Do some 308 and 328 Ferrari owners switch to Porsche? Do they come back? | FerrariChat

Do some 308 and 328 Ferrari owners switch to Porsche? Do they come back?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Fairview, Feb 14, 2010.

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  1. Fairview

    Fairview Formula 3

    Mar 16, 2009
    1,109
    Waynesboro, Virginia
    Full Name:
    Jeff Ward
    #1 Fairview, Feb 14, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2010
    I am a long-term air cooled 911 Porsche owner, pondering a Ferrari purchase. I'm sure there are thousands out there like me, particularly when prices are appealing. But are there Ferrari owners out there thinking of going to Porsche? And when they go, do they come back? Just curious....
     
  2. Gilles82

    Gilles82 Formula Junior

    Oct 14, 2009
    474
    Maranello (Mo) Italy
    #2 Gilles82, Feb 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have bought a Porsche 911 3.2 G50 Cabrio last year, this year a 328 GTS, but I don't think to sell the Porsche, different but I like the same like 328.
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  3. 903L

    903L Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2009
    703
    S. Calif. / Arizona
    Full Name:
    Marty K
    Loved both of my 911's. 1975 911S Silver Anniversary. 1986 Carrera Coupe. Just got a '79 308GTS. Like the 308 much more. Kinda got tired of seeing 911's everywhere. Rarely see another 308 no matter where I go. I do miss the 75 S very much though. Much faster than the '86 and more fun to drive. Though I did have a lot done to it. It was a Peter Satore R&D car. To answer the question, I would never give up my Ferrari to go back to Porsche. I would like to have a 911 so I would have something cool to drive in the rain instead of my Dodge.
     
  4. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,685
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    I had a 911 and never warmed up to the car in 7 years of ownership. I love the 328 and to me, the idea of going "back" to a Porsche is laughable. But I realize all of this stuff is just personal opinion; and we all have one! :)
     
  5. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,517
    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    How about a switch from VW beetle to 308, does that count?:)
     
  6. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    When I was growing up I had Porsche pictures on my walls. I'm 6 months into Ferrari ownership, love it and will not replace it, but my next purchase will be a late 80's 911. Plus my wife wants a 911 badly, she thinks they are beautiful, lucky me :) I want them all. If I had to chose between them I'd keep my Ferrari and keep looking at 911s online.
     
  7. mclaudio

    mclaudio Formula 3

    Dec 13, 2003
    1,236
    Seattle area
    Full Name:
    Claudio
    Still have both F and P cars, but mainly have used Porsches as daily drivers the past few years - 996, 911 Carrera, Cayenne. I intend to always have, at least, one of each. Although at one point, a 328 replaced a 930 as a second car. I never looked back; I didn't have a Porsche for a few years, until I could afford one as a daily driver.
     
  8. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    12,661
    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    Some of us don't switch ... we have both.
     
  9. sammyb

    sammyb Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2006
    1,857
    Where wife tells me
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    Sam
    I've owned a 911T and a 944- both before my F-cars. I think the only Porsche that I really would like to add to the collection is a 1986 911 Turbo Cabriolet. The 911T was interesting, but I never felt really passionate about it. 944 was a whim that lasted about two months -- pretty and comfortable car, but a little too wheezy for my tastes.

    Of course, if I could ever afford a Carrera 6 (906), 908 or 910, I'd take those in a heartbeat.
     
  10. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    17,564
    Savannah
    #10 thecarreaper, Feb 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    see my profile. 6 911's, 5 308's, and i am now on the hunt for another 308. 911s and 308s are different enough that its really best to have one of each.
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  11. CliffBeer

    CliffBeer Formula 3

    Apr 3, 2005
    2,198
    Seattle, Washington
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    Cliff
    #11 CliffBeer, Feb 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  12. marklintott

    marklintott Formula Junior
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    Jul 13, 2005
    570
    Taipei Taiwan / Somerset UK
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    Mark Lintott
    #12 marklintott, Feb 15, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Had my 911 for 9 years now and will never ever sell it unless absolutley forced to do so. Had my GT4 for 4 years and will I hope never sell it (part owned with my Dad so I may have to buy him out at some stage) I've had the 328 for 3 years and don't feel the same attachment to it as the other two - yet. Different cars and different reasons for having them but they do seem to sleep well together in the garage....!

    Mark
    Taiwan/UK
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  13. Scaledetails

    Scaledetails F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 19, 2003
    4,205
    Daytona Beach, FL
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    Stephane
    I've tried so many times to switch to Porsche, 944's, Boxster, 996, etc, and never kept one for more than 2 months. Those cars did absolutely nothing for me. No comparison to any Ferrari, felt more like VW's to me. Way too many on the street anyway.
     
  14. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,149
    Kingsport, TN
    Full Name:
    Lawrence A. Coppari
    I started out with a 328 and tracked it for a number of years. In 1996 I bought a 944 turbo that had 89K miles on it that became and still is my track car. I prefer the looks of the 328 as well as the sounds it makes. My non-stock 944T sounds like a big Hoover vacuum cleaner. It is so much faster than the 328 there is no comparison. (It's nickname is Hoover). The 944T has over 100 track events on it, gets over 30mpg driving on the highway, and now has about 180K miles on it. I really like them both even though one is so much faster than the other.

    The Porsche has a much better HVAC system. Parts cost less.
     
  15. Doug

    Doug Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2003
    1,473
    Louisville KY
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    Doug
    I have had 7 Porsches and 4 Ferraris. Every time I sell one, I tend to go back and get another within 1 year. Usually I have one of each as I do now, a '77 308 GTB and a '95 993 Porsche. At the moment, if one had to go, it would be the 308 because the Porsche is my daily driver. I have recently been thinking about dumping the 308 because our weather has only allowed me to drive it a few times since Thanksgiving.
     
  16. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,149
    Kingsport, TN
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    Lawrence A. Coppari
    My 944T track car is one of my daily drivers. The 328 is not. The Porsche is a more practical car. It is a better engineered vehicle. But I don't know what it would take for me to sell my 328.
     
  17. ramosel

    ramosel Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2004
    1,237
    Meadow Vista, CA
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    R Moseley
    No switch... both.

    Rick
     
  18. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,149
    Kingsport, TN
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    Lawrence A. Coppari
    +1 No switch, both.
     
  19. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,769
    Toledo, Ohio
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    Tony K.
    Old Ferraris make great toys and special occasion cars; old Porsches make great daily drivers.

    I've had 944s as daily drivers since the 1990s. They are practical and economical. I've reisted the temptation to get a 911 as a daily because the combination of fuel + insurance + maintenance costs is significantly greater than that of the 944, but without a comparably significant increase in fun and enjoyment.

    I've never bought a 911 as a toy/weekend/collector car because there is always something a lot more interesting, fun, unique, and beautiful for just a few grand more. A 308 GTB/S, GT4, Mondial, Lotus Esprit, Maserati Merak, Lamborghini Jalpa, or Urraco can all be had for the same price or a few grand more than various 911s, but offer a lot more fun and excitement. The 911 is just kind of caught somewhere between transportation and toy, both in terms of fun/uniqueness, and cost. I suppose if I lived in a condo and had only one car, a 911 might be perfect.
     
  20. tommott77

    tommott77 Formula Junior

    Feb 1, 2009
    652
    NC
    Full Name:
    Tom
    I have always had a Porsche since I bought a used '84 944 when I was 16 years old for $6300. Since then I have had numerous old Porsches; 930 turbo, '74 Carrera, '84 Carrera Targa, 914 with a six conversion, ect. Right now the only Porsche I have is the original 944 (god I love that car) which is sitting in the garage with a blown head gasket. One day she will back on the road.

    I purchased my first Ferrari (a '79 308 GTS) late last fall. Still waiting to get it running properly though, it has been a cold winter and not much work has been done, so the verdict is still out and I cannot comment on any driving experience differences between the two. I will say however that I have a bit of the 911 bug again. I am currently thinking about selling my BMW E30 M3 to get into another air cooled 911. So at this point I would count me in with the 'both' crowd.
     
  21. FasterIsBetter

    FasterIsBetter F1 Veteran

    Jul 22, 2004
    5,844
    NoNJ/Jupiter FL
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    Steve W.
    My grandmother's favorite saying was "To each his own, the old lady said as she kissed the cow." Whatever the heck that meant. It was her way of saying that people all have different likes and dislikes.

    Personally, Porsches never held any fascination for me. I've driven them, ridden in them, considered buying them, but I just couldn't get excited about them. I'm a long-time Jagaur lover, and have owned several XKEs and XJS, and I still have a passion for the E-types. My '70 E-type coupe is my baby and will stay with me forever. Absolutely love the car.

    I love the old Ferraris too. My 308 is super-fun. I got so caught up in the 3x8s that when Gene Hill's 328 was for sale, I flew down to Arkansas and bought it on the spot. I wish I had the room and the time to keep them both, along with the Jag, but alas, the 308 must go if someone comes along to buy it. But I just don't find that same fire for anything Porsche.

    As my grandmother always said....
     
  22. Testacojones

    Testacojones F1 Veteran

    Nov 3, 2003
    5,198
    Lecusay
    I sold my 996 with some upgrades to it just a few months ago. I found the car almost as fun as my F430, only thing missing was the power. I also miss how practical and easy the car was in any type of driving. For me one of each and I would rather have a 906 over the Ferrari, but can't afford it.
     
  23. FasterIsBetter

    FasterIsBetter F1 Veteran

    Jul 22, 2004
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    #23 FasterIsBetter, Feb 15, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  24. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,352
    Indian Wells, California
    Full Name:
    Jon
    I had a 993 (sold 2004) before my 328 (sold 2009). For a weekend fun car, I don't think I'd go back to a modern-ish Porsche after the 328 -- too sanitized. For a modern daily driver, a Boxster/Cayman/911 is great, but not as special as the 308/328. There's no sense of occasion.

    At some point, Porsche started trying to compete with Mercedes by adding luxury (probably around 1974, but definitely by the time the 911 SC appeared). Ferrari didn't fall into that trap until the 360/F430, both of which required lightweight versions (CS and Scuderia) to nudge them back toward sports car status. With the 308/328, every car was the "sports" version.

    When you ask whether 308/328 owners "switch to Porsche", you're covering a lot of ground. The answer in my case is yes, but only because I love vintage cars, and 1950s Ferraris aren't especially affordable or practical.

    Would I switch from a 328 to a 993, 996, etc.? No. I would be bored, as I'm guessing most would be.
     
  25. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,352
    Indian Wells, California
    Full Name:
    Jon
    For the most part, I agree with you. But the pre-'74 911S, and the 356, 550, etc. really are magic, IMHO. They are very light, and have a lot of that mechanical feel that Ferraris had well into the 1990s. The Porsche fascination died for me with the impact bumper cars -- I remember driving an '84 911 Cab back in the late '80s and wondering what all the fuss was about.

    Agree on the E-Type -- it's almost cliche to call it beautiful, and I'm not especially a Jag fan, but it just is.
     

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