I've seen a luuurrvly 308....
Discussion
OK, the story goes a bit like this:
2 months ago I went to see a lhd 308 GTB QV. It was still on a swiss plated, all the papaerwork matched up to the previous owner who was a Swiss collector, stacks of hostory etc.
I have to say the car was absolutley immaculate, beautiful condition with not a spec of rust anywhere.
Classic Rosso with black leather interior, an absolute beauty to look at. I only drove it very briefly in the p!ssing rain but it felt superb - well oiled, and tight.
He wanted £21k (ish) for it with 62000 kilometers on the clock. Sounded like a good deal to me, but I couldn't commit at the time.
Anyway, I've just had a mail from him saying that the chap he sold it too (another collector) has had a customer go bankrupt on him and he needs to sell.
As an FYI, the chap who has contacted me is called PGMartini - anyone had any dealings? Apparently he normally deals with Porsche's but does the occasional Ferrari "but only if it's perfect".
I'm in a better position to buy now (assuming my car doesn't take too long to shift!), but I'm not sure because frankly I wasn't hugely impressed when I drove the car - I guess I need to drive more extensively to really know if I get on with it...
I've been trying to decide between a Cerb, Esprit or 308 - very different cars I know, but I love BIG performance (Cerb, Esprit) but then again I've always wanted a Ferrari and this one seems to be a peach.
What the hell do I do!! I just don't want to be disappointed if I buy the 308, basically will I miss the performance (of a Cerb) or am I selling the 308 short?
Opinions please? And yes, I know I've put this on the Ferrari board so biased opinions expected!
cheers all,
Steve
2 months ago I went to see a lhd 308 GTB QV. It was still on a swiss plated, all the papaerwork matched up to the previous owner who was a Swiss collector, stacks of hostory etc.
I have to say the car was absolutley immaculate, beautiful condition with not a spec of rust anywhere.
Classic Rosso with black leather interior, an absolute beauty to look at. I only drove it very briefly in the p!ssing rain but it felt superb - well oiled, and tight.
He wanted £21k (ish) for it with 62000 kilometers on the clock. Sounded like a good deal to me, but I couldn't commit at the time.
Anyway, I've just had a mail from him saying that the chap he sold it too (another collector) has had a customer go bankrupt on him and he needs to sell.
As an FYI, the chap who has contacted me is called PGMartini - anyone had any dealings? Apparently he normally deals with Porsche's but does the occasional Ferrari "but only if it's perfect".
I'm in a better position to buy now (assuming my car doesn't take too long to shift!), but I'm not sure because frankly I wasn't hugely impressed when I drove the car - I guess I need to drive more extensively to really know if I get on with it...
I've been trying to decide between a Cerb, Esprit or 308 - very different cars I know, but I love BIG performance (Cerb, Esprit) but then again I've always wanted a Ferrari and this one seems to be a peach.
What the hell do I do!! I just don't want to be disappointed if I buy the 308, basically will I miss the performance (of a Cerb) or am I selling the 308 short?
Opinions please? And yes, I know I've put this on the Ferrari board so biased opinions expected!
cheers all,
Steve
That car seems a bit expensive to me Steve; I'd be fairly confident that you'd could get an RHD for that money. Should be well south of 20K. Get it inspected and drive a hard bargain- be prepared to walk away (make an offer conditional upon the engineers inspection).
In performance terms, the 308 is roughly 20 years old so it won't be as fast as some of the current machinery, but by Christ it's a pretty little thing. Handles pretty well too. I would do it (biased? moi?) since it's pretty cheap to run and you probably won't lose on the deal when you come to sell it, unless you go LHD, in which case you might.
Kev
PS You going to VW?
>> Edited by 456mgt on Wednesday 22 January 20:48
In performance terms, the 308 is roughly 20 years old so it won't be as fast as some of the current machinery, but by Christ it's a pretty little thing. Handles pretty well too. I would do it (biased? moi?) since it's pretty cheap to run and you probably won't lose on the deal when you come to sell it, unless you go LHD, in which case you might.
Kev
PS You going to VW?
>> Edited by 456mgt on Wednesday 22 January 20:48
Hi Kev,
This is my at home handle...
Anyway, not sure about prices mainly because I haven't seen any others yet. Thing about this car is it's condition. It really is perfect.. paintwork flawless, interior flawless, engine bay flawless. The lot!
Having checked prices on autotrader a lot recently, it seems that GENUINELY good cars with RHD hover around the £25K mark, either way I'd probably offer £19 - £20k and say take it or leave it, after all it's a buyers market for just about any car at the moment (as I'll find when I sell mine!).
So the peformance 'thing'. Well, I think I need to insist on a good test drive, at least 10-15 miles to decide whether it really is my 'thing'. It's like meeting a beautiful girl - you would, but could you live with her? Only one way to find out I suppose.
I'm trying to tell myself that if I can drive a good deal (and I should, I worked in the industry a few years back) then it's a no lose situation... I could by at say £19.5, rack up 3k and if I like I keep. if it's not working then it shouldn't lose any money and I can get into a Cerb or suchlike. Either way I keep telling myself that a Ferrari has always been my dream and why the hell not! Besides, talk about WOW factor! It really is THE most beautiful car, in fact I've got a great picture of her... shall I email it for an 'objective' (yeah right) opinion?
See you at VW... Hopefully Matt (who still talks about the ride in the 360!) will come along and the missus will tag along with a mate in her Cooper S.. we can grab a table for lunch....
Cheers,
Steve
This is my at home handle...
Anyway, not sure about prices mainly because I haven't seen any others yet. Thing about this car is it's condition. It really is perfect.. paintwork flawless, interior flawless, engine bay flawless. The lot!
Having checked prices on autotrader a lot recently, it seems that GENUINELY good cars with RHD hover around the £25K mark, either way I'd probably offer £19 - £20k and say take it or leave it, after all it's a buyers market for just about any car at the moment (as I'll find when I sell mine!).
So the peformance 'thing'. Well, I think I need to insist on a good test drive, at least 10-15 miles to decide whether it really is my 'thing'. It's like meeting a beautiful girl - you would, but could you live with her? Only one way to find out I suppose.
I'm trying to tell myself that if I can drive a good deal (and I should, I worked in the industry a few years back) then it's a no lose situation... I could by at say £19.5, rack up 3k and if I like I keep. if it's not working then it shouldn't lose any money and I can get into a Cerb or suchlike. Either way I keep telling myself that a Ferrari has always been my dream and why the hell not! Besides, talk about WOW factor! It really is THE most beautiful car, in fact I've got a great picture of her... shall I email it for an 'objective' (yeah right) opinion?
See you at VW... Hopefully Matt (who still talks about the ride in the 360!) will come along and the missus will tag along with a mate in her Cooper S.. we can grab a table for lunch....
Cheers,
Steve
I would say that first impressions count for a lot. If the Ferrari didn't wow you when you first drove it then maybe it's not your thing?
When I bought mine, I knew after the first gear change that I was in love!
Having said that, if you never have one, you'll always wonder what could have been?
When I bought mine, I knew after the first gear change that I was in love!
Having said that, if you never have one, you'll always wonder what could have been?
Steve,
I am in a very similar situation currently as I'm selling my current car (& bike) and I will then be looking for either a Cerbera or Ferrari 308/328.
I have driven a 328 and a Cerbera, but not a 308 and here my 2 pence worth:
I found that the Cerbera 'did it' for me performance wise and the interior & noise are out of this world. However, driving the Ferrari was much more of a 'special' feeling, the performance was not neck breaking, but it was beautifully balanced & a joy to drive once I got used to the driving position. If, like me, a Ferrari is something you've wished for since being a kid, then I would go for it. As you said, if you don't fall in love with it (somehow !), then you can always sell it and buy a newer Cerbera because they would have depreciated even further by then !
Let us know what you decide & happy hunting !
Cheers
Paul
I am in a very similar situation currently as I'm selling my current car (& bike) and I will then be looking for either a Cerbera or Ferrari 308/328.
I have driven a 328 and a Cerbera, but not a 308 and here my 2 pence worth:
I found that the Cerbera 'did it' for me performance wise and the interior & noise are out of this world. However, driving the Ferrari was much more of a 'special' feeling, the performance was not neck breaking, but it was beautifully balanced & a joy to drive once I got used to the driving position. If, like me, a Ferrari is something you've wished for since being a kid, then I would go for it. As you said, if you don't fall in love with it (somehow !), then you can always sell it and buy a newer Cerbera because they would have depreciated even further by then !
Let us know what you decide & happy hunting !
Cheers
Paul
It's clear that budget aside, one of Steve's cars would be a late model Ferrari, possibly a V12, combining looks with performance and handling. The budget is the issue, since in every aspect, principally purchase price and depreciation, they are a more costly proposition.
I waited until I could get exactly what I wanted, largely because I believed it woud bankrupt me if something went wrong. I now know I could have run a 308 or a 328 years ago. Bummer.
I waited until I could get exactly what I wanted, largely because I believed it woud bankrupt me if something went wrong. I now know I could have run a 308 or a 328 years ago. Bummer.
It all depends on what you are really looking for. IF you want kidney punching power then the Cerbera is hard to beat - but there are a few (costly) downsides. For £20k you can get yourself a fairly recent 4.2 with good history blah blah blah....however therein lies my first argument - Cerbie devaluation is terrifying...they are now available for as little as my pre cat griff was 2 years ago...frightening...also they do tend to have little niggles which while not overly expensive do start to add up.....nothing in my opinion has the presence of a cerbera for the money on the road or the performance - until you get behind the wheel of a ferrari...does not matter overly which one ( and I would rather have a 308 than a 348) - the whole package is in itself marvellous...sure there may be some reliability issues with the older f cars but it will not devalue as much as a cerbera and it is beautiful....however you will know which you want when you drive it...if the 308 does not do it for you DO NOT BUY IT.....buy what you want not what you THINK you want
pdavison,
Mechanically early Ferraris are actually reasonably good (but only if cared for properly) - on this front the teasing I get from Domster et al (
) is unjustified. It's the little things on early Ferraris that go wrong - literally like door locks, electrics etc... and with one company holding the WORLD monoply of pre-82 Ferrari parts, it's that that drives the price ever skywards.
>> Edited by manu on Thursday 23 January 13:20
Mechanically early Ferraris are actually reasonably good (but only if cared for properly) - on this front the teasing I get from Domster et al (
) is unjustified. It's the little things on early Ferraris that go wrong - literally like door locks, electrics etc... and with one company holding the WORLD monoply of pre-82 Ferrari parts, it's that that drives the price ever skywards. >> Edited by manu on Thursday 23 January 13:20
I am not one to cast aspertions and as I have never owned one I will not make unquantified statements
Take a look at the following threads
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15208&f=63&h=0&hw=308
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=24743&f=63&h=0
Take a look at the following threads
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15208&f=63&h=0&hw=308
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=24743&f=63&h=0
manu said: Steve - one important question - can you cope with the fairly hefty (to put it mildly) performance differential between a Chimera and 308?
One is a brute sports car - the other is a classic work of art.
Manu, simple answer is that I don't know... I love the Chim, the way it just GOES when you crack the throttle open, and I wonder if I'll miss that? But then again I've ALWAYS wanted a Ferrari, and the 308 is just so beautiful, and quite a rare sight on the roads these days - I wonder if there is a nice TUBI available to hear it properly!
The more I think about it, the more I think I've got little to lose if I buy a good 308... if I don't like it then at least I've had one, I'll sell and shouldn't lose too much. How to 308's stand up to track days? Anyone track them before?
manu said: pdavison,
Mechanically early Ferraris are actually reasonably good (but only if cared for properly) - on this front the teasing I get from Domster et al (
>> Edited by manu on Thursday 23 January 13:20
And the thing is, as much as a Porsche owner may question the reliability or running costs of a Ferrari, they are still magical machines. I like them. A lot.
I've been lucky enough to drive a F355 F1 and it was a lovely bit of kit, and well screwed together. Of course, it can go wrong, but Steve, if you can afford to own and run a Ferrari then you should go for it. It may even be cheaper to run than the Cerbera, and will be even more exclusive (especially at PH meets).
Remember, Ferraris are special in a way that no other sports car gets close to, IMHO. Sure, I am getting rid of the Porsche to get an Ultima, but if I wasn't such a fan of V8 engined kit cars it would have to be a F355 for my budget. Just to appeal to the emotions.
Die-hard Porsche and Ultima fan that I am, I also have an original 308 GTB/S QV brochure, a 400i brochure, a 512BB brochure and F355 F1 brochure, just because of the style these cars possess (OK, maybe not the 400i!).
Ultima and Porsche brochures? One of each.
The 308 sounds great, and well worth ditching the chimp for.
ATB
Domster
trackdemon said:
manu said: Steve - one important question - can you cope with the fairly hefty (to put it mildly) performance differential between a Chimera and 308?
One is a brute sports car - the other is a classic work of art.
Manu, simple answer is that I don't know... I love the Chim, the way it just GOES when you crack the throttle open, and I wonder if I'll miss that? But then again I've ALWAYS wanted a Ferrari, and the 308 is just so beautiful, and quite a rare sight on the roads these days - I wonder if there is a nice TUBI available to hear it properly!
How to 308's stand up to track days? Anyone track them before?
Your circumstances can take seconds to change - if you've always wanted a Ferrari then GET ONE. (btw - tubi IS available for this car
!) - don't let the chance potentially slip you by - and moreover if after reasoning that you have nothing to lose then what are you waiting for? Find the perfect one and go for it! 
You've got to love this forum !
I for one am now certain that once the car & bike go, I will be hunting for my first Ferrari. I'm hoping to be able to go for a 328 (with tubi !).
Steve - good luck in your search & I will let you know if I come across a good 308 just to tempt you further.
Cheers guys.
Paul
I for one am now certain that once the car & bike go, I will be hunting for my first Ferrari. I'm hoping to be able to go for a 328 (with tubi !).
Steve - good luck in your search & I will let you know if I come across a good 308 just to tempt you further.
Cheers guys.
Paul
My 2p worth ...
When I was looking, I looked at Cerbera, 308 and Elise. I opted for the 308, and have never regretted it.
Trefor (fellow PH member) has a chimp. When blasting cross country with me in the lead he's quoted at saying he really has to "press on" to keep up with me.
The 308 would probably outhandle the Cerbera anyway on the twisties.
There's a company somewhere that uses a 308 as a track day hire car ... I remember reading an article in some classic car mag or other ... I remember them quoting as saying that the 308 was extremely reliable.
When I was looking, I looked at Cerbera, 308 and Elise. I opted for the 308, and have never regretted it.
Trefor (fellow PH member) has a chimp. When blasting cross country with me in the lead he's quoted at saying he really has to "press on" to keep up with me.
The 308 would probably outhandle the Cerbera anyway on the twisties.
There's a company somewhere that uses a 308 as a track day hire car ... I remember reading an article in some classic car mag or other ... I remember them quoting as saying that the 308 was extremely reliable.
nevpugh308 said: My 2p worth ...
When I was looking, I looked at Cerbera, 308 and Elise. I opted for the 308, and have never regretted it.
Trefor (fellow PH member) has a chimp. When blasting cross country with me in the lead he's quoted at saying he really has to "press on" to keep up with me.
The 308 would probably outhandle the Cerbera anyway on the twisties.
There's a company somewhere that uses a 308 as a track day hire car ... I remember reading an article in some classic car mag or other ... I remember them quoting as saying that the 308 was extremely reliable.
Oy! Pugh! It's a Chimaera, not a chimp.
You cheeky monkey!
T/.
I know somebody who could perhaps be persuaded to sell their early carb 308GTB if anybody is serious.
He has had it 4 years and its a LHD from the US so is in much better condition than many of the cars here which will have probably needed attention.
(The early injection cars are not favoured BTW as the pwer and sound is muted, so money should either go on the more powerful early carb car or on the later QV model)
Personally I find the GTB is the purer looking car (it doesnt have the louvres on the rear windows) and his car is unusual in being only one of a handful in gunmetal metallic with red leather. You need to see it, but it looks incredible and very sophisticated.
4 years, £300 a service, £275 for cambelts, 1 engine out oil leak at £800 and thats it.
Incredible noise, doubt he has lost a penny on the money he paid for it (under 20K) - and nor would the new owner.
Thats the nice thing with 308s now, thats assuming you dont buy one of the 45K ones dealers seem to offer.
Bennno
He has had it 4 years and its a LHD from the US so is in much better condition than many of the cars here which will have probably needed attention.
(The early injection cars are not favoured BTW as the pwer and sound is muted, so money should either go on the more powerful early carb car or on the later QV model)
Personally I find the GTB is the purer looking car (it doesnt have the louvres on the rear windows) and his car is unusual in being only one of a handful in gunmetal metallic with red leather. You need to see it, but it looks incredible and very sophisticated.
4 years, £300 a service, £275 for cambelts, 1 engine out oil leak at £800 and thats it.
Incredible noise, doubt he has lost a penny on the money he paid for it (under 20K) - and nor would the new owner.
Thats the nice thing with 308s now, thats assuming you dont buy one of the 45K ones dealers seem to offer.
Bennno
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