Top Gear report: 308s make you a better driver

Nice article. Thanks for posting.

 

Thank you

 

Good article. Took mine out on the track at Watkins Glen in NY last year and it was a blast to go through the shifts with the metal on metal sound of the gated shifter. A blast to drive on the track for sure and a challenge to get it all right

 

My old Alfa mechanic once asked why I kept the Alfa when I had the Ferrari.

But I could drive the ricer or the Ferrari all day in MA traffic and never push the limits ---
--- until winter mixed things up.
When winter covers the road with low friction material (), getting a clean line through turns suddenly acquires a higher significance.
(Driving on snow is a bit like driving at the limits on the track. But the limits are much much lower.)

The Alfa pretty quickly points out any driver sloppiness.
(The tires start squealing long before they break traction.)

Similarly, the 328 is far less unforgiving than the EVO X MR.
(But then, the EVO only "knows" how to get around a corner one way. The 328 is more flexible. E.g. it takes a larger driver "tool kit".)

Or, to put it another way, most drivers can get pretty quick in the EVO.
But then it doesn't get any quicker.
Good technique makes a LOT of difference in the older Italians.

(Also, the "49 States" Alfa reminded me to never move to California. )

 

I will be forever thankful I got my 308 back in the mid 90's when the FCA still held regular track events. We had a handful a year.

And I used them.

 

Wow. Too bad. You’re in the wrong region
We have three track events per year. Watkins Glen x 2 and Lime Rock Park.


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We have tracks in NASCAR country ---
--- but they only have left turns.

 

That brought back some memories, back in Montana, from the age of 15 when i got my license, up untel 23 when i graduated from college and moved to CA, I ALWAY practiced high perf driving in the snow, and on snowpacked roads. '66 Impala, '74 Vega, 1964 Corvair Monza, 1961 Corvette. I leared to drift and correct slides quite well to keep out of the snowbanks, and do low speed esses on certain roads just at adhesion limits and too feel those limits before they were reached, and the lower speeds were excellent for learning with minimal chance of damage and no chance of injury.

Doug

 

Classiche Academy - sounds like fun but $13,000 for two days with a companion is not happening for me. Alas... maybe if it were half that I could pull it off.