30 years with a 308, 3 with a 355

I've owned my 308 for 30 years, going on 31, my 355 just starting it's 3rd. But enough seat time in the 355 to make some comparisons. First, there is no doubt that the 355 is a rocket compared to the 308 GTB QV. Performance wise it is better in almost every way. But at the same time, other than the styling and sound, the 355 strikes me as ordinary. What I mean is that the type of performance it provides can be found is so many cars today that it's hard to feel that the performance of the 355 is anything unique. It's brute force over finesse. It's were the roots of the exotic car performance, super car attitude began. It just doesn't ooze classic Ferrari the way the 308 does. By comparison the 308 is as slow as an old truck. But there is something magical about the 308. Get in it, and starting off the steering is heavy. There is little torque to get it moving. But once it's moving the steering lightens up and the tiny V8 just sings. Throttle response is silky smooth, feedback through the wheel is telling you every nuance about the road while you feel like you are floating. The 355 suspension is solid and stable, but the 308 is more compliant and less tiring. For me, the 308 represents old school Ferrari, when Ferrari road cars were just that, road cars. They were not necessarily the fasted, best handling cars you could buy but they made a statement. They were sports cars. The 355 is of a different generation when Ferrari became more obsessed with performance; when Ferrari road cars became race cars for the street; when top speed and HP became necessary design objectives; when fastest production car built was a necessary claim.

With prices rising I was considering that maybe it was time to let the 308 go. I made my way out to the back garage, in spite of the 22" of snow on the ground here in central CT, and uncovered the beast. I started bringing in small parts and cleaning them so that come spring I would have a head start on detailing the car should I choose to put it up for sale. I must confess that since I purchased the 355 I have not driven the 308 as much as I used to. The more I worked on the car the more I reconnected with it and the more I though about the differences. In a short time I came to the realization that the 308 was a Ferrari, pure and simple, old school Ferrari. The last of the breed. The 355, by comparison, it just a car with a Ferrari badge. No, the 308 will be staying home for a long time to come. It's just that beautiful and that good.

 

The last sentence. Says it all.

 

This is "usable" stuff te read for me, since I have similar doubts & feelings. I own my 308 for 20 years in June. I also didn't drive that much with my car the last years. The business, starting racing again, a lot to do in so little (spare) time, and my daily driver (Alfa Romeo with tuned 3.2 V6 Busso engine) provided (and still does) the necessary Italian driving-thrill. Compared to the Alfa the 308 is already so much slower.. Drove a 360 the other day and lost myself in it's power. That opened my mind for thoughts as "hey, this is a good time to sell the 308" (and it beïng a Vetroresina offers a lot of alternatives, financially seen) and "man, she isn't really fast and that ^*#^*$*@ driving position.." .

So to counter that thoughts I brought her to the body/paint shop last friday for a full respray in 20-R-190 Rosso Chiaro (I could't stand the "stone chipping" spots anymore, and after all those years the paint wasn't that great either) and I started to clean interior bits & pieces. And as you said, everything the eye sees is pretty, and everything ones hands touches is nice. I agree that after the 308 it all went in a different direction.

I should get the car back within 6 to 8 weeks, so let's see what happens when we "meet again", and share the (hopefully) sunrays of early may !

 

keep it Emile. You will regret letting her go.

 

very well stated, thanks Johnk.

 

Well said and thank you for your post!



PDG

 

Welcome to the "Old timers Club" I've had mine for 34 years, and have gone through the same questions about keeping her. I have had some very interesting offers, but after all is said and done, I probably will not part with my 308 while I still can get behind the wheel. Good luck and many more happy years.
WilliamR

 

Hello Emile.

With 308 prices rising and 360 dropping, I too get the bug to swap, but something tells me not to do it since I love my 308 so much.

What that said, how would you describe/compare the driving experience between the 308 vs 360?

Besides my 308 I have only driven a 328 and was the passenger in a 355.

 

Very nice words by all! I feel pretty much the same way, though I've only had my 328 GTS for a bit over a year; still, having had so many very different British sports cars over the years the main connection here is that each should be enjoyed on its own merits, not in comparison to someone "racing" side by side, which either doesn't or else shouldn't happen on the street anyway. Sure, my '59 Morgan +4 is very slow by "modern" standards but does that make it a no longer enjoyable driving experience? No, of course not. And so on for so many really nice cars. Anyone chucking out their Duesys or Bugattis because they're now "slow"??? Ditto the 308/328 Ferrari. Anyway, anyone who can call a 160/170 MPH street car "slow" has (IMO) got their head where the sun doesn't shine! Yes, there are faster cars, but that don't make the 308 or 328 Ferraris slow! Keep in mind that no matter what you have or buy there'll always be something quicker- so don't let it bother you. It sure doesn't bother me, especially as the 328 is the fastest car I'VE ever had. Who cares, either way; I just simply like it- even parked!

Cheers,
Rich

 

If you posted this in the 355 section you know plenty of them will argue with you.

Your not going to get anyone here that owns a 308 argue with you. You could ditch the 355 and get another 308.

 

Maybe even a blue one.

 

I have both a 328 GTS and a 355 spider 6 speed. Love them both but one needs to go to make room for a 550. With the rising values, soon it will be a straight across trade - 328 for the 550. Hate to see it go but that's probably the trade ill make.

 

Problem is you can get speed anywhere these days. Not just Porsche, but Merc, BMW and Audi all offer great cars that outperform a 360. But, you really can't use much of that performance on public roads in the US. And you're never going to get another glass 308 for what you'd sell it for today.

I actually love the 308/328 driving position - so different from everything else. Probably comes down to shoe size and physique... it feels like a true cockpit. The 360/F430 don't give you that tucked-in sensation.

My challenge is finding enough time to drive my cars as much as I'd like, given my work and travel. I barely do 1,000 miles a year in the Speedster, and that includes "scheduled exercise" drives. The 308 probably won't get much more than that. But, when I do stow the tops and drive them, they make everything else boring.

 

maybe

 

My feelings too... My DD is an '86 Carrera Cab and when the 308 is back on the road and the weather is a bit better, it will enter into the rotation too. Out here in Colorado, it is all Truck/SUV with a few four door sedans. I just can't do that... Performance cars from the '80s are more than enough for our roads here until you head up into the hills and even then you want handling not speed so much. We have a Mini S Roadster which should sorta be the same thing - but it isn't even close... I'm convinces nothing new comes close.

Franny

 

JohnK: I was interested in your thread, as I have also owned my 308 for 30, going on 31 years. Having experienced the "Carrera Panamericana" with my father in the early 50's, the magic of Ferrari strongly affected the rest of my life, in a most enduring and passionate way. All of my modes of transport, starting with my tricycle, became Ferrari to me, until the day came when I owned my real one.
While I must admit that one of the reasons I bought it was to instantly become more attractive to the female gender, and some of the women I dated resented that the car drew more appreciation from the public than they did, the machine has outlasted many relationships. I am no longer of an age where I can (or want to) attract young companions; those women that appear attracted to me are, I suspect, more looking at "portfolio" than at "potency".
The names of my heroes of the 50's are engraved onto the Titanium shift knob on my 308.... Maglioli, Taruffi, Fangio, Ascari: The spirit of those long gone perdures, and makes the Ferrari driving experience peerless, no matter the age of the car.
I doubt that you are in a position where you need to sell the car for monetary reasons, and I also doubt that any other car will bring you the type of satisfaction that only your 308 can... Enjoy it.
TN

 

Same reasons why I love my Boxer so much, probably not as lithe as a 308(modern rubber brings it close) but more whack.. Tried the newer ferraris, sense of occasion and experience gone, unless at 9/10ths or above to drive they are just cars.

I like lots of things tech brings in etrms of power and reliability, but taking away driving occasion and experience is an unfortnate loss. The mclaren F1 was really fast and had etch, but none of the tech used robbed it of what makes a two door sportscar so special.

One day manufacturers will figure out that for a sprts car each point of conatct is part of the appeal, whetehr its astheics, sound, response, steerign feedback, pedals smell etc. Otherwise they are just making really fast drsamatic looking two door lexi, which sadly is what a 458 is..

If you like old school and modern capabilitues try a lotus elise.

Unless you need the money now, def do not sell the 308, there is nothign like it being produced, you cant replace the experience and in time it will only be valued more.

 

No need to sell. I was just tempted by the rapidly escalating prices. Love both cars, just realizing I love the 308 more.

 

With the realities of modern traffic, road laws etc it is impossible to use a fast modern car anywhere near its abilities except in very few situations. With that in mind I far prefer driving a slow car fast than a fast car slow and a 308/328 fills that bill perfectly. They are a joy to drive and not terribly expensive to operate.

 

Cost to operate is a big factor for long term keeping, and soemhting the 355 does not have in its favor. The one place you can really drive a car fast is the track, most street cars are too fragile for that.

Stilla 355 is closer tot he classic ferrari experience than tot he modern.

Slow car fast, thats why i never supercharged my lotus, the joy is in having to work for your speed.

 

Look prices may come down somewhat at some point because its a cycle..308 prices are now part of alcassic car cycle, not depreciating old cars.

They dont make cars like the 308 anymore and are unlekly to again. The world is getting wealthier. How many other asets do you have thta will apreciate as well as the 308 over the next 15 years. Classic car prices go in cycles, each cycle reaching a new high and then resetting, the 308 is not a old car anyomre, its part of the classic pricing cycle. Nothing to lose except maintanace costs by term by keeping and a 308 is very reasonable on maintainance.

 

Yes, and this also accounts for the appeal of the vintage/classic cars that have seen a rise in value recently. An early '70s 911 can't run with a 991, but... in terms of the fun factor, it doesn't matter. And yes, a 308/328 ticks all the boxes - entertaining and involving to drive, communicative, sounds great, looks great and when you park it you're going to look back once or four or ten times. One of the great cockpits of the last 50 years.

 

This has been covered in multiple other "bubble" threads, but I don't think steel 308s are really all that expensive yet or have seen that much of a rise. Maybe because I also follow the classic Porsche/Mercedes market, I see the 308 as lagging at the moment. Yeah, they're over $50K now for a good one, but try buying a Porsche 930 for $50K, or anything from Lamborghini -- even forgotten cars like Urraccos are pulling strong money, for something unreliable and relatively (by Italian exotic standards) unattractive. I still think steel 308s are a deal. I would honestly take one over any 355 or 360 for the same money, and possibly an F430 unless there was profit to be made in flipping it for a 308.

 

One reason I bought the 355 was because I had wanted one since the time they came out but life got in the way for a few years. When the 360 and 430 came out they just reinforced my opinion that after the 355 Ferrari styling hit a real low. The 458 did not change that for me. Driving experience aside, I have the two Ferraris I want (and can afford). But still, integration of the driver with the car seems lacking to me in the 355. Regardless of how I'm driving it I never feel as much a part of the car, as I do in the 308. It's like you ride the 355 but drive the 308.