Finally joined the 308 bruthahood! | FerrariChat
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Finally joined the 308 bruthahood!

Discussion in '308/328' started by DiscoInferno, Jul 12, 2006.

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  1. DiscoInferno

    DiscoInferno Formula Junior

    May 8, 2005
    281
    Helotes, TX
    Full Name:
    James Humphreys
    #1 DiscoInferno, Jul 12, 2006
    Well, I've been lurking around here for quite some time doing research and making an occasional post, but I have finally changed from wannabe to Fcar in my garage. Just picked it up tonight and finally drove it around a little. It is going to take some getting used to, mostly because of seating position and the fact that I haven't driven a stick in about 10 years. First drive was a very positive experience all in all (car is an 85 308 GTS QV, nero metallic over crema; I know--this thread is worthless without pics). My wife had been nagging me about wanting to drive it when I finally got one (she doesn't know how to drive a stick and I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about letting her burn up my expensive clutch trying to learn). She went out to see it and I don't know what car she thought I was getting, but it wasn't what I ended up with. She looked at it for a minute, said it was one of the ugliest cars she had ever seen and thought it looked like a roach. She sat in it for a minute, said it smelled funny, and said further that she would never even ride in it because it was too low and looked unsafe. I did have to admit to her that it has pretty laughable safety features and that it's crashworthiness is dubious at best (god forbid I ever find out). It was pretty hilarious all in all and definitely not what I was expecting from her. At least I won't have to worry about her trying to go joyriding when I'm not looking. She hates it but I love it and after some freshening up to ensure that it is roadworthy (new belts, fluids, hoses, tires) it gets to shift from once a week driven garage queen to out on the road everyday. I'll be sure to post updates on how it holds up to daily use in a major urban area as I go along.
     
  2. Tifosi_308

    Tifosi_308 Rookie

    Oct 22, 2005
    17
    Dublin, CA
    Full Name:
    Mark Saake
    #2 Tifosi_308, Jul 13, 2006
    Welcome to the clan, James.

    I've got a '85 308 myself. Always was a dream of mine to own a "Magnum car" and a few years back the wife said I should treat myselft, so after about 6 months of researching and tracking one down, I joined the family as well.

    Post some pic's when you get a chance. And how about a few details on the car as well.

    Tifosi on -
     
  3. show time

    show time Formula Junior

    Jan 5, 2006
    670
    Scottsdale AZ
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #3 show time, Jul 13, 2006
    Welcome
     
  4. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,810
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #4 miketuason, Jul 13, 2006
    Congrats James, I got my 84 308 GTS QV four months ago and beleive me I know the feelings cause Im still feeling it. Its like a dream come true, is'nt it great? We will have many great years of fun with this car cause its timeless.
    Send some pictures please thanks.

    Mike
     
  5. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    36,431
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    #5 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Jul 13, 2006
    welcome to the brotherhood
     
  6. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #6 spiderseeker, Jul 13, 2006
    I have an 85' GTS QV as well and love it, I'm sure you will too.
    My girlfriend LOVES mine and hates if I EVER drive it anywhere without her.
    P.S. Why did you marry a woman with such bad taste in cars ? (ha ha )-buy her a purple AMC Gremlin and she'd probably be in heaven.
    Enjoy !!!
     
  7. DiscoInferno

    DiscoInferno Formula Junior

    May 8, 2005
    281
    Helotes, TX
    Full Name:
    James Humphreys
    #7 DiscoInferno, Jul 13, 2006
    I was really surprised at her response as I had shown her pictures of 308s before. Oh well, at least she will leave it alone.

    A few more details about the car: I am owner #4. It has a little over 40000 miles on it and everything seems to work (for the meantime). Chassis number is 53487. I met the most recent previous owner at a USGP watching party at Ferrari of San Antonio. I was drooling over his car out in the parking lot and when we met he told me he was just starting to shop the car around. It turned out he lives in my neighborhood, of all things. I literally walked from my house up to his last night to pick it up. I couldn't believe I had never seen the thing out in our 'hood, as I would have definitely noticed it.
     
  8. jhsalah

    jhsalah Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 10, 2006
    2,409
    Philadelphia, PA
    Full Name:
    Jawad
    #8 jhsalah, Jul 13, 2006
    Congratulations and welcome. Have a black/black '84 QV myself.
    Enjoy her in good health.

    J.
     
  9. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    #9 Perfusion, Jul 13, 2006
    ¡Bienvenidos!
     
  10. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah
    #10 TURBOQV, Jul 13, 2006
    Congrats on the car. Surprised to hear your wife's comments on the car. My wife says that our 308 is the "most beautiful car ever made" so I guess I am a lucky guy. That helps on the maintenance bills :) I have heard of daily drivers holding up very well if they are properly maintained. A few F-chat cars are approachng 100k on their orignal engines. Good luck with it and post some pics when you get a chance.

    Paul
     
  11. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    #11 Birdman, Jul 15, 2006
    Congratulations!! Post pics! The "brotherhood" is the 348 guys though. We're more like a lynch mob. ;) BTW, time to call a lawyer. Your wife has TERRIBLE taste in cars! ;)

    Birdman
     
  12. DavidDriver

    DavidDriver F1 Rookie

    May 9, 2006
    4,424
    Grass Valley, CA
    Full Name:
    David Driver
    #12 DavidDriver, Jul 17, 2006
    Aw, c'mon guys.. Giv'er a brake. Just wait'll she sees a scene on some TV, showing a guy bathed in admiration by a bunch of beautiful babes.

    Once she sees that, she'll probably start sleeping in the car!


    BTW: Contratz on the new ride!

    If I had the money, I'd have gotten a GTS/GTB instead of a GT4. But I can't complain. Not one bit!

    hmmm.... well..., (?) Ah... nevermind! (LOL!)


    Enjoy the ride!
     
  13. doug328

    doug328 Formula 3

    Mar 11, 2004
    1,599
    The Space Coast, FL
    Full Name:
    Doug B
    #13 doug328, Jul 17, 2006
    I will be the one to say it: " post some pictures". Congrats and enjoy the ride.
     
  14. Ken

    Ken F1 World Champ

    Oct 19, 2001
    16,078
    Arlington Heights IL
    Full Name:
    Kenneth
    #14 Ken, Jul 17, 2006
    ROTFLOL your wife and my wife would become fast friends. My Lotus is "that wretched little death trap".

    Ken
     
  15. johng

    johng Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2004
    2,298
    northern va
    Full Name:
    john g
    #15 johng, Jul 17, 2006
    well at least she didn't call it old!

    john
     
  16. DavidDriver

    DavidDriver F1 Rookie

    May 9, 2006
    4,424
    Grass Valley, CA
    Full Name:
    David Driver
    #16 DavidDriver, Jul 17, 2006

    No... MY wife does that!
     
  17. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    11,894
    Wayne, NJ
    Full Name:
    Clyde E. McMurdy
    #17 ClydeM, Jul 17, 2006
    Just remind them your life insurance is all paid up :)
     
  18. DiscoInferno

    DiscoInferno Formula Junior

    May 8, 2005
    281
    Helotes, TX
    Full Name:
    James Humphreys
    #18 DiscoInferno, Jul 17, 2006
    Ha! When my wife claimed the car was unsafe in an accident (almost certainly true, to her credit) my reply was, "That's what my life insurance is for." I'll see if I can't get a pic or two on board here presently. Project number one is to install the handsome fuseblocks I obtained from our good friend Birdman.
     
  19. onboost

    onboost Formula Junior

    Apr 13, 2004
    758
    DC Metro area
    #19 onboost, Jul 17, 2006
    Dude...

    Congrats, excellent choice and welcome to fold.. I've got an 85 GTS as well..Grigio/Tan.. and she is sexy!

    Paul..
     
  20. onboost

    onboost Formula Junior

    Apr 13, 2004
    758
    DC Metro area
    #20 onboost, Jul 17, 2006

    Man, so you've got one of those little boogers to huh? Yours looks great. I've got a 74 TC that needs to be restored, 1, owner w/42K original miles. Guy parked irt with a flat tire and never got back to it!! Got any goodies?

    Paul
     
  21. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,596
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    #21 Bullfighter, Jul 17, 2006
    I'll toss my congratulations onto the heap...

    As far as the deathtrap remark, there's risk in that the car's very low, and you certainly don't want to rear end any Ford Excursions, but they are built on a tubular steel frame that is quite strong. Thankfully I've never been hit in my 328, but I wrecked a Fiat X1/9 (also has a tubular frame underneath) in college, at 45mph: the front of the car was strewn all over the road and the windshield was badly cracked, but the passenger compartment wasn't even deformed -- both doors opened and closed normally. I suspect the 308 is similarly a substantial car underneath, despite its proportions.

    If the rubber fuel line (including the fuel filler neck and the one between the two tanks) haven't been replaced somewhat recently, I'd recommend you do that. This isn't expensive, and the occasional fires reported in 308s often result from old, cracked fuel lines.
     

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