Anyone Here ever Own/Drive a Ferrari or Dino 308GT/4?

[jluetjen]

Just an idle question -- I'm not planning on trading in my 911 for a GT4 any time soon. I worked with a guy who had one and it certainly sounded awesome, a lot better then the 308GTS that he had later on. I sat in his 308GTS and have to admit that even though I'm a fairly average 6 feet and 195 lbs, it was tight -- a lot tighter then my early 911.

So, how does a 308GT4 compare to a 911 on the road and for general internal size and comfort?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by jluetjen
Just an idle question -- I'm not planning on trading in my 911 for a GT4 any time soon. I worked with a guy who had one and it certainly sounded awesome, a lot better then the 308GTS that he had later on. I sat in his 308GTS and have to admit that even though I'm a fairly average 6 feet and 195 lbs, it was tight -- a lot tighter then my early 911.

So, how does a 308GT4 compare to a 911 on the road and for general internal size and comfort?

You mean like this one, then yes, I've always like them. One of the few Bertone Ferrari's I understand. But, like most of them, frighteningly expensive to maintain and drive. They make a 911 look positively frugal by comparison.

[jluetjen]

Yeah. One of these.



I've heard that their handling is better then a 308 GTB/GTS because the car is lighter. The engine is stronger and noisier with the weber carbs compared to the later 308's with CIS and EFI, but the GT4's had a wet-sump (and thus a higher CG) then the later 308's.

[jluetjen]

Ok. Thanks Wayne. That addresses the rational side of the question. Given how slowly my 911 project is progressing, I'm not about to step up to an even bigger headache.

I was looking more for some experiential responses so that I could compare the car to my 911 vicariously.

[}{arlequin]

z-man will be on here shortly. i think his buddy still has one. he may have other experiences w/ the car. i like them.

[Jeff Higgins]

A good friend owns a 308 GT (S? I? can't remember now...). His is the model with the multiple carbs, if that helps you pin down what it is. Looks like Magnum PI's car.

It's not nearly as much fun to toss around a back road as my 911. It feels heavy and sluggish. It probably has a somewhat higher top speed, but to me that is irrelevant. I think on a very high speed flowing road it would be faster than my 911, but opportunity to maintain speed on those kinds of roads in this country is limited. It is a very fun car in its own way, but at what cost?

He is also very much affraid to drive it. Driving it means wearing things out. Or even braking things. He is no mechanic either, so that means a trip downtown to the Ferrari dealer. He never gets out of there for less than a couple grand, even on scheduled maintenance. As a result it might see a couple thousand miles in a busy year. My 911 does that every month. Just a different kind of car, I guess. Fun, but not nearly the bang for the buck as a 911.

[jluetjen]

Thanks Jeff. There's lots of stuff on this BBS comparing 308 GTS's or GTB's to 911. I'm looking for a comparison with the 2+2 308 GT4. Specifically, I'm looking for responses regarding interior space and driving experience. Since it's Bertone bodywork isn't as sexy as the GTB/GTS's, the model is no where near as popular on the web as the later 2 seater models.

If anyone on this BBS has a GT4 in the Boston area, I'd love to trade rides on a sunny afternoon just for kicks.

[Z-man]

Originally posted by }{arlequin
z-man will be on here shortly. i think his buddy still has one. he may have other experiences w/ the car. i like them.

[In the deep bass Adams Family's Lurch voice]
You rang?!?
[/Lurch]

Indeed my buddy had a 308GT4 for a short time. He has since sold the car and gotten himself a C43 AMG. Sadly, he never got the F-car on the track, and I doubt he'll take his Benz out there either.

I had a chance to drive the car - it is truly an amazing experience. The sound of the motor is simply delightful. It has sufficient power (~240hp, IIRC), and due to its mid-engine design, has excellent turn-in. Shifting through the gears isn't that difficult - I much rather row through a gated shifter than hit some buttons behind the steering wheel - there's more driver involvement with the GT4. (Side note: I did have a chance to drive a 360 Modena F1 with the paddle shifters at an autocross a couple of years ago...but I digress...)

In terms of track driving (if that's what you're considering the car for), it is a very viable F-car to play with. Many Ferrari owners are buying up the GT4's and using them for DE's and such. In that sense, they are the Ferrari equivalent of Porsche's 944: cheaper to track than the more modern F-cars. But, since it is still a Ferrari, the maintenance costs are still high, just like the 944 is a Porsche and it's costs to maintain are high relative to other cars.

IF I had the opportunity to pick up a 308GT4 in decent shape, I would go for it. I would also make sure that car were put through its paces on the track. The only trouble would be getting a point by from the 360/355/F40/F50 drivers out there!

-Z-man.

[Rick Lee]

I have a friend with a fleet of Ferraris and even though money is no object to him, he still complains loudly about the maint. costs. The local Ferrari dealership charges $122 per hour and just about anything on the engine requires the engine to come out. Timing belt is $5k minimum. He recently had his Testarossa in for a "service". Bill was $17k and the engine didn't even come apart. Some of the guys on Ferrarichat.com are hardcore DIY'ers and it still ain't cheap. Didn't Wayne have an engine fire on his 308 a while ago? And wasn't there a gas station surveillance cam video of a guy's 308 going up in flames while he was filling up? I try and try to figure out how to afford to keep and still drive an entry level Ferrari and I just can't do it yet.

[jluetjen]

Don't worry -- I'm not going over to the dark side. My guilty pleasure is to want to one day try experiencing a few cars -- even if just for a few hours. Among these is the 308GT4. I'm heavily driven by the rational side of the my brain, and most F-cars just don't stand up to a 911. They may be a little faster in a straight line, but the 911 handles better, is cheaper to own and operate, generally has more room, and in production form has a better racing pedegree.

Of all of the F-Cars, the GT4 seems to be closest to the 911 in the factors I mentioned, thus my question. I know that they're more expensive (duh!!!), so I don't need to ask about that. I know it's not as curvy as a GTB/GTS or even a 911. But I've never driven nor sat in a GT4. So I need to understand those factors through my fellow pelican-head's experiences.

BTW - Rest of the list that I'd one day like to try are the following:

* Fiat Dino 206/246 (I'm realistic enough to know that I'll never get to try a Ferrari Dino 246)
* TVR anything. (Although the 2500M's are most common)

[Hugh R]

Wayne

By your math, your saying a pcar distributor caps cost 15x that of a VW?

On your website a dist. cap for an 83 SC is like $13, why is a 84 turbo one 13 but an 84non turbo $44

[Britwrench]

Given the choice, there are plenty of usuable (and better) cars than the GT4. For a two door, 2+2 (which the GT4 is, only if two passengers are 4' tall) would be the BMW M3 or 330i or 635CSI coupe, Porsche 928S4 and Saab 900 Turbo. Problem with the GT4 is although it works, it doesn't work all that well. You should drive one and compare first before choosing.
I worked at a Ferrari dealership, so drove and repaired GT4s when they were still being produced.

[rrsrsr]

Originally posted by Hugh R
Wayne

By your math, your saying a pcar distributor caps cost 15x that of a VW?

On your website a dist. cap for an 83 SC is like $13, why is a 84 turbo one 13 but an 84non turbo $44

I was just thinking that. Last time I bought a Porsche cap it was $12 or so... does that mean VW caps are less than a buck?