Newbie looking for opinions

I sold a 99 911 and replaced it with an 89 328 GTS. The 911 was totally competent in every way and was an ideal daily driver that I put 60k miles on in the time I owned it from new. I drove it back and forth to work every day (Long Island, NY) except when it was snowing, a total of 60 miles a day. My opinion is that in every way the 911 is a better car than the 328. It's far more comfortable, quicker, faster, more reliable, and cheaper to operate.

But IMHO the Porsche had no soul; I spent 6 years TRYING to really love the car and could never do it. The 328 is 1000 percent more of the "being involved with the car" experience. If I ever decide I need (and can afford) another Ferrari (or any other "exotic"), it will be in addition to my 328. Nothing will ever replace it.

 

Whew, you had me going there for a second Mike. I had to check the url to see if I was on Fchat or another site. Nice save though

From what I have read and heard, your comments about the Fcar having the all-important " ... experience" over other sports cars seems right on the marque. As much as I like the lines of the 911 and the 928, the lines and overall style of the 3 series stands as a more unique design that screams exotic and rare.

Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada

 

Bruce,
I have never owned a Porsche. But if you have the itch for a Ferrari, you gotta scratch it. Only you can decide in the long run if its the car for you, but I'm betting once you go to a Ferrari, you will be smitten by its charms! The 3x8 series of cars are very involving and fun to drive...and absolutely beautiful to behold. You will never EVER tire of seeing it! Sometimes I just go out in the garage and look at mine.

Pure artwork!

Birdman

 

I had a Boxster for two years before I bought my 328, and I have to basically agree with this comment. The Boxster was a fine car, it really was, and I never had a second's trouble out of it in two years. But at the end of the day I just never got that excited about it. Go find yourself a good 328, you'll probably end up asking yourself the same question I asked myself after I got mine - "Why didn't I do this ten years ago?"

And, by the way, I'm not that far from you. If you get up towards the Tri-Cities any time, give me a shout, you're more than welcome to stop by and take a look at mine. Good luck to you.

 

You'd be suprised at how many 308/328 owners have had a Porsche

For that reason this thread is quite a regular questions here so as with the whole purchasing experience its worth searching through old threads both for porsche and in this section general ownership experience of 308/328

 

The newer water cooled Porsche's have zero soul ... older air cooled Porsche have some ... Ferrari has the most though. If really care about performance you might be dissappointed ... depends on how you used your P cars in the past. If you tracked and autocrossed your P cars a stock 3x8 will feel like a heavy slow slug. That being said plenty of things you can do to change that ... all the way to supercharging. I wouldn't want to do that to a low mileage pristine model but if you get a car with some miles for a deal a supercharger would be a blast if you really want the power. There's other ways to get more power but nothing gives the horsepower for $ of the supercharger. I have a high compression motor with aftermarket EFI system and it really livened the car up to the point that a supercharger/turbo kit really isn't something I lust for anymore. Lots of driving schools/lessons are a big plus too .

Take a proper test drive.

Cheers

edit: just for the record we still have a new Boxster that's the wife's daily driver and a street legal '73 911S race car with a 3.2 for education purposes ... driver education for myself and people that think "older cars aren't fast"

 

Before I sold two cars and bought another to find out if I liked it or not I think I'd be asking for owners in my area to help with a spin around the block.

 

A good start.

Ferrari vs Porsche

Ferrari...hands down the best for sound, road feel...total experience.

Porsche...just plain "fun" and much cheaper to maintain.

 

+1

However, I still have my RS America and it is a very fun car to drive....

I equate the differences to:

My Porsche is like a sledgehammer, while the 328 is like a fine whine (sic).

I love them both, but once you drive a f-car.....you'll see the differences.

Good luck in your search....and you'll hear this often. Wait for the right car and a bargain Ferrari is usually not a bargain. Do your homework.

 

I am new to the board and am going through the same thing. I have a bunch of cars that I like (1985 Maserati Biturbo/Alfa Romeo Alfetta/Mercedes 450SL/Fiat Spider/Triumph TR3A) but they are all getting sold except for the TR (because I put 10 years of work into it and it will hold its value better than the others) and I'll recoupe what I spend on an F-car. As I said, I like all my cars but as with all sports cars they require maintenace and attention. Just keeping up on oil chages on this many cars takes time not to mention the cost that could be better invested into 1 really fine ride. My plan is to find a nice 328 or 308 and when I sell all my other cars in the Spring, I'll get some if not all of my outlay back. The prices right now on the 3X8's are within reach if one has a little extra money...which not many folks do these days. Who knows where it will bottom out but I think the time is right to scratch the Ferrari itch if you got 1...I also have never driven one but I think my Masearti has prepared me for my next step up into a better Italian car. Not to say they are the same car AT ALL but the shift pattern is at least the same LOL...the pattern took me a little adjustment if you've never driven a car like that.

Cars are no good as a garage queens...and it's bad for their health. If you decrease the number of cars you have, you can spend more time really enjoying the one you focus your time on. That's my opinion...quantity does not mean quality. If I can buy a car that makes me stop looking at so many other cars...that will also be a good thing for the car addiction problem I have. I see a rough rider and want to save it...I really need to stop doing that just because I can ;-) Time is too precious...

Even given the cost and upkeep how can one agrue that having a 3x8 won't make you forget all about your past rides...I like all my cars but I'm confident getting a Ferrari will ease the pain of letting them all go ;-) I have experienced everything that my other cars have to offer...been there done them, know what they are like...if you've always wanted an Fcar as I have, take the leap of faith brother, I'm sure the water's fine LOL. Buy as nice a one as you can find...do your home work...have it inspected, look at records and talk to past owners (if possible) and the biggie, have cash in hand! It can be a good motivator in your favor depending on how bad someone wants to sell a car. Not to be nasty but times are hard for some right now...if you are lucky enough to have a little money right now...why not take advantage of the market. If someone wants too much...there are always other cars, but you can get some really good buys right now.

Good luck and I hope you find a good one.

MarkG

 

I had a Porsche 911/993 a few years back. Other than that Porsches are expensive relative to the average car, I don't think the Porsche-to-Ferrari comparison is all that meaningful. German cars all feel somewhat alike, although the 993 was the last of the really vault-like ones I owned/drove. The old Merc 560SL was probably the best-built car I've ever driven.

An old school Ferrari, like a 308/328, has more of a hand-built feel like you'd get in a Lotus Esprit, Alfa, or pre-Audi Lamborghini. High maintenance, visceral driving experience, fragile-feeling with expensive parts that seem to have to be special ordered overseas all too often. The newer Ferraris seem not to require the same amount of warm-up, but there's still no mistaking them for a Porsche/BMW/Merc -- very different character.

Advantages:
1. Driving the 328 still feels special - you won't see another one on the road, and the feel behind the wheel is nicely racer-ish. The cockpit isn't perfect ergonomically, but once you get used to it everything else feels wrong, like a Buick. I've had mine for a while and the thrill of turning the key and slipping it into gear just never goes away.
2. It is the most beautiful modern-ish sports car ever made, especially (IMO) in the darker colors (blues and blacks).
3. It's a relatively simple car, and probably the only "sensible" (-ish) route to Ferrari ownership; if you check the parts and service prices on a 355 or Testarossa, you'll see what I mean. The 328 inhales money at a slower rate than any Ferrari other than one still under factory warranty.
4. The targa top is the best convertible I've owned - easy to stow, leak-resistant (maybe not leakproof) if the surrounding gaskets are good. It doesn't beat you up with wind, and affords a decent amount of privacy compared to a typical open convertible.
5. Resale - unless you pile on the miles, a well-kept and garaged 328 tends to hold its value well.
6. Every gearhead dreams of Ferrari ownership. You can go through life rationalizing another Porsche, another BMW, etc., and there are always scads of reasons NOT to buy a Ferrari.
7. Engine sound - the 328 is not the loudest, most aggressive sounding Ferrari engine out there, but it does have that Ferrari engine tone (flat-plane crank design), which is simply not worth posting about: you have to rev it to appreciate it.

Disadvantages:
1. Expensive maintenance. Every 3-5 years, you'll spend several thousand dollars on a timing belt service plus incidentals, and the 30K major service is more like ~$5000 (at least in California). Also, these are old cars so you may have to invest in bringing some aging bits up to date (e.g, new fuel lines are cheaper than a fire).
2. Expensive parts - not so much oil filters and brake pads, but any part proprietary to the car will make your eyes water.
3. Not all that fast anymore - 0-60 in 6 sec (328) isn't terrible, but any performance car will beat that now.
4. Resale, again - the 328 is probably the most in-demand classic Ferrari, but it takes a special kind of person to buy one, unlike say a BMW 3 series which you basically sell over the phone.
5. The Ferrari Mileage Penalty - people post on FChat that you should "get out and drive", and then when they look to buy they seek out the 12,000-mile garage queens. If you buy a 328 and the odometer turns 50,000, the value heads south. The engine and drivetrain are proven for well over 100,000 miles, but people take pride in low odometer readings. It's just a fact. You can drive a Porsche daily and people still trust it. Unless you want to drive it to the grave and sell it for a pittance, Ferraris are weekend cars.

If you want a Ferrari, the 328 is the best place to start (and maybe finish). It's mechanically comprehensible, and it lacks the power steering, ABS, traction control and other add-ons that do the driving for you. Just be prepared to spend some money on a car that is "all there" to start -- meaning recent, comprehensive service and replacement of old hoses, etc. Or be prepared to have all that done for safety reasons. These are 20+ year old Italian cars, you know...

If you're going this way, do yourself a favor and buy from a very reputable dealer (Ferrari or other highline), and find your local Ferrari tech before you buy anything. Prices are soft right now, but a decent driver 328 is a $50K car -- meaning you can buy one for $30K and spend $20K on repairs/service, or buy one at ~$50K with very little initial outlay. The 308s tend to be less, but not as bullet-proof (relatively speaking).

Good luck. This sounds like a good New Year's resolution.
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30 years of on again/off again 911 ownership.

only 1 year of 328 ownership.

I agree with the "drive one before you sell" school of thought.
(PM me for my number if you want to drive mine. You're more than welcome to. )

fwiw...IMVHO...Ferrari's are alot of things. But "user-friendly" it's not.

But they can make you miss driving them, just like you probably do with your Porsches when you're out of one for a while.


decisions, decisions good luck!


Dave

 

Drive one.

I always wanted one but my first drives were a total let down and dissapointment ... I was just use to the torque of my V6 Ford Ranger at the time LOL .

I knew I'd have to modify the car to make it into what I wanted/expected from day one ... it's been an awesome experience ... going on 14 years now .

The Ferrari/Porsche comparison is totally justified if you're expecting the "sports car" experience. If you're buying it to pump your ego and say "look at me" then nothing is better than a Ferrari ... no need for the Porsche comparisons LOL.

Cheers

 

I sold my 308 and M-3 to buy a new 997S. More of a 'time and lifestyle mangament issue" than anything else.

After almost 2 years, I can explain it this simply...tthe 997S is the best car I have ever owned BUT the 308 was my favorite car.
I miss it every day.

However, I can drive the Porsche to work when I choose, I am not afraid that some of its parts are unobtainable, and that service bills on the 308 make the Carrera look like a Toyota.

All in all...I had 24 wonderful years with a great 308 GTB and a new Ferrari is out of my reach. My heart is still w/ Ferrari but my head is now
w/ Porsche.

The Carrera does not have the Ferrari's charisma but it is far from w/o soul.

I consider myself very lucky to have owned both examples of automotive art.

 

I did rib on Porsche there a bit and say the new cars have no soul but you're right ... the new cars do have soul but not quite like the older Porsches. The older Porsches aren't as comfy/luxurious so it's like trying to have your cake and eat it I guess.

Cheers

 

Trying to rationalize Ferrari ownership is futile.

Either you want one or you don't. If you want one, be forewarned that they are not like mass-produced cars (including Porsche) in any way. They are finicky, fragile, expensive to repair and maintain, and sometimes a royal PITA. If after knowing that, you still want one, know this -

Every time I drive my 328 it's like the circus came to town. Every drive is a parade, a special event, a rolling celebration. The combination of the sound of the flat-crank V8 right behind your head, the whine of the transmisison gears, the smell of the well-worn leather (still delightfully delicious even after 20 years), the clack-clack of the shifter gate, and the fabulous, fantastic view over those beautiful fender arches is like nothing else out there.

Right now we have a foot of snow on the ground. Excuse me while I go out to the garage to sit in the car and make motor noises.

 

I'll bet that anyone who has ever bought a sports car and kept if for over a month, has dreamt of owning a Ferrari. And some are forturnate enough to make their dreams come true. It's that simple.

 

I have had 9 Porsche cars over the past 40 years. The original air cooled 911s sounded the best and were the most fun to own and drive. Service is easy to find. Parts are priced fairly. I never gave it a second thought to go any where in my 911 or 944 turbo. Now that I have a 308 I think about where I am going and how far. Mileage hurts the value of a Ferrari. I drive my Ferrari far less than I drove my Porsche cars.
If you are not happy with your Ferrari you can always find another Porsche. Porsche cars are everywhere. There are less than 12,000 308s left.
Porsche 911s are reliable, but they still had problems. Valve guides, timing chain tensioners, broken delivar head studs, failed mating surfaces between head and cylinders and dual mass clutches on 964 engines, Coked valves on 993 engines, failed cylinder liners and RMS on 996/986 engines.

Good luck with your search

 

I think if you sell you'll find yourself missing the 928 (if it is a 5 spd). That said, if you want to try a Ferrari - get a Ferrari!

 

Good summary. My brother has a very nice 08 997, and he drives it to work except in the dead of the Ohio winter. Is it a "better" car than my 328? Yes, by any objective measure. But, on public roads, all that extra performance is hard to use, and I never lust after it the way I lust after the 328. Exotic cars just do that.

OTOH, my brother didn't just spend $5300 on a major service plus incidentals...

 

I have never owned a Porsche but I do have a tale to tell. A while back, I was out in the 308, as I pulled up to a light, a black 911 pulled up beside me. The guy looked over at me and said, 'Well, this doesn't happen everyday'. I agreed. About this time, the light turned green and the 911 floored it to the next red light, while I just took my time and slowly pulled up beside him again. But when this light turned green, I decided, this time, I would put the hammer down. When he finally pulled up to me at the next light, he leaned over and said,' Man, I have got to get me one of those. That sound is incredible.'

 

I honestly have nothing agaisnt Porsche...my wife Loves them..but as I once read they are more abundant than roaches in a ghetto kitchen.
Of course one COULD argue that the more exotic Porsches aren't that abundant, but My argument back is that seeing any Ferrari is is less likely to occur.

 

I,we, like driving them a lot,they are great fun,cozy,speedy,lots of traction,no balance,no sound,no good time vibe,but some are very,very quick.Lot of people used to get killed in them,not so many any more.!! OP,reply after you resolve your 2 for 1 transaction,let us know WHAT Ferrari you get for 2 PAM.Unfortunatly for you, PAM owner,liquidating 2 PAM,for A CAR is,lets say,"There is no subsitute".good luck,maybe you can get a mondial 2v,which is WAY more Car than any PAM.

 

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