I appreciate it Just was not sure about reliability/maintenance Sure helped a lot discussing this on this forum I will be keeping the car Thanks for all your contributions God bless and remember Jesus loves you Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
the 308 quattrovalvole is a vintage Ferrari that is almost 35 years old. If serviced (this doesn't mean the belt, the belt is the most reliable thing 308 has...) the car hasn't problems. Usually they are poorly serviced. This means that, often, you have to spend money to have a reliable car, but this is not something due to the 308, as often the problem is just that the owner doesn't want to spend money for the maintenance. Consider that after 35 years almost everythig is gone, if not serviced. So: it's a vintage Ferrari, so it cannot be reliable like a new car even if it has been just fully restored, but it can be a nightmare if not previously serviced during years or restored ciao.
"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - **1 Corinthians‬ *10:31‬ *NLT‬‬ http://bible.com/116/1co.10.31.nlt Thanks once again The car is serviced regularly at Tampa bay Ferrari I have 4 more years of financing of 75000$ left on the loan Is it still reasonable to keep the car? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
But do you get any pleasure from it ? You've referred to perceived reliability and the loan but not to actually driving it
Oh Yes I derive a lot of pleasure from driving it I traded a 360 Modena for it It's a different driving experience Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"I have 4 more years of financing of 75000$ left on the loan" "I traded a 360 Modena for it" What do I miss here? I don't get it. Generally for me 'loan and Ferrari' just don't fit. Best Martin
Well, one must love an antique car for its flaws as well as its strengths. You titled this thread "Reliability" and a 308 can certainly be that. Personally, my wife and I took my 308 down to Carmel/Pebble Beach yesterday for a romantic escape. We don't do stuff like that often and the possibility of a mechanical breakdown would have weighed heavily on me. Its a reliable car; it hardly crossed my mind.
"75.000 left on the loan" "God bless and remember Jesus loves you" As well as your banker Best Martin
Not necessarily easier, but if we mechanics or engineers let things go seriously wrong we can mostly repair things and lose some money, while those working on humans have to celebrate a funeral Best Martin
Thinking a bit more about this, the trip was not without incident; my driver's side door lock may have stopped working. I think something got loose inside the door. For me, as a home mechanic, it is just an intersting mystery that I look forward to investigating. I could see though how such gremlins could be profoundly frustrating if I had to take them to a shop for repair.
All, who think, that it's complicated to work on a Ferrari 308 should do some basic maintenance on a modern car. I performed a cambelt and waterpump job on my modern, tiny daily driver a few days ago. A Fiat 500 1.4 Sport 100hp Though things went perfect according to the WSM, this was the most serious and time consuming PITA I ever experienced and I really look forward to the next bigger job on the 308. I really don't envy the professional mechanics, who have to work each day on these modern cars. But I myself regarded it as a kind of challenge and luckily the next time will be in 6 years, if ever. Back to topic. I own my car since almost 21 years and had one single breakdown. A broken throttle cable. And an alternator beginning to fail 400mls. distant from home, which made me nervous but still took me home. Nothing special for ANY car. Best Martin
Martin is correct. Initially I was afraid of working on my car but after being ripped off by a shop I found the resources on this forum to make my car right by my own work. This car is actually simple to work on. I think part of the high costs of of ownership is due to the perpetuation of the belief that these cars require specialized TLC and $140+++/hour mechanics. In my personal experience they do NOT. Fu#k the crooks that take our money and bless those who empower us to help ourselves to a positive vintage Ferrari experience and to achieving ownership of our dream cars.
Always enjoy your posts as I always learn something . Totally agree with regular driving! First, is 'pootling'. I have to regret my car does nothing but. If these cars NEED a good track day my car is trembling near DTs. Plus, you claim to have a 1980 carb car. Rare.
Hello I have owned my 84 308 GTS for 16 years and she has stranded me twice, both times for the water pump belt failing. I've put over 30,000 miles on my 308 since I bought it in 2001. I drive it as much as I can and its really a fantastic and beautiful car. I have other cars and whenever they are in the shop I use the 308. She is VERY reliable. I've daily driven it and get stuck in traffic in it and she just runs well. I would not say its as easy and mindless to drive as my trusty Mazda 3 hatch but my 308 is used regularly and is serviced by the dealer and I can count on it and we all love it dearly.
took the 308 out of winter hibernation just the other week ... and went straight down to Italy for a 700mile return trip to visit the MilleMiglia car drove like a machine ... not a single hick-up along the way ! same with my friends Lancia Fulvia ! (actually we thought this car would cause the trouble, if any) so who still doubts the reliability of italian cars ? . Image Unavailable, Please Login
