Which is the better investment: 308 or 328?

Pity; as I close the door of mine after a drive, I would be rather embarassed should Tom Selleck re-open that door saying "hey, you forgot me inside!"; whereas, should it be Christie Brinkley...oh well!

Rgds

 

Not true

I took my 308 for NY state inspection yesterday afternoon. The first thing the mechanic asked was if this was the same car as Christie Brinkley drove...

David

(He asks the same question every year)

 

That's a broad definition of the word "use"

 

I fell in love with the design when I saw the first small pic in R&T.

If anything the Magnum connection was a minus for me.

 

I agree but it surprised the hell out of me when I saw it.

I don't get it either. Seems easier to get the shot on ANY of the 308's sitting around at the moment.

I guess it was just done elsewhere and they just used any 3X8 with a tan interior. Who knows.

 

GTB is rarer. GTS is more desirable. Desirability commands more than rarity in the collector's world. Not all "rare" are desirable.

A glass 308 and an '89 328 will top the list.

 

Those that want a GTB are generally willing to pay more for it. I was. I wanted a 328, but was not about to settle for a GTS. I could have bought comparable condition and lower mileage GTS's all day long for $10K less than what I paid for my GTB. Yes, the majority are looking for a GTS. Say 20% of buyers prefer the GTB's. The percentage of GTB's in the US is nowhere near 20% of total GTS/GTB combined, especially for a 328. How many 328 GTB's are in the US now after attrition? 120? 130? How many GTS's? 2000? 3000? I don't know, but it's a hell of a lot more than than the GTB's.

 

By inference, I believe you are suggesting that there is a stronger demand for GTBs now than when new. I can’t think of a reason for this. Can you? I would tend to think that as these cars get older and more collectable, they a “nice weather only” cars and that suggests a higher demand for a “fun-in-the-sun” GTS.

BTW - I am not questioning your situation, just wondering why.

 

I think the reasoning on the GTB is that the Ferrari market is driven largely by rarity, or rather perceived uniqueness. Think glass 308, or chairs and flares 246. Are these cars any better than the others. Nope, not by any objective measure, but they are still worth a lot more. People are inferring that this same rational will eventually impact GTB vs GTS pricing. Who knows if it actually will, but it is a reasonable basis for the argument.

 

I remember when these cars were new, the GTS just seemed like the obvious and only choice. A GTB never even came into the conversation. As a matter of fact, I had never even seen one until years after production ended. Once I did though, there was never a question for me on which one I wanted especially after riding in an early 308 GTS and owning an Alfa convertible. I wanted the rigidity that a roof can provide and I just found the look of the targa very dated in a way similar to the black battering ram bumpers of the 308. I have run into many very like minded owners/non-owners/mechanics since then. Maybe it's just my perception that the GTB has come into the conversation more now than when the cars were new. The GTS is still the more sought after car for sure, but it sure seems that the demand for the GTB is growing and there just aren't many of them available. I'm glad I found mine when I did 7 years ago.

 

Actually according to the moderator of the 328 GTB registry, it's more like 150 total GTB's in the US vs. 2000 to 3000 GTS's. If these numbers are correct it means only 5% up to 7.5% are GTB's, making it much more of rare breed.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/312511-328-gtb-registry.html

 

Today and for the next 10-15 years, the rarity of the GTBs will keep them slightly higher. But, in the very long run, the open top will win the day.

 

The absolute enjoyment of open air driving can't be replaced by anything. And I think that most 328 GTS's owners just enjoy driving them with the top off. Understandable! They have a passion for driving and driving their 328's. But in the end, the GTB will be the better investment, not only for the rarity and for, what some would say, more beautiful flowing lines without having the targa top, but mostly because the investors will swoop in and buy what is available (remember their are only a few GTB's out there) and I think it becomes more of a game of investing than driving enjoyment.

 

Guessing the show was cut in LA, where once into assembling the scene, the editors realized they needed that insert shot . . . A post producer (not as crazy about Ferraris as we) probably got on the horn "Hey, Joe Executive who parks near gate 4 has a Ferrari! See if we can borrow his car for a few minutes" I'd be shocked if anyone realized the difference between a 308 and 328.

Anyway, just joking (in a pro-308 sort of way)

 

If the top goes down, the price goes up. LOL

 

I wouldn't say "2000 to 3000 GTSs" in the USA...

The usual ballpark is that 25 to 28% of a model is exported by Ferrari to the USA, and this, according to interviews of personnel from the factory, was true during the eighties.

So with the 6068 total production of GTSs, that would make rather 1600 to 2000 US-market cars; perhaps slightly more to compensate for the low number of GTBs exported: 33%, a third, would be 2025 cars.
To me, 2000 to 2200 US Market GTSs is an absolute maximum; but perhaps someone on this forum do have more exact figures than those above obtained by the traditional "guestimation method" ?

As for the GTBs, effectively the proportion exported to the American market is way lower than 25%, which would have been about 340 cars from the total of 1344 GTBs produced.
In Europe, as I have already written, proportion is usually about one GTB for two GTS: the "B" is not that rare here.
From the 1344, discount "about 150" as American-market GTBs, and 130 UK RHD cars, that leaves about 1050 LHD GTBs for the Rest of the World.
Notice that, contrary to what many people think, 328s destined by the factory to the japanese market were Left Hand Drive; yes, left hand drive, even if that country drive on the "other side" of the road.

It should be noted that:
- for one "market with a sunny coast", which is Australia, the factory did not even bother to officially export any GTB at all here: only GTSs were sent new by the factory here, 152 of them; any GTB in Australia today is a car imported later, not exported here new by the factory.
- the "full cabriolet" 328 prototype build by the factory (chassis 49543 / full VIN ZFFXA29A6E0049543, discussed here:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/308770-328-carbriolet-2.html

still road-registered and driven in Italy today, was in "US Market configuration", that is with the "long lower-lip" bumper and "flag" mirrors; once again, it confimrs that United States of America was the primary market targeted for any "open top" version.

(So the total number of 328s produced is:

One cabriolet, 1344 GTBs and 6068 GTSs which makes 7413;

Plus the "cousins" for Italia only, the 1136 "Turbo intercooler": of which 308 are "B", and 828 are "S".

(Notice here that the proportion of "B" to "S" for this model, intended only for the Italian market, is much higher than for the 328 production, which again confirms that the "B" to "S" proportion is "about one "B" for two "Ss" in Europe: we do like our tin-tops here!)

Rgds

 

I think that is exactly what happened

 

IMO, the GTB is the "serious" Ferrari and the GTS the PCH cruiser. For me there was never a question-a GTB was the only option. I prefer the look, the rigidity and the statement. So, in my case I was willing to pay more for the GTB.
Of course this doesn't mean its the better or more desirable car or that a GTS owner made the wrong choice-just my preference.

 

So let me get this straight, the reason some people prefer the GTB because of its rarity or is it because they look better? If they look better, that means GTBs are just good to look at since the performance is the same as the GTS

 

Mike,

We have drifted from the "which one is a better investment, a 308 or a 328" to a debate about the virtues of GTB vs GTS, but nevertheless...

Performance of GTB and GTS is actually not the same: it is close, but the "B" is a slightly better performer indeed.
I know I am nitpicking here, but all period magazines in Europe agreed that, for the 328 at least, when the car was introduced on the market (end 1985) the GTB was a slightly more better performer than the GTS, notably on acceleration and pick-up.
All GTBs (Euro version) tested returned between 5,5 sec and 5,6 sec for the 0 to 100 km/h exercise (0 to 62 mph), against 5'8 to 5'9 for the GTSs: difference is 0'3.
Max speed was noted as 265 km/h for the GTB, against 258 for the GTSs.
Remember also that a "B" is slightly lighter than a "S" (about 15 kilos for identical cars)

I know these are small differences, and not very relevant today, but, as the owner of identical '89 "B" and "S" (five weeks separated them on the production chain), I can vouch for that: steering wheel in hand, the "B" is a better performer.
Every owner who has been lucky enough to own both versions at the same time, to drive them from time-to-time back-to-back can attest for this, and that the road-holding of the "B" is much tighter and sharper; this has been discussed often here already.

I love both, but for different reasons: there is no doubt that, from a pure driving experience, the "B" is the better car. The "S" has other arguments, and that's probably the reason I have kept both until today. It is indeed a different driving experience. Try a "B", you won't be disappointed.

Rgds

 

Yes maybe you have a point, according to this:Ferrari 308 weather it's a Euro or a US, the GTS are heavier than the GTB.

 

My 308 is an antique automobile. I bought it as just that. It is eligible for "Historic" license plates. Buzzy Subarus and Hyundais will blow my doors off and I am okay with it. ... I await my first form letter from the DMV which offers me my $1,000 to strip and crush my car.