308 handling

308's and 328's feel great handling- wise owing to a nice sense of balance and excellent feedback to the driver. However, compared to modern cars in an objective sense, they are not very good. I've tracked a couple of them and the main problem is body roll as in lots of it. Flex is another issue. Even GTB's have a lot of flex compared to modern cars. Nevertheless, race prepped examples with good (as in hard) suspensions can be killer track cars. More importantly, they are just plain fun to drive, particularly at 8/10ths on a twisty road where you can enjoy them without doing insane speeds. I have not tracked my 328 in years mostly because it just gets run over by more modern cars on track days but I still enjoy it even though I also have a 430 in the garage.

Dave

Dave

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

time and time again with these threads...blah, blah...let me sum it up for you..real simple between the 308 and a 430 See if we can all follow along

Super model in 1979 at 22 yrs.

Same super model in 2009 at 52 yrs old

Comparison done !

 

Didn't Edmunds find that their 308 went through their slolom at the same speed as a new WRX or WRX/STi? The STi is no supercar, but it is no slouch either.

 

The STI is a helluva a car. I had an '04 and tracked it a lot. I lapped my buddy's QV in it in a 20 minute session---twice. Don't know about Edmunds' article but there really is no contest. It's no match for a base WRX either.

Dave

 

Modern sports cars have better tires/wheels (lower profile, generally speaking), improved suspension geometry (often, complex 4 or 5 links), bigger/better brakes, etc. Some even have active suspensions. These things make a difference. So, yup, you can beat the local minivans, but it'll be tough to beat a 996 porsche or a M3/M6 or SL55 AMG.....

 

I seem to be able to brake later and accelerate sooner while racing the neighborhood moms in their mini vans...............

Clarification please.........Are you racing after them or against them?


IMHO there's no comparison between old and new......it's apples and oranges.

A guy once told me when we were talking about his 2008 Porsche GT3 and my 1978 SC............"..oh yeah, I drove one of those once.......drove like a damn tractor.."

Thanks buddy!

 

You should have asked him; "I thought Porsche folded as a legitimate auto manufacturer in 1998?"

 

What's great about the 308/328 possibly the mondial(never driven one)is the feedback that these cars give you through the turns. You can really feel what the limit is, and it's very easy to correct once past it, or if on the edge of it. There aren't many newer cars that give you that feedback. Plus it requires some sort of effort and skill to drive a 308 quickly through tight turns. Where as new cars with power everything it requires very little. The steering, braking/shifting on a 308 requires probably 5-10times the amount of effort than any modern car. I guess it all depends in what you want.

Jim

 

The QV Edmonds had pulled .91G on their skid pad which is still respectable. The chassis can take more bhp, but the brakes cannot. I suspect with 30-50 extra bhp and better brakes these cars would be fantastic on the track. Luckydynes has more poke in his and he really got around the track well per his video.

 

The 308 has a great platform to start with - mid engine V8, double wishbone suspension front and rear, vented disc brakes front and rear. The first issue with it in regards to handling is the tall and skinny tires they come with from the factory. The tall tire deflects a TON and greatly reduces the responsiveness of the car. The fact that the suspensions are soft and and tires are skinny reduces the amount of cornering force available.

If I had a bone stock 308 and wanted it to handle like a more modern car, the first thing I'd do is change wheels and tires, at least to an 8 inch wide front and 9 inch wide rear tire.

The second thing I'd do is change shocks, springs, sway bars, and alignment. 375lb/in-front and 325lb/in-rear spring rates are a good street/track compromise. I've been introduced to Varishocks and feel they are a good value, however you need to be careful which one's you choose because you can run out of suspension travel too soon if you pick the wrong shock.

As far as brakes, much more aggressive pads and a brake cooling kit would do wonders unless you want to spend the big bucks on a big brake system.