Newbie question - How important is local maintenance availability?

I think it depends on your mechanical abilities. I have an '87 328 and have done some work on it myself thanks to help of friendly Fchat members. The 3X8 series do not need the engine out for service which makes it easier and less expensive to maintain. In addition if it is not your daily driver you can take the time to get it to a service shop if necessary. The only problem I have encountered with my car is a water pump failure at 37K miles. Buy a car that has been properly maintained, keep it that way, and have fun driving it.

Dan

 

it's like anything else, you gotta pay to play. if you need to transport the car, you need to transport it. It is hard to say. i have a 328, and it's been relatively trouble free. In a pinch, most competant mechanics could have done some of the things i did like brakes and exhaust. Your car could need the services of a specialized mechanic the day after you buy it. Might not need anything more than an oil change for a year. Who knows? hope for the best and plan for the worst. if you have to drag your car 3.5 hours each way once in awhile, it will still be worth owning.

 

Are you mechanically inclined, can you do alot of the basic work yourself? If so they the time/distance should not be an issue. If you are not...? Is there any type of specialty local guy who can do some of the work for you? If you have to truck the car 3 1/2 hours to get any work done, youmight want to give it some long thought; or move.

 

My mechanic abilities are on the fair side as well. But I figure if I can't fix it, after trying, it is still broken, no harm and have someone who knows what they are doing fix it correctly. I had my independent F car mechanic replace my water pump. I was a little afraid of tackling that one myself. I have replaced the thermostat, 2 pole switch at the bottom of the radiator, upgraded the dash lights, changed some coolant hoses, including that pain in the *ss one under the plenum, as well as few other odds and ends, and my current to do is all of the fuel lines over my next long weekend off. There are a lot of extremely knowledgable people on this board who are more than willing to help. Also I have found the search button at the top left to be an asset. Good luck with your search and keep us in the loop.

Dan

 

If all you want is "dealer" service, then it's going to be a tough call.

Good qualified independant shops are around in most areas...it all depends on if you are comfortable going to them.

F-chat is an incredible source for help and support!

When I bought my 308 I had the same concerns. At the time the nearest "dealer" was 7hrs away in Chicago. Now there is a dealer certified mechanics 2.5hrs away in northern Minneapolis...never had to go either.

Good luck.

 

While the nearest dealer is FoA...there are several independent repair facilities in the Nashville, Chattanooga and Ashville area that will be able serve your needs...and I would go with the TR as it is faster ,more comfortable, has a great looking engine and sounds better than any of the little V8 models...and once you go 12, an 8 will never be enough ...

 

As Franklin pointed out, there are probably some independents closer. I live 150 miles from the nearest service and have a 328 and 430. I do routine stuff on the 328 myself and after 6 years it has never let me down. When it needs more than I can do, I have dropped it off and rented a car for a couple of days. This year, when the 430 was due annual service, I dropped it off and went to the airport for a trip and picked it up on the way back. I do have a trailer and when the 328 needs a major next year, I will probably trailer it to and maybe from. If all else fails, it can be transported which can get pretty expensive but that's the price of living in the country. In your circumstance, I would choose the 328 because it is the least needy model, just get one with well documented maintenance and you should have few, if any, surprises. Franklin is a self described "torque slut" who likes big cars. If you are like him, get the TR. If you lean more towards true sports cars, get the 328.

Good luck,
Dave

 

Also get the TR if you want to spend exponentially more on service that you cannot do yourself, than you would on the comparatively simpler 308 or 328.

 

Another vote for the 328 - easily my first pick of the three models you listed.

It's not uncommon for guys to trailer their Ferraris to the nearest reputable independent, and extremely common for Ferraris to be transported to major concours/shows in enclosed trailers.

If I had the extra garage/parking, I'd have a tow vehicle and trailer as Hardtop mentioned. You might want contact the nearest Ferrari service location (Greensboro, Nashville, wherever -- post in the regional board on FChat to sort that out) and ask them who they recommend for transport. Then get an estimate. The most important thing is to have a good rapport with an expert who can walk you through some of the idiosyncrasies of these cars, and be ready to have your car transported there annually (after an initial sorting out).

You might also see if there's a local import shop that works on other '80s Bosch fuel-injected cars. The 328 and later 308s use Bosch K-Jetronic, which was pretty common back then. Some of the issues you'll likely face are due to components of the K-Jet needing replacement due to age. It wouldn't hurt to have an import shop as a local backup.

 

If you buy a used car (any car), you should have some knowledge on simple repairs. If not, you will spend every weekend taking it or picking it up at a shop. My closest dealer is 2400 miles away, so I have learned to change my own fluids, replace fuses and bulbs, diagnose other problems, get on the phone with the dealer, search the internet, find a local shop for easy things, find other owners, etc. The Porsche dealer fixed by ABS leak. A friend helped me change the clutch cable after many posts on Ferrari Chat for directions, pictures and techniques.

If you get a car, you need to build a relationship with the dealer to send you parts, email you repair directions, and offer advice. I even have the fortune to have worked a deal to fly a dealer mechanic up here next summer for my major service. Halibut fishing is a good incentive. The parts will be FedEx'ed prior to him arriving and my neighbor has a shop, lift and tools.

You are very smart to be considering this aspect of ownership. There are two Ferraris up here that have not been driven in years, since they are broken in a garage with no resources to get them fixed.

 

Slight exaggeration.

 

My 35 year old USED car spends zero time during the spring-fall at the shop.

It does winter over at the dealer, for maintenance. Proper maintenance assures me of trouble free driving. Now, I only put 3,000 miles max a year on it, but still, fewer miles does not necessarily guarantee smooth running.

I don't think you need to be a shade tree mechanic to keep a Ferrari running, you just need to have a fire extinguisher nearby for the occasional emergency.

 

Probably more than slight... I guess if you waited for the dealer to diagnose every drip, squeek, rattle, bulb, etc, you would spend a lot of time in the shop. Knowing some preventive tips helps too, whether you or a shop do them. I would gladly put mine in a shop for a checkup at the end of every season to help assure a trouble-free (though short in Alaska) driving season.

 

Newgentry,
If you have an independent an hour away, should be no problem at all. The 328 is one of the more reliable cars, but bottom line is get what you want. I am 8 hours away from the mechanic I use. I have a 355 and I have limited mechanical skills. For majors and problems, I load the car in the trailer, fire up the truck and go on a road trip. I actually get a kick out of hauling that thing around.
Chris

 

Scott,

They must be keeping themselves quite a secret.

I've been fixing Ferraris in the Twin Cities for years. I've never heard of any "dealer" mechanics except for the Maserati guys (not quite the same thing).

 

What I would do is (1) buy a great 328 to start -- not some fleaBay 'bargain' and (2) have a thorough major service done on it, if it's due or close to due. A good mechanic can inspect 'the usual suspects' (old fuel lines, aging coolant hoses, leaking cam seals, etc.) and pre-emptively fix the stuff that will give you grief.

The other thing to do is chat with another 328 owner when you get your car, because there are odd things you need to know that will save you trouble down the road. For example, a lot of new owners don't know that as long as the battery light is on on the instrument panel that the alternator is not charging the battery -- good practice is to tap the accelerator to about 2000rpm once oil pressure builds, otherwise you're just draining the battery. That's just how these cars are designed -- not something you'd think about in the Honda. That's the important stuff I got from my local Ferrari tech. Good 328's don't break that often.

 

I had heard that those guys at Maserati did get some sort of Ferrari training or certification....obviously wrong info.