Finally

Get the one you like and don't worry. Either car is a good choice. Do your homework and buy the right car. Maintenance is a real big deal and don't buy one that needs the major unless the price reflects condition.

 

When I was in the market I looked at and drove both cars. Both are great cars, but for a little more money I went with the 328. I noticed a big difference in the preformance and it is a newer car with all the upgrades and it is more reliable. When I was looking I never drove a carb. 308 just a newer fuel injected one, but I hear the older carb ones have a great sound. My advice to you would be to go with the 328, but that's my opinion. Good Luck

 

There's another thread here today that asks between a carb 308 & a 308 QV - perhaps the compromise to a 328 is the latter - that way you get most of the 328 mechanicals with ther interior & looks of a 308

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91615

 

Thread moved to the appropriate sub-section.

 

There are huge difference between an early carb'ed 308 and the 328. The last of the 308QV's are much closer to the 328 (power was up a bit, and Ferrari started rustproofing the 308's cars beginning in Jan. 1984.)

But ... there were a lot of changes to the 328, apart from the flat console switches (which I agree aren't as cool as the toggles they replaced). Apart from the obvious improvements in the engine, many of the major electrical components changed on the 328, including the ignition system (Microplex, single ignition for both banks of cylinders). In general, 308's have weak electrical systems and accessories (like power windows), although you can replace the built-to-fail fuse block to improve your odds. 328's have a reputation for being very reliable, by Ferrari standards.

You have to make your own call on the aesthetics -- the black rubber U.S. bumpers on the 308 are heavy and really do date the car to the '70s, IMO. Even then they were a crude solution. The European cars look right, but I'm in California so I didn't go that route. The switches inside the 308 are nice in chrome; the armrests looked like the designer got carried away a bit; the silver-trimmed rear quarter grilles are a bit much; the door handles are neat. It goes on and on... there's always a tradeoff somewhere.

I looked at several nice 1984-85 308 GTS QV's during my 11-month hunt, and ended up going with a 328 GTS primarily because the right car in the right (rare) color became available. Mostly what I noticed, though, is that 308's tend to be very tired cars, many of them in need of restoration work that can't be justified because of their market value. Even some decent-looking California cars had rust at the base of the doors. If I had found an outstanding 308GTS QV, I might have bought it. I never did.

If you're mechanically inclined, you might be happy with an early carb'ed 308. They do sound the best of the whole run. Across the board, Ferrari and other highline dealers recommended the 328 over the 308, but part of the rationale is that they know that many of us have driven stone-reliable Porsches and a finicky 1970's carbureted Ferrari is a big leap backward in the turn-the-key-and-go mindset that almost all of us have now.