Enzo Ferrari said that he was very happy to sit on a committee to agree the design of his Ferraris. But he had two rules: the committee must contain an odd number of members; and that it was to be an odd number less than three.

He cared too much about his cars to let someone else tell him what to do with them.

If you are lucky enough to have £30,000 to spend on a sports car then my advice is don’t buy a new Z4 or a used TVR. Live a little, buy a used Ferrari 348. After all, you can own it for three years and when you sell it you’ll get most of your money back.

The 348 was introduced to Britain in 1989 as a replacement for the very pretty 328. Up on power, the 348 had a 3.4 litre V8 engine producing 300bhp. It immediately became the must-have motor for the yuppie.

In true Ferrari style the car has a five-speed transverse gearbox and limited slip differential. Despite no power steering and a slightly heavy clutch the car comes alive once you’re on the move.

Performance is unlikely to disappoint with 60mph arriving in just over 5sec; let it stretch its legs and it will comfortably hit the 168mph top speed. With performance like that, contact with the road is important. Ferrari recommends that front and rear tyres are replaced at the same time. Rears will last about 6-10,000 miles dependent on driving style; look inside the passenger’s door for a silver sticker that will advise on the correct tyre make and pressures.

Inside a 348 the cabin is pure Ferrari: thin supportive leather seats, alloy gearshift gate and the deeply satisfying view of the prancing horse adorning the steering wheel. The adjustable steering column makes the driving position better than supercars of similar vintage like the Testarossa and Countach.

Early cars came as either coupé (tb) or targa (ts), but in 1993 Ferrari introduced a convertible model, the 348 Spider. For some the manual folding roof detracts from the lines of the car but on a hot day few experiences can be as precious as a blast in an open-top Ferrari.

In 1993 Ferrari boosted power by a further 20bhp on all models and the car’s handling was enhanced with revised suspension telemetry and the relocation of the battery from the rear of the car to inside the front wing.

With no factory options available, all 348s’ specification is consistent, with leather upholstery, air-conditioning and ABS, but don’t expect airbags or power steering.

Targa models command a £1,200 premium over coupés, but check roof seals carefully. Unless lubricated regularly they are prone to perishing and can leak.

Servicing on all 348s is once a year or every 6,250 miles. With most Ferraris covering a low mileage, the standard annual service costs about £800; the 6,250-mile service costs about £1,500. The cam belt service — once every two years on pre-1993 models, once every three years on the later cars — will set you back about £3,000. Despite group 20 insurance many specialist companies offer limited-mileage policies that can make cover very reasonable.

CHECK IT OUT

Luggage Ferrari dealer can supply three-piece fitted leather luggage set for the boot
Service history Must be complete and with original invoices
Cover Spider models should come with leather tonneau cover
Air-conditioning Standard
Front spoilers Prone to scuffs and chips
Roof seals Check on 348ts models
Tyres Silver sticker inside near side door will give original tyre make and pressures
Rear roof buttress seams Filled with lead for a smooth seam but prone to cracking. Simple to repair
Battery Mounted in rear engine compartment on cars before 1993
Catalytic converter ECU is prone to failure and costs £500 to replace
Gearbox Don't use 2nd gear when it's cold
Leather upholstery Seats will need reconolising every couple of years

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Ferrari 348
Engine V8 3,405cc
Power 300bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel N/A
Acceleration 0 to 60mph: 5.3sec
Top speed 168mph <!-- Beginfunction Start(page) {OpenWin = this.open(page, "CtrlWindow", "toolbar=yes,menubar=yes,location=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes");}// End -->

THE ONE TO BUY

Ferrari 348tb in rosso red with crema hide. 1991 J-plate with 20,000 miles. Pay £33,000 at a dealer or £30,000 privately





OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY ...

2000 V-reg Lotus Esprit V8 SE
2002 51-reg Porsche Boxster 2.7
2000 X-reg TVR Cerbera
1991 H-reg Aston Martin Virage
2000 V-reg Jaguar XKR coupe

VALUES: Ferrari 348tb

Mileage 10,000
1990 H Trade £27,300; Retail £32,750
1991 J Trade £28,950; Retail £34,750
1992 K Trade £30,900; Retail £36,500

Mileage 20,000
1990 H Trade £25,800; Retail £31,250
1991 J Trade £27,300; Retail £33,000
1992 K Trade £29,150; Retail £34,750

Mileage 40,000
1990 H Trade £22,850; Retail £28,250
1991 J Trade £24,100; Retail £29,750
1992 K Trade £29,150; Retail £31,500

348ts (targa) worth about £1,200 more than 348tb (coupé)
Source: estimates are based on confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; 'retail' is what you would pay a dealer