Hello everybody.

Hello everyone,

My names George. Im 28 years old. A simple background, ever since I was 5 years old I loved european exotic cars. The toy I loved most that I had was a white Lamborghini Countache. Probbably looks wise my most desired is the Diablo GT. Yes I know this is a Ferrari forum, but please dont hate, both cars are awesome. This is how it was for me when I was young.

Now I own a 1968 Dodge Charger, which ofcourse I want to sell. The car I want to buy which is a reasonable price is the Ferrari 308, magnum PI style car. Basicaly for me, owning a very nice 308 Ferrari is one step in the right direction of what I want to ultimatelly have. It just makes the 300 000+ dollar car a little more 'real' by being able to sit inside a ferrari and think "hell this is a ferrari im driving".

After many things I thought about (How to make the charger handle like a ferrari, what sized wheels, can i keep the 15" size with 12.19" billet brakes, or will that effect its handling compare to 17" wheels with 13" brakes and so on so forth) I realised it would cost me aound 200 000+ to build an entire brand new chasis, and bolt the charger body to it witha brand new engine, 6 speed manual gearbox etc etc... by this stage, its still going to have its 117" wheel base, its still going to have its aerodynamic problems and thus it would be 200 000 thrown into a car that if ever was to sell, would lose 100 000. So I decided, if im going to spend that kind of money, may aswell get an exotic car that already handles like that and looks good doing it at the same time along with the fact i probbably wouldnt lose money on resale if I needed to.

I understand the Ferrari 308 will not feel anywhere near as powerfull as my current dodge but the point to having it is to be able to have that little 'taste' of the future car I can own in this direction, it just makes the Diablo that little bit more real being able to sit and drive an exotic car (even if its the cheaper end of the scale).

I know Id love to have a Testarossa down the line before my Lamborghinis (upgrading one car at a time).

I guess what I would like to know is, since im new to the entire exotic world (im a muscle car guy), I want to know some things about the 308 Ferrari.

1: Is it going to be more reliable than my 1968 Dodge Charger that has a 6.3 litre engine in it?

2: Is it going to rust as easy as my 68 Charger would driven when it rains?

3: Whats it cost to service/maintain one of these? - I mean, toyota etc, u change spark plugs, oil, fuel filters/oil filters, and u just keep driving 200 000km before you worry about 'anythng' major. Generaly every 10 000km you do oil change etc which is about a $500 service if somebody else does it (brakes, oil, etc)


I ask this because my Dodge is constantly off the road getting this and that done. Sure once its all done it should be 'ok' for a long time to come, the engine definately is gonna last forever pretty much being that big (383ci - 6.3L)

Ive just heard 2 sides to the story

side 1: Ferraris cost huge dollars to maintain, and being old like the 308s be prepared to have nothing but trouble and a money pit for servicing, with parts braking all the time and not being very reliable

side 2: Ferrari 308s cost no more than a toyota to do a general service on but every 45 000km it does need new cam belts etc which can cost up to around 2000-3000 dollars to do, so every 1-2 years $3000 on a more major service, other than that, it should be fine with nothing else to worry about.

Im looking at a 308 currently here in australia. It is left hand drive, will want to convert it to RHD - What does it cost to Convert?
I heard its cheaper than it would cost my dodge (meaning less than 10 000). The guy wants around $55 000AU (others down here are selling for 68 000-80 000) for it. Said there was $11 000 spent on it already (pulled engine out, did the seals, new hoses, new injectors, filters, cleaners, new clutch, cam belts, etc etc) its a 1982 Model 308 GTSi. Is that reasonable price for that model - So with conversion should cost me about $63 000 which is still less than the 68 000+ others are asking for pre 80 and post 82 models?

Considerig I am going to upgrade to a testarossa later, im not too concerned whether the 82 is the worst or best model compare to the 83-85or 75-80 etc, its a for the time being...

But your information and help would be trully appreciated, I am willing to learn and willing to listen. The thing I dont want to do is, sell my beautiful all original matching numbers 68 Charger to buy a ferrari to only have MORE issues and more headache than the dodge has caused and in end wish I never sold such an original car to buy a heap of rubbish ferrari that only costs thousands and thousands which im not prepared to do. I want reliable and a car that I can just drive, do normal services on and not worry, like my old 87 Trans am, just did general services and car ran beautiful, its not something thats gonna wreck due to some inherant bad design etc.

Thank you very much everyone and look forward to owning an exotic!

Now I just have to go get a hawaiian Shirt and grow my mustache (just kidding!)

George

 

Welcome, George... Rob is right... How do you eat an Elephant?

One bite at a time.... look the the board, and you'll probably find all the answers you're looking for in that specific forum.

Mike

 

Hello George and welcome to FerrariChat! This is a great forum and much can be learned here. Enjoy your stay...