What kind of mileage is your 308 getting? | FerrariChat

What kind of mileage is your 308 getting?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by greg328, Apr 15, 2005.

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  1. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

    Nov 17, 2003
    4,209
    Austin, TX USA
    Full Name:
    Greg
    My 1977 308 US carburetor car is getting 10 mpg average, admittedly maily around-town driving. This is even after I short-shift, and keeping revs low when possible.

    This seems really bad, and is becoming more and more alarming as the price of fuel rises (another thread topic?). It's diminishing my enjoyment of the car, not being a guy who can absorb the rising cost w/ no financial concern.

    On a related subject, what do you guys/gals think the impact of rising fuel costs will have on our cars' re-sale value/immediate and future.......?


    Greg
     
  2. don_xvi

    don_xvi F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,934
    Outside Detroit
    Full Name:
    Don the 16th
    I recall that these cars were rated at 11 or 12 city, 18 highway.

    I think I get right about that.

    I guess it depends on how much you're driving the car; I haven't given much thought to how much I'm putting in even at $2.50/gal. If you're finding yourself alarmed by an increase of, say, $0.08 per mile in operating expenses on a car that's been nominally pegged at $1.00/mile minimum I'd suggest getting out soon before that $1/mi catches up with you.

    I'd expect that my attitude on the price of gas for a pleasure car (as most 308s are) isn't atypical, so gas price won't affect resale to any significant degree.

    P.S.-I checked out your website, I'll listen to some of the music tonight, maybe I'll buy your CD! Spend the money on a fun drive for me.... ;)
     
  3. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
    13,748
    On a plane somewhere
    Full Name:
    Heir Butt
    I get about 11 in the city and average 19-20 on the highway. Once I broke 22.
     
  4. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,932
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    Same type (indicated) numbers for me: 11~12ish around town and 18~20ish for a long highway stint.

    How is your fuel evaporation control system? If it's been modified or neglected you could be losing some fuel that way to atmosphere -- just a thought since most don't go unmolested...

    One other thought is you could have a choke valve that isn't fully closed -- are you having any other companion symptoms (fouled plugs, etc.)? You're not way out of the ballpark so could just be as subtle as a mixture tweak and/or tweaking the float heights.
     
  5. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
    6,081
    Southeast USA
    Full Name:
    Mike Charness
    Same here, ocassionally slightly higher on long trips.
     
  6. DN35

    DN35 Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Nov 22, 2003
    611
    Illinois
    Full Name:
    D. Norton
    Sounds about right. I have a '78 308. Nice thing is that it doesn't need premium.
     
  7. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    My '82 Euro 308 GTS QV gets about 15-16 on my daily slow (35-45mph) backroads commute. No real city/town stopNgo driving.
    Around 19-21 on highway cruises if I keep it around 60. Drops back to 15-17 if I'm running 75-85.
     
  8. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,055
    USA
    I've owned three Ferraris, never checked, never cared. It will have no effect on resale, these are expensive toys, and nothing more.

    Dave
     
  9. gil308

    gil308 Formula 3

    Jun 22, 2004
    1,975
    Charleston, SC
    Full Name:
    Gil
    I think I get about 10-12 around town in my QV. Haven't verified the highway miles, but I don't really care...not being smug, it just does not matter to me. I did get rid of my SUV (in part due to the $40+ to fill up), but it's worth it to me in the Ferrari.
     
  10. pma1010

    pma1010 F1 Rookie

    Jul 21, 2002
    2,559
    Chicago
    Full Name:
    Philip
    About 5 mpg. Occasionally 6.
     
  11. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

    Nov 17, 2003
    4,209
    Austin, TX USA
    Full Name:
    Greg
    Wow..... I don't feel so bad anymore!!!
     
  12. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

    Nov 17, 2003
    4,209
    Austin, TX USA
    Full Name:
    Greg

    Steve,
    Thanks for the info--I'll check into those issues....

    By the way, thanks again for the 75mm Cavallino. She looks great on my front grill.... I'll send ya a pic.....


    Greg
     
  13. dan the man

    dan the man Karting

    Nov 5, 2003
    146
    Alabama
    Full Name:
    Daniel
    my 79 weber 308 got around 12 in town, always above 4000 rpm's and relatively agressive driving. that was with cleaned out cats (my year the cat was actually blocked with a welded in cone with holes punched in it. I cut the cones out and gutted the cats) and a DIS system. No smog pump. I drove it to D.C. one weekend and back ( I am in Alabama) and got an average of 21 mpg. I was running around 90 mph steady in 5th gear. I was hoping for 16 when I set out for D.C. I was very pleased with the milage. My car was a daily driver, and when I get it running again, it will be a daily driver then too.

    If you lug the engine down too much by keeping it out of it's power band you are going to waist fuel. try bringing up your RPMs and see if that helps. there is a sweet spot where the engine is its most efficient, and I would think that would be at a higher RPM than most other cars given the lobe seperation angle (which contributes to where the power band is), etc. of these cars.

    Dan
     
  14. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,127
    Savannah
    mileage? i could care less. if i had to worry about pennies for fuel , then i would never be able to justify the maintanance costs for overall ownership. i have had my 77 308gtb 6 or 7 months and put maybe 1500 miles on it, mostly to to work / family obligations. cool idea to see what those 4 carbs actually use, i use premium in it as it doenst like regular and i hate points ignition with a passion.
     
  15. LarryS

    LarryS Formula Junior

    Nov 14, 2003
    302
    Fremont, CA
    Full Name:
    Larry S
    I agree, fuel economy isn't a top priority, but checking mpg can help show if all systems are working correctly. Big change in mileage, could be something wrong. My 308qv averages 13-16.
     
  16. tesseract

    tesseract Karting

    Dec 24, 2003
    173
    Charlotte, NC
    Full Name:
    Jeff W.
    '78 carb - 11-12 mpg overall - drive it in the revs most of the time.

    It's all relative - I had a '70 'Cuda - 440 2x4 Holleys, big cam, that got 5 mpg back in the early 80's when gas was $1.50/gallon - that's like $3.00/gallon adjusted for inflation.

    It's all about the smiles per gallon.
     
  17. Kleos1

    Kleos1 Karting

    Feb 1, 2004
    167
    Urbandale Iowa
    Full Name:
    Garry Haas
    Running from Des Moines to KC we get 19 to 21; have never checked in town mileage for our 84 QV
     
  18. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
    13,748
    On a plane somewhere
    Full Name:
    Heir Butt
    I don't think anyone actually cares. It's more academic then literal.

    I just know that @ 220-260 miles I put 14 or so gallons.
     
  19. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    77 GTB , gets 11 MPG city and 17MPG highway. Don't care just to much fun to worry about gas even at 2.55 a gal. Enjoy the ride
     
  20. wise3

    wise3 Formula Junior

    Oct 10, 2004
    375
    FL
    Full Name:
    Ward Orndoff
    77 GTB, 10-12 city, ~17 highway, 7 track
     
  21. marks308GTB

    marks308GTB Karting

    Jun 6, 2004
    114
    Los Altos Hills, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Mark S.
    76 308 GTB fiberglass. 4 carbs, smog air pumps, thermoreactor muffler.

    Car gets around 12 mpg on California 91 octane premium. (Which, by the way, is $2.91/gallon). For this car, I really don't care what gas costs because I don't drive it much. On the other hand, my other cars....oh, never mind.

    I did have a much worse situation for about 6 months when I was getting about 8 mpg. Took it to the local Ferrari mechanic (of Los Gatos) complaining of fuel smell. He said that all carb cars smelled that way. Finally, after stinking up my garage for all that time, found a new (excellent) mechanic who found a fuel leak on the fuel line crossover between tanks.
    Fixed the fuel stink and also fixed the low mileage problem.

    Mark
     
  22. Conquisitor

    Conquisitor Rookie

    Oct 4, 2004
    27
    Derbyshire, UK
    Full Name:
    Christopher J
    I'm currently looking at running a Ferrari over here in the UK.

    I am weighing up the costs of servicing, parts, depreciation on various models but the one thing I haven't given a second thought to is MPG

    ... and over here fuel is circa £4.00 GBP .... yeah circa US $7.50 per gallon !

    My point is, apart from that you guys have it so easy on fuel costs!...

    That I wouldn't worry about the rising price of fuel having any long term impact on used Ferrari prices, being as UK prices look pretty rock steady to me at 3 times the pump price.
     
  23. hanknum

    hanknum Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,050
    Santa Barbara
    Full Name:
    Henry
    I usually get around 15-16 around town and low 20's on the highway. This did go up when I got rid of the distributors and went with an Electromotive DIS. With this system, I've also passed California emissions (both stage 1 & 2) with ease. I usually use mid-grade fuel.
     
  24. don_xvi

    don_xvi F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,934
    Outside Detroit
    Full Name:
    Don the 16th
    Yeah, but we have to pay for our own healthcare! LOL
    (Please direct all replies to Politics & Religion...)
     
  25. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    10-12 around town, 18ish on the highway.
     

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