My Audi S4 - 5 yr update and guess what I will buy next?

[ARMAN]

Woooohooow! 348 is a great choice Sameer! I love the 328 looks its priceless but I never seen one in my life so cannot compare, 348 looks more like 355 wich is much yonger looks forsure
Did Jabba also had 348 sme time ago?

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by pterps Originally Posted by TopGearNL There's a yellow 348 Competizione for sale at my local Fiat dealer Autohuis vd Voorde? Or is it in R-dam?

Jep Peter thats the one, Autohuis vd Voorde

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40799

[TT]

Good news!!! Can't wait for you to find one!!

[acmarttin]

Are you going to have it as a daily driver or a weekend warrior?

[pterps]

Originally Posted by TopGearNL Originally Posted by pterps Originally Posted by TopGearNL There's a yellow 348 Competizione for sale at my local Fiat dealer Autohuis vd Voorde? Or is it in R-dam? Jep Peter thats the one, Autohuis vd Voorde http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40799

I don't wanna spoil everything, but that isn't a 348 challenge, the owner of this car wanted to give his 348 a 355 look. The rear lights of this car are in 355 style, the owner also mounted a F355 berlinetta plate on the back of this car.



So please don't spoil your new car like this Sameerrao! And good luck with finding a nice 348.

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by pterps Originally Posted by TopGearNL Originally Posted by pterps Originally Posted by TopGearNL There's a yellow 348 Competizione for sale at my local Fiat dealer Autohuis vd Voorde? Or is it in R-dam? Jep Peter thats the one, Autohuis vd Voorde http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40799 I don't wanna spoil everything, but that isn't a 348 challenge, the owner of this car wanted to give his 348 a 355 look. The rear lights of this car are in 355 style, the owner also mounted a F355 berlinetta plate on the back of this car. So please don't spoil your new car like this Sameerrao! And good luck with finding a nice 348.

I really thought it was a competizione, mind you I didn't see the back

But giving a car another look deliberately is very ugly IMO :x

[RC45]

Originally Posted by sameerrao Originally Posted by supercarfreak according to your last clues i'll take a couple of wild guesses - ferrari 348 or NSX? Yes to the former. It was tough deciding between a 328 and 348 as they were both in my budget for very similar prices. The 328 has the classical Ferrari looks with the signature tail lights, 288 GTO dials, fantastic reliability, gokart like handling but is a bit weak performance-wise and doesnt have the Ferrari engine sound that I wanted. The 348 fights back with more power, better grip, better A/c (useful if this car is to be driven in Houston all year round). As far as engine note is considered, it is in a different ballpark alltogether - far superior. It is more expensive to service and the earlier cars 1989-mid1991 are more troublesome - Ferrari had rushed out this car to combat the NSX which was a class apart from the 328 and the 964. Also the first generation 348 has a snap oversteer tendency. The 91-95 cars are supposed to be more reliable and handle better as well. As far as the looks go - I am not a fan of the rear strakes but the rest of the car looks quite modern. In fact it fools a lot of people into thinking that the car is less than 5 years old rather than its actual age. I am looking for a decent 348 Series Speciale or TB or Challenge. Hopefully I can find one before the year is out. SS - this is my favorite

Greta news there Sameer.. but just so long as you don't turn into one of the "pompous early F-car polishers"..

I mean, once your F-car buddies find out you drive the backroads with Yoda's, Vettes and 240SX's they'll disown you

[supercarfreak]

congrats sameerrao. looks like i was right huh? 8)

throw a tubi on her and she will be done.

[sameerrao]

Thanks for the good wishes guys - owning a Ferrari has always been my boyhood dream. My first sighting of a Testarossa in 1984 at the age of 10 in Saudi Arabia did it for me. I never thought that a car could look so exotic and good. I guess I was hooked then.

Wish me luck that I can find a nice car.
Pterps - nice "GTB". Actually I am getting over the strakes in the rear - it is no longer a big deal for me. Your point of it being a handful is spot on. It is a driver's car that forces you to take it by the scruff of its neck and drive it. The lack of powersteering will make it a definite workout for my bony self.

Dani - Well buying a house earlier this year caused me to stop collecting scale models. The Ferrari wasn't even a thought in my mind till 2 weeks back.

TopgearNL - The competizione is a Europe only model - a relatively similar model is the 348 Series Speciale which has a mite more power and few cosmetic and handling related differences from the other 348s. I believe only 100 were sold in the US as a whole.

Arman - No idea about the big man's wheels before the 355. You are right about the 348 being more modern looking.

acmarttin - Well I intend to drive it at least 2-3 times a week. These cars give the most trouble if they lie unused. But I guess being a Ferrari and something that punks would like to key it or damage it, I cant take it everywhere. Also, the heavy clutch would make it a bad choice if I know I will be facing a lot of stop go traffic.

pterps - No defacation of the car will be tolerated . I want it to look like the 348 and not some other car. The only exception would be to put 355 wheels on it - it makes the car look incredible and younger. But this is not a must have. Cosmetics must come after mechanicals IMO. Minor stuff like drilled aluminum pedals might be on the agenda though - a little bling bling

RC45 - I am researching all the Starbucks facilities in North Houston as we speak - so that I can make a poseur run. The annual JW run will be represented by me and Ferrari. I would need to work up to those speeds though. After all I am moving from an idiot proof AWD car that a monkey can drive fast to a mid engine, rear drive car with more power and no frikkin traction control. it does have ABS though whew!

supercarfreak - Yep you got it son! If I can get a car with a Tubi pre-installed all the better. I dont think I will spend extra cash on this now. Gotta save up for the $$$$ service

[sameerrao]

Interesting point - I had 1100 views on this topic before I introduced the prospect of a new car and suddenly we have 1500+ views - 400 views in 1 day

[Zot09]

Wow great news! The 348 is beauty!

[ARMAN]

Originally Posted by sameerrao Interesting point - I had 1100 views on this topic before I introduced the prospect of a new car and suddenly we have 1500+ views - 400 views in 1 day

LOL and you wonder?

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by sameerrao Interesting point - I had 1100 views on this topic before I introduced the prospect of a new car and suddenly we have 1500+ views - 400 views in 1 day

Thats JW for you

[pzgren]

good news sameerrao! something completely different to your S4. as you know my s4 had to go last year and was replaced by the porsche, also something different. but nice to read that the s4 will stay in your garage

the 348 is really a nice car. i had the chance to have a passenger ride this year and that was real fun. hope you'll find a good one (with lots of equipment included )

looking forward to ready any news in here about your future car!

[RC45]

Originally Posted by sameerrao I dont think I will spend extra cash on this now. Gotta save up for the $$$$ service

This is the reality of the exotic lifestyle Sameer... I hace seen a few cars come through Drivers recently, and it seems many of the "$60,000 entry price" 80's & 90's exotics make up for the "cheap" entry with a relatively pricey annual maintenance regimen.

Looks like you either pay a lot way up front for new with warranty, or much less a decade later with a steady maintenance blood letting.

The bottom line then would be as long as you can afford to keep them clothed and fed, exotics can be great regular toys to pile the miles onto.