308 opinions...

I'm interested in the 308 or maybe 328. What are your opinions. QV vs GTB? Criteria for buying them? What should I look out for/avoid?

I live in Singapore...thanks.

 

For the 308, definitely a QV or the early carbed ones. The injected two valve per cylinder or GTSi/GTBi are slightly asthmatic. Quattrovalvole ( 4 valves per cylinder ) is the way to go.

328, more modern interior fittings and a 3.2L 270hp motor. Available in both GTB and GTS guise as well. ( if you check the SG thread, there's one for sale in SG I think, a 328 GTB )

Either model is a good buy and personally for me the GTB has the better lines without the targa top and the grilles instead of a window in the C pillar. As in any Ferrari, history and provenance are crucial and PPI is a MUST.

Both cars possess go-kartish handling and even though the power outputs are nothing to shout about by today's standard, it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face everytime you start her up. 308/328s are arguably the prettiest Ferrari ever made.

Get with the SG boys in the SG thread and they'll help you out. A bunch of real enthusiast and one of them, Lung used to own a 328 GTB.

 

OK, thanks for the quick reply. Are there any typical problems 308s have been known to have? Just wondering what I should look out for...

Also, are there significant power differences between the various 308 models? Thanks...

 

Patro,

I'm not that familiar with the 308/328 but I'll try...

308 GTB Carburettors Fibreglass bodied : 255 bhp ( claimed )
308 GTB/ GTS Carburettors Steel bodied : 255 bhp ( claimed )

308GTBi/GTSi Steel Fuel Injection : 220 bhp

308GTB/ GTS Quattrovalvole (injected) : 240-250bhp

328 GTB/GTS (3.2L QV injected) : 270 bhp

NOTE : The above power output figures are to the best of my knowledge and memory. I'm in CN at the moment and all my Ferrari books are in KL. I might be a wee bit off here and there...

You can try the search function at the top of the mast and just type 308 or 328. There's a lot of info concerning these two models. I can't help with the issues pertaining to the pitfalls or shortcomings of either since I've never owned one.

You can also get in touch with HS in SG and the SG boys I've mentioned previously seems to be pretty familiar with them...

Good luck with your search.

Iskandar

 

hi Patro.

are you the same patro from the sg alfa forum ?

start here :-

http://www.qv500.com/indexferrari6.php

there's tons of material , if you search.

 

Pistole...

Tak tidur lagi ke ? Lawyer must sleep early..not like us ppl who draws doodles to get inspiration..coffee after coffee....BTW vely susah to get instant coffee in Dalian.These ppl only minum teh cina!

 

hehe

hi Isk.

ya lah , sudah mau tidur already .... just got back from a car gathering here
locally ..... had fun though.

ooi , bila balik ?

 

Yeah I'm that same Patro. I can't say I'll be getting a Ferrari anytime soon but I want to know what's up for if/when I do.

Saya tak boleh tidur juga. Dah bangon tapi mesti tidur. Kereja terlalu susah...the only thing that keeps me sane is my car.

 

Iskandar,

OK I'll call them up or go over there...thanks.

 

Hello Patro, go for a 308QV & if you can stretch another S$40K or so the 328. Both are beautiful cars & instant classics. There's only 4 328 in Singapore so you won't get much luck bargaining & remaining 3 are not for sale anytime soon. I've only seen two.

A few 308s around but good example hard to find, a late model will have nicer & lower bumpers. I've only seen one Carb 308 (there's two) & owner just did it up but not to the best specs in my opinion. Bear in mind that they are classic & old 20+ years cars. Rubber goes hard, wiring been mod, metal corroded etc. Parts are easy only on internet & there's many upgrades available including rebody to GTO look. But most owners will keep the stock look as they're classics. They can still hold off most modern cars quite well & they do need more attention in driving. Makes you a better driver in my opnion. Very involving & sounds good with the right muffler. Belts change are quite cheap (under S$1K) if done outside HS. No engine out job. Fluids change per normal (S$300+/-).

Matrix tyres can be an issue so make sure you upgrade or already has the late 80s model rims that can fit modern tyres.

If not, go for Mondial. 2+2 with same 308QV engine. There's a good silver one that's very cheap+good. I'd buy it. Interior & paint not exactly important as you can update it like many of us do here with amazing results.

One last thing, nobody's going to finance you other than the remaining COE value unless you have a private banker who goes to your home @ your service. Meaning you have to fork out S$50-$150K hard cash. They still have some body value for export, at least S$30-60K depending on model (no owners would). That's why few buyers & many rumour mongers whining Ferraris are expensive, hi maintenance etc. Good side is you're getting into a world most people can only dream of & that the new 430 in the showroom is $780K which means it'll be your 3rm HDB flat hard cash just for downpayment & a monthly S$5.5K to finance it over the next 10yrs! Oh, insurance is at least another yearly $7K for a new model vs $2K for an old one.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that's roughly what I know.

Hp claims are when those cars were new, tested when guys sport sideburns & bellbottoms. Don't expect such healthy figures unless you have it rebuilt or mod & dyno it. But they can have up to 300+hp with mods. Enjoy your find!

 

Wow that's about the best answer I could have asked for...I just happened to stop by Autobahn to kill the morning and saw those two 308s. Then I realized they may be worth around the same as my current car, a 2003 147 GTA.

But since I'm not so wealthy to be able to drop that kind of cash I guess I'll have to settle for what I've got. Why can't we just be happy with what we already have? Acutally, I am.

Of course nothing is more shiok than a Ferrari but for now I'll stick with my car which is under warranty and has no flaws or anything to worry about. I guess it performs about the same as the 308 anyway...

Maybe when I get back to the US (where I'm from) I'll get one. I was just at the dealer in Seattle and checked out an immaculate '85 308 for US $42 or $44 with fewer than 25k miles on it...

But still I'd like to meet some of you here at least for a drive...?

 

Yes, it's not the best location to buy cars here. Especially old ones, not to mention Fcar. Sorry, don't think anyone of us would like others to test drive our mistress. Unless, they're for sale. Not that we're snobbish. #1 insurance issue. #2 gearbox/clutch not the easiest & they can break by just one wrong use. #3 There's no 308/328 owners here.

 

No, that's not what I meant. I would never dare ask to drive another man's car, especially Ferrari. I meant head to MY for kopi or teh tarik. I'll drive my car, if I can keep up!!

 

A 147GTA can keep most Ferraris in it's sights..as far as normal traffic's concerned. Great little car that I thought to swop my wife's 330i for but madam doesn't drive a manual and she detests the selespeed.

Yeah Patro, US's the place to buy cars...even though gasoline now is cheaper in Malaysia than the States !

 

Well to tell the truth I think the GTA is its weakest in low-end performance. From higher speeds like 140-190 it's waaay more impressive (acceleration at those speeds). But I would hate to have to try to keep up with a Ferrari at those speeds too.

Well if your wife doesn't like a manual or Selespeed you can forget about Alfas all together I guess. Haha. Mine is a 6-speed; the Selespeeds came in a bit later. The Selespeeds are cool in that they blip it on the downshifts for the driver but I'm more of a purist...I prefer the 6. I don't really even like the electronic driving aids, but respect them when one is turned off (ASR is the only one that can be turned off).

I'm coming to KL for the MotoGP on the 24th of September. Doing a CarFreaks convoy...a few other Alfas (including a 33), a 325 coupe' and some more....if you or any of the other Ferrari kaki will be there let me know...I'd love to fly with some of you.

 

patro,

were you in JB karting a couple of months back ? when there was a 147
GTA and also a new GT at Permas ?

If that was you , I was there as well in the white coupe. just sibuk sibuk
only.

as for your GTA 'keeping' up .... I think that performance wise , your GTA
would give more than able to give any 308/328/348/355 a fright and a
trouncing perhaps.

cheers.

 

Haha you mean the Fiat Coupe'? If so, I know who you are sort of, because yes, that was me. We were there with AROC a few times, both at PJ and Sepang.

Now I don't know about your last statement...maybe in a straight line, but my CG is so high!

So let me know if you're going to the MotoGP...

-Andrew

 

Andrew,

I wooed my wife waaay back in the UK with a GTV6 2.5. I brought the car back to KL in 89 and had Alfas in the porch ( we don't have garages...) ever since. 2 164s, 1 164 QV ( Quadrofoglio Verde ), a GTV 3.0 and still has one now, a 166 Sportronic.

Suffice to say I am still an Alfisti and most 'senior' members of the local AROC MY knows me. You can only move on to a Ferrari...what else is out there ?

That said, my soon to be first year of ownership is not without it's pitfalls and having a 'workbase' in CN is doing my 355 no favours, i.e she's becoming a Garage Queen ! On top of it, the Mrs. is an accountant and she's wondering why in the heck I spent so much for something that I don't drive regularly.

My twopennies worth is...even though you can afford the red cars, make sure you can afford the time to give her exercise. The old saying that Ferraris are mistresses runs true, for me at least.

 

Tifosi,

You sure have had some cool cars. In particular I really like the GTV 6 2.5. That thing had some good mid to upper end power. So you have a 166 now? Maybe one day I'll graduate from an Alfa to a Ferrari too...kind of like Enzo himself. I like that thought.

So your 355 is in Singapore while you work in China?

Andrew

 

Andrew,

A lot's been said about 'bad' gearboxes but nothing beats a GTV6 2.5's. The only thing that prevents the 6 from becoming the best sports car of it's era. Very recalcitrant and the twin plate clutch is pretty tricky to use. Interesting handling....go watch 007 Octo***** !

The 355 GTB is languishing in a car porch in KL. I'm Malaysian. I gave the mandate for my brothers to exercise 'her' regularly but both of 'em are not so keen especially because of the so-called perceived value ( you can wreck any car...BUT not a Ferrari ! ) of an F-car and also Murphy's Law..

Coming back soon to rectify the situation though...

 

Then I bet you've seen the GTV 6 owned by an AROC MY member. It has straight cut gears and is super fast. I watched it race in a classic race on Sepang...

 

Unfortunately no...haven't seen it. During my ownership I was in SG every other week at Tanly or the shop across it in Waterloo Center for parts buying! There's only a handful around now and mine was totalled by the idiot that I sold it too. 90degree turn in the wet and the car was on Yoko A008R with minimal tread....Another green unit was totalled when it ran into a cow...etc. Like I said, it has classic handling and the new FWD trained guys pushed too much and terms like countersteering on oversteer etc. were lost on them! That particular idiot drives a Fiat Coupe now and owns a tuning company in Sunway.

Buy a Ferrari you must Andrew....

 

Too bad to hear about the demise of your bella...yeah I really want a Ferrari but don't have that kind of cash, even though my car and a used 308 have similar market values I think...but no financing for such an old car.

As I said, I'll do it when I get back to the US. That'll be easier. For now, I think not much beats my car in terms of style/speed/practicality. I won't go Japanese; the only other possibility is maybe a BMW or Audi....but they're too common!

Now throwing away practicality, I'd get a used Lotus Elise, then maybe buy an old COE car for groceries. Haha. But weak top end.

Anyway, will any of you be around for the Moto GP at Sepang on Sep 23-25?

 

The only thing the 308 can beat you current car is style,....never speed or practicality. I don't think Ferrari even care to consider practicality in their design, leave that to the Japaness. However, as a 308 owner, style is everything plus it's fun to drive,... ton of fun to drive, fast or low there is nothing like criusing around in a Ferrari. The driving position, the clutch, the gear, the sound.. they all give you such pleasure. Another year wait for a Ferrari is another waste of time...
I was in Singapore just this last Saturday. I looked all over for something Ferrari related shops or souvenirs. Any suggestions or their web site for my next trip???

 

Oh yeah, a Ferrari will beat any car in style! But I'm just comparing my car to 'normal' cars out there...hehe Ferraris are exceptions! Anyone who has an Italian car cares some for style - otherwise I would have bought a WRX for major practicality - but zero style/panache/exoticism/etc.

Next time you're here I'd be happy to take you to Autobahn: http://www.autobahn.com.sg/

You can see the few Ferraris they have now.