Will I get on with a 328?
Discussion
I'm thinking of buying a 328.
My last two playthings have been a Turbo Esprit and a TVR Griffith.
The Esprit pressed all the right buttons, apart from the laggy motor that sounded like an Escort. A good car spoiled by cylinder deficiency.
The Griffith made the right noises and went very quickly, but my garden shed was better built and the handling was just a bit too interesting.
I am looking for a car that handles well, sounds good, looks fantastic, is reasonably well screwed together, won't cost the earth to service and doesn't depreciate.
Annual mileage is likely to be circa 5k and budget is sub £50k.
Am I going to get on with a 328, or should I stick to Minis and pay another chunk off the mortgage?
Suggestions, comments, abuse, sarcasm all welcome.
Cheers
Pat
My last two playthings have been a Turbo Esprit and a TVR Griffith.
The Esprit pressed all the right buttons, apart from the laggy motor that sounded like an Escort. A good car spoiled by cylinder deficiency.
The Griffith made the right noises and went very quickly, but my garden shed was better built and the handling was just a bit too interesting.
I am looking for a car that handles well, sounds good, looks fantastic, is reasonably well screwed together, won't cost the earth to service and doesn't depreciate.
Annual mileage is likely to be circa 5k and budget is sub £50k.
Am I going to get on with a 328, or should I stick to Minis and pay another chunk off the mortgage?
Suggestions, comments, abuse, sarcasm all welcome.
Cheers
Pat
You have too much money! Which is a nice problem to have! The most expensive 328's are circa £40k, and those are 1 owner less than 5,000 mile cars, which I strongly advise you stay away from if you want to drive and enjoy your car!!! The ultra low mileage garage queens tend not to have been serviced very much, if at all! Your best bet if you have your heart set on a 328 is to find a moderate mileage car with a comprehensive service history. Pay particular attention to the cambelt changes which are every 3 years, and VERY important.You should budget for circa £30k for a very good car which you can enjoy!There are 6 cars currently in the classified section on this site ranging from 25-36 grand, and remember, this is the best time of year to buy, as prices are always depressed when the summer finishes! It's also worth trying the owners club website as well.The only downside to buying now is that you'll be late for your xmas dinner 'cos you'll be out enjoying your new car!If you want more info, try a specialist site like fcars.net, there are a few owners on there.
Hi Pat,
I went from a Griff 500, a very good one at that to Ferrari ... again, a superb one by all accounts, but not a 328. I think you will find the 328 performance a little dissapointing after the 5.0 litre Griff ... I went the 348 route, the Spider.
The Griff was fantastic ... but the 348 was in another league altogether. If you nailed both of them from a standstill perfectly, the Griff's low torque would get you to 60 faster, but in real life, the 348 is equal to it and, as soon as you hit 60-70 mph and you are 4500 revs upwards, the Ferrari will show the Griff a clean pair of heels, no contest. Oh, the bonnet won't start wobbling at 150mph either like it did in the Griff
Go for a later GTB, GTS (targa) or Spider version which has 320bhp instead of the earlier 300bhp of the 348 TB and TS, and it has a wider track and better handling set up. The 328 is 270 bhp. Top end in the later 348s is 175mph v 158 in the 328.
Like i said, my Griff was a belter and took me down to the Costa del Sol and back brilliantly - did the same in the Ferrari this summer. Both great cars but the 348 is a more than worthy next step from the Griff.
You can get good 348TSs for around £26-30K, a bit more for the GTs, and they are rarer.
Good luck.
al
I went from a Griff 500, a very good one at that to Ferrari ... again, a superb one by all accounts, but not a 328. I think you will find the 328 performance a little dissapointing after the 5.0 litre Griff ... I went the 348 route, the Spider.
The Griff was fantastic ... but the 348 was in another league altogether. If you nailed both of them from a standstill perfectly, the Griff's low torque would get you to 60 faster, but in real life, the 348 is equal to it and, as soon as you hit 60-70 mph and you are 4500 revs upwards, the Ferrari will show the Griff a clean pair of heels, no contest. Oh, the bonnet won't start wobbling at 150mph either like it did in the Griff
Go for a later GTB, GTS (targa) or Spider version which has 320bhp instead of the earlier 300bhp of the 348 TB and TS, and it has a wider track and better handling set up. The 328 is 270 bhp. Top end in the later 348s is 175mph v 158 in the 328.
Like i said, my Griff was a belter and took me down to the Costa del Sol and back brilliantly - did the same in the Ferrari this summer. Both great cars but the 348 is a more than worthy next step from the Griff.
You can get good 348TSs for around £26-30K, a bit more for the GTs, and they are rarer.
Good luck.
al
I'd second the idea of the 348. 328's are getting a bit old now so are more of a classic IMHO.
The 348 still comes across as a modern Ferrari and seems to represent much better value for money.
In terms of styling the 328 always seems like the last evolution of the 70’s 308 where as the 348 looks more like the first evolution of the 90’s 355.
I'm guessing a 328 would be older than your Griff whereas the 348 would be newer or the same age. Personally I would find it a bit of an anathema to replace a car with a considerably more expensive car that is older.
Not sure but 348’s may be more difficult to service though if you’re planning on working on it yourself?
The 348 still comes across as a modern Ferrari and seems to represent much better value for money.
In terms of styling the 328 always seems like the last evolution of the 70’s 308 where as the 348 looks more like the first evolution of the 90’s 355.
I'm guessing a 328 would be older than your Griff whereas the 348 would be newer or the same age. Personally I would find it a bit of an anathema to replace a car with a considerably more expensive car that is older.
Not sure but 348’s may be more difficult to service though if you’re planning on working on it yourself?
The 328 is one of the most beautiful of all mankind's creations and I'd have one even without an engine because they are so, so beautiful. In fact, Ferrari hasn't come close to producing anything so gorgeous in almost 20 years. If I had a spare £50k I'd buy 2 of 'em.
246 apart, this is the car Pininfarina should be most proud of. Ignore the lack of horsepower compared to a newer Ferrari - the scream of that V8 is still addictive and they're reliable, too if treated well. Enjoy.
246 apart, this is the car Pininfarina should be most proud of. Ignore the lack of horsepower compared to a newer Ferrari - the scream of that V8 is still addictive and they're reliable, too if treated well. Enjoy.
POORCARDEALER said:I am 6'2 and was only able to drive my Esprit with the sunroof tilted open.
If you are over 6ft tall the 328 might be a problem though
Headroom is not much of a problem in the GTS and I can just about get comfortable, but I'm afraid that a GTB would be out of the question.
I must pull my finger out and find one.
Pat
PatHeald said:
If you are over 6ft tall the 328 might be a problem though
Headroom is not much of a problem in the GTS and I can just about get comfortable, but I'm afraid that a GTB would be out of the question.
I must pull my finger out and find one.
Pat
Funny you should say that as I struggle a bit in my GTB, head touching roof, struggling to get comfy
chrisx666 said:
novice Q. will 328 engine run on unleaded fuel or do they have to be converted ?
As far as I know the heads/valve seats have the same part number for UK and USA spec cars. The states have been on unleaded since the 70's so I assume the seats are hardened.
I'd add that a specialist told me to run my 308 QV on nothing less than 98 RON, especially if I was driving it hard (is there any other way?)
Kevin Hackett said:
The 328 is one of the most beautiful of all mankind's creations and I'd have one even without an engine because they are so, so beautiful.
Nah the 328 is the 308's ugly sister.IMO Ferrari ruined one of the most beautiful cars ever made(the 308)when they stuck that butt ugly front end on it(328).
My Dad has been running his 328GTB for nearly 2 years now and it has been solid and trouble free. It is not as fast as modern sports coupe's and such like but it sounds fantastic, looks, well you know and he enjoys its handling and roadholding ability.
He averages about 26mpg and it has done some big trips, like Le Mans in the summer. I find it very comfortable and I am about 6' and 13 1/2stone.
He averages about 26mpg and it has done some big trips, like Le Mans in the summer. I find it very comfortable and I am about 6' and 13 1/2stone.
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