Discussion
Gentlemen,
I realised that we don't have a proper 308 thread! (Pininfarina) What are they like? How fast are they? Which one makes the best sound? What is the weight difference between the glasfibre model an the later one?
I looked at almost every youtube vid, most of them have an awful quality, but if someone has a video that answers some of the questions....
please discuss
cheers
Bacchus
PS: this would be my pick of the day, although it's way too expensive!
http://fr.autoscout24.be/Details.aspx?id=136232420
I realised that we don't have a proper 308 thread! (Pininfarina) What are they like? How fast are they? Which one makes the best sound? What is the weight difference between the glasfibre model an the later one?
I looked at almost every youtube vid, most of them have an awful quality, but if someone has a video that answers some of the questions....
please discuss
cheers
Bacchus
PS: this would be my pick of the day, although it's way too expensive!
http://fr.autoscout24.be/Details.aspx?id=136232420
Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS are great cars with a bullet proof ( almost) 3 litre V8 and the same as in the GT/4 , much underrated methinks as the two extra seats are a help for luggage on touring trips ( space in 308 is limited and all your travel stuff gets hot on long trips)..GTB is i think the better looking as it shows off Pinins lines to perfection but the GTS is wonderful as the roof clips off easily and is easily stored behind the seats and the inside buffeting at speed is not overpowering esp when the wondows are up, and talking of windows they get slower with age and the runners need cleaning out..the plastic cars (early ones) are most sort after as they are a bit lighter ( dont know by how much) and faster and dont rust and the fibreglass was really good quality as it is thick ( and thats why the weaight difference is not vast) .....the carb cars are faster/more powerful by about 20 bhp than the later fuel injected GTBi/GTSi but the fuel injected cars are easier to live with as they start readily and seem to stay in tune better....with this motor regular engine oil changes are needed and the cambelt needs to be changed regularly and its done through the rear wheel arch but should cost with a kit from about £700 to £1000( independants) and i suggest every two years no matter what the milage done as if it break the valves hit the pistons....perhpas the biggest niggling problem with them is electics and my case it is always slight corrosion at the fuse box and easy to fix although i have had the connectors all soldered on and have now had no problems for 5 of more years......the front headlights are usless and an upgrade is worth while....the cars ( i have a GTSi) are really not that fast by todays hot hatch standards and they are heavy cars with heavy steering at parking speeds and there is some scuttle shake and the targa top can squeek on bumpy roads although a touch of lubricant on the seals solves it...they are great looking cars and great to drive as the brakes arent bad and the steering is very communicative and the chassis is wonderful and could ,i think, handle a lot more power..... as a practical Ferrari ( if there is such a thing) they cant be beat for style and usability but not great as, for instance , a track day car without a some mods, i think...the carb cars put out about 240 bhp and the injection cars about 220 odd .....the 328 is a better car but perhaps does not have quite the same lines although many would disagree with me here... for the purest it has to be an early plastic GTB on carbs and for style and for practibility its a GTSi ....the cheapest are GTBi's which would be a '80/'81 car...the GTS/i carry a premium ....one thing in their favour and i incude the 328 here, is they unmistakably look like Ferraris and very few people would not recognise them and the 308 DNA is obvious through 348 and 355 and 360...they like to be used so very low milage cars are not always good but a well looked after example can be a great intro to planet ferrari for really relatively modest outlay .
orangeLP400 said:
Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS are great cars with a bullet proof ( almost) 3 litre V8 and the same as in the GT/4 , much underrated methinks as the two extra seats are a help for luggage on touring trips ( space in 308 is limited and all your travel stuff gets hot on long trips)..GTB is i think the better looking as it shows off Pinins lines to perfection but the GTS is wonderful as the roof clips off easily and is easily stored behind the seats and the inside buffeting at speed is not overpowering esp when the wondows are up, and talking of windows they get slower with age and the runners need cleaning out..the plastic cars (early ones) are most sort after as they are a bit lighter ( dont know by how much) and faster and dont rust and the fibreglass was really good quality as it is thick ( and thats why the weaight difference is not vast) .....the carb cars are faster/more powerful by about 20 bhp than the later fuel injected GTBi/GTSi but the fuel injected cars are easier to live with as they start readily and seem to stay in tune better....with this motor regular engine oil changes are needed and the cambelt needs to be changed regularly and its done through the rear wheel arch but should cost with a kit from about £700 to £1000( independants) and i suggest every two years no matter what the milage done as if it break the valves hit the pistons....perhpas the biggest niggling problem with them is electics and my case it is always slight corrosion at the fuse box and easy to fix although i have had the connectors all soldered on and have now had no problems for 5 of more years......the front headlights are usless and an upgrade is worth while....the cars ( i have a GTSi) are really not that fast by todays hot hatch standards and they are heavy cars with heavy steering at parking speeds and there is some scuttle shake and the targa top can squeek on bumpy roads although a touch of lubricant on the seals solves it...they are great looking cars and great to drive as the brakes arent bad and the steering is very communicative and the chassis is wonderful and could ,i think, handle a lot more power..... as a practical Ferrari ( if there is such a thing) they cant be beat for style and usability but not great as, for instance , a track day car without a some mods, i think...the carb cars put out about 240 bhp and the injection cars about 220 odd .....the 328 is a better car but perhaps does not have quite the same lines although many would disagree with me here... for the purest it has to be an early plastic GTB on carbs and for style and for practibility its a GTSi ....the cheapest are GTBi's which would be a '80/'81 car...the GTS/i carry a premium ....one thing in their favour and i incude the 328 here, is they unmistakably look like Ferraris and very few people would not recognise them and the 308 DNA is obvious through 348 and 355 and 360...they like to be used so very low milage cars are not always good but a well looked after example can be a great intro to planet ferrari for really relatively modest outlay .
Bloody bang on. couldn't add anything further other than the fact that they rust. The panels behind the front wheel arches show this most graphically. Rarely do I see a 308/328 that isn't showing some corrosion there. The difference in weight between the fibreglass and metal cars isn't great. In reality it is only about 50kg although Ferrari claimed a lot more. Fibreglass cars have metal chassis which can rust and also screen surrounds and a few other places. They command a premium due to rarity.
I had a GT4 and loved it. Better steering and handling than the GTB/GTS by a noticeable difference. Now have a 328 GTS and endorse earlier post. The later cars are better made and various mods. all QV cars from 1984 had a form of galvanising identical to later 328, but all cars rust.
Biggest problems with these cars is neglect and lack of use. Low mileage cars in particular can suffer from this depending on how kept. If it was a garage and polish queen then you may get a pretty car that is going to unrelialble in particular if you want to drive it properly!
There are loads of these cars. About 19000 plus between all variants so you have loads to choose form!
My best advice is buy from the a really good specialist ( with a long honest track record that is verifiable) for the older cars. the premium will get you a good car as they can't and wont sell s
te, and there is a load of really ste cars out therre! Try MIke Wheeler of Rardley or DK engineering or MHT
Hope this helps
Paul
I had a GT4 and loved it. Better steering and handling than the GTB/GTS by a noticeable difference. Now have a 328 GTS and endorse earlier post. The later cars are better made and various mods. all QV cars from 1984 had a form of galvanising identical to later 328, but all cars rust.
Biggest problems with these cars is neglect and lack of use. Low mileage cars in particular can suffer from this depending on how kept. If it was a garage and polish queen then you may get a pretty car that is going to unrelialble in particular if you want to drive it properly!
There are loads of these cars. About 19000 plus between all variants so you have loads to choose form!
My best advice is buy from the a really good specialist ( with a long honest track record that is verifiable) for the older cars. the premium will get you a good car as they can't and wont sell s
te, and there is a load of really ste cars out therre! Try MIke Wheeler of Rardley or DK engineering or MHTHope this helps
Paul
Despite the poor electrics, shoddy build quality and heavy steering, I really do miss mine. The most important thing is to buy a good one. Make sure it's not full of filler and that everything electrical works properly and all trim parts are present and correct. Don't forget that Daytonas share parts such as the indicator/light stalk assembly - so you'll pay Daytona prices if you need them.
Such a pretty car and I loved the little details; the toggle switches, the "rightness" of the instrument binnacle and the peculiar Italian trait of over-elaborating certain detailing (eg the eerie green light whose sole purpose seems to be (and indeed is) to illuminate a 3 inch square patch of vinyl clad centre console directly beneath the handbrake (why?)...and why go to the lengths of fitting a proper lock to the non-fuel filler vent cover (answer= 'cos of symmetry)
Such a pretty car and I loved the little details; the toggle switches, the "rightness" of the instrument binnacle and the peculiar Italian trait of over-elaborating certain detailing (eg the eerie green light whose sole purpose seems to be (and indeed is) to illuminate a 3 inch square patch of vinyl clad centre console directly beneath the handbrake (why?)...and why go to the lengths of fitting a proper lock to the non-fuel filler vent cover (answer= 'cos of symmetry)
I'm not (and,sadly,never have been) an owner of one of these but I have worked at a Ferrari specialist,and these were always one of my favourite cars.
Sure, they aren't going to post great lap times on a track compared to modern cars, but to me they are still one of the prettiest cars ever made and guranteed to put a big smile on your face!
The GTBs had a dry sump as they were slightly more racing orientated but it is lovely on a sunny day having the roof panel off a GTS, feeling the sunshine and hearing the sweet V8 all the more, especially with four twin choke Webber carbs behind you!
The 328s were a little more civilised and robust, but in my opinion lost a little bit of the prettiness and rawness of the 308.
Just in case you don't know, if you take a test drive of one, it is quite normal to have difficulty engaging second gear until the gear oil warms up, this is normal and not to be worried about.
If you find a well sorted and looked after example they aren't very expensive to run, as long as nothing major breaks, but they are generally fairly tough.
Sure, they aren't going to post great lap times on a track compared to modern cars, but to me they are still one of the prettiest cars ever made and guranteed to put a big smile on your face!
The GTBs had a dry sump as they were slightly more racing orientated but it is lovely on a sunny day having the roof panel off a GTS, feeling the sunshine and hearing the sweet V8 all the more, especially with four twin choke Webber carbs behind you!
The 328s were a little more civilised and robust, but in my opinion lost a little bit of the prettiness and rawness of the 308.
Just in case you don't know, if you take a test drive of one, it is quite normal to have difficulty engaging second gear until the gear oil warms up, this is normal and not to be worried about.
If you find a well sorted and looked after example they aren't very expensive to run, as long as nothing major breaks, but they are generally fairly tough.
Edited by ROOODBOY on Sunday 17th May 02:53
ROOODBOY said:
I
The GTBs had a dry sump as they were slightly more racing orientated but it is lovely on a sunny day having the roof panel off a GTS, feeling the sunshine and hearing the sweet V8 all the more, especially with four twin choke Webber carbs behind you!
AFAIK only the earlier cars were dry sumped and I'm pretty sure the only reason you never saw a dry sumped GTS was becuase that model was introduced after Ferrari ditched the dry sump for the car. The GTBs had a dry sump as they were slightly more racing orientated but it is lovely on a sunny day having the roof panel off a GTS, feeling the sunshine and hearing the sweet V8 all the more, especially with four twin choke Webber carbs behind you!
One option on the 308 was the uprated suspension with 16 inch wheels and ULP tyres (P7s). This option on its own cost more than a brand new mini at the time. It came from a private project by Gilles Villeneuve to get his own personal 308 to handle well. Just bolting 16 inch wheels on won't work as nearly every component was changed. This is a must have option if you are an enthusiastic driver. On any 308 it is well worth having the shock absorbers rebuilt, they get tired with age and rebuilding is not expensive.
The sports exhaust is good. But Ferrari tended to jet the carbs up differently to allow for the better breathing. If you fit an aftermarket exhaust it may well be worth remembering.
The deep front spoiler (DFS) option is well worth having and keeps the front planted at speed. Not so good over humps though. The rear spoiler option, just behind the window, is purely aesthetic and serves no function other than to increase wind noise. Ferrari only did it because owners wanted the Boxer look. On the Boxer it does something.
The i models are not only less powerful. They run too rich which flushes the lubricant off the cylinders and leads to early bore wear. Many owners switched to carbs.
The 328 is one of the all time great road Ferraris. More power, far better build quality and sublime handling. Owners of these know exactly what they are doing.
The sports exhaust is good. But Ferrari tended to jet the carbs up differently to allow for the better breathing. If you fit an aftermarket exhaust it may well be worth remembering.
The deep front spoiler (DFS) option is well worth having and keeps the front planted at speed. Not so good over humps though. The rear spoiler option, just behind the window, is purely aesthetic and serves no function other than to increase wind noise. Ferrari only did it because owners wanted the Boxer look. On the Boxer it does something.
The i models are not only less powerful. They run too rich which flushes the lubricant off the cylinders and leads to early bore wear. Many owners switched to carbs.
The 328 is one of the all time great road Ferraris. More power, far better build quality and sublime handling. Owners of these know exactly what they are doing.
As an aside to the above, it's worth noting that the earlier steel cars are much better built than the post 1980 ones for some reason. 1980 to '84 in terms of corrossion are the ones to avoid.
As has been mentioned the 328 is a much better built & finished machine altogether.
Cheers, Al.
As has been mentioned the 328 is a much better built & finished machine altogether.
Cheers, Al.
Duke of Rothesay said:
One option on the 308 was the uprated suspension with 16 inch wheels and ULP tyres (P7s). This option on its own cost more than a brand new mini at the time. It came from a private project by Gilles Villeneuve to get his own personal 308 to handle well. Just bolting 16 inch wheels on won't work as nearly every component was changed. This is a must have option if you are an enthusiastic driver. On any 308 it is well worth having the shock absorbers rebuilt, they get tired with age and rebuilding is not expensive.
The sports exhaust is good. But Ferrari tended to jet the carbs up differently to allow for the better breathing. If you fit an aftermarket exhaust it may well be worth remembering.
The deep front spoiler (DFS) option is well worth having and keeps the front planted at speed. Not so good over humps though. The rear spoiler option, just behind the window, is purely aesthetic and serves no function other than to increase wind noise. Ferrari only did it because owners wanted the Boxer look. On the Boxer it does something.
The i models are not only less powerful. They run too rich which flushes the lubricant off the cylinders and leads to early bore wear. Many owners switched to carbs.
The 328 is one of the all time great road Ferraris. More power, far better build quality and sublime handling. Owners of these know exactly what they are doing.
Not sure I entirely agree with this. Ferrari did change the spec of the suspension slightly for the change from 14 to 16 wheels and the info can be found on the various websites with the service bulletins. The later 328's with ABS were the most different suspension wise as there were wholesale changes and it is quite different to any non ABS cars. Whilst i now have a 328ABS i prefer the steering feel and handling of the non ABS models. Whilst the ABS models are ultimatley better handling and secure that isn't quite the most important point in older cars.The sports exhaust is good. But Ferrari tended to jet the carbs up differently to allow for the better breathing. If you fit an aftermarket exhaust it may well be worth remembering.
The deep front spoiler (DFS) option is well worth having and keeps the front planted at speed. Not so good over humps though. The rear spoiler option, just behind the window, is purely aesthetic and serves no function other than to increase wind noise. Ferrari only did it because owners wanted the Boxer look. On the Boxer it does something.
The i models are not only less powerful. They run too rich which flushes the lubricant off the cylinders and leads to early bore wear. Many owners switched to carbs.
The 328 is one of the all time great road Ferraris. More power, far better build quality and sublime handling. Owners of these know exactly what they are doing.
If a carb car is well set up, then apart form a delay in staring it form any period of inactivity they run well. They make a better noise and have more instant response in lower speeds. They have less power above about 4000rpm than the later QV's, whether 308 or 328. Again personaly I like the noise in the carb cars. The Qv;'s are significantly more economical. 17 compared to 23 town, 20 compared to 27 motorway and QV's easier to maintain.
The 328 was quite different in many respects, eg manifolds, exhausts, liners etc to the 308 and is 'best of breed' in the 308 reliability chain. Mind you all last in production cars were better built than earlier ones.
Hope this helps
Paul
I only have one piece of advice...if you are 6ft or overm dont assume you can get in or out properly and ensure you have adequate roon to mvoe your knees under the steering wheel.
Or you make a complete and utter arse of yourself in the showroom in front of the sales bloke and thereafter you feel about 1ft tall and a bellend.
Or you make a complete and utter arse of yourself in the showroom in front of the sales bloke and thereafter you feel about 1ft tall and a bellend.
[quote=paulqv...If a carb car is well set up, then apart form a delay in staring it form any period of inactivity they run well.
[/quote]
My carb'd car appears to be the exception to this rule. (I'll probably regret saying this...
)
For example, I put the car in the garage from Mid September 2008 and didn't drag it out until March this year (some building work blocked the garage). In that time I started it 3 times, each time it started 1st or 2nd attempt. Admittedly, I gave a fair glug of juice (4 pumps on the gas) & some careful throttle manipulation for the first minute or so.
I've had the car 12 years and it has always started well from cold. Hot starts require some judgement but thats my problem not the cars. The carbs have only had minor adjustments a couple of times in those 12 years.
Cambelts - every 3 years is the general recommendation and an independant should do this for £400 in my experience
[/quote]
My carb'd car appears to be the exception to this rule. (I'll probably regret saying this...
)For example, I put the car in the garage from Mid September 2008 and didn't drag it out until March this year (some building work blocked the garage). In that time I started it 3 times, each time it started 1st or 2nd attempt. Admittedly, I gave a fair glug of juice (4 pumps on the gas) & some careful throttle manipulation for the first minute or so.
I've had the car 12 years and it has always started well from cold. Hot starts require some judgement but thats my problem not the cars. The carbs have only had minor adjustments a couple of times in those 12 years.
Cambelts - every 3 years is the general recommendation and an independant should do this for £400 in my experience
lol
In the fuel injected cars they just start, but ont eh carb cars you do need to prod a few times and they usually catch as you say after a few hits. Some young folk on here think that is bad starting, old ones like me remember a differnt time!
for hot starting best advice which always works, is depress accelerator by about i/2 inch and don't move it at all and turn key and keep on until starts.
works well on my four carb cars!!
Paul
x
In the fuel injected cars they just start, but ont eh carb cars you do need to prod a few times and they usually catch as you say after a few hits. Some young folk on here think that is bad starting, old ones like me remember a differnt time!
for hot starting best advice which always works, is depress accelerator by about i/2 inch and don't move it at all and turn key and keep on until starts.
works well on my four carb cars!!
Paul
x
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