The unveiling of Ferrari's 'budget' £140K Californnia roadster got us thinking. Is there such a thing as a cheap Ferrari? After scratching our heads a bit, we came up with these.
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The uncatchable: Ferrari 348 (1989-1994) (page 1 of 10)
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Buy a hot hatch and people think you're nothing more than baseball-cap-wearing thug, or worse, an estate agent. For the same £20,000 a generic mass-produced GTi buys, you could have the sharp-suited, cultured Ferrari 348.
There's never been a better time to snap up the mini-Testarossa. Plentiful F355s have softened 348 values and now it's possible to find examples below £20,000.
That's fine value considering the performance on tap. With a 300bhp 3.4-litre V8, the 348 still offers breathtaking go - a good one will crack 60mph in around five seconds and then go on all the way to 170mph - all accompanied by an exotic screaming V8 soundtrack.
Now the bad news: handling is tricky. Blame the rear- mounted engine and the unresolved suspension, but if you treat it with respect, this Ferrari will still entertain in a way even the best hot hatch could never dream of.
Running costs, of course, will be many times over the mass produced alternative. Even low yearly mileages will still mean budgeting for £1,000 a year and up to three times that for the essential belt swaps.
