Ferrari 308

[Yves]

Hi everyone,

My search turned out no result in this forum, it's quite strange, am I really the first person who wants to know something about a 308 Ferrari?

I have collected some information on the net, but what I wanted to hear was, how they drive an behave etc...

I know the ferrarichat.com site, but I would like to hear opinions of people who once drove one, as they have another view on the car than an owner!


Ciao Yves

[kristoj]

I have a friend who owns an '85 Euro model that I have driven. My assessment is that is was very disappointing. The acceleration was leasurely to say the least and probably the biggest disappointment. Handling is pretty decent for that era and the engine note sounds really nice with his Tubi exhaust. I guess the 308 represents a great way to get the Ferrari experience at a low cost point. But when you factor in the maintenance costs, and the other (much more rare and beautiful) vintage Italian cars you could buy with your $30k to $35k, the 308 doesn't stack up IMO.

[lowmileage]

Is that the model Thomas Magnum drove.

[silverspider]

In defense of the 308 GTB...........

Virtual garage - Ferrari 308 vs 328 GTB

[lowmileage]

Those cars require wayy too much maintenance. Why they went with those rubber timing belts that have to be replaced every (?) 5 years or so
(ir)regardless of mileage, is nuts. If i'm gunna spend $5 - $7K on a tune-up, it had better be on a car that costs wayy more than 30 grand. My Ferrari preference is the 250 SWB - now let me check e-bay to see how much one of those babies are gunna cost me.

[davbert]

i think my 105 gtv was quite a bit more involving to drive than the last 3 carb 308's ive driven. much more lively and tossable than the stock 308's and maybe just as quick in acceleration by the seat of the pants feel.

still a 308 is a charismatic drive that oozes that old school italian machineary magic. a gtb is stunningly beautiful to these eyes.

i have a lightweight euro spec gt4 with small bumpers that i probably wont finish anytime soon and may put up for sale if anybody is interested in a project car.

[Travis_k]

I saw one at an autocross ones, it was very slow, and blew big clouds of blue smoke. For a ferarri, it was rather embarassing. I dont hate them, but I would never buy one becasue there are so many other cars id rather spend $30k on if i had it.

[1,6 HF]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowmileage ... My Ferrari preference is the 250 SWB - now let me check e-bay to see how much one of those babies are gunna cost me.

[silverspider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1,6 HF Well, the market's a little soft right now, so a decent 250SWB, steel body w/ no important history, shouldn't set you back much more than about $2M--just a slight step up from a +/-$35k 308 that Yves is discussing...

[mbaum]

Sure, there are deals to be head for modern day Ferraris and you can find what you want for less than $40k - Testarossas, 308/ 320/ 348, love the 456. Buying is easy, maintaining ... not so much. Just think of the engine service requirements and all the small electronics that will break. Look up Sheehan's SCM stories on cheap modern day Ferraris. Scares me away anytime.

And while the Testarossa sure is lovely, it is not a 250SWB.

Oh, and for Yves - Also would love driving one. Best to get it from a friend or neighbor who has one. There should be plenty around. I hear only the best regarding 308s, especially the ones with carbs. You might want to dig out a recent C&SC magazine: I believe they ran a recent story on cheap modern Ferraris as well as on the driving experience of the 308/328/348. I can look up which months the stories ran if you want to.

[Super1600]

Its a funny thing, but as much as I do love Ferrari's I doubt I will never own one, even if I could afford to buy one.

I had a ride in a 308 GTS and yes it looked like a Ferrari, red, low, gated gearchange etc, the engine note sounded more like a 4 cylinder Lotus. Hmn strange given its a V8. I think the going rate for 308s out here in Aus are anything over $65K.

Anyway, I kind of like the earlier 308 GT4, even if designed by Bertone rather than Pinnafarina, and yes they too are relatively inexpensive to buy even out here in Aus, a good one should cost say around $40-50K.

However, if money was no object a Dino is the one I would go for (but they cost > $200K) here. I had a number of rides in a 246 GT (2.4) earlier this year at one of our car club hillclimbs and the sound of the quad cam V6 made all the correct noises. Now that is a Ferrari. I tell you what though, for considerably less money, the most affordable Ferrari to buy (not necessarily maintain since all Ferraris cost $$$ to maintain) is the Fiat Dino coupe or spider in either 2.0 or 2.4L. That would be my choice if I could afford and justify it. Just a thought.

Otherwise a decent Alfa V6 is the next best thing to the Ferrari.

[mbaum]

Yves, check out C&SC 8/09 on cheap Ferraris, including 308 and C&SC 8/08 for a nice in depth review of everything 308 (In comparison to a Lotus Esprit Turbo). Some highlights:

• On engine sound: More gear whine than engine noise .
• Higher up the rev range, the induction noise of the Webers kicks in - That probably prompted the previous comments of "not sounding like a Ferrari"
• Heavy clutch, usual 2nd gear issue
• Acceleration not the car's forte - more due to weight than lack of hp
• Seamless power, not peaky at all
• Surprisingly easy and forgiving to drive
• Surprisingly good driving position for an Italian, slightly heavy steering
• Direct but tiny amount of play in the steering
• Exceptional handling, totally planted - Sweeps through curves undisturbed by bumps
• Tiny amount of understeer
• Huge turning cicle (40ft)

Hope this helps - now I want to confirm personally what they write.

Mike

[ncundy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverspider Sorry Ed, but Lowmileage has got it exactly right. With a little researching and hard work, you can find great deals on the Prancing Horse marque. For example, I picked up this Testarossa for much less than I thought possible....

[davbert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbaum Yves, check out C&SC 8/09 on cheap Ferraris, including 308 and C&SC 8/08 for a nice in depth review of everything 308 (In comparison to a Lotus Esprit Turbo). Some highlights: On engine sound: More gear whine than engine noise . Higher up the rev range, the induction noise of the Webers kicks in - That probably prompted the previous comments of "not sounding like a Ferrari" Heavy clutch, usual 2nd gear issue Acceleration not the car's forte - more due to weight than lack of hp Seamless power, not peaky at all Surprisingly easy and forgiving to drive Surprisingly good driving position for an Italian, slightly heavy steering Direct but tiny amount of play in the steering Exceptional handling, totally planted - Sweeps through curves undisturbed by bumps Tiny amount of understeer Huge turning cicle (40ft) Hope this helps - now I want to confirm personally what they write. Mike

[alfavirusnz]

I`ve actually owned one (and a Testarossa) in European spec and can say that they are a very nice car with a typically Italian, (despite the reputation), non peaky engine, they handle extremely well (but are not chuckable)and have excellent braking. Even my 6' 2'' long legged frame fitted well. They are pretty simple mechanically and easy enough to work on, and not outrageously dear for parts if you go to the right sources.-I do all my own mechanical work though.
BUT Ferraris in my experience are a bit of a disappointment (certainly the ones I can afford) in that they certainly attract the lookers (usually the ignorant and uninformed), are a great for picking up women and go well, but `70`s & 80`s technology is now old technology and what ws fast once is no-longer top of the tree now so even though they have the dramatic looks, and are still fast they are no longer FAST. They are also a bit large and heavy so lack outright agility and although a high quality product in everything from trim and materials to engineering there is something with them that just didn`t gell for me. Limited use too because of their limited brief regarding everyday practicality such as visibility for tight parking manoeuvres, ground clearance for judder bars and when you exit from say a service station onto the road and scrape the front spoiler. Can`t just park and leave them either without a minder because some light fingered bastard will attempt to swipe the badge or coin it or in one instance with mine walk over the top of it.
What the Ferraris did for me, and don`t forget I am a hardcore car enthusiast who aspired to a Ferrari as the ultimate, is make me realise what an absolute motoring bargain old (up til end of GTV6`s)Alfa Romeos are. You have the same engineering quality and style in a far more usable package with performance which in real terms, on real roads isn`t that much different from a Ferrari of the same era and even better costs much less. I used to sit in my Testarossa and gaze up at the beautiful red leather headlining and hand stitched sun visors and sit in the 308 and look at the lovely stitched leather seats then hop in the GTV6 and see the black plastic dash, plastic sunvisors and obviously mass produced cloth seats and think this is the real difference, because once you drove any of them they felt very similar but the GTV6 I could take anywhere , any time and driving it felt a lot more agile (and trustworthy at 10/10ths)
I never kept the Ferraris but I`ve kept those Alfas. Would I own another Ferrari? Course I would but it would be one of the smaller and earlier models which are of course in size, and feel more like those Alfas. One only needs though a bank balance of a few million which I certainly haven`t but dreams are free.