ANyone seen or familiar with this car?

I've spoken with Mike the owner about this car and everything seemed to check out on it. I'm a distance away from it like you so I haven't been able to go see it but it seemed to be a no stories car.

 

Sounds familiar Andy! Just take your time there are plenty out there to choose from. And Happy Birthday.

 

Sounds like my situation as well. Planned on it taking at least several months or more to find a car and I ended up (just a few weeks ago) with the first one I pursued. I knew what years, color, model, condition, etc that I wanted and it just happened to tick all the right boxes.

Fchat was invaluable in figuring out what to look for and for feedback. Only time will tell if my car proves to be all that it appears to be. It's not perfect as my other threads here attest, but it's right in line with my expectations.

I would just say to stick with your checklist of desires for the car and be don't overlook any items in the excitment of getting the car. And as I'm sure you know, a good PPI trumps all else unless your looking for a project.

Good luck and Happy Hunting!!

 

Just send you a PM

 

I took the trip to see this car yesterday 5.5 hours each way and found that the car is as represented by the dealer and it is EXACTLY what I have been looking for all original paint, records to day one original sticker etc. What I really liked and what I've been looking for is the originality. This 308 had stone chips on the front and a scratch on the side due to the fact that the owner wanted to keep the original paint and not have it touched up b4 selling it. So why didn't I buy it your asking yourself and the reason is I don't fit comfortably. I've driven a gtsi in the past with the top on and fit somewhat o.k. so I figured with the extra inch and a half of headroom I would be fine in the B but not so I fit fine width wise but the headroom was just too tight. Big letdown for me but I figured while I was there I would look the car over in case anyone else is interested in it. It's really a straight car the things I noticed it needed were the scratch on the passenger side fixed and the stone chips taken care of maybe frontend respray. The interior was decent I didn't drive it so can't comment on that but the dealer Mike is really straightforward so if anyone is interested speak with him, I went over the car best I could but honestly it was killing me bacause I really wanted it.

 

That's interesting, from my experience the GTB has more headroom than the GTS model. How tall are you? I am 6'4" and fit very comfortably in my GTB. It took a little searching in the beginning to find the right position. I would suggest spending a little more time in one prior to giving up.

 

This is what I don't understand I read through a bunch of threads b4 I went to look at this car and figured the headroom wouldn't be a problem, I'm 6'3. We spent quite a bit of time fiddling around with the seat and I did get it to the point where I didn't have to bend my neck to fit but it still wasn't comfortable. Like I stated I've driven a gtsi with the roof on and it didn't feel as tight as the GTB the only thing I could think of was that the GTsi had worn down stuffing in the seats so I was sitting a little lower.
I know what you mean about finding the right position in my S2000 if the seat is even a smidgen from the full back position I don't fit right.

 

Can you register Euro cars in Canada?

I like the colors on this one, but if you can get a proper European-spec 308/328 instead I wouldn't bother with the U.S. version.

The engine bay on this car looks to be what I would call "average minus". The cosmetics don't reflect a fastidious owner, although the car may have had maintenance as needed. It doesn't look like a once in a lifetime car...

Also make sure you've driven a GTS before deciding. I think I had the top off my 328 fully 80-90% of time I was driving it. Open cars are a rush, and 308 a/c is nothing to celebrate.

I guess my main advice would be not to rush in, but inspect and drive a few 308/328s to decide. I've probably seen a few hundred of these cars now, but my initial test drive was more of a fantasy moment than a time for rational decision making. Now I view them as cars -- old cars that need TLC and cash. All part of the fun.

 

A (~50mm) steering wheel extension can make a huge difference here.

 

It really depends on what the buyer is looking for. Myself I'm on a budget so a perfect car is out of my price range but this car was perfect for what I'm looking for and can afford.
In my search I have been finding either perfect low mileage cars which are out of my price range or neglected cars with lots of needs I've been searching for something inbetween both and this fit the bill for me I knew as soon as I saw it.

 

There are many euro cars registered in Canada.

 

As I have stated here before these cars are tight headroom wise for me at 6'2". It seems that height from butt to top of the head is the variable that makes the difference. What I do is move the seat two clicks from the rear then tilt the back all the way. This results in a sort of lay back position. A 1/1/2" spacer then brings the steering wheel within reach.
The underdash vent must be adjusted prior to entry since I will not have access once seated. With the top off I get to bring the seat back up and move the seat back. Therefore I do little driving with the top on. The plan is to reskin the roof and remove the inserts that take up the headroom. Mine is a '85 308 QV. One way or another I am going to fit in the car.

 

Andy- Appears to be a great car at a fair (negociate) price. My recommendation relates to what you what in a 308: if it's a closed roof driver in that color combination, this one looks like a winner... As others have indicated, the steering wheel is adjustable in both in both tilt (loosening /tighenig bolts) and telescope (via spacer). I'm vertically challenged, so fitting in a 308 has always been rather commodious.

 

Andy,
I'm about your height at 6'3". I didn't fit in my 308, but I couldn't resist and bought it anyway!

Now it is quite comfortable because of a change in strategy -driving without shoes. You'd be amazed what diffence getting the size 12's out of the equation makes. Now it is perfect.

You may want to consider the same. Good Luck

 

+1

I'm 6'3" and did the same in my ex-308 = italian driving position + 2" steering wheel spacer:
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I know a guy who bought a car that he didn`t fit well in , but he wanted the car real bad , so he took out the seat and modified the seat brackets so it went back more + sat lower to the floor , I never had the seat out of my 308 but maybe somebody has .perhaps you could buy a seat and work on it that way you can keep the original intact and you can stretch your legs and be comfortable in a car you really like .

 

I have never understood how this works. The extension brings the steering wheel closer to you, does that compensate for having to put the seat further back? I dont have an issue with the steering wheel being too far away as my arms reach perfectly. My problem is that the steering wheel is exactly between my knees. If I brought the steering wheel closer, possibly I could get my knees under the steering wheel. I guess it benefits in a variety of ways depending upon your individual situation.

 

I agree....IMHO also, open-air driving in the GTS is fantastic. I wouldn't trade it. I am 6'3" and am comfortable with the top on as well.

 

For me, the extension would also allow me to more easily see the water temp and fuel gauges. I may shop for one in the future. Right now, I just lower my head a bit to check them. Small sacrifice for 308 GTS bliss

 

Every once in a while a 308 comes along that doesn't look raised in the front and squashed in the back making a rearward rake. This car is one of them. Beautiful car but I couldn't imagine not being able to take the top off.

Like it was said it's in pretty good but not perfect shape. Priced too high.

 

It compensates for tilting the seatback down more (to get the top of your head under the roofline) which puts your shoulders further away from the dash. As Crowndog indicated, for the "italian driving position", the seat bottom is not all the way back, but actually pushed forward a little -- which allows you to tilt the seat back down more.

Adding the spacer will definitely give you more knee/leg room underneath the steering wheel and allow you to tilt the steering column down more. IME, most F have the steering wheel (horribly) tilted full up to give more knee/legroom underneath which puts the top rim of the steering wheel very near the instrument binnace edge so not uncommon for there to be a bunch of "ring/fingernail nicks" on the instrument binnacle edge. If you've never tried one, they aren't expensive, are easily installed, and fully reversible (www.ogracing.com or Hill Engineering have them). One downside is that it increases the distance from the steering wheel to the turn signal indicator lever so that can take some getting used to, but it's more noticeable with a 2" spacer -- if you try a ~1" spacer it's not so noticeable.

IIRC, a steering wheel spacer with an 80mm OD is best for a 308 while an 86mm OD is best for a TR.

 

That's what I thought.

I'd advise the OP to go that route and leave the picnic-bumper cars to us poor Californians...

 

Thanks, I may give it a try. I went with a smaller Momo Ferrari Comp steering wheel that helped, however, this spacer may be what I need.