When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Stop me if y'all think this is a bad idea. I'd like to see if anyone with a 308 is interested in trading cars for a couple days. I've never owned a Ferrari but always loved the 80s 308s (when I was a kid I had the "trio" of posters on my wall - 911, 308, Countach... maybe a Testarossa too). But I'm not sure if it's something I'd actually want to own, and only having garage space (and budget) for one toy car, I'd have to sell the 911 to buy one. So I'm thinking, maybe borrow one for a few days and see what it's like to live with. I really don't see liking a Ferrari more than my 911, but I haven't been able to get the thought out of my head. I don't want to just post blindly on f-chat - I want to find someone that someone I know (even if only virtually online) can vouch for, to make sure my car is in good hands.
Good luck on your quest. If I owned a Ferrari (and I never will because I don't fit. I couldn't get comfortable in a new 488. No head room or leg room) I wouldn't let anyone else drive it but maybe that's just me. Fond memories from Magnum P. I.
A ski acquaintance was cool to my swap suggestion and I was offering up a lot more powerful/expensive collateral. More likely to swap his wife he said! OK I get that. Good luck.
Hah, I'm not tall, so no worries there Looking at my appraisal and what 308s are asking on auto trader, it's a pretty even swap, in terms of dollar value. My car's value would be on the higher end of the 308s for sale.
You’ll have better luck if you visit cars and coffees with the hope that one shows up and you can talk to the owner and sit in it and perhaps if you’re lucky the guy will take you for a spin.
Personally. I could never trade. I can't handle the "what if..."
I stored two cars in my garage, while friends moved.
993 turbo, and a Nissan GTR. Both left the keys for me.
Only moved them, when they came to pick them up.
Back in the early 90s I made regular pilgrimages up to what was Ferrari of Ontario as I really wanted to buy one; almost pulled the trigger but the maintenance costs scared me off once and for all (i.e. timing belts $$$$$$). Then a couple years later a friend brought his carb 308GTB to a BMW club event and let me drive it on the road for a bit....truthfully, all in all I was underwhelmed. By then I had started doing track days regularly so that was that.
I realize this doesn't answer your question at all but just my take on it--there may not be a more beautiful car on earth than an early GTB but......
they are a pleasure to drive. yes they are old. a good friend of mine has a 308-GT4 which are undervalued and you may want to consider one. that being said the Porsche will be better for you and your family...and wallet
there is a reason Ferrari owners don't drive their cars much.
I owned one for a couple of years. It was 1979 308, last carb year. It had an of-era after-market exhaust on it and it sounded wonderful. It was very reliable for me, put just over 30,000 Km on it in that time. Had an indi mechanic and ended up only spending about $3k on maintenance. But that was in the early 2000s, when these things were not expensive. Sold it for under $30k, and was happy with that.
Performance wise, it was right in between a SC and 3.2. Played with both those cars in the same era and we did some extensive "testing". Its not fast, at all. But the handelling is neutral and actually fun [you can slide and control it with ease]. Brakes are terrible. It doesn't make a lot of power but with the narrow tires, its fine. Think of it as a small GT car instead of a sports car. And the fit and finish is nothing like a Porsche. As an example, water would come in from the bottom of the windshield in heavy rain.
You might find a guy that will let you go for a spin, I let many people drive mine. But trade is funny thing. I've also had friends leave cars with me and I just don't enjoy driving other peoples cars [except race/track cars]. The anxiety of having something happen to a someone else's car takes the fun out of it for me.
Back in the early 90s I made regular pilgrimages up to what was Ferrari of Ontario as I really wanted to buy one; almost pulled the trigger but the maintenance costs scared me off once and for all (i.e. timing belts $$$$$$). Then a couple years later a friend brought his carb 308GTB to a BMW club event and let me drive it on the road for a bit....truthfully, all in all I was underwhelmed. By then I had started doing track days regularly so that was that.
I realize this doesn't answer your question at all but just my take on it--there may not be a more beautiful car on earth than an early GTB but......
Good luck!
Gary
Cam belts, Water pump and such are actually super easy to replace. You don't need to drop the engine, everything can be accessed from the passenger side. 348 and 355 are engine out services, 360 can be serviced in car, there is a hatch on the fire wall. F430 is timing chain
Oddly enough 80s and 90s Ferrari are easier to work on than a 928...Based on my experience... Any signs of rust on the body or suspension mounts... run away very fast. The interior buttons, ***** and such are pretty crappy, those have likely been replaced by now. Wire chaffing along the floor, between the doors etc have been popping up. They make new wiring harnesses
06-12-2018, 10:15 AM
Anyone here know someone with a Ferrari 308?
