VehiGAZ

A question for you F-car owners, current and former...

Is there a particular 1980's - 1990's Ferrari model that can be bought for under $50k or so that will offer performance comparable to a 928? Before you start in, I know that they are apples and oranges. They go about their jobs very differently, and they are not directly comparable, etc, etc, blah, blah...

Nevertheless, I'd consider an affordable Ferrari that will not feel disappointing to drive compared to my 928. It should be reasonable to maintain (from a 928 owner's perspective), so no imported-air-in-the-tires requirements, and if it's available as a spyder, that would be plus.

I know that the 928 is the undisputed bargain of former supercars, and I won't get the same kind of bang-for-the-buck in a Ferrari, but that's OK. I'm cool with paying the F-car premium since it's pretty safe money, at least over the course of a couple of years of ownership.

Let the mass-debate begin...

Randy V

Is this a rhetorical question, GAZ?

Cue Olson and his popcorn.

Rob Edwards

My opinion is a strictly unqualified one, having never driven an F-car, but the $50K purchase price limits you to the following cars: 308, 328, 348, 355, 412, and (maybe) 456. Of those, at $50K you'd be pushing it to get a 355, and in spyder form the best candidate would be a 348. Based on my superficial reading of Fchat, it seems that the 348 has the best DIY following, and falls in the sweet spot of 300+ hp, pre-OBD1, and without the valve guide/header issues of the 355. A 456 would definitely be more 928ish in the driving experience, but why would you do that ? If I bought one, I'd expect red, high-strung, and That Sound. Apparently the auto tranny on the 456 is the big killer- not 'cause it's inherently bad, just that failure will total the car, as replacements are breathtaking.

OTOH, Sheehan's column in SCM this month says the best '90's Ferrari to buy for the long haul is a 550. 12 cylinders or walk.....

blown 87

Good luck with your search.

MGW-Fla

I've always longed for a 328, but figure its about a third of what a 928 is!

VehiGAZ

That depends on the answer Randy!

Please don't move me to OT or elsewhere. I'm looking specifically for the 928 owner's perspective - the one that understands that the first car in the manufacturer's brochure is not necessarily the best one.

I came across a listing for a Ferrari 348 TS nearby that got me figuring...

300 hp/3100 lbs*$40k = 1 buttload of fun!!

john bono

Have you taken a look at F40 motorsports? They're close by, and they seem to have a few ferraris there. No idea as to maintenance reqs, but they have a couple of testarossas there for around 55k. They have couple of other models in that range too, but I think the TR would probably have performance more in line what you are looking for, but I'm no ferrari expert, so YMMV.

Mongo

1995 355 Berlinetta would do just that. Only year to have dual MAF's and individual throttle bodies to my knowledge.

pcar928fan

In your price range only the 348 and 456 would give you close to the same performance level as an S4 or newer. Each of those would out perform an S or OB (though it would be close if the 928 were an S3). The 456 is so much like a 928 and so much more to maintain why bother. The 348 is DOG UGLY so why bother...also pretty damn expensive to maintain. As I understand it you damn near have to pull the motor to just put in a new battery... That may just be urban legend though.

Before I got to your $50k requirement my thought was 360...but a GOOD 360 would be tough to find for $50k. Not impossible and it would have a lot of miles on it but maybe that is best anyway! The 456 should be easy to find in that price range, but again, why bother?!

So, that leaves the 308's and 328's...neither of which will pin you to your seat but BOTH are attractive and will offer a completely different driving experience. Buy one right and you will probably get a great car that needs little maintenance in the near future (a GOOD THING) but in the long run might well continue to be expensive to operate. Oh, Mark...care to jump in here.

Like many others on RL I have been an F-chat member for a long time and I follow the 412, 456, 360 sections pretty regularly.

Gaz. just looked back at your sig, you will be hard pressed to find an F-car under $50k that will out do your '89 GT! I don't think you can find a nice 355 for $50k, but all lux items have taken a BEATING over the last year(s) (as have our 928's) so you might just get lucky...the 355 is a decent looking F-car too. It is no 360 or 456 (maybe the best looking of the modern F-cars...it or the 599 GTO), but not a bad looking car.

VehiGAZ

C'mon Greg! I know you have more to say than that bit of polite sarcasm!!

VehiGAZ

Um, actually I think the 456 is dog-ugly and I quite like the look of the 348 TS. To each their own, I guess.

I wouldn't bother with a 308, but a later-model 328 would be worth driving.

Like many others on RL I have been an F-chat member for a long time and I follow the 412, 456, 360 sections pretty regularly.

It wouldn't have to beat the GT - it just has to be a worthy alternative to it... offering the look, the drive, and the sweet, sweet F-car sounds will be enough.

RyanPerrella

IVE ALWAYS AGREED WITH THIS!

550 does it for me, you can find good ones for $70K

This is an insanely fast car, and was voted best handling car, over the mid engines 355, I think that was in a Top Gear issue

VehiGAZ

I have - they have a nice-looking 348 and a sweet 328 GTS there (both with cream interiors!). But I don't know squadoosh about most of the lineup.

VehiGAZ

Oh, yes! That would do the trick nicely! More power, less weight, and a hot body... and they are available for less than $50k too.

pcar928fan

Gaz,

You LIKE the 348? That is a poor man's Testa and neither have aged well IMHO...and in the opinion of most F-car buys as they really saw prices fall over the years. Though the performance of either (and the cost of maintenance) can't be denied!

I also agree w/ Ryan...550's are a bang for the buck bargain! That said, I have sat in several (and 575's both just to sit as well as instruct) and I have YET to sit in one with comfortable seats! My 928 seats fit PERFECTLY, the 360's I have been in fit perfectly, the 456's yup, very comfortable...EVERY 550/575 has been like a torture rack! I have NO IDEA what it is with me and those seats but they don't fit me at all. I would have expected that from the 360's and the smaller F-cars but really was surprised by this w/ the 550/575.

Great buys out there on the 550's but not sure they are in the $50k range yet...at least not for one you would want to own anyway!