Faults:

Like all cars of a certain age, things do go wrong and wear out. The first thing that broke on my 348 was the gear stick clean off at the gate. Being a practical kind of guy, I managed to repair this and made the gear shift shorter (and better) in the process. This cost me nothing except my time to repair.

A rear spring nut broke on me once, but I was pushing the car over rough roads at the time. Repair bill was £299.

I have also had a failed alternator, which was actually replaced by Ferrari themselves in Maranello, and worked out at £300.

Apart from that, nothing has gone wrong, but the car does require some general upkeep and tinkering, most of which I do myself. Of all the cars I have worked on, I must say the Ferrari has been the easiest and the most pleasurable.

General Comments:

I drive this car in Europe every year, clocking up about 3000km every time. She starts every time, and I just love driving her. After 6 years of ownership, I still get very excited taking her out for a spin, and I just love the look of her.

Servicing on the car is around £500, and fuel can top 30mpg on a good run. I have driven her on the German Autobahn exceeding 170mph (I was too scared to actually look at the speedo), and she did feel light, but any car at that speed would.

Handling at speed can be tricky, I admit, but anyone that says it's uncontrollable just can't drive in my opinion. I have driven her for 21,000 kms, and never once come close to losing control.

Sure, the car has its faults, but at the age of 21 she is bound to. I have not lost any money on the car in 6 years, and I have spent £1200 (that's £200 a year!!) in maintenance.

I purchased the 348 as it fitted my budget, and would indeed have a 458 if I could afford it. I still would not sell the 348 though. I have no regrets buying the car, and I look forward too many more years of amazing ownership.

Faults:

Almost everything has gone wrong, and when it does you need to re-mortgage. I don't know why I bothered, it's not even fast, and the handling is dodgy (not fun); there is a difference.

I wouldn't wish a 348 on my worst enemy. Nearly every bit of flimsy plastic has at some point fallen off in the interior, it leaks oil and water, the paint is near to flaking now, even though it's been garaged.

The speedo doesn't work, passenger window doesn't work, air con packed up, carpets get soaked if left in the rain. It WON'T start when it's cold, even when I pray.

There's not enough room in this box to list all of the faults.

General Comments:

Dreadful car, and to top it all, when it runs I generally find that people (quite rightly) think I am a shallow poser, smoking round in a knacky old 2p Ferrari, trying to look as if I have money. Why I thought an early 90s Ferrari could be thought of as a classic, I don't know, it's just a nightmare. I've been trying to sell it to some other poor unfortunate, but most people have sense nowadays, and won't touch it.