The grass isn't always greener on the newer side

ugh. all for a jump start

I worked my way through college in Boston working at a Mercedes dealer (late '90s). Nothing surprises me when it comes to modern computers and their various sending units. Horrible issues with the S classes.

 

Just one of the many reasons why I don't have any interest in any Ferrari newer than an '89.

 

I have an 05 Touareg V8. It has been in the shop 4 of the last 5 months. Electrical problem. It actually left me stranded twice. Back before Apr when it first gave me problems my girlfriend used to give me crap all the time for driving old cars when I don't have to (my daily driver is an 1980 VW Scirocco). After 4 months I reminded her that THIS is why I drive old cars all the time. THEY work and if THEY break, I can find the problem and fix it in my driveway 9 times out of 10.

There is so much electronic computerized junk on new cars. You need software to dx it and even then...

For most of the past 4 months I have been enjoying my 1974 MG. It always starts and runs and even if it is a little sick, it still runs. It won't just shut down completely and lock the damn doors. It also made her shut up about the "buy a new car" thing.

 

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

 

I'm with you 100%. I love the looks of the newer cars but just couldn't stomach the inability to maintain them myself - or the cost of doing same.

 

The last few BMW cars i had kept having little lights come followed by a trip to the dealer for $800 computers $1200 sensors etc. I was done at that point. From the looks of the new 7 series things have only gotten more complicated and more expensive. Can't imagine what the cost of modern Ferrari electronics must be.

 

I see some misinformation specifically stated in that thread, and perhaps implied in this one: YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO JUMP START AN INJECTED 308/328, EITHER. It can damage the Digiplexes. I believe (IIRC) it states this in the owner's manual, but I've been told this by a Ferrari tech, heard it many times before elsewhere, and I've learned through unfortunate experience that the Digiplexes are indeed sensitive to voltage inputs.

In my case, it was not a jump start; it was a faulty or improper voltage regulator. One of my Digiplex units developed a short from having a voltage regulator that allowed too high (by at most 1 volt) of voltage in the system (supplied by Superformance, FWIW). The first time the car was driven on the highway without the headlights or A/C on (i.e. no additional load on the system), it "burned out" one Digiplex in a few minutes. To translate this to jump starting, you can easily overpower the system in the same way in a jump start; I'm not about to test this, but V=IR, and the added amperage of suddenly having the car's alternator (when it starts) in addition to the 40 amps or whatever it is being fed to start it just might be enough to kill the Digiplex.

 

ditto!

 

Hmmmm


My little 328 has jumped a Mondial, a 348, and a 360, with no damage to any of the cars. I think the danger is a bit overstated.


If I didn't have my eye on something with a propeller, I'd be looking HARD at the 360s next summer. When the 458 rolls out, those will be dropping down to my bottomdweller level

 

Actually the only thing I want to own with a computer chip in it is... the computer. I like my cars to be repairable by mechanics, not chip-swappers.
I find I prefer the old versions of most things since often, like the 308, they do a better job because they haven't been 'dumbed down' for the mass market.
My greatest fear (and I'm lucky this is so!) is that my 1992 Krups coffee machine will expire since no one makes a proper pressurised boiler home-espresso machine any more...(even the most expensive modern machines are thermoblock systems which just don't cut the mustard for me).

 

Can't you get the beenie and the 360???

 

One of my mechanic friends here in town drives a VW Corrado VR6. He refuses to sell it to be because he won't drive a "new" car. Same reason as us - too much electronics under the hood.

He can fix one if they break - and he STILL won't own one

 

04 touareg, worse car I ever owned. Bought it new, in the shop once a week. got rid of it quick.

 

Agreed, the danger is today with more and more electronics in the car that if you jump it "wrong" you fry a lot of very expensive kit.

Reminds me of my first jump start, my girlfriends mini when I was at university many years ago. The battery is in the rear of the car. I attached the cables back to front and then noticed lots of smoke pouring from the front of the car. My first reaction was to run round the front and open the bonnet, still leaving the battery at the back connected the wrong way round. Anyway, by the time I'd run back the alternator and all the cables had all melted together. She was not impressed

 

@ Jon
that's exactly why I like things 'old school' ! I like to look at my engine and still know what things are & do gated shift over padals anyday etc etc etc.....

 

ROLMAO - I have been saying for yrs now wait when these 355s, moreso 360s,430s get 20 yrs old.

You guys freak out over 308/328 costs and why they are 25K cars, you just wait the next 10 yrs when the 360s need things....

the 308/328 will be the ferrari to own...and those that got them wont want to part with them for 360s...most of use would not be able to get into the that game. The mandatory 3 yr belt change on the 360 will break alot of banks.

Shame really

 

It will be interesting to see what happens with things like the 360, which have (1) a tremendous production volume compared to a 308 or 328, and (2) a lot of very expensive, non-DIY-friendly systems.

You see a lot of formerly very expensive, complex cars being worth almost nothing after 10 or 15 years. Things like V12 Mercedes and BMWs come to mind, they were $100,000+ new, and can often be worth literally "cash for clunker" money today (less than $5K).

Of course, something like a 360 will never get that low in any decent condition, but it will be interesting to see how low they do go. I do believe that 308s and 328s will be worth more than 360s some day, as crazy as that sounds. It has already happened with Porsches, with good condition 70's and 80s 911s being worth more than the early 90s 911s, and even the early 2000 911s (the 996).

 

I agree. Many of the 328 parts are now NLA and basically worths its weight in gold, imagine what happen to 360/430 ECUs and parts in 20 years. I noticed someone did not want to buy an inexpensive ODB II reader which costs almost nothing compared to mega buck Ferrari service diagnostic computer that is required to service the 360/430. If newer is big deal to me, I would get a 430 and bypass the timing belt craps unless you really miss dealing your belts

 

Every generation has its preferences and reference points - there are older fellas in the UK who drive old 30's, 40's and 50's Bentleys because "modern" cars built in the 70's and later are too complicated.

Personally, 1988 is about it for me - before that and I can understand it and fix it 100% of the time. By the mid 90's I'm struggling and by 2000 I'm lost in a world of electronic gizmos. I have a 2003 mercedes S-class which has never broken down thank god and everything else in my garage is older than 1988....

 

The newer cars (past 2000) are getting to the point that you can't do much with them unless you have a computer that will reset codes. Hell pretty soon they will be adding computer chips to the oil.

 

I have a 1989 Pontiac Trans Am. From the factory it had a computer to control its original feeble 305 TBI engine. It ran great for a long time. The first time it gave me trouble I simply ripped it out and threw in an old carbed 350. It runs much better and much stronger now. No computer to worry with - a screwdriver, hammer, and pair of pliers can fix just about anything on that car. I made that change seven years ago and have no ZERO problems with it running - starts every single time!


PDG

 

+1 The 246 Dino owners were laughed at for saying that when the 3x8s were out of production, but still fairly new. The good news in all of this, is that 3x8s already found their bottom price and have been going up. Newer car prices are still falling. Talk with owners of modern F-cars, but at one point owned a 3x8...They talk about missing their "raw" 3x8s.

 

For the first 57,000 miles it ran like a Honda. No troubles at all. I loved it. It was a great towing my 308 too.

I just hate all this now.