Ferrari 308 GTB Review

Overall Rating

Ferrari experience, Performance, comfort, sound, driving feel and enjoyment, looks. Cheaper to buy, run and insure than most supercars. Club commaradery and events.

Running costs, handbrake weak, built quality, rust prone (later steel versions only), does not feel as fast as it actually is. There are 4x4s with better performance statistics.

Being a Ferrari, let's start with the inevitable performance statistics. 0-60 in 6.5 secs, top speed 158 mph, 255bhp.
By today's standards, there are ordinary family cars that can outperform what would be expected of a very fast car. Surprisingly, these are very affordable cars if you are in the market for executive saloon type cars. The fastest variant is the original carburettor version from 1975-1980, which can cost £23000 for an average runner to £30000 a near-concourse example with full history and prices are largely the same across all variants. Due to being a low production car, prices can vary by up to £3000 for cars in similar condition and history to match. GTS (soft top) versions command around a 10% premium. Annual servicing is around £500-£800 depending on independent specialist or licensed dealer. Cambelts and 18k services come in at £350 and £800 (every 3 years) from independent specialists and many offer fixed-price servicing.
The handbrake on this car is terrible. On a 1 in 10 hill, the car will happily drift down it with the handbrake on full. It is awkwardly high and difficult to pull to get it to actually stop the car rolling. Hence the Ferrari technique of leaving them in gear even on the slightest hill to aid it. In town and parking, the clutch is very heavy and the steering feels like an arm wrestling match. Rear cornering visibility is minimal thanks to the rear wings acting as blinkers on the window but this car was designed to be used at speed and above 30 mph none of these little niggles become slightly relevent. It's very responsive and communicative, using the heavy clutch just becomes part of a very enjoyable process of moving through the gears and the steering becomes movable with a thumb and forefinger. At which time, the power is very evident and the transverse V8 screams urging the driver for more. The 308 can cruise at 70mph with a near- idling 1200rpm. Although the acceleration in 4th and 5th is pedestrian after shooting through the earlier 3, but because this is a Ferrari, it still has enough power for most overtaking manoeuvres on normal roads.
E/W, Air con and Electric aerial were all options, all present on my model. Both doors feature large bucket compartments for several CDs and a mobile-shaped and sized ash tray. The 'heater' and all console controls feel cheap for such a luxury car.
Because the engine is transverse, half of the space behind the seats is boot space large enough for two overnight bags, making it perfect for couples doing a hotel tour across continents. I have driven 400-mile non-stop journeys in this car with perfect ease. It is also capable of being used as an everyday car, they are far more reliable than reputation would have you believe. If you need only two seats, these are very practical cars - I have even used it on a pizza round!

Summary:

Do buy this car if:
You love driving and want to experience your own piece of uniquely Ferrari driving. Want to stand out in the crowd of anonymous German saloons or want to go back to simple, responsive sportscars with luxury of modern cars.

Do not buy this car if:
You have many family or financial commitments, worry about the price of fuel or see driving simply as a means of moving from one place to another or if you dislike attracting attention to yourself!

This car is more of a toy than a serious transportation machine, though it can be used as such. Fuel consumption can be as much as 25mpg, though more typical is 15mpg round town or non-aggressive driving.