360 spider to a 328? Views
Discussion
I'm contemplating moving from my 360 spider manual to a 328.
Am I mad?!!! Anyone got experience of owning both cars?
I've never driven one, but since the arrival of my 981 Boxster Spyder (not going anywhere!) as much as I still love it the 360 isn't getting used as much, and owning classic perhaps feels like a better balance with what I have. That said I think I would miss the noise of the 360 in particular with the strad exhaust that I have on it...
A small change to a 430 spider manual could also reignite the desire to get out in a Ferrari more often, but there is something about the 328 shape that does it for me, and the idea that it could be a long term classic / keeper that can be driven. Also changing to a 430 feels expensive for not a massive move.
The 360 has been reliable, but I also understand the 328 is likely to be too.
Am I mad?!!! Anyone got experience of owning both cars?
I've never driven one, but since the arrival of my 981 Boxster Spyder (not going anywhere!) as much as I still love it the 360 isn't getting used as much, and owning classic perhaps feels like a better balance with what I have. That said I think I would miss the noise of the 360 in particular with the strad exhaust that I have on it...
A small change to a 430 spider manual could also reignite the desire to get out in a Ferrari more often, but there is something about the 328 shape that does it for me, and the idea that it could be a long term classic / keeper that can be driven. Also changing to a 430 feels expensive for not a massive move.
The 360 has been reliable, but I also understand the 328 is likely to be too.
If you're not using the 360 much then I guess it's worth a try, but I'm genuinely surprised the Boxster overlaps with it that much.
I haven't driven a 328, but had a 348 before my 360 (with about a years gap in between), and while the 348 was "classic" I genuinely can't think of a single reason I would go back to it - the 360 is better in every single way.
I haven't driven a 328, but had a 348 before my 360 (with about a years gap in between), and while the 348 was "classic" I genuinely can't think of a single reason I would go back to it - the 360 is better in every single way.
Rari said:
I find I have more headroom in my 308 than I did in my 328 (both berlinettas and I am 6')
Correct, I've had both and the 308 has a deeper cut out for the roof when stowed so it sits more flush giving you slightly more legroom and there is more headroom as the seat is lower on the 308 (I think the 328 seat had more padding).Thanks for the replies guys.
Did the same in the Boxster Spyder this summer, and it is more manageable than a 360/430/458 due to the size. Believe it or not the Spyder's ground clearance, however, is worse than a 360!
Other than that, even on exhaust note (brilliant in the Spyder, surprisngly - even up against a flat plane V8. Way more exciting than I expected) the experience is remarkably similar in many ways. They are mid-engined sports cars, after all.
The wind management (if I can call it that!) of the 360 spider is better than the 981 Boxster, which has a surprisingly blowy cabin. The 360 spider has more like a targa feel, where you are shielded from the wind. That's actually pretty cool in practice.
You can push the 981 Boxster Spyder way more confidently in corners, which gives sublime driver enjoyment. The 360 is more about the overall experience - it's a ferrari after all, which a Porsche can never quite beat. I just love the engine, and while some say 360 lack power etc, I love the fact you have to rev it out. To me that is its likeable quality, along with the noise benefits of 5 valves per cylinder
It's not why I buy a car, but I couldn't believe the positive reactions the Spyder got in France & Italy...
I sometimes am not sure how hard I can push when cornering in the 360, which is odd as I do feel it's a fairly raw/communicative car with extremely enjoyable steering feel to boot.
I think getting it on an airfield just to find the limit would also be a useful exercise. The Porsche, by contrast asks you to push that bit more all the time which is very addictive.
Even though there are 14 years between my two, I couldn't say the 360 feels dated really.
I just love the shape of the 328. Perhaps the solution is to wait until I can add a 328 and keep the 360 for the moment (which I hope to one day trade into a 458 spider as I do want a modern Ferrari V8 in my life still...). Especially when I've spent a bit sorting out all the little niggles these cars come with!
If I keep the 360 I think I'll do a late spring/early summer euro tour in it to re-bond. I probably just need to drive the thing a bit more!
M3ni said:
I could be interested in the 360, if you do make the change. PM me some details if you decide to move it on.
ATB
Will do - thanks.ATB
davek_964 said:
If you're not using the 360 much then I guess it's worth a try, but I'm genuinely surprised the Boxster overlaps with it that much.
I haven't driven a 328, but had a 348 before my 360 (with about a years gap in between), and while the 348 was "classic" I genuinely can't think of a single reason I would go back to it - the 360 is better in every single way.
I've done a euro-tour in the 360. Loved it, and it didn't miss a beat.I haven't driven a 328, but had a 348 before my 360 (with about a years gap in between), and while the 348 was "classic" I genuinely can't think of a single reason I would go back to it - the 360 is better in every single way.
Did the same in the Boxster Spyder this summer, and it is more manageable than a 360/430/458 due to the size. Believe it or not the Spyder's ground clearance, however, is worse than a 360!
Other than that, even on exhaust note (brilliant in the Spyder, surprisngly - even up against a flat plane V8. Way more exciting than I expected) the experience is remarkably similar in many ways. They are mid-engined sports cars, after all.
The wind management (if I can call it that!) of the 360 spider is better than the 981 Boxster, which has a surprisingly blowy cabin. The 360 spider has more like a targa feel, where you are shielded from the wind. That's actually pretty cool in practice.
You can push the 981 Boxster Spyder way more confidently in corners, which gives sublime driver enjoyment. The 360 is more about the overall experience - it's a ferrari after all, which a Porsche can never quite beat. I just love the engine, and while some say 360 lack power etc, I love the fact you have to rev it out. To me that is its likeable quality, along with the noise benefits of 5 valves per cylinder
It's not why I buy a car, but I couldn't believe the positive reactions the Spyder got in France & Italy...
I sometimes am not sure how hard I can push when cornering in the 360, which is odd as I do feel it's a fairly raw/communicative car with extremely enjoyable steering feel to boot.
I think getting it on an airfield just to find the limit would also be a useful exercise. The Porsche, by contrast asks you to push that bit more all the time which is very addictive.
Even though there are 14 years between my two, I couldn't say the 360 feels dated really.
FezSpider said:
I owned a 1989 328 GTS 12 years ago, loved that car as it was the classic Ferrari shape I grew up with. ......
However, now that I have got all that blood and thunder out of my system, right now would have been the right time for me to own a classic Ferrari 328. A true classic Ferrari that should be driven and cherished with the respect the old girl deserves, and i will make my destination when me and the old girl gets there....no rush
Thanks for that - I totally get where you are coming from. It's not about how fast you go, but how you get there However, now that I have got all that blood and thunder out of my system, right now would have been the right time for me to own a classic Ferrari 328. A true classic Ferrari that should be driven and cherished with the respect the old girl deserves, and i will make my destination when me and the old girl gets there....no rush
I just love the shape of the 328. Perhaps the solution is to wait until I can add a 328 and keep the 360 for the moment (which I hope to one day trade into a 458 spider as I do want a modern Ferrari V8 in my life still...). Especially when I've spent a bit sorting out all the little niggles these cars come with!
If I keep the 360 I think I'll do a late spring/early summer euro tour in it to re-bond. I probably just need to drive the thing a bit more!
I moved on from a 308 earlier this year.
I tried a few 360s and other machinery. The 360 is a very good car indeed. But the emotional experience doesn't match what you get in the older car. I did consider a 328 but I don't like the 80s switchgear in them. The older 308's interior is drop dead gorgeous, a sense of occasion every time you sit in it. It's something that is entirely lacking in the 360. And the roof on the 360 scared me. 12 sensors & microswitches iirc. Cloth that weakens if you keep the hood down. It is very surely going to go wrong at some point in its maturer years, no matter how well the Germans built it. The 308 & 328 are blissfully simple and elegant. I can drop the 308's roof in 1 minute. It's a joy.
Both 328s and 308s are old cars now in terms of performance, but the differences matter very little indeed. A 360 is an entirely different prospect. I decided I simply didn't need that HP. It's just not enjoyable on UK roads; its limit is too far off the scale. I found it incredibly frustrating that you only need feather the pedal from rest and you've hit national speed limits. Great to brag about, but in reality it's simply not long term fun. I prefer the challenge, engagement and thrill of driving a slower, older car. I ended up buying another 308, but this time with 4 dual throat Webers rather than this new fangled injection technology This afternoon, I hooned right across Lincolnshire on virtually empty B roads. Great fun at 50-60mph, rev matching down the click-clack gate to tootle through the villages; powering up through the dog leg box afterwards. It would have been a nightmare in a 360, it'd be constantly straining to be let loose.
As for Boxsters, great machine. But I could never live with a car where I can't look at the engine! If you have a Boxster already, you definitely need to go vintage. imo the 328 is gorgeous but isn't quite vintage enough..
I tried a few 360s and other machinery. The 360 is a very good car indeed. But the emotional experience doesn't match what you get in the older car. I did consider a 328 but I don't like the 80s switchgear in them. The older 308's interior is drop dead gorgeous, a sense of occasion every time you sit in it. It's something that is entirely lacking in the 360. And the roof on the 360 scared me. 12 sensors & microswitches iirc. Cloth that weakens if you keep the hood down. It is very surely going to go wrong at some point in its maturer years, no matter how well the Germans built it. The 308 & 328 are blissfully simple and elegant. I can drop the 308's roof in 1 minute. It's a joy.
Both 328s and 308s are old cars now in terms of performance, but the differences matter very little indeed. A 360 is an entirely different prospect. I decided I simply didn't need that HP. It's just not enjoyable on UK roads; its limit is too far off the scale. I found it incredibly frustrating that you only need feather the pedal from rest and you've hit national speed limits. Great to brag about, but in reality it's simply not long term fun. I prefer the challenge, engagement and thrill of driving a slower, older car. I ended up buying another 308, but this time with 4 dual throat Webers rather than this new fangled injection technology
This afternoon, I hooned right across Lincolnshire on virtually empty B roads. Great fun at 50-60mph, rev matching down the click-clack gate to tootle through the villages; powering up through the dog leg box afterwards. It would have been a nightmare in a 360, it'd be constantly straining to be let loose.As for Boxsters, great machine. But I could never live with a car where I can't look at the engine! If you have a Boxster already, you definitely need to go vintage. imo the 328 is gorgeous but isn't quite vintage enough..
Behemoth said:
I moved on from a 308 earlier this year.
I tried a few 360s and other machinery. The 360 is a very good car indeed. But the emotional experience doesn't match what you get in the older car. I did consider a 328 but I don't like the 80s switchgear in them. The older 308's interior is drop dead gorgeous, a sense of occasion every time you sit in it. It's something that is entirely lacking in the 360. And the roof on the 360 scared me. 12 sensors & microswitches iirc. Cloth that weakens if you keep the hood down. It is very surely going to go wrong at some point in its maturer years, no matter how well the Germans built it. The 308 & 328 are blissfully simple and elegant. I can drop the 308's roof in 1 minute. It's a joy.
Both 328s and 308s are old cars now in terms of performance, but the differences matter very little indeed. A 360 is an entirely different prospect. I decided I simply didn't need that HP. It's just not enjoyable on UK roads; its limit is too far off the scale. I found it incredibly frustrating that you only need feather the pedal from rest and you've hit national speed limits. Great to brag about, but in reality it's simply not long term fun. I prefer the challenge, engagement and thrill of driving a slower, older car. I ended up buying another 308, but this time with 4 dual throat Webers rather than this new fangled injection technology This afternoon, I hooned right across Lincolnshire on virtually empty B roads. Great fun at 50-60mph, rev matching down the click-clack gate to tootle through the villages; powering up through the dog leg box afterwards. It would have been a nightmare in a 360, it'd be constantly straining to be let loose.
As for Boxsters, great machine. But I could never live with a car where I can't look at the engine! If you have a Boxster already, you definitely need to go vintage. imo the 328 is gorgeous but isn't quite vintage enough..
Yeah, power doesn't bother me too much - I loved beating around in an MX5 MK1 years back. It's about the overall experience for this sort of car. I tried a few 360s and other machinery. The 360 is a very good car indeed. But the emotional experience doesn't match what you get in the older car. I did consider a 328 but I don't like the 80s switchgear in them. The older 308's interior is drop dead gorgeous, a sense of occasion every time you sit in it. It's something that is entirely lacking in the 360. And the roof on the 360 scared me. 12 sensors & microswitches iirc. Cloth that weakens if you keep the hood down. It is very surely going to go wrong at some point in its maturer years, no matter how well the Germans built it. The 308 & 328 are blissfully simple and elegant. I can drop the 308's roof in 1 minute. It's a joy.
Both 328s and 308s are old cars now in terms of performance, but the differences matter very little indeed. A 360 is an entirely different prospect. I decided I simply didn't need that HP. It's just not enjoyable on UK roads; its limit is too far off the scale. I found it incredibly frustrating that you only need feather the pedal from rest and you've hit national speed limits. Great to brag about, but in reality it's simply not long term fun. I prefer the challenge, engagement and thrill of driving a slower, older car. I ended up buying another 308, but this time with 4 dual throat Webers rather than this new fangled injection technology
This afternoon, I hooned right across Lincolnshire on virtually empty B roads. Great fun at 50-60mph, rev matching down the click-clack gate to tootle through the villages; powering up through the dog leg box afterwards. It would have been a nightmare in a 360, it'd be constantly straining to be let loose.As for Boxsters, great machine. But I could never live with a car where I can't look at the engine! If you have a Boxster already, you definitely need to go vintage. imo the 328 is gorgeous but isn't quite vintage enough..
Carbs - yum
P.S. Any pics of the 308? What year is it?
TB303 said:
I'm contemplating moving from my 360 spider manual to a 328.
Am I mad?!!! Anyone got experience of owning both cars?
I've never driven one, but since the arrival of my 981 Boxster Spyder (not going anywhere!) as much as I still love it the 360 isn't getting used as much, and owning classic perhaps feels like a better balance with what I have. That said I think I would miss the noise of the 360 in particular with the strad exhaust that I have on it...
A small change to a 430 spider manual could also reignite the desire to get out in a Ferrari more often, but there is something about the 328 shape that does it for me, and the idea that it could be a long term classic / keeper that can be driven. Also changing to a 430 feels expensive for not a massive move.
The 360 has been reliable, but I also understand the 328 is likely to be too.
Hi TB303,Am I mad?!!! Anyone got experience of owning both cars?
I've never driven one, but since the arrival of my 981 Boxster Spyder (not going anywhere!) as much as I still love it the 360 isn't getting used as much, and owning classic perhaps feels like a better balance with what I have. That said I think I would miss the noise of the 360 in particular with the strad exhaust that I have on it...
A small change to a 430 spider manual could also reignite the desire to get out in a Ferrari more often, but there is something about the 328 shape that does it for me, and the idea that it could be a long term classic / keeper that can be driven. Also changing to a 430 feels expensive for not a massive move.
The 360 has been reliable, but I also understand the 328 is likely to be too.
So I am very lucky to own a 981 Boxster Spyder, a 328 Ferrari and a 360CS. I have also owned 360 spider.
Firstly, I agree on the spyder, It is the best value sports car £45k can buy because if nothing else, it's rare and wont lose value. That is secondary though, to the fact that it is seriously the sweetest balance between power and chassis that I have driven. Epic
The 360 spider, is a car that I would happily own again, but I found the repeated list of niggles, bushes, roof etc made it as expensive to run as my 599. I had the manual, and little replaces the clank of changing gear. It did suffer from scuttle shake quite a bit.
The 328 is on sale at the Ferrari Centre and only because my wife threatened to divorce me when I bought the CS from there. It hasn't sold this summer, but has just had re-connolised leather, plus service and cambelts, and is back for re-sale this week. If it doesn't sell I am going to be very happy explaining to my wife that I tried my best and we have to keep it. To be honest I will be gutted if it sells (not a sales pitch) as it is a real experience every time I take it out. The sports exhaust really accentuates the flat plane crank V8, and you can stretch it's legs without destroying the speed limit every 2 seconds. I think you would find it a great experience that compliments the Spyder, but is different enough to enjoy it for different occassions. IE Spyder for Le Mans, 328 for Goodwood type of thing.
I do agree that the switch gear on the 308 is nicer, but from a price perspective, the 328 is almost as great.
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