Dictys

I also have both cars and in summary the 308 is a go kart with a screamer of an engine (make sure you fit a tubi!) and the 928 feel more of a brusier, even though the controls are reversed. A year or so ago I took the 308 for 3500m trip around europe and it performed flawessly without a single problem. The cars are chalk and cheese but both a special event owning and driving.

EspritS4s

Dictys,
You have a great collection of cars! How does your Esprit stack up to your 308 and 928?

Dictys

Thanks Gary,

The Esprit is the mad bitch of the group to be fair, it has red racing ECU's, sports exhaust and for the liquid intercooler runs pure water wetter. It will easily out pace a V8 Esprit. The steering is sublime and the handling is good to a point, it is not as predictable as the 308 or 928 and you need your wits about you at all times and very much so in the wet (in fact I don't tend to drive this car in the wet due a previous experience with an esprit). This is the only car I've had that is a physical and mental workout and after an hour I'm shattered. In the end the Esprit is the fastest of the lot, good looking but a maintence nightmare, but for that 5 o'clock 1 hour blast whilst the the rest of the family is a sleep it is awesome and there is nothing better.

EspritS4s

Yeah, the Esprit demands attention when driving. Although, I've taken mine on some fairly long trips including a trip from Boston to Atlanta and back a few years ago (also about 3500km). I just barely fit in the Esprit, but it was still a fun trip and not too tiring. Few cars, here in the US, other than Lambos or Ferraris will get more attention than the Esprit.

I view the Esprit and the 928 (especially the 928) as under-appreciated sports cars of the 80's and 90's. I'm always curious to hear how the 308-355 era of Ferraris stack up to the Esprit and 928 in terms of enthusiast following, parts cost, and feasibility of DIY maintenance and repair. Eventually, I plan to add something Italian to my collection.

anonymousagain

nice review Mark. The 308/328 seems to have faded popularity to the "oh yea, a Magnum Ferrari", but they are gems indeed if you can handle/afford the maintenance.

Long time ago when new, I had the privilege of regularly driving a nice rotation of 1984 928S, 1985 Corvette, 1986 328GTS. Fortunate friends with collections.

The GTS was my favorite short-time and non-traffic. Heavy clutch, 2nd gear cold notchiness and slightly misaligned seat-to-wheel were the main gripes. Your heaviness vs- lightness explanation is right on.
Ultimately, maintenance became the biggest nag for the GTS, but man was that thing a blast to point and shoot with a brilliant exhaust sound on throttle.

FWIW, while the 928 was not the speedster of the bunch, it was the most enjoyable to drive all the time and for long distances. Actual, head to head two lane sessions also proved no advantage to the GTS, with the 928 adhering to the "smooth is fast" mantra. Still, nothing like the excitement feel in the Ferrari and constant ear to ear grin when you stabbed it.

Marine Blue

This really is a great thread and it highlights my biggest gripe with the 928 (if you can call it that). The car doesn't feel fast when you're driving it. It feels like your putting along all the time unless you're going really fast! In most parts of the country this isn't a big deal but around here (South East MA) its not really safe since majority of the street are littered with houses and kids which invetibly find there way into the road. This is the only reason I have my GT for sale, I just don't enjoy driving it around here. Sounds like a 308 might be a better car for these parts since it feels/sounds like its going faster.

fraggle

Inform the ignorant here: is the 308 "home mechanic" community as large as the 928? We hear nightmares about 928 maintenance, but when you do everything yourself I really don't think it's that rough. Home supercar mechanics rule!

Landseer

When are those T-shirts going to be ready, BTW?

shmark

That's a major reason I was comfortable buying one. Ferrarichat is a very large community much like Rennlist and the 308 contingent is extremely active and supportive of the home mechanic, a lot like the 928 group. There are lots of tech articles, some very deep expertise, and a general consensus that DIY is better than taking it to a dealer for the same reasons we have - dealers don't know the cars any more and will charge outrageous prices to screw up your car. Good bunch of people.

fraggle

That's cool info on the 308. I've considered jumping into that one but keeping the 928 and finishing my 914 - and staying married - has been my priority!

And yes I still plan on some ASCMA t shirts someday!

shmark

Well neither one is fast by modern standards, but they are very close in absolute terms. A 300hp 928 and a 250hp 308 have about the same p/w ratio and it would be a real interesting comparison to see which one can turn in faster lap times. On any horsepower track your GT could probably outrun my 308, but on a handling track it would be really close. Subjectively I'd feel like my hair was on fire while you'd be fairly relaxed even though we were both on the limit. Both have similar limits, but you're right the 308 feels faster at slower speeds.

This past weekend my mother was visiting. We went for a ride in the 308 to visit some friends and she actually got really nervous, telling me to slow down. Later we took the 928 for a ride and while I was actually going faster, she said it didn't feel nearly as fast and she wasn't going for that imaginary brake pedal on the passenger side. I guess that sums it up.

NoVector

Do they have supportive vendors like we do too(?) I keep thinking about buying a 308 or 328 before the economy picks back up. But their low mialge on e-bay has always made me think they’re garage queens—not drivers like Porsches.

Marine Blue

Economy is already showing signs of strength although the media will have the general public believe otherwise. Now is a great time to buy a classic car and I think 80's cars are next on the list to see a price increase. Since there weren't that many cool cars made in the 80's it bodes will for the cars which were cool like the 308, 911's, 928's, Countach. Of course this is my opinion.

shmark

If you jump on Ferrarichat you'll find the drivers and enthusiasts, and yes there are plenty of them. That's where the good cars are that are maintained and driven, and they usually change hands via word of mouth. Ebay is where most of the queens and roaches are, not what I'd want to buy.

If you're in a position, right now is one of the best times in memory to buy a collector car of any kind. Prices are bottoming out and if you're smart, you shouldn't lose any of your purchase price over the next five years...and it just might increase in value. The Ferrari market in general has tanked in a big way, but certain models are at the bottom and have ridden out the recession well. The 308 is one of those and IMO is poised to go up in value over the next few years. Hell look at an S4 for under ten grand, that's amazing. Although I don't think 928s are going up in value any time soon.

redpathtribe

Perfect time for a few excerpts from the '84 Road & Track Sports & GT Cars Guide (My wife hates it, but this is EXACTLY why I keep a lot of these old magazines!). This is from a comparison test of a 928S (5-speed), 944, 308 GTB Quattovalvole and a Corvette, so in the day, this was a great straight up comparison (for the sake of this thread, I won't include info. on the Vette or 944).

928S - as tested $45,075
308qv - as tested $59,500

928S - test wt., 3520 lbs. - lbs/bhp (test wt.) 15.0
308qv - test wt., 3440 lbs. - lbs/bhp (test wt.) 14.9

928S - 4644cc, 234 Bhp @ 5500 rpm, Trq. - 263 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
308qv - 2926cc, 230 Bhp @ 6800 rpm, Trq. - 188 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm

928S - 0-60 - 7.0 sec, 1/4 mi - 15.4 sec, top speed 146 mph
308qv - 0-60 - 6.8 sec, 1/4 mi - 15.2 sec, top speed 142 mph

928S - lat. acc, g - 0.818, slalom speed - 58.4 mph
308qv - lat. acc, g - 0.811, slalom speed - 60.9 mph

928S - braking 60-0 - 156 ft, 80-0 - 280 ft
308qv - braking 60-0 - 153 ft, 80-0 - 262 ft

That's the highlights, but it's amazing how close they are in most of the categories.

In the cumulative subjective ratings... Ta Da!

928S - 481 points
308qv - 451 points

In the objective staff/driver's preferences, for price independent the 308 was the clear winner, but when price was factored in, the 928 and 308 were within 1 point.

The article has VERY similar comments to the ones that have already been made by those that have driven both, e.g. "Several drivers said the 928S has few flaws and may be one of the best automobiles ever made, but a combination of less than spectacular styling, bulk and almost obsessive perfection in detail made the car less well loved than the others". (The 928 is) "A magnificently competent car that never gets my adrenaline going". "You never forget for a moment, when driving the 308, that you're in a Ferrari, but the 928S works so well you almost forget you are driving."

Very cool article, thought you all would enjoy at least a bit of it!