1989 328 not as good to drive?

Who said this?

 

I think I am one of the few that has actually owned and extensively driven both generations of suspension and can say without reservation the statements you quote are total BS. The updated suspension circa #76626 feels significantly more modern and precise. The steering ratio is a little quicker and the overall feel tighter. There is less inherent understeer. I much prefer the later cars as drivers and I have owned 3 308's as well as the 2 328's not to mention driven many others. I actually prefer the aesthetics of the earlier wheels, but the trade off is more than worth it IMO. And I certainly do not wish to sound critical of earlier cars or 308's, they are all great fun.

Dave

 

I've driven both as well but 18 years apart. That being said, everything I've read about both cars indicates the newer suspended cars are a significant advantage over the pre-change 328's. I can't honestly say given the difference in test times. I would say that a QV I drove was not quite as comfortable with high speed corners as my '89. Hard to believe without driving any of them that statement would make sense, I can't see a change with a Ferrari being less than previous years. Aesthetically, I like the concave wheels vs. convex, but I feel I'm at an advantage with my car's year with the improvements it has.

Jeff

 

+1

concave wheels = alum = heavy

convex wheels = mag = much lighter

 

I've never heard anything about the two types of wheels being made from different material. Are you sure about that?

The rear wheels on my 328 (concave) weight 25.5 lbs each. Doesn't seem all that light to me.

 

The other thing to keep in mind is that neither car feels particularly nimble or precise compared to modern sports cars. Also, what can produce better lap times is not necessarily going to feel better (read: more fun) to you.

My 328 is an '86, and while it feels like a great sports car for its era, it feels downright archaic next to anything made in the last decade. Similarly, I can jump from the Ferrari into my Triumph TR3, which is 25 years older (and 33 years older in design!) and the 328 feels very high-tech and capable.

Since the capabilities are almost identical, buy the one that you like the most. Some simply want the best and most capable 328 they can find, which is certainly an '89. Others value the look of the early wheels or simply the price/quality/value ratios more.

Apples to apples, you'd have a hard time convincing people the newer suspension and ABS are steps backwards, but how much that should really factor into your decision is...well, your decision .

 

Actually, the early 348s were regarded as a step backwards in terms of handling, IIRC.

I also hadn't heard about a difference in weight from the concave to convex wheels. Call me skeptical...

 

I think you are incorrect, once they went away from magnesium it's hard to believe they'd go back. Can you confirm this info?

Jeff

 

I've never heard about the wheel weight differences either. It would be great to get a definitive answer about this.

PS: This is my first official announcement. As of this afternoon, I officially own 2 1989 328 GTB's US version which means I now control over 5% of this market. Maybe I'll buy them all. Details later.

Dave

 

If I'm not mistaken (and I certainly could be!) the late 328 front suspension was used on the 348. The early 348's seemed to have issues with the rear suspension.

Ferrari certainly knew that the 328 production was coming to an end so it seems odd they would change suspension so late in the game UNLESS the plan was to use part of it on the new model (348). Sharing the front suspension would have allowed some cost savings and saved some development time.

Had they developed a new front suspension for the 328 that they found was inferior they would not have put it on the 328 at the end of its life, you would think.

 

Looking forward to it!

Jeff

 

The '89 328 suspension is not a new suspension, it had been around since '80 because it is the same as the Mondial suspension.

 

I was not aware of that. If it was around before the 328 even existed any idea why they would decide to put it on the car (328) in its last year of production? Seems odd.

 

My 89 GTS drives like a dream and thats compared to some new sports cars, why??? Its a Ferrari and has soul!

 

Congrats Dave,

When do we get some details, such as color combination, mileage, and most importantly pictures?

Best regards,
Dino

 

And this one from the quote you provided:

"...and wheel offset changes (for US market regulations)..."

doesn't make any sense to me. What US market regulation would dictate changes to wheel offset? The change was needed for clearance of the updated suspension components.



"The concave wheel models are such a delight (light, nimble, like a 308) to drive compared to the later ABS/Convex wheel version (heavier feeling, twitchy and unsettled)... the front end anti dive set up, steering feel and wheel offset changes (for US market regulations) were a step backwards IMO."

 

I read on this site that it was to streamline production: 1 model wishbones for all 8 cilinder cars.
If you are sceptical, please check the parts manual drawings:
http://www.ricambiamerica.com/articles.php?tPath=7 (go to suspension, wishbones)
The drawings and parts numbers for the Mondial 8 and later 328 are the same.

 

I had a look and the only Mondial version that has all the same part numbers for wishbones as the 1988.5 328 is the Mondial 3.2, not the Mondial 8 or QV. And, oddly enough has two different part numbers for the top front wishbone. One matching the 1988.5 328 and the other not. Some of the other Mondial models share a top or lower wishbone but not all the wishbone part numbers together.

 

Think twice, sonny boy...You -may- now own TWO of them, but you ain't gettin' ALL of 'em...

Some of us 'control' 2.5% of the market

Get outa line any more and we just might vote you off the island...