Brian A Four Years of 308 Ownership

miketuason · Jun 28, 2020

People either just don’t remember or just don’t know that, without 308, there probably won’t be any Maranello factory today.

Brian Harper · Jun 28, 2020

Well, yes, without the 308 there might not be Ferrari today, the same way there might not be a Challenger Hellcat today if it weren't for the Reliant K-Car back in the '80's. My point is that saving the company or not, the car has to stand on its own merits today. The 308 is a fantastic car to drive on the road and looks stunning.

Robert Jorgensen · Jun 28, 2020

I like how you say we are all a little misunderstood. That makes a lot of sense to me as to why I purchased a 3x8. Be against the grain but also be apart of something. I cannot tell you how much the car grows on me and others

It would be a lie to say Magnum pi isn’t a regularly watched show in my household but despite the show, the car is cool as hell. Something about that gated shifter...

mike996 · Jun 29, 2020

Robert Jorgensen said: ↑

It would be a lie to say Magnum pi isn’t a regularly watched show in my household but despite the show, the car is cool as hell. Something about that gated shifter...
Click to expand...

Apparently differing from many folks here, I have always enjoyed the association and the occasional "Hey Magnum!" comments. Got one at the gas station a couple of weeks ago that led to a fun/interesting 15 minute conversation at the pumps!

Calling it the K-car of Ferrari is cruel but accurate!

daynyc · Jun 29, 2020

This is the first time I have posted on FerrariChat. I am a longtime car enthusiast who has been fortunate enough to have a small collection of cars which I particularly like. I long admired the 308 and finally obtained one about nine months ago. Frankly, the only other Ferrari that is "reasonably obtainable" that I would want is a 330 GTS and I've learned that it's just too stressful to regularly drive, and park, $ million cars. Some time ago, a friend of mine sold his SJ Duesenberg, which he used to drive regularly, for just that reason.
In any event my 1985 QV has lived up to expectations. So far it has been reliable and great fun to drive. It's a lovely car which can hold its own next to my 1967 E Type. Last winter I did a good deal of engine work and completely rebuilt the front and rear suspensions (I do the work myself). I look forward to further projects this coming winter.

Brian A · Jun 29, 2020

daynyc said: ↑

This is the first time I have posted on FerrariChat. ...I long admired the 308 and finally obtained one about nine months ago. ...I did a good deal of engine work and completely rebuilt the front and rear suspensions...
Click to expand...

Welcome to the loonie bin!

Glad to hear the car is living up to your expectations. It would be great if you started your own thread to tell your story and show some pictures!

thorn · Jul 3, 2020

mike996 said: ↑

the occasional "Hey Magnum!" comments.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that every that sees the car was a far bigger fan of Magnum PI than I ever was... I mean - Magnum was a fine enough TV show, but there were other shows I enjoyed a lot more. Seems like I watched Magnum because we only had 3 TV stations, and the other 2 choices were something like ALF and Three's Company.

Robert Jorgensen · Jul 19, 2020

daynyc said: ↑

This is the first time I have posted on FerrariChat. I am a longtime car enthusiast who has been fortunate enough to have a small collection of cars which I particularly like. I long admired the 308 and finally obtained one about nine months ago. Frankly, the only other Ferrari that is "reasonably obtainable" that I would want is a 330 GTS and I've learned that it's just too stressful to regularly drive, and park, $ million cars. Some time ago, a friend of mine sold his SJ Duesenberg, which he used to drive regularly, for just that reason.
In any event my 1985 QV has lived up to expectations. So far it has been reliable and great fun to drive. It's a lovely car which can hold its own next to my 1967 E Type. Last winter I did a good deal of engine work and completely rebuilt the front and rear suspensions (I do the work myself). I look forward to further projects this coming winter.
Click to expand...

daynyc said: ↑

This is the first time I have posted on FerrariChat. I am a longtime car enthusiast who has been fortunate enough to have a small collection of cars which I particularly like. I long admired the 308 and finally obtained one about nine months ago. Frankly, the only other Ferrari that is "reasonably obtainable" that I would want is a 330 GTS and I've learned that it's just too stressful to regularly drive, and park, $ million cars. Some time ago, a friend of mine sold his SJ Duesenberg, which he used to drive regularly, for just that reason.
In any event my 1985 QV has lived up to expectations. So far it has been reliable and great fun to drive. It's a lovely car which can hold its own next to my 1967 E Type. Last winter I did a good deal of engine work and completely rebuilt the front and rear suspensions (I do the work myself). I look forward to further projects this coming winter.
Click to expand...

Nice to hear another one has joined the club. I’ve never before seen so many people willing to help or just have a good conversation than what is found in the 3X8 community. I’m sure everyone including me would love to see some pictures

daynyc · Jul 20, 2020

Your friendly replies have inspired me. This forum really is the source of some very valuable information. I'll make an attempt to post some pictures of how the car now looks after my initial restoration work and now have a question.

The car seemed to be running fine. The only thing I did was, very gently, open the Digiplex compartment to peek at the boxes (which looked fine). Thereafter, at a stop the idle would drop down to around 600 RPM before going back to 1000 RPM and the car had less low end power. So I went back and connected some good new grounds to the Digi boxes. As a result, my idle was immediately much stronger, but rolling, and, although the car runs, low end power seems even worse. However, there is no backfiring, obvious missing, smell of fuel, exhaust smoke etc.

When I alternately pull the coil wires, each four-cylinder bank runs and sounds the same. I have done my research and realize, in theory, there could be scores of reasons for this problem. Coincidences do occur, but before I tear a bunch of things apart in phase two of my restoration this fall, I'm trying to come up with something that may relate to the Digi boxes.

If both banks run and rev fairly smoothly, I'm guessing the crank sensors are not the culprit. My next two easy things to check are the cold start injector and auxiliary air valve. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Brian A · Jul 20, 2020

daynyc said: ↑

This is the first time I have posted on FerrariChat. ....
Click to expand...

Brian A said: ↑

It would be great if you started your own thread ...
Click to expand...

daynyc · Jul 20, 2020

Will do. Thanks!

Imatk · Jul 25, 2020

Such an awesome story, I'm hoping to do the same. I love working on cars and owning a 308 has been a dream of mine since I first saw one as a kid on Magnum PI

Fitz · Jul 25, 2020

Brian A said: ↑

March 4, 2017
I bought my 308 four years ago today, so it seems high time for me to introduce my car and myself.

>>> Getting to where I am <<<
This all started a few years ago when my daughter was soon graduating from high school. She had been using my E30 1991 BMW 318i sedan as her high school commuter car. She loved the thing; 5 speed manual transmission, 4 doors for friends, big trunk, good visibility, great for autocross which she loved. I loved it too; it was my track car; Dinan shocks and springs, Eibach adjustable swaybars, Sparco strut brace, Dinan chip... only 138 hp but just 2,600 lbs. It defined toss-able.

She was going to take it away to college.

I began wondering what I could replace it with. I had always wanted an E30 BMW M3. A bit heavier but more hp. That was my dream car until I looked at prices. Holy cow doo-doo! $25,000.

I asked myself what else I could buy for that money.

Then I asked myself what else I could buy for just a little bit more. A Ferrari? Seriously?

I spent the Saturday at the 2012 Monterey Motorsport Reunion at Laguna Seca pressing my nose against the drivers windows of all the cars in the Ferrari Club of America Car Corral (now cancelled) learning the difference between the likes of a 308 and a 360. I was THAT clueless. I just fell in love with the mechanical switchgear of the 308. I read and researched a lot. My priority order became 308, Testarossa, 328 then 360. The latter was really far above my budget, but I was in dream phase so what the heck. The interiors of the Testarossa and 328 looked the same to me so of those two I preferred the one with the mighty V12. The Testarossa was also a big budget stretch and, practically speaking, wouldnt comfortably fit through my 15-foot-wide two car garage door (the other side claimed by my wifes Honda Pilot SUV). Really though, I was smitten by the 308. Refining my search more, I want nothing to do with cantankerous carburetors so limited my love to cars with fuel injection. And, I wanted a GTS; almost any color was fine; just give me those cool interior console switches.

By October 2012, I had begun to mobilize my search for a car. I sat in a 328 in a showroom to confirm I actually could fit inside. I started browsing newspaper ads and Craigs List. I phoned a few advertisements. I was learning that you couldnt just walk a line of 308s at a dealership and pick your favorite one; it might mean a national search. I was told it might take a couple of years to find a nice car. I loathe shopping for cars.

By January 2013, I had put out an advertisement about looking for a car. Although I already registered my Brian A screen name on FChat, my post count was not up to credible levels so didnt mention anything here. In February, I phoned a few car finders. None answered their phones, so I left messages. Only one, Brandon Lawrence of Sportscar Italiano, called me back. It was a bit like a job interview; he quizzed me about how I was going to use the car, why I liked the 308, roughed me up about not knowing the difference between an 83 and 84 etc. In the end, we really hit it off; a nice guy. However, at the end of two or three phone calls he still said he knew of no 308s for sale, only a couple of 328s. Cold lead. I thought maybe it was just as well; I needed to build a garage expansion before I should buy another sports car. I was happy I was initiating the 308 buying process and I was bracing myself for the two years long search for the right car.

To my surprise, Brandon called me back a few weeks later saying he just heard of a 1983 GTS QV that would be coming up for sale by the estate of the first owner. A one owner car. The next day, we went out and looked at it. It was intact, passed California SMOG, shifted smooth; a/c blew cold, was professionally maintained, had records, took kits, etc. Brandon was dancing around me telling me that it was a beautiful car. Inside of me I reacted suspiciously, fearing used car salesman tactics. It was the first for-sale 308 I had come face-to-face with. That was alarming too; buying the first car I saw. I stewed and sweated. The technician said that it was a clean car; only issue being that the suspension was original and should be rebuilt. The leather on the seats too had an unattractive patina; like the first had owner worn shorts and used a greasy sunscreen. The leather was intact though.

I thought about the other cars across the country I had inquired about on the phone. This was a bird in the hand. I thought about how much I hated chasing cars.

I pulled out my checkbook and bought it.

Brandon knew the sellers agent as they were both FCA concours judges. Brandon took custody of the Vehicle Title and the arrangement was that I would get the Title when my check cleared. I had valid vehicle insurance through my general policy but the cars vehicle registration had expired. Brandon followed behind me to block the rear license plate from scrutiny of police cruisers. It is the only time I have driven an unregistered vehicle on public roads. I made it home without event.

A few days later, the check cleared, I picked up the Title and went straight to the DMV. The car officially became mine.

Four years later, I am so very happy I made that decision to buy that car.

There was a thread a few years back on FChat debating the merits of paying (then) a few dollars more for a car that had minimal miles on it. One point that was made was that with a new car, you get to put your own patina on it. That was a significant observation for me. I decided I was going to restore my car to new just so that I could begin the patina cycle again.

Aside from routine mechanical maintenance, I have spent the last 4 years doing a lot (hundreds of hours!) of cosmetic restoration on the car. It is remarkable how much work you can do on a car with no issues. There were just so many little things the prior owner had just gotten used to overlooking through the 30 years of his ownership. I have learned how to use an airbrush to touch up engine compartment scratches and how to use a random orbital polisher to remove swirl marks from the paint, Ive removed the entire interior so that a professional could redye the leather, Ive stripped out remnants of at least 3 stereo installations, Ive bought replacement engine stickers and cleaned and polished just about everything top, bottom, back and front.

At 2016 Concorso Italiano, my car was the last 308 across the awards stage (first place) where I received 98 points. To both our surprise, Brandon was on stage helping with the award of trophies when I rolled up. I hadnt seen him for a long while. He shook my hand and we both laughed out loud. It was an amazing moment.

Now its time to make the car mine. I am going to push in the bumpers soon and may replace the stock dryer hose intake pipe with an aluminum one. The suspension still needs restoration and I will consider lowering the car a little at that time.

Despite it already being four years of ownership, I still feel like the adventure has just begun with my little 308.

>>> Maintenance and Repairs <<<
Buying a no issues 308 is certainly not without its issues. I am now adamant that there is no such thing as a no issues 308.

Exactly one week after bringing the car home, I received my Welcome Wagon surprise. Out of the blue, my oil cooler started leaking in its front lower corner. I was so new to the car, I didnt really know where to find parts, if leakage was a common problem, how to fix the problem, etc. A trial by fire. I drove the car a fair bit anyway, because it wasnt really spraying oil, just dripping downward. The oil level didnt drop much; I think I needed to top it up a couple of times.

Although I would have preferred my oil crisis to hit a few months after ownership rather than the first week, it was a good education for me. I started a thread on FChat and began asking dumb questions. I learned about Ricambi, TRutlands and FerrParts. Ultimately, I bought a used GT4 oil cooler from FerrParts for not much money, jacked the car up and installed it. Harmony in my universe was restored.

Next, after a month or two, the car wouldnt start. I quickly figured out that the fuel pump wasnt running. I checked the fuse and discovered that the wire had discolored from heat and the fuse holder and fuse were corroded. I twisted the fuse a few times to cut through the corrosion and, voila, the car ran again like a champ. I learned about, ordered and installed the Birdman fuse boxes. Problem fixed.

I actually had a period of operational calm after those two events. During this calm, I did routine preventative maintenance. I installed SRI fuel hoses, changed the timing belts, tires, air filter and fluids. Changing the timing belts was my first major work on the car. It felt like jumping in the ocean and swimming without really looking to see if you could make it back to shore. I managed to swim out and back. I felt very proud of myself after that one.

My big indulgence that I promised myself at the time I bought the car, was to restore the leather in the interior. I completely removed anything in the interior with tan colored leather on it and sent it out to Advance Interior Restoration Services for repair and redye. The owner, Tom Hatfield, replaced the leather on the left side drivers seat bolster, carved new foam rubber for inside the bolster, patched a few scrapes and scars here-and-there and then redyed the whole lot using a custom mix dye which matched the color of a patch of leather hidden from sun and wear. I also removed the big stereo amps in the trunk, the subwoofer in the passengers foot well and a mile of audio wiring everywhere.

Other than that, its been pretty much routine maintenance stuff. Other biggies have been replacing ignition wires, rotors, caps and plugs, getting the A/C renovated (because it DID have a small R12 leak), and, just last month, replacing both catalytic converters because the car failed 2017 SMOG and the cats had blown all of their matrix out the tailpipe. Oh yeah, my throttle cable broke last year. And, now that I think about it, the front bank TDC sensor was a pain to replace, and, well, you get the idea.

>>> The People <<<
The thing I didnt foresee with 308 ownership was the number of people that it would introduce me to. I have made a tremendous number of acquaintances and friends thanks to my little red car. And it is a rolling carnival too; stopping for gasoline or groceries always causes a conversation.

I have been an active member of the BMW Car Club of American for many years and I have found a camaraderie through competition there. I enjoy seeing and talking to BMW owners at autocross, the Legends of the Autobahn concours or at the track. There is an edge though; always a your car versus mine car tone. It is barely perceptible, but the tone was there. My expectation for 308 ownership was that owners were going to be more aggressive and more aloof than the BMW crowd.

Then I met you all. The reality is that owners of 308s (and 328s) are exactly the opposite. The 3x8 attracts owners who really care about maintaining their cars well. It is probably because a premier marque such as Ferrari attracts the most hardcore of antique automobile aficionados. And the technology in a 3x8 is so old that weve all given up on being big dog race driver poseurs.

I am astonished at how many 308 owners are exactly like me in that they bought a 308 with the explicit intent to maintain it themselves as part of the car hobby. That is where the community comes in. Unlike many marques, certainly unlike BMW, there are no good Service Manuals available for troubleshooting problems with a Ferrari 308. We need each other to help figure things out and keep our cars running. Our situation bonds us together like a little tribe. I have enjoyed the camaraderie immensely.

So at exactly four years of ownership, my intent is the same as the first owners someday my Estate will sell my 308; not me. Hopefully the third owner of my car will be as much as a 308 enthusiast as the first two owners had been. I will never know.
Click to expand...

Thanks for telling your story Brian I am sure it brings back many memories for all of us in the gang. It’s been over 15 years of ownership for me and it is more fun now than ever.

Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

Fitz · Jul 25, 2020

Brian A said: ↑

March 4, 2017
I bought my 308 four years ago today, so it seems high time for me to introduce my car and myself.

>>> Getting to where I am <<<
This all started a few years ago when my daughter was soon graduating from high school. She had been using my E30 1991 BMW 318i sedan as her high school commuter car. She loved the thing; 5 speed manual transmission, 4 doors for friends, big trunk, good visibility, great for autocross which she loved. I loved it too; it was my track car; Dinan shocks and springs, Eibach adjustable swaybars, Sparco strut brace, Dinan chip... only 138 hp but just 2,600 lbs. It defined toss-able.

She was going to take it away to college.

I began wondering what I could replace it with. I had always wanted an E30 BMW M3. A bit heavier but more hp. That was my dream car until I looked at prices. Holy cow doo-doo! $25,000.

I asked myself what else I could buy for that money.

Then I asked myself what else I could buy for just a little bit more. A Ferrari? Seriously?

I spent the Saturday at the 2012 Monterey Motorsport Reunion at Laguna Seca pressing my nose against the drivers windows of all the cars in the Ferrari Club of America Car Corral (now cancelled) learning the difference between the likes of a 308 and a 360. I was THAT clueless. I just fell in love with the mechanical switchgear of the 308. I read and researched a lot. My priority order became 308, Testarossa, 328 then 360. The latter was really far above my budget, but I was in dream phase so what the heck. The interiors of the Testarossa and 328 looked the same to me so of those two I preferred the one with the mighty V12. The Testarossa was also a big budget stretch and, practically speaking, wouldnt comfortably fit through my 15-foot-wide two car garage door (the other side claimed by my wifes Honda Pilot SUV). Really though, I was smitten by the 308. Refining my search more, I want nothing to do with cantankerous carburetors so limited my love to cars with fuel injection. And, I wanted a GTS; almost any color was fine; just give me those cool interior console switches.

By October 2012, I had begun to mobilize my search for a car. I sat in a 328 in a showroom to confirm I actually could fit inside. I started browsing newspaper ads and Craigs List. I phoned a few advertisements. I was learning that you couldnt just walk a line of 308s at a dealership and pick your favorite one; it might mean a national search. I was told it might take a couple of years to find a nice car. I loathe shopping for cars.

By January 2013, I had put out an advertisement about looking for a car. Although I already registered my Brian A screen name on FChat, my post count was not up to credible levels so didnt mention anything here. In February, I phoned a few car finders. None answered their phones, so I left messages. Only one, Brandon Lawrence of Sportscar Italiano, called me back. It was a bit like a job interview; he quizzed me about how I was going to use the car, why I liked the 308, roughed me up about not knowing the difference between an 83 and 84 etc. In the end, we really hit it off; a nice guy. However, at the end of two or three phone calls he still said he knew of no 308s for sale, only a couple of 328s. Cold lead. I thought maybe it was just as well; I needed to build a garage expansion before I should buy another sports car. I was happy I was initiating the 308 buying process and I was bracing myself for the two years long search for the right car.

To my surprise, Brandon called me back a few weeks later saying he just heard of a 1983 GTS QV that would be coming up for sale by the estate of the first owner. A one owner car. The next day, we went out and looked at it. It was intact, passed California SMOG, shifted smooth; a/c blew cold, was professionally maintained, had records, took kits, etc. Brandon was dancing around me telling me that it was a beautiful car. Inside of me I reacted suspiciously, fearing used car salesman tactics. It was the first for-sale 308 I had come face-to-face with. That was alarming too; buying the first car I saw. I stewed and sweated. The technician said that it was a clean car; only issue being that the suspension was original and should be rebuilt. The leather on the seats too had an unattractive patina; like the first had owner worn shorts and used a greasy sunscreen. The leather was intact though.

I thought about the other cars across the country I had inquired about on the phone. This was a bird in the hand. I thought about how much I hated chasing cars.

I pulled out my checkbook and bought it.

Brandon knew the sellers agent as they were both FCA concours judges. Brandon took custody of the Vehicle Title and the arrangement was that I would get the Title when my check cleared. I had valid vehicle insurance through my general policy but the cars vehicle registration had expired. Brandon followed behind me to block the rear license plate from scrutiny of police cruisers. It is the only time I have driven an unregistered vehicle on public roads. I made it home without event.

A few days later, the check cleared, I picked up the Title and went straight to the DMV. The car officially became mine.

Four years later, I am so very happy I made that decision to buy that car.

There was a thread a few years back on FChat debating the merits of paying (then) a few dollars more for a car that had minimal miles on it. One point that was made was that with a new car, you get to put your own patina on it. That was a significant observation for me. I decided I was going to restore my car to new just so that I could begin the patina cycle again.

Aside from routine mechanical maintenance, I have spent the last 4 years doing a lot (hundreds of hours!) of cosmetic restoration on the car. It is remarkable how much work you can do on a car with no issues. There were just so many little things the prior owner had just gotten used to overlooking through the 30 years of his ownership. I have learned how to use an airbrush to touch up engine compartment scratches and how to use a random orbital polisher to remove swirl marks from the paint, Ive removed the entire interior so that a professional could redye the leather, Ive stripped out remnants of at least 3 stereo installations, Ive bought replacement engine stickers and cleaned and polished just about everything top, bottom, back and front.

At 2016 Concorso Italiano, my car was the last 308 across the awards stage (first place) where I received 98 points. To both our surprise, Brandon was on stage helping with the award of trophies when I rolled up. I hadnt seen him for a long while. He shook my hand and we both laughed out loud. It was an amazing moment.

Now its time to make the car mine. I am going to push in the bumpers soon and may replace the stock dryer hose intake pipe with an aluminum one. The suspension still needs restoration and I will consider lowering the car a little at that time.

Despite it already being four years of ownership, I still feel like the adventure has just begun with my little 308.

>>> Maintenance and Repairs <<<
Buying a no issues 308 is certainly not without its issues. I am now adamant that there is no such thing as a no issues 308.

Exactly one week after bringing the car home, I received my Welcome Wagon surprise. Out of the blue, my oil cooler started leaking in its front lower corner. I was so new to the car, I didnt really know where to find parts, if leakage was a common problem, how to fix the problem, etc. A trial by fire. I drove the car a fair bit anyway, because it wasnt really spraying oil, just dripping downward. The oil level didnt drop much; I think I needed to top it up a couple of times.

Although I would have preferred my oil crisis to hit a few months after ownership rather than the first week, it was a good education for me. I started a thread on FChat and began asking dumb questions. I learned about Ricambi, TRutlands and FerrParts. Ultimately, I bought a used GT4 oil cooler from FerrParts for not much money, jacked the car up and installed it. Harmony in my universe was restored.

Next, after a month or two, the car wouldnt start. I quickly figured out that the fuel pump wasnt running. I checked the fuse and discovered that the wire had discolored from heat and the fuse holder and fuse were corroded. I twisted the fuse a few times to cut through the corrosion and, voila, the car ran again like a champ. I learned about, ordered and installed the Birdman fuse boxes. Problem fixed.

I actually had a period of operational calm after those two events. During this calm, I did routine preventative maintenance. I installed SRI fuel hoses, changed the timing belts, tires, air filter and fluids. Changing the timing belts was my first major work on the car. It felt like jumping in the ocean and swimming without really looking to see if you could make it back to shore. I managed to swim out and back. I felt very proud of myself after that one.

My big indulgence that I promised myself at the time I bought the car, was to restore the leather in the interior. I completely removed anything in the interior with tan colored leather on it and sent it out to Advance Interior Restoration Services for repair and redye. The owner, Tom Hatfield, replaced the leather on the left side drivers seat bolster, carved new foam rubber for inside the bolster, patched a few scrapes and scars here-and-there and then redyed the whole lot using a custom mix dye which matched the color of a patch of leather hidden from sun and wear. I also removed the big stereo amps in the trunk, the subwoofer in the passengers foot well and a mile of audio wiring everywhere.

Other than that, its been pretty much routine maintenance stuff. Other biggies have been replacing ignition wires, rotors, caps and plugs, getting the A/C renovated (because it DID have a small R12 leak), and, just last month, replacing both catalytic converters because the car failed 2017 SMOG and the cats had blown all of their matrix out the tailpipe. Oh yeah, my throttle cable broke last year. And, now that I think about it, the front bank TDC sensor was a pain to replace, and, well, you get the idea.

>>> The People <<<
The thing I didnt foresee with 308 ownership was the number of people that it would introduce me to. I have made a tremendous number of acquaintances and friends thanks to my little red car. And it is a rolling carnival too; stopping for gasoline or groceries always causes a conversation.

I have been an active member of the BMW Car Club of American for many years and I have found a camaraderie through competition there. I enjoy seeing and talking to BMW owners at autocross, the Legends of the Autobahn concours or at the track. There is an edge though; always a your car versus mine car tone. It is barely perceptible, but the tone was there. My expectation for 308 ownership was that owners were going to be more aggressive and more aloof than the BMW crowd.

Then I met you all. The reality is that owners of 308s (and 328s) are exactly the opposite. The 3x8 attracts owners who really care about maintaining their cars well. It is probably because a premier marque such as Ferrari attracts the most hardcore of antique automobile aficionados. And the technology in a 3x8 is so old that weve all given up on being big dog race driver poseurs.

I am astonished at how many 308 owners are exactly like me in that they bought a 308 with the explicit intent to maintain it themselves as part of the car hobby. That is where the community comes in. Unlike many marques, certainly unlike BMW, there are no good Service Manuals available for troubleshooting problems with a Ferrari 308. We need each other to help figure things out and keep our cars running. Our situation bonds us together like a little tribe. I have enjoyed the camaraderie immensely.

So at exactly four years of ownership, my intent is the same as the first owners someday my Estate will sell my 308; not me. Hopefully the third owner of my car will be as much as a 308 enthusiast as the first two owners had been. I will never know.
Click to expand...

Thanks for telling your story Brian I am sure it brings back many memories for all of us in the gang. It’s been over 15 years of ownership for me and it is more fun now than ever.

Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

Brian A · Mar 4, 2021

Today marks 8 years of ownership of my 308. It continues to be a source of great friendship and adventure. I will say though that this past year has been different than prior years; a little less joy to the ownership experience.

I am someone who is cautious when making friends and the 308 crowd has always so welcomed me in. I dearly miss all of the breakfasts, Car & Coffees and other car gatherings that were cancelled in 2020. It has been a lonely year.

The car has betrayed me this last year too. Since I’ve owned it, I have lavished a ton of love of the car, but in the past almost all of it has been just preventative maintenance and restoration type work. This year though, there have been a few problems which were not “preventative” and needed immediate attention; my radiator developed a seep at the upper inlet hose area; the clutch on my a/c compressor started slipping causing the a/c v-belt belt to melt and cement itself onto the driveshaft pulley; my engine developed a small oil leak from the upper front bank. All not good.

And, even before Covid-19 stuck, I had decided that I wanted to back off cars a little bit and focus on other hobbies, so the car problems were not welcome. They were more frustrating than engaging. The radiator repair went fine, aside from the horrible time replacing the pup hoses underneath the front of the car and aside from my front lid unexpectedly jamming closed. I still am trying to figure out how to restore the a/c clutch problem (if anyone has an old York clutch they don’t need, please let me know). The car is back together but without the a/c compressor in place. No matter how hard I look, I have not been able to determine if the oil seep is from the cam seal or the valve cover gasket; either of which I dread addressing. I would normally ignore such a small oil leak except oil accumulates in a depression in the exhaust header which smells and smokes as the engine gets hot. I expect I’ll need to remove the front bank camshafts to fix the leak. Dread.

So, at this eighth anniversary, even though the car sits more needy than it has ever been, I still feel very fortunate being one of the lucky few to own such a rare car. It still feels very special. I still remain hopeful for the future.

Brian A · Mar 4, 2022

I guess this is my yearly check-in…

Today marks nine years of Ferrari ownership for me. I must cite the cliches about how time flies.

Unlike last year, the car has been great fun. Now that life is more or less back to normal, it has been amazing how many Cars & Coffees I’ve been to and how any event I go now there is always people I know and to talk to. The car is that figurative “vehicle” to friendship.

I participated in the Virginia City Hill Climb with the car again this year. "Brian Harper" also attended with his 308 so it was fun having another GTS in the mix. I needed new tires and bought some from Tire Rack in preparation for the hill climb. With global supply shortages, my choices were limited and I “downgraded” from tires with an UTQG of 180 to one of 340. I think I was actually faster because the harder tires made more noise as they approached their limit which inspired my confidence (the hill climb is not an event you want to go 10/10ths).

The car has had only minor glitches this year. When I came back from the hill climb, I discovered that a large hunk of aluminum on the dipstick handle had broken off and presumably is now in my oil pan. It had happened sometime in the 700 miles I put on the car, to, at and from the hill climb. People here reassured me not to worry. I had a bit of a problem with a misfire mid-year but otherwise I’ve just been playing with the car; adding a skid plate, a few doodads on the dash, and today, just completed installation of a Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB audio component. And, yeah, I changed the oil(s).

Brian A · Mar 8, 2023

Today, being 3/08 day, I was reminded that my 308 and I celebrated 10 years together a few days ago.

I put a little bit less miles on it these last 12 months than past years; just a lot of travel and other non-car related activities.

Having said that, the 308 still is a joy to own and drive. I still smile when I look at it in the garage.

Dane · Mar 8, 2023

Brian A said: ↑

Today, being 3/08 day, I was reminded that my 308 and I celebrated 10 years together a few days ago.

I put a little bit less miles on it these last 12 months than past years; just a lot of travel and other non-car related activities.

Having said that, the 308 still is a joy to own and drive. I still smile when I look at it in the garage.
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I, too Brian, still smile when I see her in the garage all insanely spoiled and ready to roll as work permits. She’s a happy place for me. The sweet sound of those Webers, the smell of gasoline, and that little V-8 with a smooth gated shift makes the efforts and periodic frustrations worth every damn second. Cheers.

Shark01 · Mar 9, 2023

Brian A said: ↑

Today, being 3/08 day, I was reminded that my 308 and I celebrated 10 years together a few days ago.

I put a little bit less miles on it these last 12 months than past years; just a lot of travel and other non-car related activities.

Having said that, the 308 still is a joy to own and drive. I still smile when I look at it in the garage.
Click to expand...

Congrats, I am at year 9 with my first Italian exotic (not a Ferrari though). Unfortunately, I seem to drive it less as the years go by…..only 300 miles this year.

kcabpilot · Mar 9, 2023

My yearly mileage has gone down too because my speedo sensor only works about half the time now. I need to fix that, right after I fix the glacial speed that my passenger window goes up and down. I fixed the driver's side last year but it was such an unfun job I decided to wait until the passenger side stopped working completely - it's almost there.

Imatk · Mar 9, 2023

I read through this thread not realizing I had obviously read it before since I replied and didn't remember that either.

Now instead of dreaming of owning a 308... I have owned one for the last few years.

But my experience is so insanely different from yours that it's hard to imagine (at this point) if I'll even enjoy the car?

First got the car, the seat was so close to the pedals I thought I wouldn't be able to drive the thing. Then realized the seat track was jammed because the person who had it before either jerry rigged the hell out of it himself, or had some other person do the jerry rigging.

Fixed the track so the seat would work. Finally got into it to drive it... wouldn't go into 2nd gear. Wouldn't go into 3rd gear. Wouldn't go into 5th gear.

Yay.

To make a very long story short, the car (which I was told ran perfectly and needed nothing) was so severely neglected that I had to have it flat bedded to a very experienced/expert tech who gave me bad news after bad news after bad news.

I have not as yet actually driven my car.

So I sincerely hope that one day I'll not look at this as one of, if not THE, worst possible mistakes I've ever made in my life.

But I still enjoyed your story, your experience sounds like the one I was hoping for.

Shark01 · Mar 10, 2023

Imatk said: ↑

I read through this thread not realizing I had obviously read it before since I replied and didn't remember that either.

Now instead of dreaming of owning a 308... I have owned one for the last few years.

But my experience is so insanely different from yours that it's hard to imagine (at this point) if I'll even enjoy the car?

First got the car, the seat was so close to the pedals I thought I wouldn't be able to drive the thing. Then realized the seat track was jammed because the person who had it before either jerry rigged the hell out of it himself, or had some other person do the jerry rigging.

Fixed the track so the seat would work. Finally got into it to drive it... wouldn't go into 2nd gear. Wouldn't go into 3rd gear. Wouldn't go into 5th gear.

Yay.

To make a very long story short, the car (which I was told ran perfectly and needed nothing) was so severely neglected that I had to have it flat bedded to a very experienced/expert tech who gave me bad news after bad news after bad news.

I have not as yet actually driven my car.

So I sincerely hope that one day I'll not look at this as one of, if not THE, worst possible mistakes I've ever made in my life.

But I still enjoyed your story, your experience sounds like the one I was hoping for.
Click to expand...

Who the hell did your inspection? They did a horrible job.

dyerhaus · Mar 10, 2023

Imatk said: ↑

I read through this thread not realizing I had obviously read it before since I replied and didn't remember that either.

Now instead of dreaming of owning a 308... I have owned one for the last few years.

But my experience is so insanely different from yours that it's hard to imagine (at this point) if I'll even enjoy the car?

First got the car, the seat was so close to the pedals I thought I wouldn't be able to drive the thing. Then realized the seat track was jammed because the person who had it before either jerry rigged the hell out of it himself, or had some other person do the jerry rigging.

Fixed the track so the seat would work. Finally got into it to drive it... wouldn't go into 2nd gear. Wouldn't go into 3rd gear. Wouldn't go into 5th gear.

Yay.

To make a very long story short, the car (which I was told ran perfectly and needed nothing) was so severely neglected that I had to have it flat bedded to a very experienced/expert tech who gave me bad news after bad news after bad news.

I have not as yet actually driven my car.

So I sincerely hope that one day I'll not look at this as one of, if not THE, worst possible mistakes I've ever made in my life.

But I still enjoyed your story, your experience sounds like the one I was hoping for.
Click to expand...

And this is why the best advice I ever got was "buy the BEST example you can afford." Otherwise, you're looking at a world of hurt (as you have unfortunately discovered). Unless you're a seasoned mechanic (or extraordinarily proficient DIY'er) and have in-depth knowledge of the car and are looking for a project, I'd never recommend anyone buy a car that "needs work." I realize you were mislead, but I would have hoped a thorough PPI would have found all the stuff you are now finding.

I've had my 308 for almost a year and a half now, and it's been truly amazing. The mechanic who regularly serviced the car connected me with the seller, so I got pretty lucky in that respect as I already knew the condition of the car. I'm really sorry to hear of your experience as these are one of the greatest and most enjoyable cars ever made… you just have to get the right one! Good luck to you, I hope you get the chance to enjoy and love the car, instead of loathing the it.

Imatk · Mar 10, 2023

Shark01 said: ↑

Who the hell did your inspection? They did a horrible job.
Click to expand...

No one, I stupidly believed the seller. Very expensive lesson learned.

Imatk · Mar 10, 2023

dyerhaus said: ↑

And this is why the best advice I ever got was "buy the BEST example you can afford." Otherwise, you're looking at a world of hurt (as you have unfortunately discovered). Unless you're a seasoned mechanic (or extraordinarily proficient DIY'er) and have in-depth knowledge of the car and are looking for a project, I'd never recommend anyone buy a car that "needs work." I realize you were mislead, but I would have hoped a thorough PPI would have found all the stuff you are now finding.

I've had my 308 for almost a year and a half now, and it's been truly amazing. The mechanic who regularly serviced the car connected me with the seller, so I got pretty lucky in that respect as I already knew the condition of the car. I'm really sorry to hear of your experience as these are one of the greatest and most enjoyable cars ever made… you just have to get the right one! Good luck to you, I hope you get the chance to enjoy and love the car, instead of loathing the it.
Click to expand...

Well.. I was looking for a project. Just not as big a project as I got.

I've never rebuilt a transmission before or engine, so if I were to do that I definitely wouldn't start on a Ferrari. Parts are just too expensive and hard to come by.

I've done pretty much everything else you can imagine on a car. But those two things... no.

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