First time Ferrari owner...thinking about 328GTS

I am new to this forum and looking into buying my first Ferrari in HK. There is a 1986 328GTS available. What are the things I should be looking out for when purchasing a Ferrari like this? Are there certain things like oil leaks that I need to worry about (I own a Porsche 993 Turbo now so that is a big issue)? High mileage/kms an issue?

There is a link to the car for sale. http://www.expatmotors.com/Vehicle%20Details/Ferrari%20328GTS%20KT%202724%207-3-06.htm
I know its only pictures and some info but any insight anyone can provide would be truly appreciated.

Thanks all...

 

Welcome, getting your first Ferrari is exciting and alittle scary at the same time. The 328 is a great car. Try doing a search, you will find everything you want to know!

Matt

 

The 328 has a very good reputation among Ferrari's, but some of the things to look for (get a mechanic to inspect it before you buy):

1. Timing belt/tensioner bearing major service - there should be records (and you should verify them) showing that the car has had this done no longer than every 5 years (there's debate - some people say 3 years) or 30K miles, whatever comes first. I did the water pump on my last major. A very conscientious owner would probably rebuild the water pump during every major service, although Ferrari doesn't specify this. The reason for the rebuild is you don't want the pump bearing to seize and strip/break the timing belt - the result can be a mess requiring an engine rebuild. Also 328 water pumps tend to leak due to the way they're designed.

2. Gearbox - 2nd gear isn't usable until the car warms up, and sometimes people force it which can wear out the 2nd gear syncro. Make sure all gears are easily usable (when warm) with no grinding.

3. Electrical accessories - power windows, switches, etc., aren't the best and now these cars are 20 years old. Make sure everything works. The instruments are also prone to fail - check the speedo, tach, clock, oil pressure, etc.

4. Collision damage - just about all of these cars have had the front end resprayed just because of stone chips, but you want a mechanic to verify that the car hasn't been hit. Have the mechanic check the frame - also make sure the tires are wearing nice and evenly - bent frames can cause permanent alignment problems (among other things). Partial resprays (nose, rear valance where the wheels throw up rocks) are extremely common. Also know that factory Ferrari paint and bodywork in 1986 has a very handcrafted look - you'll see some waves in the metal along the sides of the car even on a showroom quality, 0-miles car. The paint has an orange peel texture from the factory. I had a 993 also, and you have to look at a 328 with different criteria.

5. High mileage affects the price, but it can also mean the car has been serviced regularly. Low mileage cars can develop all sorts of leaks when they start being used, and rubber parts (including tires) don't do well sitting.

6. Compression/leakdown test - you want to have these done when the car's inspected to make sure the engine is healthy. Ideally you want compression results to be even across all eight cylinders. Cars that sit around without being driven and ultra-high mileage cars can have issues here.

This isn't a complete list, but these are some of the things I focused on based on advice here and from other owners.

Check out Tillman's 328 Primer for a great overiew of these cars: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70064&highlight=328+primer.

(And -- driving one of these cars is a memorable experience. They just look and sound better than anything else I've ever owned or driven. Some people have even traded "up" from a 328 to a 348 or 355, and then decided to go back to the 328. A lot of people think it's the best looking car Ferrari made in the modern era, although it's anything but modern.)

 

Good catch, thanks.

 

I've heard for years that "2nd gear isn't usable until the car warms up", but in the three 328s I've owned, this was never a problem. When the car was cold, I noticed that it was necessary to "place" the lever more gently and gradually, but that applied to any gear selection, not just 2nd.

For that matter, even when the car warms up, my experience is that one never "slams" any gear-change, but rather "places" it carefully, and never slips the clutch while doing so. The car seems happiest when accelerator fun takes place only with a fully-engaged clutch.

When I bought my first 328, I was also advised to always fully-depress the clutch pedal before activating the starter, which generally makes the starter's job easier. Somewhat on the same reasoning, when garaging the car for a week or more, I first turn the A/C temp and the A/C blower both off before switching off the engine. Seems less stress when I next start up the car [don't bother with this during frequent/everyday use].

Any expert thoughts on any of the above?

 

With the advent of quality syn lubricants the second gear problem should not be present in any but the coldest weather. Unfortunately many suffered manhandling with improper lubricants and as a result have a glazed syncro and will not work 100% even with good lubricants. 512TR's were probably the worst of those because at the time Ferrari spec'd the disastrous Agip SPFLES
gear oil that was the downfall of many gear boxes.

 

Since Jon (Bullfighter) has already chimed in, I won't tell you to ask him. You can also PM RareUSGold to see what he has to say. He also recently purchased a nice 89 328 GTB. Great cars, and the 328 is probably one of the most sought after Ferraris currently.
Good luck in the search.
BT

 

i do the same thing. but i turn off the AC even if i will be using the car frequently.

john

 

Ditto - for all my cars, actually, just to keep startup as unencumbered as possible. I'm sure some modern, state-of-the-art cars have mechanisms that automatically handle this for you, but a 328...

 

Recently talking to the mechanic who did my 30K service, he said the best starting procedure was to have the car in neutral and the clutch let out (not depressed). Engaging the clutch puts pressure on the throwout bearing and added pressure on the engine while starting, making the starter work a little harder. I also turn off the a/c and both vent fans before starting so as not to put any extra load on the electrical syatem. Also asked about the best way to run the a/c in the summer, and was told for around town driving can max the a/c out, but if doing sustained high speed driving for more than 30 minutes or so (like highway driving) then it's best to back the temp knob off to abou 1/2 way to keep the system from icing up. This will be my first summer with the car, and though it gets hot here in Florida, I still will most likely want to drive with the top off, so we will see if his advice works.

 

Thanks all for your helpful comments. I will be seeing the car later today (I can't wait!). I will post my comments and thoughts. However, this will only be an initial viewing without a mechanics check up.

 

Interesting. Any other gurus here agree/disagree with this?

I have never had an icing-up problem with a 328, including on highways in very hot weather. However I did have this problem in both an 89 Mondial-t and an 89 TR. The A/C system in the 328 is bulletproof as far as I can tell (having had three 89 328s at various times over the years).

 

Doug---I was told the same thing about starting. In neutral , no clutch in.. Whats this about A/C--you guys run your A/C??? Windows down, top off---natural A/C!!

 

Other things to check, based on personal experience:
1. Shift shaft seals usually leak, so check for leakage under the gearbox.
2. Check the rear CV boots and all the suspension bushings to see if they're still good.
3. Check the front brakes for wear. A complete brake overhaul can be pricey.
4. Check to see if the tachometer seems to read correctly. Mine didn't!
5. Check for leakage around the radiator; mine had to be rebuilt.

 

Welcome to the forum.
Looks like a great car. With all belt done. The 328 is probably one of the most reliable Ferrari. They have great reputation. Nice all around, everyday usable. Make sure you drive it hard before buying it. Maintanance isn't that bad. Don't let the name "Ferrari" scares you. I'm more scare of Porsche than Ferrari. Buy it and you'll enjoy it. I have a 308 and a Testarossa in Bangkok. They give me such great pleasure...

 

Having previosuly lived in Hong Kong I know there is a pretty strong Ferrari community in Hong Kong and many on this site....so they might know this very 328. Also, was the 328 previously owned by an Expat? If so how many? It would be great if you could get any and all service records....I am sure there are not that many shops that do high end Ferrari service in HK, so you might be able to track down the history of the 328. You also might try posting on the Asia section of this site as well....as there are many folks from FChat Asia that live in Hong Kong.

 

So I went, saw and test drove the car. The car is in good shape given it is 20 years old and the harsh weather (humidity) of Hong Kong. Obviously been repaint but did a good job. No real signs of aesthetic damage but those aren't real tell tale signs as they can be fixed easily.

Tried to check for oil leaks by having the car moved up and looking at the floor where its parked. There was some oil on the ground but the dealer said the car next to it (25th anniversary Countach!!) parks there sometimes so its hard to tell whose oil it is.

So I took it out for a spin... Very easy to drive and get use to. So much so that I started to wonder about the steering. I noticed the steering was very loose and like it had power assist. Did that car have power assist that year???

Second thing I noticed was that the bite point was very high on the clutch. I had to let the clutch come up to almost the top before the car started moving forward. Normal???

Also, it seemed to me the sound of the engine/exhaust wasn't what I had expected. Even when I pushed the car hard past 5-6000rpm. It didn't have that characteristic high pitched whine you come to expect from Ferrari (like that of a 355). Is that normal of the 328???

Overall, a good car. From what I can see it has potential but it still needs to go to a mechanic to be fully checked.

Appreciate all's experienced feedback!

 

No power assist on any 328, just a well tuned rack and pinion system. At anything above a crawl, the steering is very good and provides excellent feedback.

My clutch doesn't act like yours from your description. Perhaps yours needs a new clutch or an adjustment? The PPI will tell the tale on it.

On the sound, in my experience the 328 has a lower pitch than a 355, less motorcycle-like. You should still hear a change as it crosses 4500 RPM or so, and then another above 6000.