 348 was the first of the mid-engine V8 Ferraris to place the engine longitudinally in the chassis, pushing the cabin forward and enabling a transverse rear- mounted transaxle and differential.
dAll Ferrari 348 models come with a five-speed manual transmission.
dEarly (1989-1992) 348 models offer 296 horsepower and 238 lb ft of torque. Late 1993-1995 models offer 316 horsepower and 238 lb ft of torque.
dAlways check maintenance history and especially look for any engine or driveline maintenance that has been deferred. Scheduled maintenance on a 348 is expensive and owners who know they will be selling the car soon have an incentive to let the buyer bear that expense. Not only is the expense of the service pending, but mechanical failures due to deferred maintenance can increase costs dramatically.
dThe F355 increased displacement to 3.5 liters by extending the crank stroke by two millimeters. With improvement engine management and five valves per cylinder, power output was 375 horsepower and 268 lb ft of torque.
dF355 models use a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed F1 twin-clutch automatic.
dIf buying an F355 Spider, check top operation and fitment before purchase.
dMaintenance history is just as important in an F355 as with any other Ferrari, and do be sure to have the exhaust headers checked for cracks.
d1995-1999 F355 models were subject to a factory recall in 2009 for potential fuel system leaks in the engine bay. Do check to be sure this factory update was applied to any car subject to the recall.
122Wayne CariniAffordable Classics