Ferrari 308...which one and how easy are they to live with?
Discussion
I have always hankered after a 308 and am now conteplating takingthe leap into Ferrari ownership.
I plan to use the car on nice weekends and for the some 2-3 hour each way business trips, plus long continental touring trips so my questions are as follows:
1. What are they like for regular use where some reliability is required
2. Carbs or QV? thing the i's will be a bit slow for my taste (current toy is 0-60 in 4.5 ish)
3. Cost of servicing? Are QV's easier or harder, cheaper or more expensive to service?
4. Are they all dry sumped?
5. Do they all have air con?
6. Do owners get abused by chavs etc, ie is it safe to park it?
7. Am I insane?
I plan to use the car on nice weekends and for the some 2-3 hour each way business trips, plus long continental touring trips so my questions are as follows:
1. What are they like for regular use where some reliability is required
2. Carbs or QV? thing the i's will be a bit slow for my taste (current toy is 0-60 in 4.5 ish)
3. Cost of servicing? Are QV's easier or harder, cheaper or more expensive to service?
4. Are they all dry sumped?
5. Do they all have air con?
6. Do owners get abused by chavs etc, ie is it safe to park it?
7. Am I insane?
blueg33 said:
I have always hankered after a 308 and am now conteplating takingthe leap into Ferrari ownership.
I plan to use the car on nice weekends and for the some 2-3 hour each way business trips, plus long continental touring trips so my questions are as follows:
1. What are they like for regular use where some reliability is required
2. Carbs or QV? thing the i's will be a bit slow for my taste (current toy is 0-60 in 4.5 ish)
3. Cost of servicing? Are QV's easier or harder, cheaper or more expensive to service?
4. Are they all dry sumped?
5. Do they all have air con?
6. Do owners get abused by chavs etc, ie is it safe to park it?
7. Am I insane?
Good choice! I co-owned a 1982 308GTS qv for 5 years and it was one of the best motoring experiences of my life. To answer your questions:-I plan to use the car on nice weekends and for the some 2-3 hour each way business trips, plus long continental touring trips so my questions are as follows:
1. What are they like for regular use where some reliability is required
2. Carbs or QV? thing the i's will be a bit slow for my taste (current toy is 0-60 in 4.5 ish)
3. Cost of servicing? Are QV's easier or harder, cheaper or more expensive to service?
4. Are they all dry sumped?
5. Do they all have air con?
6. Do owners get abused by chavs etc, ie is it safe to park it?
7. Am I insane?
1. Regular use is fine. Keep them out of the salt, but other than that, take it everywhere. Our car spent a year off the road and it was only then we started to get things going wrong. They like to be used!
2. Carbs are quicker and sound better but specialists I spoke to at the time suggested that the QV engine was the most trouble free and had performance nigh-on equal to the early fibreglass cars so thats what we went for. No regrets.
3. Servicing is fairly reasonable. Use a reputable specialist rather than a dealer and shop around for parts. Can be done on a fairly low budget if you do your homework.
4. Only the first fibreglass cars were dry-sumped.
5. Air-con was an option although most have it, especially the later QV cars.
6. I parked mine everywhere and anywhere. The fact that it was a bit older, coupled with the fact that it wasn't red, made passers-by more interested than envious!
7. No, you're not insane. Just do it properly and you won't regret it. Have any prospective car properly inspected by a specialist before taking the plunge, look after it, make sure previous owners have done the same and remember its a 25 year old Italian car and you'll be fine.
For the record, selling our one was one of the daftest decisions I've ever made!!
Good luck with your purchase!!
I looked at a 328 prior to buying the 308 but theres a lot less headroom in the 328 which was the clincher for me(I'm 6 foot 3). GTB's are better, apparently, but much rarer and command a premium.
308 has the classic look and is one of the best-looking mid-engined cars they've ever made, closely followed by the Dino and the F355.
£25k should buy you a very nice example of a QV. I've seen very low-mileage cars advertised for up to nearly £40k, but I have to question if they're worth the extra cash. Thats well into 355 and 360 territory. I'd sooner buy a milier car thats been used as intended.
308 has the classic look and is one of the best-looking mid-engined cars they've ever made, closely followed by the Dino and the F355.
£25k should buy you a very nice example of a QV. I've seen very low-mileage cars advertised for up to nearly £40k, but I have to question if they're worth the extra cash. Thats well into 355 and 360 territory. I'd sooner buy a milier car thats been used as intended.
I have the 328 and a GT4 before it. The QV is the best to go for as well as the fact that the bodies had a basic form of galavanising and rust protection, but they all rust.
Best advice is buy the best you can from someone whom you can trust! I bought both of mine form Mike Wheeler of Rardley motors in guilford although i live in glasgow!tough trader and very straight talking business man, but sold only Ferraris for 25 years and knows or has dealt with most of the cars in the UK of that era! A few people I kow of have gone to him and are very happy. At that level you cant affoard to sell junk and there is a LOT of junk about! People get the red mist and are left with pups!
Hope this helps. can pvt if need more specific help
good luck
Paul
Best advice is buy the best you can from someone whom you can trust! I bought both of mine form Mike Wheeler of Rardley motors in guilford although i live in glasgow!tough trader and very straight talking business man, but sold only Ferraris for 25 years and knows or has dealt with most of the cars in the UK of that era! A few people I kow of have gone to him and are very happy. At that level you cant affoard to sell junk and there is a LOT of junk about! People get the red mist and are left with pups!
Hope this helps. can pvt if need more specific help
good luck
Paul
If your looking for a dealer/specialist you can trust, call Nick Cartwright. He particularly likes and is extremely knowledgeable regarding the earlier V8's.
Think the 308 QV is the most complete model re 308's - looks, reasonably well built and offers good reliability.. I personally would push the boat out a touch further and go for a 328, especially a GTB!! Ultimate looks (IMO) very reliable and very well made.
Think the 308 QV is the most complete model re 308's - looks, reasonably well built and offers good reliability.. I personally would push the boat out a touch further and go for a 328, especially a GTB!! Ultimate looks (IMO) very reliable and very well made.
Go for it!
I bought an 85 GTB QV about 3 months ago and have really enjoyed the experience (and intend to for a long time to come). I agree with everything that has been said.
I went for a GTB as I think they are more attractive than the GTS and rarer, but just my personal preference. QV was the choice as they are easiest to maintain/most well sorted and fully galvanized (from 83). The driving position takes a bit of getting used, it's not like driving a modern saloon, but I find it quite comfortable. The first thing I did when I bought it was drive 1,000 miles across Europe - brilliant! Do drive it and don't be afraid to use the rev band, that's what they were made for.
Do get an independent specialist to do a PPI before you buy - if the car you're thinking of buying is in the north west, Andrew Webster is a good guy - really knows all about the 3X8's and is very enthusiastic.
To sum up, driving it is an occasion, just looking at it next to my MGA in the garage makes me happy.
I bought an 85 GTB QV about 3 months ago and have really enjoyed the experience (and intend to for a long time to come). I agree with everything that has been said.
I went for a GTB as I think they are more attractive than the GTS and rarer, but just my personal preference. QV was the choice as they are easiest to maintain/most well sorted and fully galvanized (from 83). The driving position takes a bit of getting used, it's not like driving a modern saloon, but I find it quite comfortable. The first thing I did when I bought it was drive 1,000 miles across Europe - brilliant! Do drive it and don't be afraid to use the rev band, that's what they were made for.
Do get an independent specialist to do a PPI before you buy - if the car you're thinking of buying is in the north west, Andrew Webster is a good guy - really knows all about the 3X8's and is very enthusiastic.
To sum up, driving it is an occasion, just looking at it next to my MGA in the garage makes me happy.
As has already been said, a car that's been driven and looked after will be reliable with the exception of the noted weak spots (electrics)
Rust is always an issue with pre mid 80's Ferraris, almost all 308's will have had some paint and very likely the odd sill or two (the last 308 thread had some pics from Al at Alsa (decent Paint shop, doing mainly Ferraris) including sill replacement)
Performance wise, all bar the i's are brisk and around the same sort of level as a 3 or 3.2 911 of the same period, some carb cars came with a dry sump motor which is good if you want to track the car, the QV's are IMHO a little easier to live with and more of a take the cover off, open the garage doors, jump in it and drive car.
Everybody slates the i's, but they do represent value for money and can be a good base for some supercharged tinkering.
Irrespective of who you buy from get somebody to look it over, there are plenty of rotten cars with shiny paint, I'd also suggest that if buying from a dealer make sure that you check out how they deal with any warranty claims (statutory warranty laws apply, unless the car is sold as a static display or project car)
make sure the dealer has the infrastructure you'd expect i.e normal land line telephone number website, accepts debit cards etc, if buying from a home trader I'd also suggest a quick check to see if they own it rather than rent (I know a bit of overkill, but can think of at least two "specialists" in the UK who fail on all these tell tale signs)
Rust is always an issue with pre mid 80's Ferraris, almost all 308's will have had some paint and very likely the odd sill or two (the last 308 thread had some pics from Al at Alsa (decent Paint shop, doing mainly Ferraris) including sill replacement)
Performance wise, all bar the i's are brisk and around the same sort of level as a 3 or 3.2 911 of the same period, some carb cars came with a dry sump motor which is good if you want to track the car, the QV's are IMHO a little easier to live with and more of a take the cover off, open the garage doors, jump in it and drive car.
Everybody slates the i's, but they do represent value for money and can be a good base for some supercharged tinkering.
Irrespective of who you buy from get somebody to look it over, there are plenty of rotten cars with shiny paint, I'd also suggest that if buying from a dealer make sure that you check out how they deal with any warranty claims (statutory warranty laws apply, unless the car is sold as a static display or project car)
make sure the dealer has the infrastructure you'd expect i.e normal land line telephone number website, accepts debit cards etc, if buying from a home trader I'd also suggest a quick check to see if they own it rather than rent (I know a bit of overkill, but can think of at least two "specialists" in the UK who fail on all these tell tale signs)
I own 308vetroresina and last summer i took my mother for a ride in it. We both agree that the car is a bit uncomfortable. Strange thing with ferrari is that even if you drive slowly it feel like you are going fast.
Must say my 308 is faster then i thought it would be when i bought it.
For long trips i prefer my TVR griffith. Handling of the 308 is very good though.
If you want to drive every day for trips i guess better not do it. It can be done i guess because 308 engines are bullitproof but a 308 is not very relaxed. Not much torque and you cant cruise in the car. If that is what you want ofcourse.
Normally in daily life i drive a mercedes 280 SEL 26 years old. Perhaps this explains something.
Must say my 308 is faster then i thought it would be when i bought it.
For long trips i prefer my TVR griffith. Handling of the 308 is very good though.
If you want to drive every day for trips i guess better not do it. It can be done i guess because 308 engines are bullitproof but a 308 is not very relaxed. Not much torque and you cant cruise in the car. If that is what you want ofcourse.
Normally in daily life i drive a mercedes 280 SEL 26 years old. Perhaps this explains something.
I bought my GTS about 2 months ago, I went for the GTS over the GTB because my Lotus is a fixed roof.
I wanted a carb version simply for the induction noise.I have got to chance that plate back to the "T" plate its meant to wear as it is terrible ,imo.
As soon as it come back from being serviced I'll be happy again.
I wanted a carb version simply for the induction noise.I have got to chance that plate back to the "T" plate its meant to wear as it is terrible ,imo.
As soon as it come back from being serviced I'll be happy again.
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