308 GTsi: is there enough power to have fun?

I think this is probably a controversial thread but I am looking for some opinions here. Yes, one needs to worry about the infamous sodium valves but apart from that does the car have enough power to be fun to drive.

Fun being defined in this case as being fun to throw around some corners with little emphasis on top speeds and more handling to power ratio.

 

Absolutely. I loved my 82 GTSi.

 

You can have fun with any of the 308 series cars even though they are not that powerful. Do a few autocross' or rally's or just rides up in the mountain roads.

 

[understatement ]Yes[/understatement]

It's a cliche that a slow car driven fast is more fun than a fast car driven slow.

 

Difference between all stock 308s is minor. 78-82 were down a little on power due to cams and cats when compared to the QV and early carb cars. But not enough to notice really unless you are winding them out. If you want the fast 308, its called a 328.

One simple change helps awaken a 308i. Euro ignition boxes with more advance.

 

+1 for my 80'GTSI

I had my cats and air pump removed when installing my TUBI so a bit extra HP I believe

 

I just got back from the FCA Nationals. A really nice guy had an 81 out on the track. No cats and a muffler they "found on ebay". Cams.

The first two most of us either have done or could do easily one afternoon. The cams are a different story, but my point is I couldnt believe that car and what is just below the surface waiting to wiggle free if you let it out. Most fun I have ever had in a 308 on the track in 22 1/2 years of riding in and driving 308's on the track.

absolutely unbelievable for a 2Vi

So, yeah, you can have some fun if you want, even if you are used to the quickness of a modern car. Big time fun.

 

I had one, stock, and it had what I called a "rubber band" accelerator. You stomp on it, the rubber band stretches, and then it pulls the car along after a while. Nothing wrong with the motor, that's just how they are.

 

I think the more appropriate question, especially given the cars we drive today, would be regarding the skill of the driver.

 

Uhhhhmmmmm.... What revs were you making when you hit the accelerator? You might have owed your car a downshift.

 

Yes you can have lots of fun, however.......

 

The man speaks the truth

 

Absolutely. Love my '82 GTBi.

Beef up the ignition timing and add Hyper-Flow cats if you want the same performance as a QV, but as John M pointed out, the difference is minor, anyway.

308's aren't technically all that "fast," but they feel fast. Do it.

 

Well, to be specific, the '78 -'79 fell to 210 -225HP, or so.

By 1980 you were looking at around 180HP, for the North American versions..
And they had a bad run of engines too not sealing rings.

Then the later 308QV gains some of those losses back.

They are all beautiful, good driving cars, of course.

The thing to do with a good car would be to put modern pistons in (taking care of the valve issue at the same time), and some better profiled cams.
You would have an entirely different (more like the early ) car!

 

FWIW, my MGB has 1/3 as many cylinders and makes just over 20% of the power my Testarossa does. Most days, on the right roads, it is much more
Fun.

Tossing a classic underpowered sports cars on a twisty road is one of the most entertaining and rewarding things you can do in a car.

I've driven a gtsi, the engine sounds fantastic and you can really explore the chassis and engine without driving like an ******, for me a car like that is what driving is all about.

 

With the remanufactured ignition boxes that Ricambi now offers, that's finally easy to do! It certainly makes a big difference on my QV, and it does on the 2V cars as well.

 

no difference between my 81 with aftermarket ignition (= lots more advance) and my friend mike's qv on acceleration. mike sells subarus and every car on the lot can out drag either ferrari. use the gearbox on windy roads. jon s

 

Yes. Plenty enough.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone, am potentially looking at a Euro spec 308 GTSi, the sodium valve issue does worry me quite a bit but this particular example is a very well maintained car overall and hasn't wanted for anything. I just need to figure out how much $ one needs to look at to replace all the valves

What did interest me is a comment that there isn't much overall between most of the 308 series and looking at the figure now that does seem to be the case, the Si was a near 150 mph car in Euro trim and I am sure if one lost the smog equipment that the Euro cars had(maybe they didn't have).

For me driving is not so much about outright speed but more about handling, I enjoy corners and mountain passes, straight line doesn't really interest me all that much but the feel and experience a car offers, those are the attributed I find important.

Once again thanks for the feedback.

 

The 308 is fun . . . the Scuderia 16M is sheer terror LOL

 

Two issues, first the sodium valves IMHO are not the issue and second no the 308s don't have power to play with! Driving one is the fun part------------- 308s are part of car history and as far as I am concerned it is the most beautiful car they ever made and the only thing close is the 458. Don't buy one thinking it will set you back in the seat. 2V or 4V they are both dogs by todays standards. Again, you will enjoy the ride. If you want torque buy a Corvette. Still the best for the money but it is not a Ferrari. Lost

 

This looks like fun:
Ferrari 308 GTB gr4 Horatiu Ionescu Cristea Trofeul Sinaia 2013 - YouTube

 

That's a member's car and it was for sale recently.

I've lusted after Ferraris since I was 10 and started watching Magnum but I also know myself and do like some horsepower. I"m supercharging my 308 and the TR I just bought has twin-turbos.

 

Took a spin in gtsi for the first time I was pleasantly surprised... Not that they are fast but it didn't feel any slower than the 1/2 dozen USA carb cars I've driven

 

Fun to drive?

You must be kidding? First of all, ANY contemporary car will blow the doors off ANY 308 from a stop.

Man....it's NOT a dragster. It competed with Porsche and the like - in the late 70's and early 80's - but TODAY? Go drive any Nissan and get pushed back in your seat.

So no, it ain't fast. By no means.

But, fun to drive?

As Enzo essentially said, there are those who will DREAM of owning (and driving) a Ferrari, but very few will ever realize their dream.

If it says Ferrari on it - HOW.......can it NOT be fun?

I guess I'm a bit older. Lost the "need for speed" long ago. And the need for trans/engine repairs that come along trying to meet that need for speed.

Need speed? Buy a used Nissan and push the guts out of it. Blow the engine or trans? Park it a the junkyard - and you're out what, a few thousand?

30 year old Ferrari? Treat her nice. Enjoy the elegance.

Want to drive a legend, one of the most beautiful cars ever made?

Drive a 308 - and just TRY to wipe the smile off your face.

Smile = fun.