Faults:

Alternator went at 12,550 miles!

Catalytic converters went at 13,000 miles!

Dash and console had to be re-painted; got sticky!

Doors tinny and handle cables slip off pulleys!

New leather at 13,500 miles!

Lower front-end spoiler cut back 1" to avoid constant cracking of fiberglass.

General Comments:

White from factory. A red one painted over!

Grabs the road, but engine torque is so great the rear end slips out off the line.

A real man's car. Last of the street/racers! Now with power steering as standard for those lady folk !Better know how to drive it, or a tree or pole will wrap itself around you.

Faults:

Poor design on the seals around the top of the windows... they leak furiously... always carry towels in the rainy season. The Ferrari mechanic tells me that all Targa-top 348's leak this way. The Berlinetta is a better design and does not do this.

The rubberized coating used on the dash/center console/door handles deteriorates and gets sticky after five or eight years. It comes off on your hands and clothes.

General Comments:

This is a beautiful car, and is a lot of fun to drive. It will not accelerate as fast as any of the later Vettes, and is not as comfortable inside. If you are over 5' 10", you will have to recline the seat to have headroom.

Mileage is better than you think... about 22 MPG on the highway. This is hardly enough to make up for the ridiculous maintenance costs.

You cannot drive this car without scraping the front valence on the pavement. Anytime you encounter a swale you must turn at an angle to avoid destroying it.

Faults:

I had to replace the brake rotors and pads, cost $1000.

I had to replace the rear tires, $300 a piece.

I broke a shift fork in the transmission which cost $2500 to repair.

I had to replace the rubber seals for the doors and Targa top to stop the water leaks, cost $1000.

I had a very difficult time getting the car to pass an emissions inspection.

General Comments:

This is without a doubt the most unbelievable car I have ever owned. The cars performance is the stuff legends are made of.

I have personally driven the car at 160 MPH without it even skipping a beat. At that speed the car handles the road better than my I30 did at 70 MPH.

It goes around a turn like it is glued to the pavement. The steering and suspension are so tight you can feel the car hit a pebble in the road.

The cars acceleration from a standing stop is amazing. Its acceleration on the highway is even more amazing.

Most people would probably hate this car. There is nothing soft or smooth about this car. It is not a luxury car like most people think, it is a performance car. Everything about it is hard and tight. It has very few options or accessories, and is not particularly comfortable on a long drive. The car does not even have cruise control. It is hard to get in and out of because it sits so low to the ground. The clutch is heavy and not easy to let out smoothly. Steering is manual as are the brakes and transmission.

Anyone who can appreciate the performance of this car will fall instantly in love with it as I did. There is nothing like a Ferrari. The looks you get at a stop light are pretty nice to. This car is my daily driver and I cannot imagine driving anything else!

Faults:

The seats tend to wear as a result of the tight entry into the cockpit.

General Comments:

The car is fun to drive and the other people on the road really appreciate the opportunity to view the car.

I first test drove this model car at Luxtrans Rentals in the Bay Area California. They rent Ferrari's and other Exotic cars so you can experience what it is like to drive such a machine.