Devils Advocate

After many years of loving the 328 and wishing I had one, I am now seriously considering taking the plunge. I have great passion for Ferrari, and I love the 328 is particular. I decided to start this thread to seek the advise of those who have been in my position and moved forward. Still, I have concerns, the biggest being:

- What are the things to look for when considering a car? Does it truly pay to buy a premium car?
- Is it really the nightmare that many describe it as?
- If things go wrong, how do you even get parts?
- Do they even properly service 328's at dealers anymore? If so, do they have access to all the parts they need?
- If parts are that impossible to get, what do you do? I've read horrific stories about how impossible it is to get things like head light motors, power window parts, rubber and foam parts, etc.
- I am not as much concerned about cost as I am about originality. So, given my questions above, how does one maintain the purity of a 328?

If it helps to know, I live in the Washington DC area. I would love some feedback from those who have traveled this path before. I'm curious to know if you regret it or if you love it still. Also, if anyone is willing to discuss things in greater detail on the phone, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Never easy to own a old car. I don't think maintenance parts are hard to get. Specific parts for body on mechanical internals may be a bit hard. Power window swithches for exemple. I think if you buy a nice exemple and your use is minimal there shouldn't be too many hard troubles.

Buy and enjoy it.

 

It would be a good thing for you to do more research.

- what are the things to consider?

Depends on what you want? Do you want a car that you don't have to worry about right now? Do you want to restore a basket case? Two different things. What's a premium car? Just because it's expensive doesn't mean that it's well sorted. Research to find what a well sorted car is.

- Is it a nightmare?

Depends. It can be. Any collector car can be. Go in eyes wide open.

- Parts: Lots, but not all, parts are available. Lots of sellers out there: Ricambi America, Superformance, T Rutlands. Plus - search here for used parts. E-bay as well.

- Dealer? Ha. If they can't plug in an OBD 2, they probably don't know what to do. Find a good independent mechanic in your area. Or - do it yourself. It's not that hard - nuts and bolts.

- Impossible parts. Well - you fix them. Or fabricate something. Or pull one off a wrecked car.

- Purity? Don't customize it then.

Again - search is your friend.

Good luck. I have to say - my 308 is wonderful. I have zero regrets with the car that I purchased..

 

The only thing I find it hard to get for the 3x8 series is time to enjoy it.
( seriously )

 

disclaimer: I'm a long time 308 owner. Not a 328.

Consistent Service, any deferred maintenance, last service, any body rust, was it used consistently (no long-term garage queens)

Yes (IMHO)

Not if you do your homework & get a good PPI

All the major suppliers are on here, the 2nd hand suppliers too, Ferrari can usually get stuff at a premium. Some things are just NLA.

Yes, they service them. Hopefully your shop has someone very familiar with the older cars. And they get the parts same as you would: FNA, Other dealers, Major suppliers, etc etc

Most parts are out there either new or used. Or, there are procedures to work around the issues (Like capping Exhaust sampling tubes)

Buy original parts?

This forum is wonderful.
Live inside the DIY threads & Parts XREF thread.

 

I've owned my 328 for a little more than 9 years and it's the only car I have that never ticks me off! Seriously, and I'm probably jinxing myself now, but it's been as reliable as an anvil and even the maintenance and running costs have been much less expensive than I anticipated. I have a good local independent shop to service it.

And I bought the very first 328 I looked at and didn't even get a PPI... When I bought the car it still had the original tires on it, so I replaced those in the first year ($500). Over the years all I've had to do is change fluids regularly (about $300/year), replace two coolant hoses that started leaking ($435 total), and do one belt change/major service ($4,040).

 

I don't think you need to cash out for premium. Sounds like you want to get behind the wheel, a lot.

Buy a good one, don't pay extra for concours. This way you won't be afraid to rack up the miles or leave it in a parking lot when you are out running errands.

 

buy the best you can afford

service records are a key ingredient.

without service records i would walk on the prettiest car

 

328 is one of the most reliable ferraris of the 'older era' that you can buy, mechanically speaking.....buy from a reputable dealer, dont over pay for low milage or a concourse type car, and enjoy it, if thats the model you have always dreamed of.
Honestly there are much more expensive vices than Ferrari ownership!

BR,
Jez

 

Great comments. Thanks for the feedback. Just curious - are there any particular parts that are unusually difficult to replace if the intent is to maintain OEM originality?

Also, best advice on where to find the best person to do a PPI?

 

Thoughts on this car:

1988 Ferrari 328 GTS | Amelia Island 2016 | RM Sotheby's

 

Not a 328 but i think for that money I would buy a testarossa...no I would not hesitate to buy a testarossa for that money and say 328 what? Nothing like a flat 12 behind your head.

 

That's a nice car. Go look at it first. Every car I've ever bought sight unseen, I've been disappointed.

 

$120,000 - $160,000 ... hm. It's lower miles, and looks (at face value) like a nice car. For that price, it better be perfect.

I've seen 328's recently going for far less money than $120K - there's one in the Fchat classifieds at the moment in the $70's range, and also looks like a quality car. If you're planning to drive and enjoy it, I'd start with that car.

I suppose it depends on what your budget is, and what you're after. I can't write a $140K check for an Fcar, but also wouldn't spend $140K on a 328 if I could.

 

Just being honest - having an impeccable car is a high priority. This caught my eye because it has low miles, but not too low, and it is a concourse platinum car.

 

Does it matter to you where the market goes? To me that's more than all the money for an evolved 308 regardless of how nice it is. If you plan to drive whatever you buy you'll only devalue It if you buy a perfect car at peak value. Some people care about resale others don't. Some want bang for the buck. I drive my cars and prefer the battle scars on my BB vs my "in the wrapper" testarossa which is why I'm testarossa-less now. Too nice = garage queen and saving it for the next guy.

 

If you're looking for as perfect as possible, no matter the price - then I'd say it's worth a look.

Just be sure that whatever you pay, for whatever car you choose - that the price is in line with what you intend to do with it. If you're going to keep it pristine, drive it occasionally to a Cars & Coffee - but otherwise keep it in a bubble - then a 328 with that sort of price may make sense.

But if you intend to drive it every weekend, and have little interest in what a Concourse judge thinks in 2 years - as Newman said, it's a different situation... as it makes little sense to buy a 328 for $140K (instead of $80K), and then own/drive it as if it were an $80K car.

I'm not saying buy some storage locker orphan with issues, by the way. Just that what you intend to DO with the car does relate to what sort of car you should purchase.

 

Get a 328, and don't look back!!!
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My desire is more inline with your first comment. I would keep it perfectly pristine, occasionally drive it on weekend and enter it in shows and concourses.

 

Wouldn't your previous ownership experience with the QV provide you some insight into owning the next model in line? It's not really that much different like going form 328 to 348

 

Very much so, however, that was many years ago (1995), so I wanted to get opinions from those who are living with the cars today. Having said that, my past experience, both good and bad, play a role in my reaching out. I'm much more financially able to own a car today then I was before, but I want to be certain I have access to the needed parts and mechanical expertise when needed.

 

You live in Washington DC ?????
Try owning a Ferrari in Montana.

 

It is a vintage exotic car, there is no getting around it. It was a great exotic car in 1986 and is now a great 30 year old exotic car. Many parts are hard to get and everything on it is long past what Ferrari expected of it when new.

Despite the well meaning advice it is lunacy not to buy the best available and I would not consider bringing a car of that age to most dealers. You have Competizione and Sports Cars near you and it would be the best choice locally.

This is from an owner and someone who was factory trained on them and has been working on the 328 day in and day out since they were introduced in the USA. They are a great car but they are a 30 year old great Italian car and that will never change.

 

Don't buy a car from a major auction house unless you have more money than sense...

 

take the plunge, finally ... and forget the concerns

buy the best car you can afford, keeping 15-20% of the purchase price as reserve for immediate, unexpected problems

if something breaks, come here for help