I have recently seen a number of posting from individuals wondering if buying a 308 with 50,000 miles or more is a good idea. My 308 is a 78, and currently has 90,500 miles!! Although driven regularly, I have carefully maintained it, and it has been nothing but perfect for me. Aside for the normal maintenance, I have also upgraded the fuse boxes (thanks to birdman), and have installed Crane electronic ignition. The car burns a little bit of oil, however this is normal. I have a Stainless Steel Borla Exhaust that makes the car sound incredible. I am regularly asked by the general public if it is new. When I tell them it is a 78, everyones jaw drops. I don't even get a single drop of oil in my garage, even after it has been sitting all winter during our Canadian winters. I think the key is to regularly drive and start it, this way your seals will not dry up. I just wanted to drop this quick post, so everyone who is worried about a perceived high mileage car, can hear my experiences. I have seen a number of 308's with 30,000 on the odometer who look like they should have 300,000 miles. Don't get hung up on mileage, just look at the overall condition, and ensure the car has not been abused and serviced regularly. Just my two cents on my experience with a high mileage 308. Attached are some pictures of my baby... Peter Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Awesome. It's good to see these cars get used. I am about to turn 53k on my '88 (Bought it in August with 49k) and she has a long way to go!
+1 My '82 has just a hair over 81,000 miles and performs flawlessly. I agree that a 308 with higher miles should have a value of its own in that it has actually been used (and maintained), which is certainly better for it than letting it sit. I never understood those who hardly drive their 308s. I could see being a little apprehensive about putting mileage on a 250 California, etc..but not a 308. There are loads of them out there and even those with higher mileages will still appreciate in valve nicely. I've looked at plenty of cars which had a claimed 20K, 30K, etc...and they showed more wear and tear in some non-visual areas than mine does!! I think a good portion of these cars either had their clock rocked or disconnected. I'm definitely not afraid of a high mileage 308. They HAVE to be maintained to cover big mileages, and if the records are there to back it up, you're all set. Besides, consider that if you want a 308 to drive, your chances of having to replace wear items are far less on a high mileage car because most likely it's been done already! I think last summer alone, I put about 7K miles on my car. Not one hiccup! Cheers, Aaron '82 GTSi '83 400iA
Some 10 years ago Steve (91tr) had a 78? 308 GTS he offered me that had some 130K miles on it. The car looked very good, and very clean. I think the original paint might have been a bit weak, but it was nice. Steve had done an upper end overhaul, new carbs I think, and replaced the steering rack at somewhere around 100K. We can all imagine that along that cars path these last 10 years its mileage has been monkeyed with. Very easliy someone could have put 20K on the car and now its only got 50K miles. Even with records to back it up, its hard to really trust the mileage on a 30 year old car that has been through various owners. In the end its the cars overall condition thats primary. A truly low mileage car thats spent most of its life parked could have many many issues lurking deep inside its bowels. Rusted engine and gearbox parts that sat stationary for years above the oil level are one potntial problem. I have seen true low mileage cars that were in awful condition, and I have seen cars with 100's of K miles that were in wonderful condition. But in the Ferrari market, mileage is king, and probably always will be. And when some claim cars with 60K + are unsellable, it makes it very difficult not to buy the crappy low mile car over the pristine high miler. But I always liked mutts and like cars the same way. Better to have a scared victim of age that flies true, than a fake rolex that wont keep time.
I chose and bought my 84 308 QV with 67,000 miles over an 85 308 with 30,000 miles and an 86 328 with 42,000 miles, Go figure.
I bought my 1979 308 GTB four years ago with 58,000 miles on it. It now has about 63,000 on it. I too like mutts, and cars that are driven. My 308 was not intended to be an "investment". I wanted a driver that should hold its own in value. I bought a 1969 Plymouth GTX convertable in 1982 with 93,000 miles on it. It now has 118,000 miles on it and I drove it to church last saturday night. Its value is almost independent of milage and with time I expect the same to be true of the Ferrari. They did make quite a few 308s, but they are not making any more, though I think they only made 345 GTBs in 1979 (this per an e-mail I got from Ferrari). This is not a high production number for any car. Very low milage cars (under 20k perhaps) will have collector value but I don't want one. I did not buy a Ferrari to prove anything to anyone, I just think it is a cool car. If I could not drive it, I would not own it. With both of my cars I feel fortunate to be the caretaker of such a beautiful automobile, very different but both beautiful. In the end though you have to remember that they are just cars.
that sounds great. i don't think there should be much of a hubbub about high mileage ferraris. their condition is the most important part of their value for me. these cars are not ticking time bombs, and they can go for a long time with proper care. it's good to see ferraris with miles. see you on the roads! john
I hate to burst any bubbles here but MANY of the so called 30k mileage cars probably have 70k or more. Speedos break or are disconnected frequently. (I think many of the Ebay cars are suspect in this regard) Condition and maintenance are the critical factors, mileage is secondary.
It's not the mileage, it's the number of cold starts. Your average 40k miler has probably done as many cold starts as an 80k miler.
My '78 has 80K kms (about 50K miles), and gets TLC and serviced as necessary. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
My 78 308 now has over 82000 miles and still going strong. I drive it, maintain it and don't worry about the miles. It had 64000 when I bought it in January 04. It drove flawlessly on my trip from Mississippi to the USGP at Indy in '05 and know that it will have many more miles in it. Here is a picture in the Smoky Mountains after a run on the Dragon. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Currently my '78 has about 104k. Here's some pix when the odo rolled over. The last one is just after a detail. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
What can you say but drive them, maintain them, fix them if they break, and keep that smile on your face everytime you go for a ride.
My car has 79k miles. I have all service records from new. I am the second owner. The compression is fantastic. Heads have never been off. Great car. Great engine. Keeper Image Unavailable, Please Login
80k kilometers (~50k miles) on this baby. I have no problem putting miles on this car. It was built to drive, not to accumulate resale value. Besides, it may be worth MORE to a knowing buyer. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I have gone both ways in terms of purchase milage. My 86 testarossa had 14,000 on the odometer and the 78 308 gt4 pictured here shows 81294, of which 856 are from myself. No question more money went into the higher milage car. The testarossa required only a window switch. The GT4 looks so good with 80K that when it rolls over the unsuspecting could be fooled to think it is a low milage car. Image Unavailable, Please Login
