After months of performing full-body prostrations in front of their desks, the gods of the long-term fleet finally relented last night and gave me the keys to our soon-to-be-sold Ferrari. First impression: Magnum P.I. was riding low. An Integra coupe towered over me when I pulled alongside it, as did a 997 911 Turbo...
I felt like I was driving a road-going toboggan.
Given the Ferrari's countless quirks, it would be easy to have some fun at its expense and call it a day. The front overhang, for example, is like three feet long. The turn signals make no clicking noise when activated, and the blinking indicators on the dash are so well-hidden that I initially thought the signals weren't working (as did Signore Magrath during our orientation drive around the block -- we were using hand signals at intersections). Cabin illumination at night is virtually nonexistent save for an eerie green glow emanating from underneath the e-brake.
But to dwell on such idiosyncrasies would be to miss the point of this car, which is (with due respect to that still-dazzling shape) its remarkable powertrain. The rest of the car feels ancient -- manual (and misaligned) steering, a comically high-effort brake pedal, a suspension that rattles like a Conestoga wagon's over broken pavement. But that sonorous V8 has hardly aged a day. Sure, it's not that fast anymore, but when an engine's this smooth and sounds this good, who cares? Driving the 308 at higher rpm is an absolute pleasure -- it's unbelievable how cleanly and eagerly this 24 year-old engine runs to redline. It actually reminds me of one of Honda's classic VTEC fours (when's the last time someone said that about a V8?), except with a lot more midrange pull and a spine-tingling Italian soundtrack.
Surprisingly (to me at least), the other elements are mostly just as good. I loved the stiff but utterly intuitive clutch, and how the spot-on gear ratios take you from redline right back into the meat of the powerband with every upshift. Even the gated shifter was a pleasure under hard acceleration, though downshifting definitely requires extra patience and precision.
So of the two classic sporting cars in our fleet, where would my $30k go? Toward the e46 M3, of course -- every day of the week. But I had a blast with the 308, if you couldn't tell. And it's tough to beat pulling up to your weekly softball game in Magnum P.I.'s old ride.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 53,876 miles
Given the Ferrari's countless quirks, it would be easy to have some fun at its expense and call it a day. The front overhang, for example, is like three feet long. The turn signals make no clicking noise when activated, and the blinking indicators on the dash are so well-hidden that I initially thought the signals weren't working (as did Signore Magrath during our orientation drive around the block -- we were using hand signals at intersections). Cabin illumination at night is virtually nonexistent save for an eerie green glow emanating from underneath the e-brake.
But to dwell on such idiosyncrasies would be to miss the point of this car, which is (with due respect to that still-dazzling shape) its remarkable powertrain. The rest of the car feels ancient -- manual (and misaligned) steering, a comically high-effort brake pedal, a suspension that rattles like a Conestoga wagon's over broken pavement. But that sonorous V8 has hardly aged a day. Sure, it's not that fast anymore, but when an engine's this smooth and sounds this good, who cares? Driving the 308 at higher rpm is an absolute pleasure -- it's unbelievable how cleanly and eagerly this 24 year-old engine runs to redline. It actually reminds me of one of Honda's classic VTEC fours (when's the last time someone said that about a V8?), except with a lot more midrange pull and a spine-tingling Italian soundtrack.
Surprisingly (to me at least), the other elements are mostly just as good. I loved the stiff but utterly intuitive clutch, and how the spot-on gear ratios take you from redline right back into the meat of the powerband with every upshift. Even the gated shifter was a pleasure under hard acceleration, though downshifting definitely requires extra patience and precision.
So of the two classic sporting cars in our fleet, where would my $30k go? Toward the e46 M3, of course -- every day of the week. But I had a blast with the 308, if you couldn't tell. And it's tough to beat pulling up to your weekly softball game in Magnum P.I.'s old ride.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 53,876 miles
jriz says:
12:40 PM, 05/30/08
Having been at softball game, let me just say Sadlier was the coolest-looking guy there. Kudos Ferrari.
altimadude00 says:
03:20 PM, 05/30/08
If I had the choice between having a real performance car/toy in the M3, or a aural orgasm/cruiser/toy in the Ferrari...I'd still pick the Ferrari.
By the way...with the most recent repair on the M3, how do the side-by-side costs of maintenance of the two compare so far?
SubyTrojan says:
04:54 PM, 05/30/08
Josh was like Joe Morgan last night on the diamond!
thecar says:
12:37 AM, 05/31/08
“The turn signals make no clicking noise when activated”
The turn signals in my 308 make a clicking noise. Yours must be broken.
hondacura4 says:
09:56 AM, 05/31/08
"It actually reminds me of one of Honda's classic VTEC fours (when's the last time someone said that about a V8?), except with a lot more midrange pull and a spine-tingling Italian soundtrack."
Honda and Ferrari are MUCH closer than one might think in terms of engine execution.
Ive only had the chance to ride in 1 Ferrari, a 360 Challenge Stradale, the owner is one of my wifes dental patients. To this day Ive never been in a car that was so.....raw or tactile. Its like it was part of my body and I wasnt even driving. True Ferrari driving experience.
elbee says:
01:38 PM, 06/ 1/08
"The turn signals in my 308 make a clicking noise. Yours must be broken."
LOL. When something like that breaks then you know you're in for one HELL of an ownership experience..
johnnyturbo says:
01:06 PM, 06/ 2/08
Actually, our 308's turn signals do work, and they do make a clicking sound.
The trouble is, it's a pretty faint "click" that 95 percent of the time can't be heard over the four-cam V8.