Should I change my Porsche 911 3.2 to a Ferrari 308??
Discussion
I am currently in a bit of a dilemma and hope some of you can add few words of advice/encouragement? I have a lovely '89 911 3.2 carrera sport and am in the mood to change this for a Ferrari 308 GTB. The trouble is... although I have the passion burning inside to own one of these cars I am reluctant because of all the stories you hear about maintenance bills, crap electrics/build quality. The Porsche has been superb – starts every time, drives perfectly and excellent build quality (although does suffer from some rust spots), but it just doesn't have the same exotica.
Can any one help me out with some advice on this matter – hopefully someone who has owned a 308 and let me know their experiences. My budget is up to £25k. Many thanks in advance. James
Can any one help me out with some advice on this matter – hopefully someone who has owned a 308 and let me know their experiences. My budget is up to £25k. Many thanks in advance. James
James - for £25k you will get a superb 308, the running costs will be slightly higher than the 911 but not too horrendous (unless you break some hard to find bit!).
I went from a very very good 911 3.2, and I mean, it would red line in top and surprised a lot of n/a 993s and 996s. I went back to (my second) Ferrari 348 which is also superb.
I loved my 911 to bits and it is truly the one car that I should never have sold, more so than my first 348 Spider ... but, as you say, the Porsche cannot hold a candle to the Ferrari in the "sense of occasion" stakes. There is just something about a Ferrari that gets under your skin and is very hard to let go.
I would really like to go back to a 911, but know I would possibly regret it within three months, not from a driving perspective, but because the Ferrari would leave a hole in the garage bigger than the actual car, if you see what I mean.
To help answer your question - if you have a very sorted 3.2 that will do a genuine 150mph plus, then you may be disappointed in the pace of a 308/328. I would go for a 348.
If it is the joy and experience of owning a Ferrari, then go ahead. The cars are not the horrendous money pits that you sometimes hear of if you get them properly inspected and find a good one.
Good luck
I went from a very very good 911 3.2, and I mean, it would red line in top and surprised a lot of n/a 993s and 996s. I went back to (my second) Ferrari 348 which is also superb.
I loved my 911 to bits and it is truly the one car that I should never have sold, more so than my first 348 Spider ... but, as you say, the Porsche cannot hold a candle to the Ferrari in the "sense of occasion" stakes. There is just something about a Ferrari that gets under your skin and is very hard to let go.
I would really like to go back to a 911, but know I would possibly regret it within three months, not from a driving perspective, but because the Ferrari would leave a hole in the garage bigger than the actual car, if you see what I mean.
To help answer your question - if you have a very sorted 3.2 that will do a genuine 150mph plus, then you may be disappointed in the pace of a 308/328. I would go for a 348.
If it is the joy and experience of owning a Ferrari, then go ahead. The cars are not the horrendous money pits that you sometimes hear of if you get them properly inspected and find a good one.
Good luck
Rough_Diamond said:
Why go for the 308, when for not a lot more cash, you could get a superb 328 or 348.
308s are lovely cars, but we are talking of an eighties car, which will always feel like a thirty year old car, no matter how well it has been looked after.
With all due respect, the guy already owns and clearly loves his eighties car that feels like a thirty year old car - that's why he owns a 911.308s are lovely cars, but we are talking of an eighties car, which will always feel like a thirty year old car, no matter how well it has been looked after.
Don't necessarily expect a 308 to be as reliable as a 911. It rusts, the electrics are not the best and the steering has no way near the feel of the 911. It prefers to be used and won't awake from a long sleep with anything like the alactricy of your 911.
It is about as quick as a 3.2 but to get that power out of it you have to rev it to the 7700 redline, unlike a 3.2.
But as much character as your 911? Oh yes - the engine, the sound, the looks. What do you get in a 328? An undeniably more modern car, but the Fiat switchgear (no nice toggles) and a less "pure" shape, but both cars are pretty.
I personally can't see how a 348 can compete with a 308 or 328 in the looks department.
FWIW I went straight from my 5th (and to date last) 911 (a 3.2) to the 308 to realise a dream. Whilst I spent a lot on maintenance on the 308, I still had a lot of fun in it. Go and buy one, but find a good one first - a bad Ferrari is a lot worse than a bad Porsche. Make it red too - they really are easier to sell.
I've had a 208 GT4 and now have a 308 GT4, both with the same basic mechanicals as the 308 GTB. The 208 had been laid up for a while, and though it looked in good condition, it worked out very expensive to run over the 4 years I had it. My 308 looked in worse condition, had higher mileage (82k miles!) but has been a lot cheaper to run. The key when looking for one is to find one that has evidence of regular recent use. My personal preference would be for a carb car as they sound nicer and have more HP than a 2v injected car. A sports exhaust will also improve the experience.
I've had a carb'd 308GTB for almost 12 years. I've not done stacks of miles in it (1k or 2k a year) but in terms of reliability it has been first class. I personally have never had a problem with electrics or starting (didn't touch it for 3 months last winter - but started it on the second attempt after 4 stamps on the gas pedal!). Yes, I possibly started with a very good car or I may have been very lucky. As mentioned rust is a continual battle but other than that maintenance isn't too painful.
Having said the above, if I had £25k burning a hole in my pocket I would be sorely tempted of find the few extra pounds and investigate the 348 market. The difference in performance is considerable. On the downside, from what I have seen, maintenance and servicing can be dearer.
Get in touch if you have any specific questions...
Having said the above, if I had £25k burning a hole in my pocket I would be sorely tempted of find the few extra pounds and investigate the 348 market. The difference in performance is considerable. On the downside, from what I have seen, maintenance and servicing can be dearer.
Get in touch if you have any specific questions...
Edited by Andy 308GTB on Monday 12th October 20:30
I have a 308Gts QV and although i've only had it since April, have done around 2K miles. It starts first time every time and i still break out into a big grin when going for an "enthusiatic" drive arond the local roads.
Buy one, if you don't get on with it you can always sell it for what you paid in a years time!
Buy one, if you don't get on with it you can always sell it for what you paid in a years time!
About a month ago i acquired a 308 GTB QV. I wasn't moving from a 911 like you, just acquiring one because I love the purity of the design and wanted to experience the Ferrari ownership thing. I did a fair bit of research and was realistic in what to expect. Yes, it makes a great sound, yes it is special to drive and yes, it is attracts attention (in a positive way). For me, a 911 is robust and a very accomplished car, whatever vintage you go for, but not as special as a 308.
Comparing the 308 to a 328, it depends what you want. The 328 is faster and more modern but not as true to the original design of the 308. the 348, in terms of looks and performance is very different.
On reliability and running costs, it is to early for me to say. I found a car that had clearly been very well cared for, had a recent full service and cambelt change so I can drive and enjoy for 12 months and not worry. there is a lot of knowledge and support to be found in this forum and get a PPI done - I used Andrew Webster and he was extremely helpful.
Attached are some pics to entice you to move over to the red side!
Comparing the 308 to a 328, it depends what you want. The 328 is faster and more modern but not as true to the original design of the 308. the 348, in terms of looks and performance is very different.
On reliability and running costs, it is to early for me to say. I found a car that had clearly been very well cared for, had a recent full service and cambelt change so I can drive and enjoy for 12 months and not worry. there is a lot of knowledge and support to be found in this forum and get a PPI done - I used Andrew Webster and he was extremely helpful.
Attached are some pics to entice you to move over to the red side!
About a month ago i acquired a 308 GTB QV. I wasn't moving from a 911 like you, just acquiring one because I love the purity of the design and wanted to experience the Ferrari ownership thing. I did a fair bit of research and was realistic in what to expect. Yes, it makes a great sound, yes it is special to drive and yes, it is attracts attention (in a positive way). For me, a 911 is robust and a very accomplished car, whatever vintage you go for, but not as special as a 308.
Comparing the 308 to a 328, it depends what you want. The 328 is faster and more modern but not as true to the original design of the 308. the 348, in terms of looks and performance is very different.
On reliability and running costs, it is to early for me to say. I found a car that had clearly been very well cared for, had a recent full service and cambelt change so I can drive and enjoy for 12 months and not worry. there is a lot of knowledge and support to be found in this forum and get a PPI done - I used Andrew Webster and he was extremely helpful.
Attached are some pics to entice you to move over to the red side!
Comparing the 308 to a 328, it depends what you want. The 328 is faster and more modern but not as true to the original design of the 308. the 348, in terms of looks and performance is very different.
On reliability and running costs, it is to early for me to say. I found a car that had clearly been very well cared for, had a recent full service and cambelt change so I can drive and enjoy for 12 months and not worry. there is a lot of knowledge and support to be found in this forum and get a PPI done - I used Andrew Webster and he was extremely helpful.
Attached are some pics to entice you to move over to the red side!
yes - do it!
i'm lucky in that I kept my '89 3.2 Carrera when i bought a 355, so I didn't have to say goodbye to it
as much as I love the 911, a Ferrari is so much more special, and my 911 is slightly neglected these days
po-faced Teutonic German engineering is one thing but the sheer joy of Italian design is more rewarding
have fun whatever you decide
Martin
i'm lucky in that I kept my '89 3.2 Carrera when i bought a 355, so I didn't have to say goodbye to it
as much as I love the 911, a Ferrari is so much more special, and my 911 is slightly neglected these days
po-faced Teutonic German engineering is one thing but the sheer joy of Italian design is more rewarding
have fun whatever you decide
Martin
Go for it
After years of yearning I fell for a relatively cheap 308GTB - had to be a carbed one tho'. After a significant service (belts, hoses, carbs) it has run fantastically for over a year / 3000 miles
As often said its worth looking at cars that have been regularly used and well looked after (not garage queens)
And as has also already been 308 GTB = most beautiful car EVER
You will not be dissappointed
After years of yearning I fell for a relatively cheap 308GTB - had to be a carbed one tho'. After a significant service (belts, hoses, carbs) it has run fantastically for over a year / 3000 miles
As often said its worth looking at cars that have been regularly used and well looked after (not garage queens)
And as has also already been 308 GTB = most beautiful car EVER
You will not be dissappointed
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