Mixed Signals

I am looking to buy a 1983-85 308gts. I am getting conflicting opinions on reliability, from breaking down often to no problems at all. Finally I can afford the vehicle but I am told the upkeep is horrendous and reliability is questionable. One person said he was driving it and all of a sudden it just went dead. Another person said it always overheats. A third person said it has been trouble free and he loves it. Major service every 30,000 miles or 5 years for $4,000-5,000? Is that true? I was also looking into a Lotus Elise but it just doesn't have the same emotional pull as the gts. I am handy at auto maintenance but a timing belt might be out of my league. I was also told the gauges are worthless. I don't know what to do. I can't seem to just ignore my instinct to buy one. I want to feel confident that it will not leave me stranded in the middle of traffic. Any help would be appreciated. I do have a primary vehicle.

 

Ferraris can be VERY expensive - $3k - $7 for a Major (DIY vs. F-wrench) every 3 years
or so is true. Assuming nothing else goes wrong of course. You might get lucky and
get a trouble free car - many have. And many have not. Too many variables to make
a carte-blanche statement about 3x8 cars.... but that Major is a GIVEN.

A Ferrari is not for everyone - if you don't have "emergency cash" laying around, it
can be very much a "mixed signal" sort of thing. IMO, it's a car you buy when you
have no day-to-day cash flow worries - you just do what you need to do when it
needs to be done.

"Been there done that" Jedi

 

People told me the same thing before I bought my '82,and I had the same concerns.I've had NO problems at all with my 308.I keep the battery charged,change the oil,and every time I turn the key it starts,runs,and has NEVER left me stranded.My car before this was a Lotus Europa,and that thing was nothing but a headache,and I expected the Ferrari to be as well,but to my suprise,my 308 is bulletproof.These cars are so well built.Yes,the major has to be done every 5yrs,and it's around 3k,but what's the difference,I was spending $100 there and $200 there keeping my Lotus running a few times a month,which added up to well over 3k in 5yrs. Just my .2c
Carter

 

Have you looked at the 308 section ? There might be occasional niggles but as almost every 'should I buy a 308 / what first Ferrari should I buy' thread confirms they are about as reliable as any 25-30 year old car and more so than most

The most worthless gauge is the fuel one - it keeps going down and then flashing 100 miles from empty & spoiling the fun

 

LOL!

 

Perfect advice, couldn't have said it better myself.

In summary, money is no object, go with your gut and get the Ferrari....otherwise, wait until money is no object.

 

The variability in opinions is partly because 308/328s are old cars, so there will be "bargain" ones for $30K that probably need suspension rebuilds, cooling system overhauls, electrical refurbishing, etc., and $50K+ cars have been fastidiously maintained and updated.

FWIW, yes, cooling on the late 308s isn't very good. The 328 brought a more vertical radiator and more sensible venting and will run better in that regard. 328s were upgraded in many respects, so if your budget can take it I would recommend looking at those.

The official word from Ferrari is that the timing belt needs to be changed on these cars every 3 years or 36,000 miles. A lot of people don't like to pay for this, so you can tell a lot about a 308/328 by looking over the service records for the last 10 years -- how often was this done?

A major service on my 328 last ran $5500 -- that's more than a timing belt swap. It includes valve adjustment, water pump rebuild and a long list of other items.

These cars are prone to leaks, so while you could certainly push services back, I think you're always better off getting one that has been kept leak-free and in top condition. (Even then, they need stuff. You have to be at peace with that.)

 

I've spent more on liscense fees in the last 20 years than I have in service etc.

 

I agree. The 308 is the puzzycat of Ferrari maintenance and expense costs. When its comes to expenses, it's more "meow" and a lot less "ow!"

 

When I purchased my car, it needed a major. With all the additional things found, it was quite expensive. But, since then, I have done all the work myself. This site is chock full of informative information to get any task done. It boils down to time and patience. If you do work on your daily car, you should have few problems with your 308. And if you do, help is always available.

 

Had a '84 GTS QV several years ago with 55K on the odometer. Drove it in 105 degree weather (California desert) never had it overheat (even in traffic) air con was cold enough to keep things comfortable inside, and never had one single problem with it during the 2 years I had it. Serviced properly, they are great cars. Get one with service history and don't be afraid of 50K + miles. These can be purchased for 25-30K anytime.
Having owned a carb version (fun but finicky) a 2 valve GTSi ( a real turkey), I recommend a 84-85 QV. The 83's are fine but have some issues improved in '84-85.
Good luck

 

Just get one. Worry later. You will be too in love to care by that point. Trust me...

Besides, if you have another daily driver & the 308 breaks down, just fix her when you can afford to.

 

I got my '85 GTS QV last summer. I had a major done and have since been driving it as much as I can, weather permitting. Yes, there are little things here and there that will likely need some attention, but its not really anything that you cant do yourself with some guidance from the experts on this board. I am very much a mechanical novice, but I feel comfortable with the help I have gotten here.

In the meantime, I get to save up for the next major!!

For the record, my car is 66k+miles and doing just fine.


PDG