Our Ferrari 308 is officially back. This past weekend the Ferrari and I rebonded. I drove the little Italian about 150 miles, with trips ranging from a 90 mile romp through the Malibu hills to a take-out run down to the local pizzaria. And I'm happy to report that those were 150 trouble-free miles...
In fact, the car is running as well as it did before its recent need for a new ignition box, and it still pegs my fun meter. No other car in our fleet makes a pizza run an event. I'm happy to have it back.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 50,918 miles
redliner says:
12:43 PM, 01/ 3/08
"No other car in our fleet makes a pizza run an event."
Not even the new BMW? IMHO it would be a better buy becuse:
It's safer
cost the same to buy
cost thousands less to maintain
is probably just as fast (if not faster)
is more comfortable
is more reliable.
skierx420 says:
01:01 PM, 01/ 3/08
But its not red! Italian! or comes with its own theme music! and did anyone mention that it comes with a window cleaning guy too!
estreka says:
02:04 PM, 01/ 3/08
"the car is running as well as it did before its recent need for a new ignition box"
Is that a good thing? I translate that to 'it's running as well as it did just before it broke down'.
desmolicious says:
03:04 PM, 01/ 3/08
It is kinda sad to think that it's considered a success when you do not have a break down after not even driving through one tank o gas.
daytona_500 says:
03:30 PM, 01/ 3/08
Let's take bets on how long it will take before the Ferrari is in the shop for another repair. I'm going to say two months.
estreka says:
03:42 PM, 01/ 3/08
2 months!? I give it 2 weeks.
tmanz says:
04:07 PM, 01/ 3/08
It doesn't compute on a spreadsheet, but I still want one!
But then again, I think that is what those cars are all about.
hondacura4 says:
04:28 PM, 01/ 3/08
"But its not red! Italian! or comes with its own theme music! and did anyone mention that it comes with a window cleaning guy too!"
Since when did a BMW M car not make good music? The M3's inline 6 makes a beautiful refined metallic raspy snort that gives me cold chills. But Im sure the Ferarris note is more entertaining.
moparbad says:
04:56 PM, 01/ 3/08
At least the Ferrari has fewer problems than the Aura!
louiswei says:
06:13 PM, 01/ 3/08
"At least the Ferrari has fewer problems than the Aura!"
But the repair cost sure is more...
ahightower says:
07:56 AM, 01/ 4/08
Even for an exotic, it's pathetic that one can get excited about a whopping 150 trouble-free miles. Crikey, what if you wanted to take it on a little weekend trip? I know it's not supposed to be a daily driver, but it ought to make it at least ONE day...
tmanz says:
09:16 AM, 01/ 4/08
from the little bit of searching I've done they got the car for somewhere between $4,000 and $10,000 less than the ones I've seen listed. So maybe some repairs are in order.
stephen987 says:
03:02 PM, 01/ 4/08
The M3 is significantly faster than the 308. But my money says its only advantage in reliability comes from 18 fewer years of age and exposure to the elements.
srlracing says:
07:35 PM, 01/ 4/08
You guys don't seem to get it. The M3 is faster, more comfortable, more reliable, and does everything else better than the Ferrari, but The M3 is not a Ferrari and never will be.
Besides with all exotics old or new once you get the bugs worked out they are generally quite good.
billymay says:
07:11 PM, 01/ 5/08
tmanz gets it. Few things are more expensive than a 'bargain' Ferrari. Mine is 21 years old and has been problem-free.
redliner -- not sure you get it. I had a BMW as a daily driver before I got my Ferrari 328 (now I have an Audi daily driver). Whatever it says on paper, they don't scratch the same itch. Unless I'm hauling groceries or kids, I'd take a properly sorted Ferrari 308 over an M3 any day.
Let's hope Edmunds gets their car properly sorted, lol.
altimadude00 says:
12:05 PM, 01/ 7/08
Personally, if I had to choose between a Ferrari 308 and an M3....I would take them both!