I guess mine doesn't have good performance because it can only keep up with the newer cars in the corners... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Same motor and 200-300lbs more weight =/ faster...Maybe faster than a GTSi, but that's now what I'd consider a benchmark for performance. It doesn't really matter how many 308's were produced, 2800 cars is not low production.
Is your point that a 355 is a better "performing' car?? Since I own a 99 355 and compare them back to back all the time let me tell you... nobody here cares about 0-60 times. The GT4 is a great handling car with a completely different feel than anything modern- it's a ton of fun. I love my 355 but to knock a Gt4 based on performance is really silly- that's like saying a 58 Vette is worthless because they made a lot of them and they are slow (By modern standards0
I see the GT4 @ 3050 lbs. and 230-250 HP, 308 @3250 lbs. and same HP excepting pre-'83 GTSi. No 308 series car serves as a benchmark for performance - midrange OK for the day, merely "peppy" now. Regarding numbers, what matters here is viable cars: good to fixer-upper vs. oughtright junkers and parts cars. Many of both GT4 and 308 were badly neglected and abused.
Suspension and brakes are rebuilt stock except for springs (lower) and 16" rims. The engine is completely rebuilt but stock. So yes it has some mods but it is basically a stock 308 GT4. Another GT4 in our club is running with higher comp. pistons and custom sway bars and actually keeps up and passes the new stuff on the straights. They aren't everybody's cup of tea. In fact I never wanted a GT4. I wanted a GTB but after going for a ride in one I was sold. They are excellent, fun cars, especially at the track. They are relatively inexpensive to own and care for but only if they are already sorted out. The key is to know what you are getting...and that is a 30 year old car that makes all the right sounds, feels great in corners and ain't that bad looking either....at least in person, because they don't photograph well! EDIT: BTW mine is an early Series 1 US car so it has the Euro cams in it.
No, not compared to a 355 but compared to other cars of the day. It was nowhere near the performance of a 512BB or other exotics made at the time. From the 355 up, the v8 model was either as fast or faster than the 12 cylinder model made at the same time and on par or better than other exotics available at the time. It's relative performance, not outright performance. A GTO is worth so much, not because it's fast compared to modern cars, but because it was the absolute fastest of it's day, along with being beautiful and truly rare.
Doesn't it also have a full custom exhaust? So, springs, exhaust, rims, not what I would call stock and not comparable to other stock cars. You have a very nice car, don't get me wrong. It's not to say I don't like the GT4, I do. But, what it is compared to are other Ferraris, which are almost all fast and beautiful. So those models that aren't fast and beautiful in comparison to other Ferraris will have a tougher time appreciating.
308 is nowhere near 3250lbs, more like 2800lbs. A 348 isn't even 3250lbs...The 360 was the first to break the 3200lbs barrier.
What guy am I being? I asked that question knowing his car was not bone stock. It's fairly lightly modded, yes, but modified all the same. You can't compare the performance of a modded car to a stock car as the first modifications are usually those that address the main limitations of the stock car, which was the point of asking the question.
There must be a good chunk of these parted out, wrecked, burned, etc over the last 37 yrs-after all these are sports cars right?! Also aren't 208's in that 2800 production #?
It was a valid question but mods were done out of necessity not for performance gain. Parts are NLA so something else had to be done. Looks are a subjective thing. Some people love the look, some don't. It should be compared and judged according to the performance of the time. What was everyone else putting out in the mid 70's? That should be the standard that you judge these cars by. I mean today a Kia or Hyundai might have cars with more HP than a GT4 but you're still driving a Kia...
So Ferrari lied about the weight of the 308 in all their documentation? Why did they do that? Serious question. IIRC, don't have the manual in front of me, the GTB is listed as 31xx and the GTS at 32xx. Lighter is better, so I'm ready to be happy. : ) Will get her corner balanced at some point in the future, so will be able to report back on the actual weight of my GTS. Although it is without AC and the airpump system - so some weight shaved there.
Funny. I can keep up with a 512BB pretty well. Or a Testarossa for that matter. Especially when you throw in some curves and bends. In fact, on real roads even an F430 doesn't REALLY kick a properly sorted GT4's behind. Sure, they are faster in a straight line. Take some curves an only mild traffic and that silly looking 38 year old GT4 keeps up pretty well. That said, last spring in Italy, I've seen a diesel powered Peugeot, driven by a cigarette-smoking-23-year-old-luncatic-local outperform an F430 driven by a very competent owner. In the real world, on real roads (with real curves), local knowledge and a low brain-to-testicle ratio is more important than horsepower. That doesn't make the Peugeot worth more than the F430 though...
Agree with Hans. I once had a spirited drive with a 355 and a 430, yes quicker in a straight. However as I am last of the late breakers and have a very low brains to testicle ratio was quicker in the bends and even under took the Audi RS4 on a roundabout that was with us! All agreed that the little GT4 sounded and looked great more nimble on our smaller roads and had good real world performance without running the risk of losing your license. This enjoyment was priceless. These GT4's are now getting rare 2800 total worldwide production is today a very rare car especially the period of build in 7 yrs. As Classic and Sportscar said in their write up last issue . Probably the most under rated classic car in the world. Up the GT4!!! Grandad father of the V8's.
That said, last spring in Italy, I've seen a diesel powered Peugeot, driven by a cigarette-smoking-23-year-old-luncatic-local outperform an F430 driven by a very competent owner. In the real world, on real roads (with real curves), local knowledge and a low brain-to-testicle ratio is more important than horsepower. That doesn't make the Peugeot worth more than the F430 though...[/QUOTE] So true.
Someone whom is very talented behind the wheel of a GT4 once told me that no one is willing to admit that the GT4 is one of the best handling Ferraris ever built, especially those with 100k+ cars. I think he is right.
