Rust and money (308)

Concidering where you live, I choose fiberglass

 

I do believe, the 328 and the 348 chassis are galvanized...

 

Ferrari started galvanizing with the 1984 production cars, at least for the 308 series. All 328s and 348s had this protection on key steel body panels.

The steel frame on a glass 308 may still be susceptible to rust. Fibreglass 308s are scarce (700+ made) and the carbs are fussier than the later injected cars. If you're out in the sticks, some mechanical skill might come in handy. The QVs are usually considered the most reliable of the run, but they give up some of the sound and the fury of the carbs.

Regarding 328 or 348, there's a reason why they are priced the same. Or maybe a few reasons. In fact they're extremely different cars, and you should make sure you want a 348 for what is, and not because it's newer (they're all old now) or faster (newer performance cars will eat a 328 or 348 for lunch). There are at least a couple of us on this board who had the budget for much newer cars and ended up going back to the 328 for various reasons -- lack of engine computers, traditional Ferrari tubular frame design, ease of servicing, etc. It does have the ergonomics of an old car, though - the 348 is less snug inside. I guess the best advice is to make sure you like driving it...

That said, I think all these cars tend to live longer and run better when they're dry. My mechanic advised me to wash mine once a month, with a light mist of water.

 

My mechanic advised me to wash mine once a month, with a light mist of water.[/QUOTE]

Cleaning your car on hot day, must be done at the speed of light!

 

Bullfighter is right, serious rustproofing began in 1984. Glass cars still have steel rockers, chassis, etc and can rust there. A nice glass car is hard to come by and will cost as much as a nice 328 or 348, but they are really cool, especially the Euro model with a dry sump motor.

By far the easiest to live with maintenance and repair wise is the 328, at least among the cars made before the 360. I went from a 328 to a 348 back to a 328 and I could have bought most any modern model. I just like them. A 10 month old 430 now resides in the garage with the 328.

Dave

 

Galvanized or not, I would never drive a Ferrari in salt. Cars, any car ever made, will rust or corrode. The exhaust, the very engine itself, it rusts and corrodes on its own without ever being exposed to salt. Throw salt on it and its life expectancy will be calculated in months or years instead of decades. While a fiberglass outer body shell, or a galvanized steel one may not rust, or rust very fast, the rest of the car will. Bolts, cables, frame sections, wiring and connections, the radiator, everything. The salt spray sifts into every nook and cranny, places the most elaborate car wash will never clean. I have worked on cars my entire life in Minnesota, and seriously, cars from southern states that have never seen salt are always at a premium. Cars I have seen that were never exposed, even 30 years old, are light years better. Also a lot easier to work on because bolts and nuts actually loosen instead of rounding off or snapping.