328 reliability | FerrariChat

328 reliability

Discussion in '308/328' started by ferrari#7, Apr 11, 2020.

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  1. ferrari#7

    ferrari#7 Formula Junior

    Sep 8, 2008
    323
    328 are terrific cars. Why do do you think they are so reliable, bulletproof.
    I use to have a 328, sorry I sold, now starting to look for one.

    Sent from my LM-G710VM using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  2. Skippr1999

    Skippr1999 F1 Rookie
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    Dec 22, 2009
    4,209
    Lack of electronics
     
  3. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
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    #3 Steve Magnusson, Apr 11, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2020
    Because the 328 was a 15~20 year refinement of the basic design incorporating many fixes and improvements learned along the way without having a bunch of needless complexity added.

    The 348 and Mondial t that followed were the exact opposite of that ;)
     
  4. Rosey

    Rosey F1 Rookie

    Nov 5, 2015
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    +1
     
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  5. TM328

    TM328 Karting

    Jul 26, 2004
    146
    New England
    Less of everything and fuel injected. Perfect balance for a long term low maintenance car.
    If you are spending a ton on your 308/328 you are probably being taken advantage of by your mechanic.
     
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  6. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
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    Pretty strong language. It's a Ferrari! At any time, it can bite your unsuspecting arse.
     
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  7. bertrand328

    bertrand328 Formula 3

    Jun 1, 2015
    1,474
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    Bertrand

    How many miles on yours ? ;)
    Or and should you show us detailed photos
     
  8. Yoric

    Yoric Formula Junior
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    Steve,
    Although I realize that the 328 is the culmination of the 308-328 series, would an '84 Quattrovalvole be the equal of a 328 in terms of reliability (4 valves, fuel injection) or is it an unfair comparison and it's far behind? I like the more angular external aesthetics, 4-valve and f.i. engine even it it gives away some displacement. I ask because at the moment I'm in the hunt for a good solid, reliable 3X8 GTB and as you well know berlinettas are few and far between. Any thoughts or recommendations?
     
  9. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
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    The electronic ignition on the 328 is better than the 308QV and way less expensive to maintain. The ignition boxes for the QV are no longer available and would run $1000 for a rebuild of one box. You need two. Other than that one big change, I find the electronics among the two to be equally (un)reliable. The 328 does have better fuse board except for the fuel pump circuit. The 328 achilles heels are the fog light lenses and heater control. Its pluses are better suspension and ABS if you have the 88.5 model.

    I find the 328 integrated bumpers more pleasing to my eyes, although lately I have been more accepting of the older European QV bumpers and the old fashion toggle switches for the interior.

    I am currently working on a 308GT4 (I had one years ago) and I have to say the difference in build quality and designs between the GT4 and the '89 328 is beyond night and day. Yes, they made a lot of progress.
     
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  10. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
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    No, a late 308QV is very close to a 328 as it also has the upgraded cam drive bearing change. I agree with Mitchell that the Microplex ignition on a 328 is a slight step up from the 308QV Digiplex ignition (and that US version 308QV bumpers are a bit of an eyesore compared to a euro 308QV bumpers or 328 bumpers). On the complexity side, I'd give the 328 a small minus relative to a 308QV as a 328 has more stuff to go wrong in the HVAC system while the 308QV HVAC is more basic/simple/less complex. For equal money, I'd take a 328 over a late 308QV, but wouldn't mind a late 308QV at all -- JMO.

    PS Agree with you that the Bs are just gorgeous!
     
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  11. Yoric

    Yoric Formula Junior
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    It sounds like I better stick with either an early carbureted 308 (no cats) or else move past the QV's to the 328 cars. In either case it won't be easy finding a suitable GTB, I've been trying for months and not much to choose from out there. Can't imagine it's going to get better until this COVID plague is over either.
     
  12. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Very few 328 GTB in the US. They are all in Europe.
    And while the carbs are sexy-ish and so forth, the car chassis is not as robust as the later 328. You look at them and they … just rust.
     
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  13. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    Dec 1, 2000
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    besides keeping the terrible AC going they are!
     
  14. TM328

    TM328 Karting

    Jul 26, 2004
    146
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    7400
    Member since 04. First pic 2020
     

    Attached Files:

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  15. TM328

    TM328 Karting

    Jul 26, 2004
    146
    New England
    The appreciation should outpace the maintenance over time.
     
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  16. ginoBBi512

    ginoBBi512 F1 Rookie
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    My friend has a 85 QV, its got about 60 k miles, its been pretty bullet proof. I believe that all 3x8s are pretty reliable, as long as you maintain them. I do believe that the 3x8s got better and more reliable as the years progressed, and that the most reliable are the 89 328s, the last iteration of that design / engine . I know that some 348s have had some minor problems, but have seen posts saying theyre owners are pretty happy with them, they certainly were a lot more reliable than the 355. I like the 348s and the Testarossas, especially since their interiors are so Ferrari, not matched until the F430 , if you disregard the F430s interior switches coatings disintegrating after a few years.
     
  17. Albert-LP

    Albert-LP F1 Veteran
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    Sep 1, 2010
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    328 is the most reliable Ferrari ever. It's an Italian car, so usual problems are electric wirings and ignition. Sometimes fuel injection gives some problems too. A/C sucks, but those old cars in my opinon should stay home when you need A/C: I never switched it on once, despite having all the A/C system fixed. It's not an aircooled Porsche 911, so it requires a bit of care despite being the most reliable Ferrari ever. The 88.5 better suspensions legend is not true at all: they were only changed due to fulfil the ABS requirements (see my book, the Dario Benuzzi interview at chapter 15).

    I would choose between the fascinating early -not cat- carbed cars (glass or steel, much better if drysump) and the 328, a model that has a lot of power and a lot of reliability focused improvements too.

    This said, all the other models (i and QV, the second much more) are great cars too.

    ciao
     
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  18. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    I disagree especially if you figure inflation. It already had its big run that faltered. It will never be more than a third of a BB or quarter of a Dino. All Ferrari prices relative to each other. :)
     
  19. TM328

    TM328 Karting

    Jul 26, 2004
    146
    New England
    It’s reliable and the value is much higher from its bottom like most exotics from the 80’s which helps offset the overall cost of maintenance and what the question was about.
    Comparing inflation to discretionary spending is assumed because the result is always the same.
     
  20. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    If you want to split a hair about the 84's, I would never consider a single belt 84 to be on par with a two belt later updated version.

    I have stood on the side of the road 3 times because of that ******* single belt. I swapped to two maybe 15 years ago and never had another issue since.

    And the cooling system on a 328 is superior to ANY 308 QV.
     
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  21. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
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    #21 mike996, Apr 13, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2020
    When I was looking for a car in '07-'08, I briefly considered a carbed 308 because a '78 308 was the first Ferrari I ever drove and I really liked the sound of that carbed engine! But, after some more consideration I decided that a '89 328 GTS was what I wanted.

    Re the 328 cooling system - I have been in bumper to bumper mostly stopped traffic for over an hour with the outside temp at 106F+ with the AC running (not being very effective, but running) and engine temp was no issue at all. The gauge never went more than a needle's width beyond the 195F hash mark at which point the fans would engage and immediately drop the temp down. Based on checks I have done at home, the temp at the thermostat box when the fans engage on my 328 is around 205F. On the road at any speed much greater than a few MPH, the needle never gets close to the 195 hashmark.
     
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  22. JohnnyTS

    JohnnyTS Formula Junior

    Jun 3, 2012
    898
    Pretoria East, RSA
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    John
    +1 I've noted the cooling on my 328 many times, like Mike and other have mentioned in traffic, they cool better than some new cars in my opinion, it takes plenty of heat and idling in traffic just to get the radiator cooling fans to kick in, back to the reliability, not just excellent reliability but great build quality, some regard these older models of better build and the way they age, in my 9th year of ownership now and I'm still impressed with little to no degradation, replaced some rubber here and there and just like new again!

    did you read this article ?
    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/news/are-classic-ferraris-built-better-than-todays-stallions.1532/
     
  23. Yoric

    Yoric Formula Junior
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    Single belt vs two belt later updated version??? what belt(s) are you referencing? Can you please explain.
     
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  24. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    May 4, 2001
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    Alt & wp belts.

    For some reason and we could discuss this for weeks as to why, some (NOT all) cars that had a single belt driving both, would break on occasion. Just snap right off. A service bulletin was issued by the factory offering a kit to convert cars to two belts that seem to be experiencing "frequent" (define that as you wish) belt failures.

    Mine failed 3 times between 97 when I bought it and about 05. According to my records, it did it at least once to a prior owner.

    I had Rutlands dig up the parts to convert mine to a 2 belt set up that Ferrari eventually did at the factory as well sometime in that latter part of the 84 model (mine is a Jan 84 production).

    So as far as I know, later 84 - obviously after January - and all the 85's used two belts.

    I never had another problem since I updated my car.
     
  25. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Tommy
    I cannot speak for the 2Vi cars or the carbed ones. I don't know what they have down in there or why they didn't see this as frequently as the QV's. No idea.

    I do know that, ALL else being equal, a two belt QV is preferable to a single belt in my own personal first hand experience. Apparently the factory wouldn't necessarily disagree based on that SB.

    Remember, some single belt QV owners just never had a problem, and still haven't. It didn't plague all of them.
     

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