| Author | Message | ||
| Peter (Peter)
|
After my rebuild, I'll replace the filter with a K&N. I like the fact its reusable/cleanable. I also picked up an oil filter made by K&N (# HP-3001), pretty trick little item, certainly has more features than a Fram HP1 or 28041. The best feature is a 1" hex-drive on top of the filter with safety-wire holes, no more clumsy filter wrenches. I absolutely love the sound out of the Borla exhaust! I never worry of it being too loud (except when I drive by the police, that's when I wish it was quiet!). | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
|
When I had mine in for service, I talked to them extensively about performance upgrades. The best bang for the buck is removing the cat, but then you need a "friendly" inspection place. I asked about the air filter and exhaust, their comments were that the Ferrari breaths very well and better flowing filters don't do too much. As far as the exhaust they didn't think it was a big improvement for the prices. This is different than my experience with the BMW, the combination air filter/chip/exhaust makes a significant difference. I'm still thinking about that Cat.. However, even now my condo shakes when I give it the usual 10 minute warm up. My neighbors must love me. | ||
| Paul Prideaux
|
Bret, I've heard various things about HP increases with the K&N air filter. I put a set on my 911 back in the early 90's and I loved the look and sound. If you do it, please let me know how you like it. I think Tubi is considered a better system than Borla. Of course they know that so the price reflects the confidence.  | ||
| Bret M |
Dear Paul, Very true, like you said about sticking together is absolutely right. I think sometimes things just come out a little wrong when you read them or write them as opposed to actually speaking with someone. I've talked to both of them since and we get along great so I guess it was just a misundertanding. The kind of fraternity of Ferrari owners is one of the greatest things around. Like you I agree that the 308 is the best thing I've been exposed to. What a great car. Hopefully the front fender is repairable which would save a lot because that is the most expensive to fix. I'll get it back better than it was before. While it's injured I'm taking it as an opportunity to really fine tune it and get out any minor problems that I have with it (because I'm not tempted to drive it I can focus). Actually it's funny that you talk about exhausts because I'm considering switching. I'm definitely putting in a K&N airfilter. I think I'm gonna pull out the cat in the stock exhaust (I get mine "inspected" at my friends shop so it doesn't really matter if it doesn't pass emissions, shh don't tell anyone I said that). I'm kind of worried about it being too loud but I think I'll be alright. If I do eventually switch it will either be Tubi (should my budget allow) or Borla if I don't have as much to spend on exhausts. A used Tubi is probably the way to go if you can find one. Since there stainless they should hold up really well if they're not abused. Thanks, Bret | ||
| Paul Prideaux
|
Bret, don't let the comments get you down. I read them a few times and while some of them do have an edge, I don't think these guys really hold anything against you. We need to all stick together. I love my 308QV ! It's a bummer about your front-end damage. I can't wait to see the 'after' pictures. I have had a series of neat cars ('68 Mustang, '71 911, '86 Supra Turbo, '84 380SL) but my favorite of all time is my '84 308QV ! I want to switch out the stock exhause for Tubi style but I am concerned that it will be too loud and I want to find a good deal (maybe used). Stay in touch. | ||
| Scott85 (Scott85)
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http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/8167/308archives/ This is a good 308 site, part exchanges, etc | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
|
Bret, from my earlier post... "If you have the connections and money then I don't expect you not to use them." By this I mean that if you have the money, then there's no reason not to spend it on something you're passionate about. The reason you have the money is because you saved, invested, and worked really hard. I know several that didn't have to work at all, the money was already in the family. Like you, Peter and I both have worked hard for our cars. We all do this because we love Ferrari. If I won the lottery tonight, I would be at the Ferrari dealer tomorrow. Until then I have to control my expenses to make that monthly payment. | ||
| Bret Melillo |
To Peter: I also have a Cannondale (1997 SV2000 with spinergy wheels, which like yours collects dust most of the time). To the rest of the guys: I'm sorry that I must have come off wrong, I was just trying to stress how much I love the 308. My parents haven't bought me one substantial toy since I was about 10. My Cannondale is the fruit of years of working and saving in cds (I got it when I was 15). The Ferrari is the result of working every minute when I'm not at hockey or school. While the other kids are having fun in the summer, I have for the last few years worked from the day after school let out to the day before school began again. Also, I had to invest quite a bit and take some very large risks to make enough for it. And always worked around 75 hours a week. As for the investing it went well and I was able to go with it. I've watched Magnum P.I. almost everday for the last two years just to see the Ferrari. I was expecting to get a really nice two valve but found a good price on a quattrovalvole so I took it. I take Italian at school and go to the Ferrari dealership almost everyday to see how things are. The point is that I love Ferrari. I don't live in a really big house (my parents are divorced). I live in a fairly wealthy town which makes my 308 like nothing (my neighbor has a new yellow 360, my friends dad has an F50), but none of that matters because it's the best I can afford and I worked really hard to get it. My parents don't pay for a thing involved in it. As for the accident: On Route 80 I was behind a guy in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, we were in traffic. As the traffic cleared he went accelerating away like the hammers of hades (I'm only going like 45-50 in third gear so he's pulling away). I was about 200 feet behind him when he I see his tailights go up in the air (it's dark and straight ahead so I can't see ahead of him even though I'm way behind him), I immediately locked up the breaks but to my surprise I wasn't stopping at all. I slid for over 200 feet (not leaving any skid marks) because apparently the combination of the blue stone road (leaves like little ball bearings when it wears down) and that there was an accident there prior to mine coupled with my almost slick tires meant that I wasn't going to stop. I swerved right but someone was there so all I could do was stay on the brakes and hope that I got some traction. I had almost stopped (if he had pulled up like 4-5 feet I would have been fine), when I slide under him. His exhaust pipe caught the louvres on the hood folding the hood in half. The front fender got crushed by the gas tank of his car. His car was undamaged. There was nothing I could do about it to prevent it no matter how hard I tried. Now, since the car is on my dad's company's insurance, I can't file it because that would make the rates for all of the company vehicles go up and I'm stuck footing at least a five thousand dollar bill. Upon getting out I found that he had stopped for an accident and just stayed there, by the time I got there the cars from the accident were already about 50 feet up the road and up on the curb. So, before you condemn me as some wild rich little punk, I figured that I would tell you the real story. I care about the Ferrari more than life itself (the first time I cried since I was about 6 was after the accident). Everything I get I work for. Now besides all my problems with the custody of my parents and all, I have to spends ridiculous amounts of money to fix the Ferrari (I hope I have enough because I don't want my dad to have to loan me any). No matter how retarded the guy that I hit was (he saw me having trouble stopping and he didn't move or anything or even let of his breaks before we hit), and the fact that he was stopped on one of the largest highways in the nation for absolutely no apparent reason (I'm not the only one that saw this, a guy in a van pulled up and looked like he was ready to knock the guys teeth out for doing what he did, which I wound up having to break them up). But the fact still remains that I hit him no matter how much he contributed. So, I have family, friend, and financial problems and I was hoping that at least you guys would be a little more understanding since we all seem to have the same passion for the cars. Sorry if I made you angry, I guess I could understand why. | ||
| Peter
|
Rob, I agree. In high school, one of my best friends was an only child, so he was spoiled rotten. At 16 his parents gave him a brand new Isuzu Impulse, like I mentioned before, all of us others just had bikes, so this little sports car was cool to us. A year or two latter he wrapped this thing around a tree, but his parents gave him another one! When things come too easy, I don't think people appreciate it. When we work hard, save our money and treat ourselves to a Ferrari, we go all out to take care of it and treat it right. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
|
That's the truth. I had my Toyota Tercel until I was 24. In college there were at least 3 Ferrari's on campus. 2 were Middle Eastern royal family and the other one's dad supplied toilet bowl chains. If you have the connections and money then I don't expect you not to use them, but I also like the hard work I've put in to get mine. | ||
| Peter
|
Are you the same Bret who posted the message on ExpensiveCar.com looking for fenders & hood? That's a pretty impressive resumé of cars driven, when I was 17, all I had was my Cannondale mtn. bike! That was just a few years ago!! Now, just like any other toy, its hanging on the rack in the garage gathering dust. I'll never grow tired of the Ferrari though. | ||
| Bret Melillo |
I'm only 17 and I can already appreciate my 85 308GTSqv (and no my parents didn't buy it for me, would any parents in their right mind?-that's always the first question I get) more than anything else in the world. I would gladly give up my sister for another one. I've driven Vipers, Vettes, 911Turbos, an Esprit, the M roadster, the M5, M3, SLK320, SL500, CLK55, and so many more (my mom works for Mercedes and I live in a neighborhood in which there are a lot of exotics and others of the sort). I haven't driven but have ridden in an F40, 348, 355, 360, 456, 550 (my friend's father owns a Ferrari dealership and I haunt them until I get to check out the cars when they are delivered). What I can say about the 308 is that it is the greatest car I've ever driven or ridden in. There is no other car that brings such pleasure. Rushing home from school to work on it is as much fun as driving it. I would highly recommend purchasing one if you are in the market. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
|
I forgot about the good buyer's guide information Ferrari North America has put on their site at http://www.ferrarina.com/Automobili/index.asp?display=Models/308/Menu.asp | ||
| CraigFL
|
Your hunt should include: www.ebay.com (ebaymotors) www.exite.com (classifieds) www.ferrarimarketletter.com (subscription reqd for full access) www.thecarexperience.com (good reference) Don't be afraid of buying non-locally. These cars can be shipped almost anywhere in the continental US for less than $1200 (enclosed transporter) Ferrari dealerships and service places local to the car can check it out for you for less than $500. Services like www.escrow.com will protect you and your payment until your car arrives and is approved by you. It took me about six months to find my car. Good luck with the hunting. | ||
| Michael Tomlinson
|
What a good group! I am thankfull for the three answers in just a few hours. I am in the hunt. | ||
| Peter
|
This "auto broker" probably doesn't know what he's talking about. I went into an auto parts store a while back and got into a discussion about my GT4. I told the guy: "...it's a GT4, its the most affordable Ferrari you can get." His response: "Yeah, but you still have a Ferrari!" And that's the whole idea, nobody has to know that you paid less than a new Toyota to get a Ferrari. Do expect that the newest car you'll be looking at will be fifteen years old and work will always need to be done on these cars. This is part of the whole experience, you can own an exotic on the cheap. This is advice that I got from a friend of mine who owns a Bugatti, he is certainly no millionaire, but he still has one and he has done absolutely everthing to this car. I'm no millionaire either, just a working-guy. But I have the skills to do this kind of work, if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to afford ownership AND maintenance. Arm yourself with the mentioned Forza buyer's guides and go shopping! There's enough info there to make an educated decision, but still have alot of emotion involved (the only real reason for Ferrari ownership). Look up Forza #7, it has the guide for the GT4 in it, I own one and highly recomend it. Good luck! | ||
| CraigFL
|
"Poorer" with respect to what? It was the first "higher" production V8 model for "everyman". It was the victim of the late 70's early 80's emission problems as well as crash protection/bumper problems. It certainly has been improved over the years - refined as the 328 model and quantumly improved with the 348, 355 & 360 models. But... It is a good entry level Ferrari. Performance says buy a Weber carb version or an 85QV-- but they are all great handling/performing cars on the road. Parts can be reasonable and certainly are available for this car because of the production volume. These are expensive cars to maintain but the 12 cyl ones are even more. If you are going to stay in the $20K to $30K range and want a Ferrari, you won't be disappointed -- just be very careful what you buy-- have it checked out thouroughly. Decide what's important for you -- do you want a perfect car or a driver in good shape with a few dings- the price will be different. You can spend $40K for a low mile 77 or you can spend $30K for a 85 QV with 50K miles. I can guarantee you that no one will lose respect for you if you buy a 308... | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
|
Forza issue #25 would be a great place to start. Their buyer's guide on the 308 is about as honest and reveling as you will hear anywhere. I have the 328, which is basically the same car and I think the choice is perfect for my wants. You can get a really good 308 for $30k. I would even shoot for QV in that price range. I'm not sure what your auto broker is thinking, unless he has other Ferraris, besides a 308 for sale. I can think of several $100k + Ferraris I would rather have, but I don't have $100k for a Ferrari yet. For your price range your choices are limited to the 308, 308 GT4, and Mondial. Reasons I think the 308/328 car is a great choice... 1) A classic design that hardly anyone puts down. 2) 8 Cylinder engine that is easier and cheaper to maintain than the 12's. 3) Between the 308 and 328 there were almost 20k cars produced. Rare enough to keep the price up, but common enough for experienced mechanics and available parts. 4) If you take care of them, they'll last forever. As I've quoted before, there is a 328 in Dallas with 140k miles on it and is used as a daily driver. Good luck. | ||
| Michael Tomlinson
|
I am considering the purchase of a Ferrari for my next toy car. Because I would like to stay in the $20K to $30K price range, I have been looking for a 308 GTS. Today I was told by a "knowledgeable" auto broker to avoid the 308 because he considered it to be one of the poorer Ferraris. Can anyone contribute additional pros and cons concerning this model? |