86 328 GTS on eBay

Hi Jeff!!!

Welcome to FChat. Congrats on the Rossa Subscription too!!

Obviously you have been lurking for a little while. I am sure someone will come along and answer your questions. I cant say I know too much about the car in question, but you might check out posting something in the regional area which is a bit further down the page to see if someone there can check it out or might know something about that car.

Just a thought.


PDG

 

If I were you I'd have my eyes on the Euro car on eBay: better looks, lighter, faster, etc., etc.

 

Hi Jeff, congrats on your first post! You have a thing for tan over red.

 

52k seems high for an 86;but the mileage is quite low which is a big plus from a resale point of view. If it checks out/drives well then, if it was me, I'd offer 46 and go from there.

 

The car looks very clean from the pictures. As for Euro 328, I don't see the advantage of a Euro 328 over an US spec'ed 328 and preferred the car were designed and manufactured from Ferrari factory instead being modified as an after-thought by some extinct shops not to mention the pain of have it legally smogged in some states.

 

+1. Also I don't like the 3rd brake light on this one, it looks like it was stuck to the decklid as an afterthought.

 

beautiful car with all the amenities you would need to continue its purist lifestyle (except the luggage). I would offer about 44K to start...>50K is pricey.

 

The car looks very clean from the pictures. As for Euro 328, I don't see the advantage of a Euro 328 over an US spec'ed 328 and preferred the car were designed and manufactured from Ferrari factory instead being modified as an after-thought by some extinct shops not to mention the pain of have it legally smogged in some states.


That's what you think until you drive a Euro and see how much lighter it is. I guess the MO would be to have the car PPI'd to make sure that it was "converted" properly, if it was really converted at all. Speaking of "afterthoughts"...this is what one gets with a U.S. 328...afterthoughts in the form of, ugly, stuck-on flag mirrors, and a front bumper that takes the car out of proportion, thus crapping on Pinnifarina's design.

The smog issue I certainly understand, being a resident of CA and its inherent idiocy. However and, again, if one can get a good Euro car in his state, I don't understand the mentality for wanting a U.S. car, other than with, perhaps, the idea of being able to sell it more easily in the future to buyers in smog-restrictive states.

 

I'd be more worried about the replaced speedometer and whether the mileage was properly converted. My euro 328 has all the original bumpers, mirrors, speedo, and non of the lights, emissions stuff on there. It runs a lot better without emissions and cats. I did cut out the third brake light that was stuck on the rear window. This one looks like it may leave a mark.

Ace

 

Sounds great...and as it should be.

 

"That's what you think until you drive a Euro and see how much lighter it is"

I don't know what the weight difference actually is but the US magazines reported faster 0-60 and 1/4 mile times than did the European magazines. Of course that could be due to the testing method. Perhaps the US testers did the "drive it like you stole it" thing while the european testers did the "It's a Ferrari, be careful" thing.

"It runs a lot better without emissions and cats."

And you have verified this how? Dyno, dragstrip, track?

 

How do you it was converted properly? I looked at some pictures of aftermarket add-on smog control unit to make a 328 US legal, it was a major turn off, and again I prefer my Ferrari came that way from factory. Yes I monkey'ed on my rock crawler to make very capable but I love to see my Ferrari original. I don't see anything wrong with a 328 US spec'ed mirrors, and the 288 mirror looks pretty flaggy too and there's nothing wrong with that.

These 328s aren't fast by today standard, why so concerned about it? Don't you have one of those US spec'ed 328s?

 

Yep...have a U.S. spec and would love a Euro, given the choice ;-)

 

I don't usually wade into these sorts of discussions but I have to take exception with a couple things. Can't help myself...

Tell us, exactly, what is different between a US and ROW 328 front bumper, as regards the appearance? The Euro one is lighter, for sure, but just how different are they in appearance? If you were talking about a 308, I'm sure we'd understand.

Then, have a good look at the droopy mirror fitted to the Euro 328 and tell us again that you prefer those. I have found that for the average guy, the Euro mirror looks like an aftermarket add-on.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

Cats? A 328 just has one....

Ferrari quoted 10 hp difference between the cars, US vs. Euro. Most people can't feel that. The weight difference is more noticeable.

Good advice about the mileage. Lots of Euro cars lost some mileage somewhere between there and here. Some lost all their recorded miles. Caveat emptor....

JR

 

The line or, rather, the intrusion into the "flow" of the car is pronounced with the U.S. mirrors; they stick up and out like some kind of alien contraption. The Euro mirrors flow with the line lof the car (just as they do on the Euro QV's) thus keeping one's eyes moving with the beauty of the design. The front bumper overhangs too far on a U.S. car, particularly when viewed from the side, thus taking the car out of proportion; i.e. too much bulk in front.

 

I think this may be the 328 that fellow chatter John Lamour bought from Motorcars Intl a few years back. He only had it for a week because he bought it site unseen and found out when it was delivered to him that he didn't really fit in the car. He did say that it was extremely clean though.

 

javadog, in regards to the US and euro bumpers...wazie is right. i have owned both versions of the 328. the front US bumper sticks out about 1-1.5" more beyond the bodywork and the rear bumper sticks out an additional 1.5" or so beyond the body. in pictures, the effect is not noticeable. but in real life, it is in-your-face noticeable. i bought the US car first, then later on the euro car. when i saw the euro car in person for the first time, i could not believe the difference. the car looks significantly shorter and because it's shorter it also appears to be wider. and, the lower suspension helps with the aggressive look. overall, you can see the difference, and it is much in favor of the euro car.

john

 

That was a GTB.

 

The first spark plug wire retainer is broken and wires held in place with zip tie. Not a no expense spared car. But only a minor issue.

 

I don't think so man. I saw pics. Maybe he can verify. Does he still come on the site?

 

Can't speak for this car but the outfit has an impeccable reputation. I got a tour including the back rooms and was impressed. Hard to say what would really happen but the impression I got is they would take a car back immediately if you were dissatisfied.