How can I get a 308

I have only been watching the Ferrari market for 5 years and have only been a 308 owner for 4, so take my words with a grain of salt.

My obsevation is that Ferrari models seem to go through a stigmatized peroid when they are somehow consider inferior to the other Ferrari models. No one could say much good about 308s five years ago. 355s are currently disparaged for their exhaust manifolds; 348s are completely off the radar screen. They are all wonderful cars.

It certainly looks like it is currently a good time to shop for a 308. When I was looking, I was told to be prepared to have to look for 2 years to find a nice one. Today, there is a huge number for sale. It would be easy to buy one. The opportunity that comes with the 308 price run up is this temporary period where people who bought a relatively cheap car now have an asset of sufficient monitary value that they envision other uses for the money. They've all listed their cars at the same time.

There really aren't that many 308s out there. Those hormone-fueled teens who were watching Magnum p.i. are now just entering their age of maximum purchasing power.

 

I have 328 in the classifieds on here. I also have a 81 308 red 30k mi I'm going to advertise on here when I sell my 328. see pics at Mercedeshowroom -

 

I looked at many 308's back in the early 90's. I new I wanted a Euro model QV but couldn't find one to my liking. Finally, I put an add in the 'want adds' in my local paper (Dallas). No internet or EBay back then. A local Dr. called me and said he had what I was looking for. It was in near perfect condition with 10k miles. He sold it to me cheap. Sometimes you get lucky, if you don't get in a hurry.

Good luck,

 

IMO you are pretty much spot on. The 348 is currently in the "funk" that the 308 held for many years. When I bought my 308 15 years ago and even up to 8-10 years ago prices were depressed because it was "just a 308" now they have blossomed out of the weeds and 348 will follow one day.

 

^^ This

 

How's this for a start?
Asking $125,000 not my car just passing along information.
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Or how about this QV at $72.5? There are a LOT of 308s available.
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So why is it so hard to buy a 308 today? I bought a 308 when the only resource was a once a month issue of Hemmings.

 

It's easy...oh wait...one problem...MONEY!

 

I think you will find the good ones aren't cheap & the cheap ones aren't good.

Its's not what you pay for a the car it's what you need to spend to make it a good one!

 

It isn't but we here can be guilty of making the process difficult for many.

I, personally, wouldn't get caught up much in things that do not really matter but my definition of a "good" car is apparently far and away different than many around here.

To me a good 308 is one that is mechanically sound with a good history. How many times does someone post a link to one they are looking at and we spend six pages listing every little teeny tiny issue all the way down to a magnetic fender shield when, in fact, it is a great find.

Seriously, I bought my QV in 1997 - and you guys may need to pull up a chair and sit down before reading this: The tool kit didn't have all the tools!!! OMG How have I ever been able to enjoy this thing for the past 19 years???

Crazy isn't it?

 

Also lower mileage doesn't mean better. Let me share my learned experience with you. When I was shopping for a 308 ten years ago, I was choosing between three 308:
81 with 20K miles
85 with 40K miles and an
84 with 67K miles.
Guess which one I bought? For those of you knew y car, yes I bought the 84 with 67k miles. I test drove all three and by far the one with the high mileage ran the best, as in like new plus, two months prior to me buying the car, the previous owner just had major done by F of San Francisco. I now have 84k miles and still running like new.

 

My 84 had 57,000 showing. I picked it over several with less as well.

 

Nice! I guess if it makes it over 50K miles, it will keep on going as if it's less than that, you don't know if it's going to make it to 50K.

 

I totally agree, Tommy. My new '78 shows 48k and is in way better condition than my old '80i which was ~25k. I think low mileage matters for cars up to maybe 10 years old. After that, they need to show use and maintenance. Most will disagree with me, to which I'd say "ok, good luck with your garage queen"

 

Yeah, now more than ever, they need to show some "use" miles on the clock.

 

Do I understand correctly, that it doesn't matter if it is a carburettor, a 2 Valve injected or a QV for you ?
There are many differences between those cars, that's the reason, why I ask.

 

Being a pro really changes the game for you. These cars are just fine to work on. Sometimes labor time is stunnimg (such as digging through mechanical systems to get to the timing belts) but most of it is just plain wrench jockey work.

As a pro, you want to find as intact of a car as you can; the old mechanic's saw applies about how "if the body is good, all the rest can be fixed". For 308s, interior condition, body and paint and, especially, missing parts can be very expensive repairs, although you can also throw $10k of parts at a blown engine.

For me, a 'bird in the hand" is valuable. I loathed the idea of chasing cars across the nation. When I found a local car I liked, I bought it.

 

KCab - do check around to find what you like.

The differences between the models have been largely outlined here and are all over the board. Basically, its going to come down to a few factors:

S or B?

Carb, "i", or QV?

Condition?

Cost?


I might suggest that you check them out - maybe in that order that I outlined.


When I was in the market back in 2009 I figured that I would end up with an "i" car because they were cheapest and I didn't have a big budget to do more. I had a late carbed car offered to me, but it didn't have records, the last major service was 1984, and the guy wanted $42k for it. I kept my eye open and got my QV for significantly less than that. My QV had high mileage then (63k) and with a few minor bumps has run like a champ. Love driving it....

Good luck!!!



PDG

 

I am going to suggest an 83 euro QV GTSi for aesthetics and top off fun. It has the slim, recessed bumpers, later interior and lighter clutch pedal, prettier paint scheme, and the 32 valves. Should pass emissions easily.

All the 2 valve US cars with cats (78-82) got emission cams, lesser performance. Nothing too drastic. But it does make them the bottom of the food chain. They do deliver the same fun as the non cat 2 valve cars and later 4 valve cars.

A 77 could be a nice find, but will be a GTB....so hardtop. That hardtop is preferred in some circles.

Expect stiffer, much more heavy clutch pedal on the carb cars. The injected and QV cars have a slightly different setup with a helper spring that makes the pedal what I would call normal.

When you get to 84 and 85 you get all the benefits of a production run and knowledge of what needs fixing. They have some rust proofing that the earlier cars lacked. But they can all rust my fellow alfisti. You do get to a more modern emissions system with these cars. Probably the easiest to live with in CA.

Happy hunting. I picked my 82 really because of the color. Go figure. I did manage to find the euro computers to swap as they have more advance. No regrets on picking that year as I wasn't looking at it from investment, but rather enjoyment.

 

I found no difference whatsoever between my injected car and my carbed car. I actually enjoy the heavy clutch. It part of the car's character and not a problem unless you have medical issues.