456 GTA and 328 GTS
Discussion
I have had the pleasure of driving a 328GTS today and really loved it. My usual F-car as you know is a 456 GTA so clearly different in every way. My 456 is the only Ferrari that I have ever driven and have wanted to know what it was like to drive a convertible in red with a manual gate.
Apart from being a V8 and higher revving with a sports exhaust it feels so much more mechanical and harder work to drive. You really feel the weight of the clutch after a while. But I love it! I have not driven a 430 or 458 etc but I wonder how in reality you can put down that power on UK roads unless you are in the EVO triangle etc? I think there is a very good argument that there is more pleasure to be had from using a 328/348/355 than more modern cars as you can use the full extent of the power far more easily. It seems a lot more involving already and I have not pushed it at all.
I still love my 456 though as I can take my son and his friends out in it as well as one of my mates. I think if it was a manual 456 it would just about be perfect as that manual gate really does complete the whole Ferrari experience.
Am I talking rubbish or is there some substance in this?
Apart from being a V8 and higher revving with a sports exhaust it feels so much more mechanical and harder work to drive. You really feel the weight of the clutch after a while. But I love it! I have not driven a 430 or 458 etc but I wonder how in reality you can put down that power on UK roads unless you are in the EVO triangle etc? I think there is a very good argument that there is more pleasure to be had from using a 328/348/355 than more modern cars as you can use the full extent of the power far more easily. It seems a lot more involving already and I have not pushed it at all.
I still love my 456 though as I can take my son and his friends out in it as well as one of my mates. I think if it was a manual 456 it would just about be perfect as that manual gate really does complete the whole Ferrari experience.
Am I talking rubbish or is there some substance in this?
wineman02 said:
I have had the pleasure of driving a 328GTS today and really loved it. My usual F-car as you know is a 456 GTA so clearly different in every way. My 456 is the only Ferrari that I have ever driven and have wanted to know what it was like to drive a convertible in red with a manual gate.
Apart from being a V8 and higher revving with a sports exhaust it feels so much more mechanical and harder work to drive. You really feel the weight of the clutch after a while. But I love it! I have not driven a 430 or 458 etc but I wonder how in reality you can put down that power on UK roads unless you are in the EVO triangle etc? I think there is a very good argument that there is more pleasure to be had from using a 328/348/355 than more modern cars as you can use the full extent of the power far more easily. It seems a lot more involving already and I have not pushed it at all.
I still love my 456 though as I can take my son and his friends out in it as well as one of my mates. I think if it was a manual 456 it would just about be perfect as that manual gate really does complete the whole Ferrari experience.
Am I talking rubbish or is there some substance in this?
Mate, I think you're bang on. I'd love to own a 328 at some point in the not too distant future. I find that the older cars hold more appeal for me than the newer ones, with the exception of possibly a manual 550 (although I guess that could still be considered a bit old school. I've driven a 599 HGTE and 458 in the last year or so, and while amazing for the the short time I was in them (only about 20 mins apiece to be fair) I've never felt short changed or disappointed when driving in home in my 355 afterwards, and always get the slight feeling in hindsight that they might lose their magic if I owned one and drove it as much as I drive my 355. Now, in fairness again, I haven't driven any Fcars older then my 355 (drove a 456 but they're give or take the same vintage), but if they're even more involving to drive than the 355 is (and in my opinion, prettier in the case of the 328), then they must be truly specialApart from being a V8 and higher revving with a sports exhaust it feels so much more mechanical and harder work to drive. You really feel the weight of the clutch after a while. But I love it! I have not driven a 430 or 458 etc but I wonder how in reality you can put down that power on UK roads unless you are in the EVO triangle etc? I think there is a very good argument that there is more pleasure to be had from using a 328/348/355 than more modern cars as you can use the full extent of the power far more easily. It seems a lot more involving already and I have not pushed it at all.
I still love my 456 though as I can take my son and his friends out in it as well as one of my mates. I think if it was a manual 456 it would just about be perfect as that manual gate really does complete the whole Ferrari experience.
Am I talking rubbish or is there some substance in this?
Mario - I have fallen in love with it. I shall be making enquiries in the morning...
It is just so involving and natural. I love the high revving nature of the V8. The limit is just under 8000 and I don't think I got above 5500 in 3rd.. I am sure your 355 is even better but that is another £5-£10k or so on top of the 328 and I do LOVE the look of the 328. The admiring glances from other people is extraordinary. I even get let out at junctions. I wonder if this is because of its age and less showy than newer models?
The fact that is does not drink a litre of fuel ever 100 metres is also rather nice!
It is just so involving and natural. I love the high revving nature of the V8. The limit is just under 8000 and I don't think I got above 5500 in 3rd.. I am sure your 355 is even better but that is another £5-£10k or so on top of the 328 and I do LOVE the look of the 328. The admiring glances from other people is extraordinary. I even get let out at junctions. I wonder if this is because of its age and less showy than newer models?
The fact that is does not drink a litre of fuel ever 100 metres is also rather nice!
I've had my 328 for 4 years now, which for me is 3 years longer than anything else I've owned. The 355 is a very different car and it depends on what you're looking for, performance is at another level. The 328 has never let me down and is cheap compared to other Ferraris to maintain well. For me it fits the bill, doesn't get negative comments and is fun to drive.
Well I pulled the trigger and have said I will have the 328.. I love my 456 but that high revving V8 was a pure joy! I also think the 328 will easier on the wallet maintenance wise. They had a 355 at the same sort of money but the classic-ness of the 328 won me over. I also think that the power is quite enough to have a lot of fun on the Kent roads around me. It is at the high end of the price spectrum but it is immaculate and a 1989 ABS model.
I can't wait to get it!
I can't wait to get it!
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