Euro QV vs. US 328 performance

I have always admired the style of the Euro 308's and have wanted one for a long time. Recently I had the opportunity to try out a generous F-chatter's 328 and loved it. Going in I was a little worried I would be disappointed by the relative lack of power (just sold my Superformance Cobra with 465 hp), but I was pleasantly surprised. I found acceleration to be more than adequate and thought that it was a great drive over all.

Now I wonder how a Euro QV will stack up, as I have not yet had a chance to drive one. I know the power is a little less (240 vs 260), but the Euro QV should be a little lighter as well. Is there a performance difference that you can really feel? If anyone has driven both, I would appreciate your thoughts.

 

I've had both, and I think the torque in the 328 is what can be felt. you have to wind up the 308's a lot higher, and the gearing is not as nice (long) in the 308 as in the 328. The 308 with the euro spoiler is a prettier car, but the 328 vastly better overall - my opinion.

 

I agree with Spiro and would add that 328's are actually a little lighter than 308's though I don't know how it compares to a Euro. A properly converted Euro will have some weight added for the door reinforcement, etc. A good thing IMO. The 328 motor is definitely more flexible and 328's are better designed, built and more reliable. I've had 3 of each and I'm speaking from first hand experience. 328's cost a little more going in, but you will save in the long run.

Dave

 

depends on the euro QV

Some of them can be made to be pretty fast. I agree with you that the look of the euro qv is admirable. I have driven both and chose my euro for that very reason.

Cheers

 

I own a 328 but have driven both U.S. QVs and a Euro QV. The Euro QV I drove did feel light but it wasn't as well built a car as the 328. I, too, really like the looks of the Euro QV's with the Euro spoiler and I don't think you'd go wrong with either the 328 or Euro QV. However, and, as has been pointed out in this thread, the 328 is simply a better car. It's kind of funny...I think the Euro QV's look better than most 328s (Euro 328s, of course, look better than the U.S. variant) in pictures, but the 328 actually looks better in person; more integrated and, perhaps, more aggressive looking. Also...I would take into in to account your state smog laws, as Euros can be a no-go in some states, especially effing CA.

Cordially,

Scott

 

i've had both. i think they are very close, if not equal in straight line acceleration. i don't agree with what people are saying about the 328 being better built. i have a nice euro QV and a very nice 78 308, and i never thought they were lower quality than the two 328s i had. my opinion is that you should buy the one whose looks appeal to you most because the performance difference between the slowest to quickest car is 0.5 seconds 0-60, and not much more 1/4 mile. (euro QV & US/euro 328)

john

 

Road test I just read from that era show the US 328 to be noticeably faster in both the 1/4 and 0-60 than the 1985 Euro 308. Low 15s for the Euro 308 (mid 15s for the US 308), low 14s for the '86 US 328. That would be 12-15 car lengths at the speeds involved - around 95-98 MPH - at the end of the 1/4.

 

Back about 25 years ago when folks drove their 3X8's, I had the pleasure of driving my cars on the tracks (Laguna Seca, Thunderhill, Sears Point, Buttonwillow, Virginia City Hillclimb) with many other 3X8's, and up/down/sideways the differences fade into thin air. The different years have different gearing along with power, torque and associated rev's where that energy is available. For many years (and I'm not sure it was ever beaten), the fastest times at the Virginia City Hillclimb were created by a 1981 308GTSi, and a 1975 308 GT4 with plenty of attempts from other 3X8's.

Also - what's fast? All well tuned 3X8's will feel like a rocket compared to a stock Chevy Vega, and will feel anemic next to an F40.

The moral: IMHO, there are many other factors mixed in the different models and years: interior design, AC vents, layout of controls, subtle body diff's like vents, spoilers etc. Also, there's the practical side. I have a deep euro spoiler on one car. Looks great, probably helps at speed, but a real pain dealing with driveways. A late US 328 with ABS will be the most sophisticated and most improved in the series, but they all have their special character.

 

Weight, from Bluemel; Original Ferrari V8:

308 GTS QV Euro 2956 lb
308 GTS QV USA 3229 lb

328 GTS Euro 2806 lb
328 GTS USA 3163 lb

3x8 GTBs are, on average, 30 lb lighter. Again, from Bluemel, not personally verified.

 

All good points. It sounds like that from the "seat of the pants" there won't be much of a difference when driven on the street. I guess the real answer is to drive one and see for myself.

For me it's really between a euro 308 GTB QV, or a US 328 GTS. I like the former for its clean looks and more classic interior. I like the latter because there are many more good cars available so it should be easier to find a nice one. If you're wondering why the GTS, I reason that if I'm going to go for the less pretty car (IMHO) I might as well have the benefit of open air driving too.

I would certainly consider a 328 GTB, but there just don't seem to be any around. Same goes for the earlier euro 308 GTB's. I'd love a glass dry sump car, but there aren't many around and they are $$$. My budget is $60K max.

Thanks for the input.

 

GTS is the prettier car, IMHO. GTB has the awkward window lines, but will be more weatherproof.

If you want a GTB, check FerrariAds -- I think there is one red, one black metallic (if it's not sold, belongs to FChat'er 01Bee and looks quite nice).

 

Ferrari lists the QV GTB as 50 lbs lighter but the 328 GTB only 26 lbs lighter. The Euro weights are dry weights. The real difference is no where near 300+ lbs. It's all pretty academic anyway. Seat of the pants difference is very, very minimal.

Dave

 

I would suggest you drive both an S and a B before deciding. As one of my friends said "once you B, you will never S". The cars are very different in the way they drive. BTW, there are more 328 GTB's around than QV GTB's. Everyone wanted to be like Magnum back in the day.

Dave

 

well said.

i have driven two 328s on the highway at at Roebling Road. the 328s are nice, but to me, they are too civilized. i prefer the feel and quirks of the GT4 and 308GTB cars.

the B's just capture the feel of the the era of the cars for me. others may not agree, but there are plenty of red/tan GTS cars out there for all of them !!!

i would rather not own another 308GTS, after having 3 GTBs so far!
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

For those of us that have not had back-to-back comparison driving, could you elaborate on "civilized"?

 

hi, the 328s are great, but "too great" the steering is too easy, the brakes work "too well", the cabin, is "too quiet" with the windows up.

308s are old and slow. but i love them anyway. the carb cars have their quirks - coughing and spitting only when cold, and the roar of the air intake on the passenger side at speed.

the gt4s actually drive better ( to me ) than any of the GTB cars in the series. i have had 2 carb GTBs and i have a euro GTB QV. these cars speak to the driver in a way that is both informative, and entertaining. i felt i would not enjoy a 328 on public roads, as they are "too composed" at any sane normal speed on public roads. the older cars make me smile with a stupid silly grin when i drive them. i do not want to feel numb, which is what the modern cars have become.

just my opinion. yours may vary. a 328 may be a no fuss, great car to jump in with the wife for a drive. but being a single guy, i tend to be more self centered, and want more " entertainment" from my fun cars.


Michael

 

Michael; thanks for the comments. I understand what you are saying and appreciate your insights. There is something nice about a car with 4 Webers bolted to the intake manifold. And the interior switchgear on the '85 and earlier cars, so beautiful and vintage.

 

Some years back, I owned an 85 GTB and 89 GTB at the same time. The 328 certainly felt a little more advanced mostly because of the suspension upgrade of the later cars. But as far as being civilized goes, not much difference. The 308 was a very nicely mannered car on the road, no harder to drive than the 328. I also owned a 77 GTB once upon a time and it certainly is a different beast from the later cars in many ways, including requiring more effort to drive. Personally, I don't think any of the 308's and 328's can be thought of as being in anyway like more modern cars. The chassis still dates to the late 60's, the steering still manual, etc.

Dave

 

I can relate to the 60s! My first real sports cars were an Alfa Romeo GTV 1600cc and later, a GT Junior (1300cc). A "visceral" driving experience and very nice; authentic. Most modern cars isolate the machine from the road and the man from the machine. If you love driving I don't know why that would be a good thing. Most of us are already too isolated from the real [natural] world.

 

I sold a 328 GTS and then bought a Euro 308 GTS. Seat of the pants performance is very similar. Beauty, which is subjective, is what separated them for me. Even after buying the 328, I eventually kept referring back to the 308's purer/cleaner lines, front spoiler, more proportional bumpers, more classic interior switches, etc.

Whatever you do, drive them first and see for yourself. Then make your own decision without settling.