To Repair Or Not To Repair, That Is The Question

Don't repair those things. Price it properly as a driver and it will move quickly.

-fdf

 

It all depends on how much you need to spend. Minor repairs can sometimes be done at a fairly reasonable price. However look at the market trend for a 308GTS, and see if it is worthwhile doing so. Most people, (repeat most), will look at the outside of the car and make there decision. Although they open the hood etc etc there mind is already made up. Fixing the rust would be a major. Take off a bit of paint to see how far it goes and before to long you will have the car stripped and be stuck with a big bill.
Good Luck.

 

I agree to find out how much it cost to do the repair. It might pay off.

 

+1 Items that need attention allow you to point all of them out and become the 'Super Honest' seller. It also gives the buyer a chance to make the color chages, etc. to their liking. You may go with red seats and the buyer wants black! You can chase good money after bad with these cars, so price it right and wash your hands of it..

 

The first question that comes to my mind is why a 17K car needs new leather and has rust? It should be pristine original.

Dave

 

+1!

 

I would drive the car for a while and fix the bugs that come up. You may find that you realy like the car and want to keep it long term. If you are then going to keep it long term fix it up all the way. What are you looking to replace it with?

 

On other threads, you'll note that your chances of 'checking out' any of the new Ferrari models will be limited to seeing them from behind a Velvet Rope, not your garage....but I digress. I think an honest buyer who is being realistic regarding the purchase of a 24-year-old 308 can expect a few cosmetic blemishes. But Rust is bad - its a cancer on the car, and I would move to have it cut out immediately. If the area is confined to the door skins, this is not an expensive undertaking at all, and you can then legitimately advertise the car as being 'rust-free', which is a selling-point on these machines. Good coachwork and strong, well-serviced mechanicals are what knowledgable buyers are looking for, so you should have no trouble moving the car at a fair price.

Then again, you may find that what you have in your hands today is an iconic, classic sports car that is actually increasing in value and street appeal - the better you 'make' it, the more likely you'll want to keep it and enjoy it. And that would truly be money well-spent.

 

Step one should be to bring the car to one of those paintless dent removal places and see what they can do with the hood and door dings. You would be amazed at the results they can achieve, it's much cheaper than using a body shop ($100-200 per dent), it's quick (usually same day service) and, most importantly, you keep your original paint. I brought my 911 to a PDR place that is used by all of the local car dealerships to fix a golf ball size dent in the hood caused by something falling on it in the garage - it came back looking like new. [no affiliation with any PDR place]

I agree with the others re: cleaning up the cosmetics being worth the investment. These cars aren't rare and really ratty ones aren't going to sell quickly when your sales base is people looking for an entry-level "dream car".

On the sizing question - you can have the seat brackets cut down to drop the seat a bit to give you some more head room. You can also have some of the padding taken out of the bottom seat cushion for the same purpose. A smaller diameter aftermarket steering wheel can give your knees some more room. I'm not sure whether the pedal box is adjustable on 308s but you may want to look into it.

 

I would spend the $2400 and price the car as a good condition driver. If nobody buys it you can get some good enjoyment out of it since it would be a fun, good looking car for the weekends.
BT

 

I think the "paint to suit" argument works more for older Ferraris that are farther up the food chain - 250, 330, BBi, etc. A 308 is an entry-level Ferrari - most buyers will want to buy it as a weekend toy that they can use right away, not buy themselves a restoration project. The people that will buy a restoration project will pay significantly less. Good luck!

 

308 A/C clutch is a Ferrari only part and quite expensive...

Price repair door skins from someplace like Algar, repair the hood properly and drive it awhile...

It does sound like you have come a long way so far and enjoy using the car, I'd drive it to get my investent to date back in enjoyment......

Proper repairs to aging 308s are really to preserve your investment, they do not increase the value of the inquity......that's all in the pony emblem on the trunk...

Have them do a good job on the hood, replacement bracing should blend in and be unnoticable....I labeled my hood with a GIANT "DANGER! Press this button to close".....LOL!

 

sell it like it is!!from what you mentioned its just minor stuff...the fact the mechanicals are done is the key...there are many out there ready to buy your car ME included....ill pm u with an email address to send pics!!

 

I would love to have a 308 as a restoration project(but for me thats the fun of owning old European cars)But I currently don't have a garage and my apt complex will probably get upset if I brought a third car home with me

 

Can you please post some photos if your acquisition?

 

post some pics and / or an ad for your car here on Ferrari ads. I am waiting for the sale of my Lotus to be complete ( this week) and i will have cash in hand for a GT4 or a QV. ( my 5th Ferrari )

some of us like the driver grade cars, and just want to drive them.

welcome to F Chat by the way.