Possible 328 purchase???
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm thinking about selling our 911 and replacing with something a little bit different. At the moment the options are an Exige or a 328 GTS?? I've always lusted after a Ferrari since I was knee high but am a little worried about the age of the car that I can afford.
It will be used at weekends and the rest of the time live in the garage probably cover around 2-3k miles a year. Could people please give me their positive & negative experiences of 328 ownership?
What are the weaknesses of the cars?
How do people find service / maintenance costs?
Also I'm quite good at feckling with most cars....are they easy to do home maintenace on? (Not servicing but general upkeep).
Thanks in advance,
David
I'm thinking about selling our 911 and replacing with something a little bit different. At the moment the options are an Exige or a 328 GTS?? I've always lusted after a Ferrari since I was knee high but am a little worried about the age of the car that I can afford.
It will be used at weekends and the rest of the time live in the garage probably cover around 2-3k miles a year. Could people please give me their positive & negative experiences of 328 ownership?
What are the weaknesses of the cars?
How do people find service / maintenance costs?
Also I'm quite good at feckling with most cars....are they easy to do home maintenace on? (Not servicing but general upkeep).
Thanks in advance,
David
Not an owner myself, but I've done a lot of research as the 328 is my No. 1 dream car. It is, by all accounts, the most reliable and affordable Ferrari to run, mechanically simple, so easy to work on and not much to go wrong. Don't be put off by cars with higher mileage - this is good because they like being used. Look out for rust, get a thorough PPI done, join the Club Scuderia forum and ask lots of questions - plenty of enthusiastic owners there who'll help, and be aware that some of the parts are as rare as rocking horse sh*t!
328's are probably the friendliest way into a Ferrari, they are the first of the galvanised models so rust is not a major factor - however its quite easy to tell a car that has lived outside a lot. If you go on Ebay I wrote a basic buyers guide for Ferrari 328s in their Reviews section, its free to access and may answer some of your questions. if not feel free to email us at walkersport@aol.com and I will happily answer your questions (as long as i know the answers) to the best of my ability.
Do it!!! I did last year and it was the best buy of my life!! In fact, am about to get her out of the garage in a bit. Insurance is sensible (37 years old = £331 with Footman James) Running costs ok, not had her serviced yet but not too bad from all accounts. Grin factor = priceless!!
Are you going to use it in the winter then?
To my mind and from my own experience with my 308 (which is for sale again on PH - but I've dropped out of selling it though - the current owner is now handling that!) and from a friend's time with her 328, the main enemy of these cars is rust. bottom of the doors, where the rear bumpers meet the body, the triangular panels at the base of the front wings, at the base of the buttresses...mechanically, they are strong though.
Using one in the winter has to be a no-no!
To my mind and from my own experience with my 308 (which is for sale again on PH - but I've dropped out of selling it though - the current owner is now handling that!) and from a friend's time with her 328, the main enemy of these cars is rust. bottom of the doors, where the rear bumpers meet the body, the triangular panels at the base of the front wings, at the base of the buttresses...mechanically, they are strong though.
Using one in the winter has to be a no-no!
Annual servicing should be under £300, Cam belts vary pending whom but usually between £450 - £650, always allow for tensioner bearings as they probably need doing every two / three belt changes. You really can do it yourself with a bit of patience, its not difficult, just remember to mark the ca pulley's! If you do it yourself make sure you keep all receipts and log exactly when you did the change and what you did (small word doc). They are good cars, very reliable very sound with your money. with your mileage estimate I think 308 QV or 328 would make a lot of sense.
Main parts you just cannot get at the moment.
Front fog lights - apparently maranello are waiting till they have enough orders.
Electric window adjuster unit.
odd bits of trim
Its not too bad, if a USA or European model part will fit its usually just a case of looking hard enough or waiting for another one to hit a wall (dead cars shoes!) We did a total rebuild and restoration of a 328 7 years ago, the car had been mildly bumped, left in a warehouse with the roof off and robbed extensively. With help from QV london, Eurospares and ebay we managed to make a really good car from her. but some bits where hard then! But I do not worry about it, earlier this year we had a car without front fog lights, the car was lovely, the previous owner came up will a excellent alternative idea and the buying customer loves it. I would not worry about parts.
Front fog lights - apparently maranello are waiting till they have enough orders.
Electric window adjuster unit.
odd bits of trim
Its not too bad, if a USA or European model part will fit its usually just a case of looking hard enough or waiting for another one to hit a wall (dead cars shoes!) We did a total rebuild and restoration of a 328 7 years ago, the car had been mildly bumped, left in a warehouse with the roof off and robbed extensively. With help from QV london, Eurospares and ebay we managed to make a really good car from her. but some bits where hard then! But I do not worry about it, earlier this year we had a car without front fog lights, the car was lovely, the previous owner came up will a excellent alternative idea and the buying customer loves it. I would not worry about parts.
I am interested in the replies to this topic as I wa thinking of trading my 308GT4 for a 328GTS. Have had mixed advice. Some say the GT4 is more fun. Can't argue with the rust advice as mine has a few small areas but it is 30 years old and wasnt galvanised nor did Ferrari care too much about rust proofing back then.
I like the noise in the GT4 espoecially as i have stainless manifolds on it. having heard the 328's they sound much quieter, are they the same in driving flat out?
The late great LJK Setright wrote that the GT4 was the best hadling small Ferrari and better than the GTB/S due to its longer wheelbase. Any other views? I have both standard 14'' and 328 16'' wheels. the bigger ones do rub in back arches but not had the camber etc changed as recomended in the service bulletins.
I really like a targa car and have had X1/9's for 17 years. Now having grown into higher performance cars, i really fancy the GTS, but am swithering of selling my GT4 as it's such a sweet little car, rides beutifuly and handles sweetly etc. Also dont want to really sell one of the best and buy a car which isn't as nice to drive as doubt I will find one as nice again. However am very open to persusion and advice and opinions from those more knowlegable.
Been chasing a few GTS's recently and realise perhaps is same as GT4's , not a lot of good ones about and you pay for what you get! ie no baragains, at least in the long run.
Paul
I like the noise in the GT4 espoecially as i have stainless manifolds on it. having heard the 328's they sound much quieter, are they the same in driving flat out?
The late great LJK Setright wrote that the GT4 was the best hadling small Ferrari and better than the GTB/S due to its longer wheelbase. Any other views? I have both standard 14'' and 328 16'' wheels. the bigger ones do rub in back arches but not had the camber etc changed as recomended in the service bulletins.
I really like a targa car and have had X1/9's for 17 years. Now having grown into higher performance cars, i really fancy the GTS, but am swithering of selling my GT4 as it's such a sweet little car, rides beutifuly and handles sweetly etc. Also dont want to really sell one of the best and buy a car which isn't as nice to drive as doubt I will find one as nice again. However am very open to persusion and advice and opinions from those more knowlegable.
Been chasing a few GTS's recently and realise perhaps is same as GT4's , not a lot of good ones about and you pay for what you get! ie no baragains, at least in the long run.
Paul
Fit a different exhaust and the 328 will make a great sound (my 308 has/had a Quicksilver on it).
Re parts - my wiper stalk broke - £2500 for a new unit (you can't just buy the stalk) - assuming you could find one....I found the only one in the UK, but it was then snapped up by someone (the cynic in me thinks it was a dealer whom I had called before I finaly located one at Eurospares....).
No bargains - more or less true there...but as you own a Ferrari already, you'll be clued in to how they drive and what's lurking under that shiny paintwork.
Re parts - my wiper stalk broke - £2500 for a new unit (you can't just buy the stalk) - assuming you could find one....I found the only one in the UK, but it was then snapped up by someone (the cynic in me thinks it was a dealer whom I had called before I finaly located one at Eurospares....).
No bargains - more or less true there...but as you own a Ferrari already, you'll be clued in to how they drive and what's lurking under that shiny paintwork.
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