Tempted by the dark side...
Discussion
for a ferrari 308QV 
Don't do it !!!!!
As prev said, Ferrari's are not for daily driving.
Their build quatlity is nothing compared to Porsche, i have heard numerous horror stories to substantiate this.
My wife hired a 355 spider for my 30th Birthday, car looked gorgeous, and went like stink, but felt like it was built in some eastern block country !!!
I was actually glad to get back in my Boxster that i had at that time, for a feeling of luxury, and no leaks from the roof, wing mirrors and windows to put up with !!!
The only viable owning option IMHO would be a total garage queen, and only out for dry sunny days, which defeats the object somewhat i think.
G
As prev said, Ferrari's are not for daily driving.
Their build quatlity is nothing compared to Porsche, i have heard numerous horror stories to substantiate this.
My wife hired a 355 spider for my 30th Birthday, car looked gorgeous, and went like stink, but felt like it was built in some eastern block country !!!
I was actually glad to get back in my Boxster that i had at that time, for a feeling of luxury, and no leaks from the roof, wing mirrors and windows to put up with !!!
The only viable owning option IMHO would be a total garage queen, and only out for dry sunny days, which defeats the object somewhat i think.
G
If you love the classic lines of the 308 and have always wanted one, then go right ahead and enjoy, you do get a lot of car for your money and there's a prancing horse on it. But compared to your 911 the 308 will feel decidedly old fashioned, and slow with it. Servicing needn't be a nightmare if you can get a really good one. User friendly it aint - driving is old school stuff. I reckon whatever advice or information you get here or dig up elsewhere, this will be one of those personal decisions where logic plays little part.
Recent Ferrari build quality isn't what I'd call bad. However this is the Porsche forum and they're being compared with Porsches..... so no, don't expect the same drive-anytime competence that you get with a decent Porker.
The 308 is old and may have serious character, but I wouldn't take one over a Porsche any day... the 355 was the first one to spin my wheel, so to speak... then again if you really like 'classic' car type motoring, then there aren't too many better cars than a well maintained older Ferrari.... just make sure you get a good one!!
The 308 is old and may have serious character, but I wouldn't take one over a Porsche any day... the 355 was the first one to spin my wheel, so to speak... then again if you really like 'classic' car type motoring, then there aren't too many better cars than a well maintained older Ferrari.... just make sure you get a good one!!
k27 said:It's Enzo's sense of humour that does it, why else would anyone get a car that
why would you want such a slow car?
a) looks faster than a 911 but isn't
b) won't give you second gear for at least 15 miles
c) has electrics from a failed primary school project
d) reminds you that the true price of supercars is continuous discomfort
e) keeps independents in business and in a 360
They say that for your Ferrari money you get the engine the body and the badge, everything else is free so you can't complain if it goes wrong. Sounds reasonable, it suckered me anyway
Build quality of recent Ferraris is excellent...........308s..........As said previously great sense of occasion, great noise (paticually carb model) running costs not too bad for a Ferrari.......RUST....biggest problem, buy a good un and you will love it....garage queen low milers not allways a good idea, they need driving, oh yeah, get a GTB over a GTS anytime.
Build quality of recent Ferraris is excellent...........308s..........As said previously great sense of occasion, great noise (paticually carb model) running costs not too bad for a Ferrari.......RUST....biggest problem, buy a good un and you will love it....garage queen low milers not allways a good idea, they need driving, oh yeah, get a GTB over a GTS anytime.
Build quality of recent Ferraris is excellent...........308s..........As said previously great sense of occasion, great noise (paticually carb model) running costs not too bad for a Ferrari.......RUST....biggest problem, buy a good un and you will love it....garage queen low milers not allways a good idea, they need driving, oh yeah, get a GTB over a GTS anytime.
Okay ... just to shift the balance of bias slightly 
...
Background first ... I've owned a 1980 308GTS carb for about 5 years now.
In no particular order :
Daily driver : can be done, though not many do. My mate drives a 328 every day, it's his only car (actually, no, tell a lie, he's also got a Ferrari 400i but that's a project) Go for the later cars (QV, 328) and you'll have no problem. They do actually thrive on being used, the only downside being dont expect them to last as well as a 911. That leads us on to :
Rust : no worse than any other 1970's or early 80's car. Space frame chassis rarely rusts, it's usually the cosmetic stuff (e.g. bottom of doors). If you're that bothered get an all fibreglass 308GTB. Many 308's have been cosetted so finding a nice, unwelded one is quite easy.
Reliability : the only thing that's gone wrong on my car in 5 years is the speedo sensor and one leccy window switch (which was just dirty). Mechanically (engine, gbox, suspension) they'll run forever, very very robust. As previously mentioned the only thing that can cause problems is the electrics, but then only if you use it in the rain a fair bit. And they're pretty simple to work on, electrically wise. Mind you, they're not that difficult to work on mechanically either, I do all my own servicing.
GTB vs GTS : personal choice really. If you're going to track it, get the GTB coz it's slightly stiffer, but on the road you will not notice. They made more GTS's than GTB's. GTS is quite comfortable with the top off to 100mph, bit noisy after that. Fine with the top on at all speeds. Down to aesthetics really.
Speed : well, please compare like for like FFS ! Compared to a 1992 911 then yes, something that was designed back in the early 1970's *IS* going to be slower. I'm sure that doesn't take much figuring out.
However compare it to a like for like 911 of the same era and they're about the same speed, if not a touch faster. I remember racing an A reg 911 down the M40 a couple of years back, up to 130 we were about the same, nothing in it. After 140 I started to pull ahead (though only ever so slightly, then we hit traffic). Mind you I was 2 up to his 1 up, and I had the roof off.
Build quality : anyone who says a 308/328 has poor build quality is talking out of his arse to be frank. No, they are not up to 2004 build quality but for the time they are rather nicely screwed together.
Driving : as turbobloke says, they ARE old school to drive, but it depends on what you like. If you want to drive something that feels as push button and as boring as a Mondeo, go buy a Mondeo. They are loud, great engine noise, incredibly involving, superb handling and comfortable ... but the steering is heavy at low speeds, and the brakes need a good firm push. Handling on the limit is very nice, with a gentle wash out on the front end if you overstep the mark, easily brought back. No horror stories of snap oversteer here thankyou.
Comfort : however, having just agreed with turbobloke above, I'm now going to tell him he's talking crap They are actually very comfortable, with a ride that suprisingly supple. If you get a crashy or hard riding 308, it needs work on it's suspension (so price accordingly). I've driven one for 8 hours solid round Wales in a day, and I was fine when I got out.
2nd gear : more rubbish from turbobloke I'm afraid I've just been out in the 308 and I got 2nd gear first time. HOWEVER, 2nd isn't perfect on some cars. If the gearbox is getting worn, that will be the first place it shows up. If you are being hamfisted it probably wont go in, it needs a gentler touch for the first couple of minutes (if that). And in really cold weather it can be difficult to get 2nd, but changing the gearbox oil to synth stops that. Basically they shouldnt have problems with 2nd, unless the box needs attention. Again, the sign of a good one is how the gbox shifts.
So ... why would you have one instead of a 911 ?
Well, I can only say from MY reasons. Which are :
1) Everyone and their dog has a 911. I see at least 6 to 8 each and every week driving into Nottingham on my commute. They're as common as chips. Even worse down south from what I can tell.
2) The looks. A personal thing, but I'd take the 308's looks any day.
3) The badge, the caché. You've a prancing horse on the front and an engine based on an early 70's Formula 1 engine behind you. Not many people look at you when you drive past in a Porsche, but everyone looks when you're in a Ferrari. (if you want that kind of attention of course !)
4) The noise, the engine, the way she feels and drives, the way she responds and talks to you, the smell.
5) Just walking out into the garage and seeing her there ...
All personal opinion of course, and no doubt I'll get flamed for some of the above Like any car, test drive one and look one over, see what you think. You may think the car isn't for you, or you may fall deeply, deeply in love
(any specific questions feel free to ask)
(p.s. and, of course, you can pretend to be Magnum PI
)
... Background first ... I've owned a 1980 308GTS carb for about 5 years now.
In no particular order :
Daily driver : can be done, though not many do. My mate drives a 328 every day, it's his only car (actually, no, tell a lie, he's also got a Ferrari 400i but that's a project) Go for the later cars (QV, 328) and you'll have no problem. They do actually thrive on being used, the only downside being dont expect them to last as well as a 911. That leads us on to :
Rust : no worse than any other 1970's or early 80's car. Space frame chassis rarely rusts, it's usually the cosmetic stuff (e.g. bottom of doors). If you're that bothered get an all fibreglass 308GTB. Many 308's have been cosetted so finding a nice, unwelded one is quite easy.
Reliability : the only thing that's gone wrong on my car in 5 years is the speedo sensor and one leccy window switch (which was just dirty). Mechanically (engine, gbox, suspension) they'll run forever, very very robust. As previously mentioned the only thing that can cause problems is the electrics, but then only if you use it in the rain a fair bit. And they're pretty simple to work on, electrically wise. Mind you, they're not that difficult to work on mechanically either, I do all my own servicing.
GTB vs GTS : personal choice really. If you're going to track it, get the GTB coz it's slightly stiffer, but on the road you will not notice. They made more GTS's than GTB's. GTS is quite comfortable with the top off to 100mph, bit noisy after that. Fine with the top on at all speeds. Down to aesthetics really.
Speed : well, please compare like for like FFS ! Compared to a 1992 911 then yes, something that was designed back in the early 1970's *IS* going to be slower. I'm sure that doesn't take much figuring out.
However compare it to a like for like 911 of the same era and they're about the same speed, if not a touch faster. I remember racing an A reg 911 down the M40 a couple of years back, up to 130 we were about the same, nothing in it. After 140 I started to pull ahead (though only ever so slightly, then we hit traffic). Mind you I was 2 up to his 1 up, and I had the roof off. Build quality : anyone who says a 308/328 has poor build quality is talking out of his arse to be frank. No, they are not up to 2004 build quality but for the time they are rather nicely screwed together.
Driving : as turbobloke says, they ARE old school to drive, but it depends on what you like. If you want to drive something that feels as push button and as boring as a Mondeo, go buy a Mondeo. They are loud, great engine noise, incredibly involving, superb handling and comfortable ... but the steering is heavy at low speeds, and the brakes need a good firm push. Handling on the limit is very nice, with a gentle wash out on the front end if you overstep the mark, easily brought back. No horror stories of snap oversteer here thankyou.
Comfort : however, having just agreed with turbobloke above, I'm now going to tell him he's talking crap
They are actually very comfortable, with a ride that suprisingly supple. If you get a crashy or hard riding 308, it needs work on it's suspension (so price accordingly). I've driven one for 8 hours solid round Wales in a day, and I was fine when I got out. 2nd gear : more rubbish from turbobloke I'm afraid
I've just been out in the 308 and I got 2nd gear first time. HOWEVER, 2nd isn't perfect on some cars. If the gearbox is getting worn, that will be the first place it shows up. If you are being hamfisted it probably wont go in, it needs a gentler touch for the first couple of minutes (if that). And in really cold weather it can be difficult to get 2nd, but changing the gearbox oil to synth stops that. Basically they shouldnt have problems with 2nd, unless the box needs attention. Again, the sign of a good one is how the gbox shifts. So ... why would you have one instead of a 911 ?
Well, I can only say from MY reasons. Which are :
1) Everyone and their dog has a 911. I see at least 6 to 8 each and every week driving into Nottingham on my commute. They're as common as chips. Even worse down south from what I can tell.
2) The looks. A personal thing, but I'd take the 308's looks any day.
3) The badge, the caché. You've a prancing horse on the front and an engine based on an early 70's Formula 1 engine behind you. Not many people look at you when you drive past in a Porsche, but everyone looks when you're in a Ferrari. (if you want that kind of attention of course !
) 4) The noise, the engine, the way she feels and drives, the way she responds and talks to you, the smell.
5) Just walking out into the garage and seeing her there ...
All personal opinion of course, and no doubt I'll get flamed for some of the above
Like any car, test drive one and look one over, see what you think. You may think the car isn't for you, or you may fall deeply, deeply in love (any specific questions feel free to ask)
(p.s. and, of course, you can pretend to be Magnum PI
)williamp said:
Didnt the first 308's have glassfibre bodies??
Not sure if this carries a price premium or not
The first 750-something of them were glassfibre (and GTB only). They fetch a slight price premium (1k to 2k roughly)
Cr*p did I really write all of the above ?!?!
Oh, and another thing to consider, I would imagine your 911 is still depreciating ? My 308 is still worth what I paid for it 5 yrs ago.
nevpugh308 said:
Driving : as turbobloke says, they ARE old school to drive, but it depends on what you like.
indeednevpugh308 said:You're forgiven but only just
Comfort: however, having just agreed with turbobloke above, I'm now going to tell him he's talking crap
nevpugh308 said:Fairynuff but I wasn't talking about the ride quality, more the fact that your legs need to be a certain size and shape to cope. Please don't post photos of your legs
They are actually very comfortable, with a ride that suprisingly supple. If you get a crashy or hard riding 308, it needs work on it's suspension (so price accordingly). I've driven one for 8 hours solid round Wales in a day, and I was fine when I got out.
nevpugh308 said:Now look here old chap...
2nd gear: more rubbish from turbobloke I'm afraid
nevpugh308 said:Ah ha
HOWEVER, 2nd isn't perfect on some cars.
nevpugh308 said:So if it was a talking turd, at least I polished it, so disproving an old motoring myth
If the gearbox is getting worn, that will be the first place it shows up...in really cold weather it can be difficult to get 2nd
Maybe all the 308s and 328s I test drove were in a state of in-between-ness. My 328 had done barely 7,000 cosseted miles in 15 years and wasn't really run in when I got it, and 2nd is still a no go zone until everything has warmed up, same as the 308's I test drove. I changed all fluids for quality replacements after purchase and it was just the same, so maybe there's a sweet spot between new and knackered where the shift is good. I can't wait...turbobloke said:
You're forgiven but only just
turbobloke said:
Fairynuff but I wasn't talking about the ride quality, more the fact that your legs need to be a certain size and shape to cope.
Ah, good point and I stand corrected ... you do have to have a bit of the old italian long arm / short leg (or is it long leg / short arm
) thing about you. Luckily I'm Mr Average when it comes to build quality so I fit perfectly, but taller people are a bit kn*ckered and I forgot that turbobloke said:
Please don't post photos of your legs
But ... but ... awwwwwwww ! so you've heard about me then, hmm ?
turbobloke said:
Maybe all the 308s and 328s I test drove were in a state of in-between-ness.
I think the point I was objecting to most was the "15 mile" bit. Yes, some cars can be a but poo on 2nd, and maybe I'm super lucky and have got a good one, however even when it's really cold outside and I dont bother with 2nd through lazyness coz it's notchy (straight to 3rd, plenty of torque) it's only till the end of 2 streets, max, then she'll slot in nicely
(um, ooo err ?) Incidentally my wife never has a problem with 2nd ... maybe it's the female touch
nevpugh308 said:Curiously mine doesn't have a problem with second, but then she doesn't have a problem with first, third, fourth or fifth either. She can't drive. Whoa ladies - I mean she hasn't got a licence, not that she has regard only for a motor's colour, lacks car control skills, positioning sense, mechanical sympathy and uses the rear view mirror for applying slap and lippy but that's probably true
Incidentally my wife never has a problem with 2nd ... maybe it's the female touch
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff