Would you swap your 3X8 for a brand new 488?

You know of course that I shall only buy that book if it is in Italian, signed by the author, and that I have to come to Modena to collect it...

Rgds

 

Next week I will have one to ship you, with my personal sign inside it just after some "bad" words dedicated to you!

 

back in the old days in Austin Texas,August 1988,,10 OClock pm,,,,,I ran 9333 over to Mueller AP and parked 2 car places behind a 308.
Only 2 Cars at the terminal,,
,3 very finely dressed and mannered Black Porters were ecstactic when I reved the black GTC as I parked..
The guys ran over from the 308 and were wild about 330 Black Beauty,,,,
I got out,,
you had to stand next to your car to wait for who you were picking up at the air port
I went to pop the hood and they HOWLED!!!!!
then I noticed that 308 was 288GTO and I told the guys I would trade on the spot!
"your crazy"
they ran back "to a car we see all the time,we never see one like this black V12"
They tried to convince him to trade and we were close enough to hear it all,,
both sides,,
we had to stay next to our Cars and had a laugh but didn't chat

 

Swap my GTS QV to 488, no thanks.
Reasons:
Looks, (in my eyes) still the most beautiful mid engine Ferrari ever, it has grown old with grace.
Feel, analog car, clutch pedal and stick are a must for me for enjoying a good ride.
Technical, easy to keep in good driving shape by myself.
Fast enough, when taking a drive in a toy i am not in a hurry, 308 delivers enough.
Cost of ownership, here in Sweden full coverage insurance and yearly tax for 308 is about 1400:- kronas ($ 150) a year!
For a Ferrari younger than 30 years it would be around $5000/year.
///TRS

 

Yes...and then I'd possibly regret it.

 

I would definitely trade someone else 308 in a heartbeat but certainly not my own 308.

 

You'd only hot-rod the 488 anyway

 

The last thing I am is impressive!

I suppose reading it back it sounded boastful but I just wanted to share an opinion formed from my experience. Frankly my assessment is admittedly biased as the 288 and F40 are two of my most favorite cars behind the P4. Of course, that clouds my judgement. The 288 is such an epic car. Maybe the proper power influenced my seat of the pants assessment but it felt so, so much better to me in every way. Even still, nothing for me compares to the F40. It is raw and unbridled in such a glorious way. A way that will bite you in the butt if you aren't careful! Better get heat in the brakes too. If I could only pick one car for life it would probably be the F40.

I love the lines of the 308 GTB. It was the first Ferrari I ever saw and reminds me very much of the 288. That resemblance is probably what led to me purchasing one. At the time I could have got a 355 for a little more money. The lure of the classic lines and interior were too much for me. Not to mention, easier maintenance/less worries. I do miss the sound and power of the newer cars. For me the perfect 308 would have a 355 engine as some have done. No matter how much of a fan boy someone may be it's hard for me to take them serious if they don't admit the 308 series are anemic when it comes to horsepower.

 

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308 is a 1975 model that has an engine introduced in 1973, that means 45 years ago. It has 230 HP. 288 GTO has a 1984 engine, eleven years later: 288 GTO has 400 HP that is the same power the four cylinder two liters compact Mercedes A Class AMG today has. You cannot rank cars just as their power, as actual Ferrari flagship (like the GTO once was) has 563 HP MORE than GTO and so you could say that the GTO is "anemic", that is a nonsense. I never heard anyone saying that the 80 HP of the 125S were "anemic".
I consider the 288 GTO the best and more attractive Ferrari since the 275 GTB4, but my 308 has even more power than I need: If I want power and performances I won't ever look to Classic cars. I like them as they still give me the emotions I felt when i saw them for the first time in my youth. Who cares about performances.

ciao

 

All fair points.

In the end it all comes down to personal preference. I'm not solely focused on power either but that doesn't mean I can't admit some cars just need a bit more oomph at times. Undoubtedly they are incredible classics, this is fact. Sometimes it just is lacking a bit to make it a 10/10ths experience. In the 308's case it wouldn't take much to make the experience better IMO. It is 9/10ths there. Unless we also factor in the AC. (that's a joke!) Again this is just an opinion, not a slight against any car.

 

So basically,

1. It needs just a bit more power.
2. With a bit more power, it would need better brakes too.
3. With better power and brakes, improved handling wouldn't hurt.
4. With improved handling, a bit more power would help.
…

 

1. yes
2. no, stock brakes can handle 50 more hp IMO
3. its almost 40 years old, you'd be crazy not to replace/freshen the bushings
4. 50 more hp would be fine by me.

Lol, again I'm not saying take it to 500hp. I think, and I'd wager many would agree with me, it needs just 50 more hp to really come alive and be a perfect ten. Just to add to the fire, the QV also needs to lose the outdated and crappy CIS for carbs! The horror!!!

I'm also doing an F1 to manual conversion on a 360 so I am not the "more power", "more tech" guy. For me it's all about the experience as a whole, not raw numbers.

 

I wouldn't know - I'm waiting to buy mine. I was just poking fun at the "needs more power" thing - seems every review of a car needs more power, better brakes or better handling, and to me one begets the next. Rarely do you hear someone say "it has the ideal balance of power, brakes and handling".

But I don't doubt you. My daily driver 4 door sedan has (almost) twice the power of a 308 (probably is over twice in reality - especially today) so I'm expecting to be a bit underwhelmed by the 308 when I get one - but at the same time, I expect to love the gated shifter and N/A V8 behind my back.

 

As long as your expectations going in are realistic you’ll be happy. Those are some of the same reasons I got mine. I knew and accepted the performance limitations.

It’s true that every car is a compromise.

I also get it when some people are so enamored by their car that they can’t bring themselves to admit it’s faults. It’s like criticizing their child! It’s perfect!

The real question to ask is if you could do a 3.4 liter conversion and have your engine appear completely, concours correct would you?

I think you’d be crazy not to but when it comes to car collecting there is no limit to crazy.

 

I think my expectations are realistic. I have driven my friends Hyundai Elantra and have felt underwhelmed at the power - I just pray I'm not *that* underwhelmed!

3.4 liter conversion? My head says yes, my heart says no, and my wallet says "you used the excuse of this being an *investment* car - WTF are you doing?". So - I don't know. I'd know it kills resale value, but at the same time I don't plan that to be my problem. I'll leave that to whoever has to settle up my estate. Most of me figures why not - enjoy it! The other part of me wonders how you could do anything that's not original.

 

And to add to that - I'm looking at a 308 QV when I could get a 328 - apparently better made, more reliable etc. but to me, not as desirable despite the extra power. Although some have me tempted I have to say.

 

I looked at the 328 GTB also but did not care for the interior design, too mid 80's for my taste. I preferred the QV switches and overall vintage feel.

No matter which way you go be sure to drive it and have a thorough PPI done. Best of luck!!!

 

"The lust for power is insatiable."

~ Some ancient Greek philosopher whose name I can't remember.

 

I thought that was Tim The Tool Man Taylor?

 

He probably said, “The lust for power tools is insatiable.”

Also a truism.

 

Yes: this is the reason why today they produce the 488 Pista + LaFerrari and no more the 308 nor the 288 GTO...

Those are opinions of who wants a new car and not a classic car.

I spent a lot of time in a 1953 Fiat 8V Zagato, former Elio Zagato personal car and that ran two times the 1000 Miglia race (the real one, not the historical remake they do at present age …): it has 110 HP, drum brakes, a steering wheel as big as the truck ones, 5 1/2"inches wide tires, a two M race car. Nobody never told us "great car, but it would need 50 HP more, better brakes, better handling, better tyres, better steering wheels…". Ferrari 308 was one of the best Ferrari ever and not only as design, but as the whole package too.

ciao

 

Overall reliability??? Rubbish. What about the extra running costs of the 328? More power?? Nope.

 

Probably, yes. In fact I’ve been looking to “trade up” for a bit - maybe to a 430.