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steering wheel/column position

Discussion in '308/328' started by jtower, Dec 14, 2007.

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  1. jtower

    jtower Rookie

    Dec 1, 2007
    21
    raleigh, nc
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    jason tower
    #1 jtower, Dec 14, 2007
    i test drove an 85 308qv recently and had a very difficult time getting positioned in the car. if i moved the seat forward enough to fully depress the clutch pedal my knees (esp left) were smacking hard into the bottom of the steering wheel. the top of the steering wheel also was right in the middle of my line of vision to the tach and speedo makng it impossible for me to read speed or revs with tilting my head awkwardly.

    later that afternoon i stopped by a local ferrari shop and sat in another 308qv (and a 328 as well), both were far more comfortable - i could hit the pedals fine without banging my knees (although it was close) and the top of the steering wheel was just above the complete tach and speedo.

    it's as if the entire steering column in the first 308 was too low or angled downward to a significant degree. is this possible without the car being damaged somehow? i don't recall that the steering column was adjustable in any way.
     
  2. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 26, 2001
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    Snike Fingersmith
    #2 GrigioGuy, Dec 14, 2007
    The column is adjustable to a degree, there's no lever like more modern cars but the bolts can be loosened and the positioned shifted up/down slightly.
     
  3. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,811
    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    #3 miketuason, Dec 14, 2007
    You can always go with a smaller steering wheel.
     
  4. b27

    b27 F1 World Champ

    Oct 11, 2007
    15,781
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    Brett
    #4 b27, Dec 15, 2007
    Welcome to the world of 308's.

    Designed for Italian's. Long arms and short legs.

    What I have had done is push the seat all the way back then have a spacer (Aluminium) put in under the steering wheel (25mm thick). I'm 186cm and that has worked fine for me. Not sure if your hieght, but 308's are tight.
     
  5. ferrari_rich

    ferrari_rich Karting

    Oct 1, 2006
    117
    Southampton, NY
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    Rich
    #5 ferrari_rich, Dec 15, 2007
    I found that by adjusting both the seat back angle, as well as the steering wheel angle (remove lower cover to get to adjustment), my 6 foot tall frame fits easily in the 308, with plenty of headroom. The seat back angle has a lot to do with the headroom, and I still have a couple of notches of seat travel to the rear left. I have long legs and find it a comfortable car. Not as comfortable as my Porsche 944S, which fits like a glove, and by far the most comfortable cockpit of any car I have driven.

    I do have a pet peeve about people (mechanics) adjusting my seat! It takes me a while to find my exact position back. So, NOBODY screw with my seat adjustment!!!!
     
  6. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
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    Dave
    #6 hardtop, Dec 15, 2007
    Sounds like the steering wheel is at the bottom of its adjustment. Most people like it up high like the others you sat in. If you have a manual, it shows how to adjust. It only takes a few minutes. I also use a spacer in my steering wheel (328).

    Dave
     
  7. pad

    pad Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2004
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    Tequesta, FL
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    Paul Delatush
    #7 pad, Dec 15, 2007
    Ditto on the spacer. That made the difference.
     
  8. jtower

    jtower Rookie

    Dec 1, 2007
    21
    raleigh, nc
    Full Name:
    jason tower
    #8 jtower, Dec 15, 2007
    thanks for the replies. so the concensus is that the steering column *is* adjustable vertically, albeit with tools? if so that would probably explain things.
     

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