QV or 328???

They're both excellent cars, you won't go wrong with either choice. Personally, I prefer the 308 to the 328 simply because of the aesthetics. It has a slightly more "vintage" look and feel to it than the 328. Small things, like the aircraft style levers on the center console versus the black switches of the 328, to name one thing...

Prices seem to be all over the board for QVs, and I would think you'll be shopping in the $30-$40K price range for a good 'un. Don't know about 328s, never looked at them. Someone else I'm sure can chime in on that one

Cheers,
Aaron
'82 GTSi

 

For me the 308 with the deep front spoiler is the way to go.Never took to the 328 styling.

 

Am walking out the door for dinner so will make this fast. Ferrari started rustproofing in 84 so i suggest and 84 or 85. If you can find a 1985 EURO 308 all the better. 328 are very good too... gotta run. More later.

 

If a .2 liter means a lot to you and if the 328 interior is more of your taste, then 328 is your car. But for me 84 or 85 QV has this bad attitude looks, cost less, handle just like a 328, and its a 100% Magnum PI car

 

Have you seen this car?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1989-Ferrari-328-GTS_W0QQitemZ4651166089QQihZ002QQcategoryZ6212QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have nothing to do with the seller, blah, blah, blah.

Matt

 

An '85 Euro 308 QV with deep spoiler is the way to go if you can find one, but then again, I am biased! The second pic is an '87 328 in the rear and my '85 in the front for comparison.
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I would say 40k max for any 308 needing a major service. The engine does not have to come out for this service and the water pump should be rebuilt at this time. Any oil leaks shoul also be taken care of. 6k for the service should be plenty to budget unless the engine needs to be opened up. Personally for a little extra I prefer the 328. The styling is a matter of taste but the 328 is almost universally considered to be a better and more modern car.

 

Good catch on that one. I have some eBay information from when that car was for sale in September 2004 while I was still looking for one. It was white with 53,000 miles on it and was offered by Team Motorsports in Missouri. The radio has been changed, the door speakers are new, and the solid intake tube has been added. However, the orange tubing from the side intake to the air cleaner is still the same and tells me that is the same car. Pic of the engine compartment from 2004 is attached.

As far as what car to get, I say get the one that appeals to you most. You won't go wrong with either one. I started out wanting a QV with the deep front spoiler, but the looks of the 328 really grew on me. The front end looks much cleaner and it gives a more compact impression looking head on.
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Prices on QV's have been 'creeping up' for almost 5 years, back to when I was shopping for a car. I'd decided that I wanted either an early carbed 308, or a later QV if I could find one I could afford. Lo and behold, I came across a 328 with mileage in the range I wanted, that lacked a major. It was priced less than some of the better QV's I'd seen.

I bought the 328 and have never regretted it.

Don't get in a hurry, your car will come. This board is full of stories of guys that got the 'gotta haves' when they found a car. Be patient, don't be another story.

 

Been there, done that. I wanted a QV for the look, ended up with my 328. I never regretted it. Having driven a couple of QVs, the 328 seems to be assembled better and a little more modern inside.
Ciao
Eugenio

 

I have owned an 81 308 gts and currently own an 87 328 gts(selling it this week). I know there is a lot of emotions on both sides of this dicussion. Without trying to offend anyone. IMHO both are great cars. I am sure you will enjoy either one.

The 328 obviously is the 4 valve version and will perform better tha the 2 valve 308's. The 4 valve 308's will be just about the same as the 328. the 328 has a better vacuum system for the brakes. The emissions systems on some of the early 308's were not as thought out as the 328. The controls on the 328 have improvements also. Although they are very similar, the 328 generaly, is an improved version in fit and finish.

I took my 328 to get the smog renewed yesterday. The car is a true joy to drive. The sound and feel are wonderful. Last night I took my wife out to dinner in my 360 spider. Great car, great performance, but..... the 328 is such a cool car. It is somehow a look back to a different time in sports cars. I will miss it.

Regards,

Stew
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I have had 2 QV's and 2 328's. Still have the 89 GTB. People can argue aesthetics all day long, but the 328 is a much better designed and built car overall and (in my experience) costs less to own in the long run. If you can afford one, get one. Unfortunately for you, yellow was very unpopular in the mid and late 80's, so finding a yellow QV or 328 will be very tough.

Dave

 

I vote QV. It's better looking!

Birdman

 

I'm with Stephen on this one. Oh, by the way, one more thought, Euro QV, 0-60=5.7. 328, 0-60=6.0

 

<Nomex MODE On>

Look, will just tell it as i see it off the cuff. The 328 is a good car, an evolution even... but meloyelo will probably want the ABS version if he goes with a 328. So he is stuck with a really heavy pig of a car that is underpowered. The reality as i see it is, even a highly modded and lightened Euro 1985 308QV is 'slow,' but at least it is not an **overly** fat pig in handling (but it aint no fun and fast sub-1,500 lbs open wheel spec car either). To me, the 308 lacks power... but that is why they make 360, 430, etc.

Ok, so we can forget about a high-performance car as compared to what is available today. A WRX and tweaked Miata is just as good (and perhaps better in many areas) and the new Corvette is THE WAY TO GO if you want performance for the $$$.

So maybe it comes down to looks and styling. To me the 328 seems a bit watered down. The inside electronics of a 328 screams dated design. The 308 body (Euro) is lovely, and the inside look like a purpose-built pilot console. The separate rear engine vents of the Euro seem more elegant than the US counterpart. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Of course all the above are just my stubborn opinions. Call me a grumpy young guy. But h#ll, will be thrashing the lightened and modded Euro 1985 308QV around Lime Rock Park Friday and Saturday. Perhaps it matters not the car because all these old beasts are slow and dated, fast and heavy... but whatever you do GET OUT AND DRIVE THE DARN THING!!!

http://www.ispexperts.com/glen050406.wmv


<Nomex Off>
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When I bought my 328 I was also undecided between the 328 and a 308, but all it took was a drive in both cars. I prefered the updated styling, power and handling of the 328 and the small price difference made it an easy choice for me. Both cars are beautiful, but IMO the 328 is the best 8 cylinder car that Ferrari has ever made. If I was looking at an 83 308 needing a major service I would have to say less then 30k because the service with waterpump will be about 5-6k maybe alittle less if you find a good independant mechanic. Anymore and you are in 328 country.

 

The 308/328 series evolved, so if you compare an '85 QV to an '86 328, you won't notice a whole lot of mechanical differences (other than 200cc more displacement).

Neither ignition system is anything to brag about, and they're both getting up there in years, so that's a wash.

There are some styling differences externally, and the interior of the 328 was lifted from the 288GTO, so it has a notably different style.

While there'd be a huge difference between an early carb 308 and an '89 ABS 328 with the suspension upgrades, the differences between a QV and a pre-mid-88 328 are largely cosmetic.

So it comes down to which exterior and interior you like best.

For me, while I think the 308's styling is a smidge more classic, most people can't tell the difference anyway. I much prefer the 328's interior -- I've rarely seen a 308 for sale that wasn't missing one of the black circle tabs on the center console toggle switches. (Watch where you put your elbows).

And the interior is the part that *I'm* looking at, when I drive it.

As to performance; no, it's not a rocket ship. But I have both a 328 and an EVO8, and while the EVO (with fatter tires and a slight edge in HP ... once the turbo spools) looks like the hotter performer on paper --- oh, heck, given that the EVO7 was able to run with 360s and smoke 911s, it must be a hotter performer on the track than a 328. But, as an old time Italian car driver, I don't see much difference, myself. (The Ferrari tolerates imperfect surfaces better, the EVO stops shorter). But maybe that just means I haven't gotten the hang of turbo ricers.

Either one will move fast enough to get you dirty looks from the Camrys. (But it seems like people are less infuriated at being smoked by a Ferrari than by a big wing ricer.)

 

EPA / DOT papers should come with the Euro car. There is a guy you can call to verify, but i forget his name/# and am sure others can chime in with it.

 

Melo, if you haven't already, you might try posting this question in the Texas thread -- you'd likely get a quick response.

Good luck whatever you get (I have a black '84 QV and I love it. First Ferrari, nothing like the classic styling. And yeah, no rocket ship, but there are plenty of other cars for a LOTTTT more money if that's all you want.)

 

MY,
Good luck in your search. I saw a Yellow 328 on EBay. Paint is new... from reading the questions that were posted... not sure about the milage and org. color? Regarding inspections and emissions in Texas. My car was a CA car. It's a 1987 GTS 328 (Blue not Red ) It has a Tubi and a straight pipe.... and passed with flying colors. A wise man told me before I found mine, "Enjoy the search, it should be fun". All the best.