why is a 328 "vastly improved" over a 308 ?

I don't know how anyone can say that there is a "vast difference" between a QV and my 2V 308. There is a "slight" difference but let's not kid ourselves about the "vast" part...

I have driven my buddies 328 and I will honestly say that to me the difference between it and my 2V is "noticeable" but nothing to get excited over...it would just depend on which model you prefer.

A vast difference over the the 308/328 would be a 355 and not even a 348.

 

The question is "vastly improved?" which includes many parameters besides 0-60 times.

Dave

 

Hi All
The 328 GTB that was up against the Lotus S2 in Autocar April 1988,(that Bulfighter Posted a link to in this thread), is My car and I have owned it since 1993.
As far as the which is better. The 328 is an improved car, in most respects over the 308QV, however, my perfect 308/328 combination would be a 308 GTB QV body, interior, (with deep front spoiler) with a 328 engine/brakes (I have seen 2 308 GTS with this transplant) . The only thing i would change about the engine is the CIS injection system.
I am quite happy with the power and torque but the throttle responce is very un-Italian. I have been playing with the idea of EFI+ individual Throttle bodies.
May be this would give me the perfect engine in a slightly less than perfect body.

 

+1. Overall drive experience is key - an aspect by which I feel my 328 excels. After riding motorcycles and tracking race cars, there seems to be less point in driving faster production cars in the streets.

 

I bet an F40 is vastly better than a 204GT4 with a flat tire.

 

Boils down to the question: Half Vast does it go?

Or is that a Half Vast question?

 

Completely agree, love the 308 switches.

 

I like the 308 switches. Also, the 328 switches don't look bad to me. However, they sure feel like crappy junk.

On another note.... if I had the power I would magically transform all the guages, switches and shift knob to white on black and do away with the horrible orange color. I know it's vintage 80's style but.... (and the contrast of orange on black doesn't make for easy reading).

And while I'm at it.... I'd much prefer it the 328 had a center-mounted hand brake lever.

 

IMO the 328 is a high end Fiat. I think the interior reflects that. The switches look cheap. An early classic 308 is the purest of the breed. Clean lines, and clean interior- has aged much better than a 328 which has the surface trappings of late 80's design aesthetic. the 328 is a better performer and more reliable, but Enzo's hand wasn't in it, Agnellis was by then...

 

Laughable (but that's just MO).

 

I have three questions here:

1. What, specifically, was changed with the a/c to improve it? Larger condensor?

2. What was the big difference with the brakes (referring to the non-ABS 328's)? Weren't they the same size as the QV front and rear? I know at least the 86 was.

3. What changed on the cooling system? Was it just the capacity?

 

Buying a 308 instead of a 328 wasn't a money issue. I could have gone either way.

The decision was based on the facts that the 308 is a milestone in Ferrari evolution, is not loaded down with electronic gadgetry, and is a pure and original design.

IMO, the 308 is a better looking car than the 328. Subtleties make a difference.

My only regret: I wanted the day to day reliability of fuel injection and the extra power of the QV engine, and didn't look much at the earlier carbed 308s. In coming to a 308QV from a Series I 330 2+2, I've found that I miss the carbed sound and allround feel of an older car.

 

IMO these cars are now old enough that technically "improved" mechanicals are not the biggest purchase factor any more.

For example, mechanically the 328 is technically vastly improved over a 246 Dino. But, who cares about those technical improvements, when comparing those models? "Hey, when you see how much better the AC works in my 328, your going to want to trade your Dino with me!"

If this were 1988, and one was considering between a 308 and a 328 for a daily driver, the "technical improvements" would be a significant factor. 20+ years down the road? Not so much.

Now it's more about which car stirs your passion more. I do think from a pure nuts and bolts perspective, the 328 is certainly technically improved over the 308. But that doesn't necessarily make it more desirable, at least not to everyone.

 

The a/c is not very good in either model in my experience.

I never had any trouble with 308 brakes except the calipers liked to stick on occasion. Consulting my parts catalogs for QVs and 328s, the system changed a great deal in 328s.

I don't know what specifically was done to change the cooling system other than the angle of the radiator, but all 3 of the 308s I owned needed to be carefully maintained to work while the 3 328s I have owned don't seem to require any attention. I found that 328s run cooler in both hot traffic conditions and track days.

Dave

 

+1 and damn straight !!!

 

maybe true for the euro but those bumpers on the US 308's make my stomach turn...minus the bumpers on US models I might have to agree

 

Interesting opinions here in this thread. I will agree though, "vastly improved", were the wrong choice of words.

 

Looks like "vastly" should be dropped in the description of at least a few areas here

 

From page 1 and someone who actually knows something about these cars. Mechanically, it is a vast improvement. Aesthetically, that's very subjective. "The 308 may not have as good a cooling system, or a brakes, or corrosion protection, etc., but DAYUM those bevel switches look good!" I have a 328, but a Euro 308 QV GTB...yeah...smokin' hot looks. No argument from me on that one.

 

The bumpers on US cars don't look so great, but are strangely comforting after losing my 330 2+2 in an accident.

 

"but Enzo's hand wasn't in it, Agnellis was by then..."

Which perhaps explains the improvements to the 328. Enzo could have cared less about production cars, he said it often, and it showed.

 

I am so back and forth on this. One day I think "Yep, gotta go with the 308 QV." The next day it's "You know, that 328 is probably the way to go." Great points from both camps. I'm in a quandry! I need to drive both back to back prior to any decision I guess. I'M SO CONFUSED!!!!!

 

Yep, that's the answer, drive them both and decide which one you like better. Listening to everybody else just amounts to hearing folks tell you to buy the car that THEY like (and usually that THEY bought). Buy the car (and color) that YOU like!

 

Get a GT4, sounds better, handles better, easier to work on, etc, etc, etc
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Get a GT4, sounds better


Uh...sounds better than what??