308 Purchase Advice / Help Please

I'm all new to this also, but have been doing research, learning as much as I can.

The price is around the right ballpark, I'm figuring he priced it on the low side because it's due for a service, I'm guessing that $5k would be a fair number. You just have to figure out if the numbers work for you.

Best of luck!

 

The price sounds good, HOWEVER, do you and your friendship with the seller a favor and pay for a PPI. Find an objective, qualified and reputable Ferrari mechanic. F Chat is where I did this research and was pleased with Wade Nunez of Sport Classic and Competition near Charlotte, NC.

Good luck!

Mark

 

Sounds fair enough, the price

It needs a new belt and tensioner service, like yesterday ('every three years' is the Ferrari V8 spec).

Interior is readily available to recover that seat in original materials.
Jump on in, the water's fine!

Sounds like a frugal old guy, who's limited use did not justify 'full boat' maintenance.

Know that 81 -'82 is the bottom of the horsepower curve, but it's more about the handling experience and there's tons of happy '80 - 83 owners, before the '84 quattrovalve engine pumped in some more pep!

 

I'm chiming in as I had the great fortune to purchase another '82 308 GTSi around this time last year. I am in no way experienced with a wrench, so key to my peace of mind has been having good, experienced technicians that I trust. Certainly, I credit those relationships critical to making my ownership possible.

Another key has been the more casual but helpful advice I've received from FChat members, one of which actually alerted me to the car that I purchased.

I'd wanted a 308 all of my adult life, so I probably would have eventually made the leap regardless, but I sure do sleep a lot better at night with the benefit of everyone above.

You've been on the board it seems so certainly you've taken advantage of the readily available posts.

Having just stated that I'm not a mechanic, I would take a good look at what "last work performed in 2004" might mean. A potential belt service comes immediately to my mind.
Although in excellent condition, my car needed new bushings and front wheel bearings along with a good bit of general maintenance.

 

Absolutely love my '82 . . . after initially looking for and hoping to acquire a QV.

Have yet to feel my car is underpowered, but then again I'm not expecting it to compete with a modern Ferrari and given the pre-tech lack of traction control, etc., it's probably for the best LOL

 

Under 100 mph there is not difference between a 80-82 and a QV. Believe me you will never - EVER feel the difference and so what if you can? A QV will get its ass handed to him by my mother driving a new 4 door Accord, so any discussion as to which is a better model because of the performance fell away way back in about 1990. So just forget about that part of all this. Trust me on this one. Want proof? I have a 84 with tons of little things done to it to wake it up AND I know how to drive it. Come "race" me.... You'll see then.

The 82 308 is my all time favorite car on this planet - of ANYTHING. All else being okay with it, at that price you will still be ahead of the curve after you throw new belts on it (about a grand) and buy some 16 inch repros so you can have better, cheaper tire choices forever after.

I say go for it.

 

'83!

 

Kort,

Did you read the "sticky" at the top of this forum? It's entitled "What to look for when buying a 308..." There is a lot of useful information there.

Also, Google "Birdman Ferrari". Birdman is a member here, and he has his own website, and there are some good articles on that site about buying a 308.

As others said, get a pre-purchase inspection done (PPI). You want a mechanic who knows 308s to go over it thoroughly. It may look good on the outside, but be a major headache on the inside if you are not careful. As also noted, if the last service was in 2004, the car is about 6 years overdue for a major service. If you are not able to do the work yourself, expect to spend between $3000 and $5000 to have the major service done by a reputable shop. And check the tires as well. If the DOT code is more than 10 years old, you will need to put a new set of tires on the car as well.

Best of luck and let us know what you end up doing. Post a few pictures of the car so we can see what you are looking at.

 

BTW, if the oil and coolant have not been changed since 2004, you could have some other problems going on there. The anti-corrosion chemicals in regular coolant are only good for about 2 to 3 years. And the oil could be a problem too, as acids build up over time.

The more I think about it, the more you want that PPI done by someone who really knows these cars well.

 

Before buying mine in Feb, I researched and looked at every 308 for sale for the past year, and I also think the price is right based on your description. Post some pix if you can.

 

The build quality "got better" as the years went along........I can see HAMMER marks, on my 1976!!!! GadzooOOKs!!

I love them dearly, though...

See?

I told you the 2V injected guys would be along...we are all BROTHERS!!!

 

From hammer marks in '76, to galvanized in '84!


To the OP - Don't be scared! But do use your head before you take the plung on the car of your dreams... This may be a good starting price, but I would base the final offer on whatever a PPI turns up with the option to walk away if it's a disaster.

As others have said, the belt service is mandatory at this point. Lots of parts rot sitting over time on these cars, so a PPI will most likely turn up a few maintenance items to mull over before making your offer on this one.

308's are well engineered, durable, and GREAT. Even the 2v Injected cars. Hehehehe Just be prepared to maintain it.

Good luck!

 

it's 9 o clock and you haven't bought it yet?

 

Congrats! Pretty car.

 

DUDE SWEET CAR!!! I love it

 

Beautiful, big congrats!!!

 

Looks great!

Congrats!

 

Congrats! Your purchase experience sounds remarkably similar to mine. Bought my 82 Euro around 2.5 years ago. Almost the same mileage (well, mine racks up kilometers). Bought from somebody I knew (former boss who moved overseas and couldn't take it with him) and paid a very good price in your similar range. Little history with the car, so shortly after purchasing I took it in for belts and some general maintenance bits. Spent a couple grand on that, but money well-spent I think.

I think you will be happy in the long run with the price you paid.

 

Congrats and WELCOME to ownership!!!!





PDG

 

See post 4 & 9 - only after the belt service & tires have been done !!

 

Awesome. Is that FFR Cobra I see?

 

Pix!

oops More Pix! LOL