To all the 80-82 308 GTSi owners

Fellow 1980 to 1982 308 GTSi owners, I really need to express my personal opinion on several threads I have been following on our site. I have owned my 1981 308 for 32 years. During all these years, I have not had any major service issues with her. Granted the car is not the fastest, but that is not the reason I bought her. She is with out a doubt the most reliable, and most driveable car I have, and I have many. Every time I have her on the road, the positive comments and great questions I receive, make having her a true joy. The people that seem to want to discredit this model and all the 308's, probably never had the opportunity to actually sit behind the wheel and feel the joy of driving, what I personally feel is the best of the best! I stopped reading the so called Ferrari Publications years ago. Most of the writers were so baised and critical of the 308 series I believed they were working for competitive companies. This is (in my opinion) the only place where we as a community can truly get meaningfull information.

My rant,
WilliamR

 

81 GTSi

+ 1m

 

The 80-82 cars are my favorite.

 

Speaking of surprising reliability, of all of my cars the most reliable - by FAR - has been my 1982 Alfa Romeo. 17 years of ownership and it has only failed me one time and that was a frozen lug nut. Had to pull the rear axle it was so bad.

 

According to the member's poll, we're only 13% of the owners on here so are a quiet minority.

I have no need of extra HP. My 1980 GTSi has been brilliantly reliable. No overheating, too (excepting a silted up radiator many years ago).

 

Recently decided to pay off my Maserati - keep it and save for a 308. Nice to read reaffirmed posts like this..

 

That tends to be more of a QV thing.

 

I own a 1980 and that is the only 308l I would buy. Excellent car.

 

I know, that's why I mentioned it

(not the silting, that can happen to any old car. The overheating in traffic)

 

If thats a alfa spider I've been searching for one of those for the wifey. She loves them and wants her own Italian "money pit" haha. Good to hear on the reliability of them though.

 

82 Spider. Check my garage link.

I LOVE it

 

My '82 (May '81 build date) is everything you've described and more.

I was originally looking for a QV and almost passed on my car when it first came to my attention. Through some stroke of accidental fortune I called on the car after all, and I'm now very thankful for that.

I can't claim Dr. Cosgrove's expertise, but there was indeed a time when I was keenly aware of the differences through the model years.

It was only after that I finally got my car that jogged my memory and I recalled once having that degree of insight. Without fail, I now remember wanting an injected car at the time, and (don't laugh) not being too crazy about some of the minute changes on the QV's such as the tail badging, etc.

 

Mine has started, idled and ran cool for six years without fail for six years now. Turns heads and evokes emotions from passers by even in a parking lot of Porsches, Jags etc.

Best 27k I ever spent on a car.

 

Congrats on the length of ownership !

A true testament not only to the brand, but to the model that is always kicked around.

Please post a few pics of your long life beauty.

 

Loved my first Ferrari 308 GTSi 1982. Found it to be the most reliable car I ever owned. Also the only car I got to drive for years and make money when I sold it right at the peak of the speculator craze. Of course they where cheaper then
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It is a real pleasure to share these. The first picture was taken the day I took delivery, Febuary 1981.
WilliamR
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Without doubt, I agree! Lost

 

Great car, and love the alternative red color. Congrats on such a long, wonderful ownership. But I'll be the first to ask: do you still sport the 'fro?

 

I see the 80-82 cars as a bargain and a real opportunity at arbitrage. Anyone who owns one knows the performance difference is negligible vs. a carb car or a QV based on any modern standard. Yet the others are considered more desirable in part due to their perceived stronger performance (there are other reasons, but performance is a big one). Eventually the slight performance difference won't matter as much, prices will fall in-line, and the 80-82 cars will catch up to a carby or QV value.

Just my (biased as an '82 owner) opinion.

 

i have 2 x 1980 GTB(s). One Red one Black. Love them. I'd buy more.

 

Very good point. Is there much $ difference between the 206GT and 246GT? However, I know far fewer 206s were made. Maybe there are other examples in Ferrari history.

 

WOW!

You paid $20,000 in Sept 1988? You couldn't have timed it better if you had a crystal ball!

 

Love my 82 (November 81 build). The first owner had it turbocharged in 1983...I've since had a new one installed. Low boost (5psi) gives 240Hp at rear wheel.

At a Ferrari gathering a couple of months ago, I was surrounded by the 360/430/458/575/599 crowd and was asked why I didn't trade up. I told them that although I can keep up with the Joneses, I don't want to look like one.

 

I have one of the last GTSi's built (42995), a Euro model, that I've owned for 19 years.

It has been a fantastic car. Very reliable, and it makes my heart race every time I see it in the garage or take it out for a spin.

 

There's always a "new is better, faster is better" bias. I've found it to be pretty empty advice.