Same here. I think the GTB looks better, but I wouldn't give up my open top for anything on a Summer evening. It is $$$$! MB
If you aren't concerned with staying stock you can always get a GTS and then paint the targa top to match the body. I'm having my car painted at the moment and can't wait to get it back. All the fun of driving with the top down but the better look of the matching top. -Brian PS one advantage of the 80-82 308s are that they are easy to supercharge
Gilles Villeneuve drove a GTS too. I love the 308, I've wanted one ever since I saw Gilles Villeneuve in one a couples of times in Montréal. The most memorable time for me was downtown Montréal, he showwed up at a restaurant with Guy Lafleur in a GTS. Of course lots of people showed up around them and they were real patient, I think they stayed with us for bout half and hour talking about hockey and F1 before they got into the restaurant. Lafleur is a big guy, hockey player he could hardly fit into the 308.
I spent a fair amount of time in a GTS and to me it was just way too loose. Rattles coming from random places while cruising on the highway, hitting mid-corner bumps upset it, and I swear I could feel the car twisting in different situations. Maybe I'm sensitive but I spend a lot of time on the track and a car that feels planted and tight is the most important thing to me. My GTB is amazingly solid, not one rattle or squeak from anywhere (well except the clutch pedal, got to fix that), and hitting bumps, railroad tracks, speedbumps, you name it, nothing bothers it. To me that was light-years apart.
I have owned B and S models of boith 308s and 328s. The B is a far, far, far better driving car in all circumstances, not just tracks. You can tell the difference in the first 25 feet. If you want to be like Magnum, get an S, if you are concerned more with the driving experience, get a B. Dave
BTW Jaybird, you should read this: http://www.birdmanferrari.com/tutorial/308_buyers_guide.htm Birdman
I've noticed 2 other things with my GTS (328): - Even though I'm just 5'10", it's still a whole lot easier to enter the car with the top off than on. Since I drive 95% with the top off, that's an advantage. - Other drivers seem a lot more likely to try to get my attention with the top off than with it on. If you like socializing on the road (hopefully while idle at a light), you may consider this an advantage. Otherwise you may find it annoying.
You should do some research regarding the many hugely significant changes from 76 to 85 in the 308 model range so you can at least come to a reasonably educated decision on what year best suits you. "Neat to have the same year as my vette" really shouldn't be your one and only factor.
I agree! In the first 25 feet, you can tell the difference. The S with the roof off, windows down, sky above and wind in the hair. Yep, in the first 25 feet, it's clear the S is the better driving experience.
The only time the top goes on my 308 is if i get caught in rain. It feels really strange to drive that car around with a roof on.
Do you like the S? buy the S. Do you like the B, buy the B. As usual all this just ends up with the people with Bs saying to buy a B and the people with S's say to buy an S. Kinda pointless really, it's going to be your car, nobody elses'
I'm a GTB guy Love the lines more than the GTS and I really don't care for the targa top. I have owned many C-4 corvettes including one 89 vert the rest were coupes, and quite a few ZR-1s but I hardly ever would take the top off its just not for me. I also have a 68 and its alot easier to take out the t-tops maybe thats what it is I don't like to bother with the top in the other cars and made me not like it.
For me, the Gilles Villeneuve reference far outweighs the other references, including the Magnum P.I. reference. I am also aware that Gilles always wanted a Boxer, which he didn't have. It's like he and I are twins!
Who is "Gilles Villeneuve?" Some French hair dresser? Okay...I'm sorry but you MUST leave this site immediately!!! ;-)
Some people say the GTB is a lot stiffer than the GTS but I've driven both extensively and the GTS seems just as stiff over the bumps. There's zero cowl shake on my GTSi. The GTS has a lot of extra bracing through the chassis frame. In other words, ferrari didn't just chop the top off for the GTS and go home, they added additional chassis bracing to keep the car stiff. Also, the GTS isn't a full convertible, it has a rigid targa top, so it doesn't have the structural compromises of a full convertible. That said, that additional bracing no doubt adds some weight, so, the GTB will be a marginally better track car. But, we're probably not talking a lot of weight difference here. If you're Michael Schumacher you can probably feel it, but if you're Average Joe SCCA racer you're not.
The difference in stiffness between a GTB and a GTS will become obvious once you Jack both cars up. But in all fairness, neither one is all that stiff compared to a modern car. All the Best!
I have always preferred the GTB cars styling. Actually I always prefer hardtops to any convertible/spyder when it comes to syling. Think about it: With a convertible, you are losing the roofline and the c-pillar which are a HUGE part of a designers lines. You take those away and cars start to look the same from the side profile. Look at a 308 GTB from the side: The profile it cuts is exhilirating and 100% perfect. The GTS, while still beautiful and better looking than 99% of all other cars out there has the abrupt "missing" roof line when the top is off. Just doesnt work as well. And, the GTS still retains the c-pillar as it is NOT a full convertible so its better in that regard. Dont get me wrong - Not saying the GTS isnt sweet, they sure are. But when presented with both, especially from a side view, the GTB is king.
GTS. It just gives you more options to have fun with the car. The one thing you can't do with a GTB is cruise back roads on a clear night with the top off, or if you want to make a late run down to the beach running on the backroads. Jim
