Any dealers got a nice 85 GTS

[Crallscars]

I have been considering trading my 85 308 GTS for a lower milage example

[rob]

They are getting hard to find I looked for close to a year and didn't have much luck.

[miketuason]

How low of a mileage are you looking for?

[Crallscars]

I have 55,000 now, mine has little issues I am getting tired of addressing, like to find something in the mid 20k's to low 30k's

If I buy again, I'll be much more picky

[rob]

Get in touch with Bill Mitchell at Mitchells classics www.mitchellsclassics.com he may be able to find something for you or Peter Sweeney at www.forzamotorsports.com. A lot of times cars change hands before they make it to a dealers website so these guys may be able to help you.

[Pras19821]

Hi - Would be interesting in getting owners' experience of how much mileage actually matters. I thought a regular service would keep a 308 running quite smoothly - Maybe an expensive engine rebuild of some sort every 60k miles or so, but all addressable issues?.

Thanks

[Big red]

Originally Posted by Crallscars

I have 55,000 now, mine has little issues I am getting tired of addressing, like to find something in the mid 20k's to low 30k's

If I buy again, I'll be much more picky

What makes you think finding another car with less mileage will give you less problems?

Is this a car issue , or a model issue for you ? If it's just the car, and you want a different model , than I understand....but if you want to repurchase the same car, I would think if you take it to a great shop, throw the correct money into it...you have your car fixed correctly.

Somehow, selling your car in the mid 20s or low 30s, and buying the same car all over again, I can't see how you would be ahead ? Unless you're current car is worse than you are describing?

[Hotzos]

Ferrari of Denver has an '84 on their website. I believe they just did a major on it.

[Dr Tommy Cosgrove]

Originally Posted by Big red

What makes you think finding another car with less mileage will give you less problems?

I was wondering the same thing.

[Dr Tommy Cosgrove]

Originally Posted by rob

Get in touch with Bill Mitchell at Mitchells classics www.mitchellsclassics.com he may be able to find something for you or Peter Sweeney at www.forzamotorsports.com. A lot of times cars change hands before they make it to a dealers website so these guys may be able to help you.

A friend just bought an 85 308 from Mitchell two months ago. We just went thru it, serviced it, etc. Good car. He was lucky to find it so close to us. Paid $32,000. I think the odometer had about 50K showing.

[thecarreaper]

Originally Posted by Crallscars

I have been considering trading my 85 308 GTS for a lower milage example

I am in Savannah and have a euro 83 GTS. Not what you were asking for, but the car shows 15k miles, had 18k KM on the old Euro speedo. I do need to get that stuff documented i guess for resale. If you want to poke around on a lower mileage car that's close, send me a PM.

Just did T belts, alignment and fuel calibration this month. Been thinking of selling the car to finally get 100 or so acres of land I have been watching sit for sale.

[thecarreaper]

Originally Posted by Pras19821

Hi - Would be interesting in getting owners' experience of how much mileage actually matters. I thought a regular service would keep a 308 running quite smoothly - Maybe an expensive engine rebuild of some sort every 60k miles or so, but all addressable issues?.

Thanks

308s go 150+k miles or so before needing anything internal done. it really depends on how well the car is treated when its started and cold.
Broken parts make rebuild much more complicated and expensive. More people should treat exotic cars like aircraft, and do things on a schedule BEFORE it breaks and becomes expensive.

[Big red]

Originally Posted by thecarreaper

308s go 150+k miles or so before needing anything internal done. it really depends on how well the car is treated when its started and cold.
Broken parts make rebuild much more complicated and expensive. More people should treat exotic cars like aircraft, and do things on a schedule BEFORE it breaks and becomes expensive.

+1

And mileage is not as important as condition .... Many higher mileage cars maintained better and more reliable than a low mileage car that has been stored wet , and driven dry.

[thecarreaper]

Originally Posted by Big red

+1

And mileage is not as important as condition .... Many higher mileage cars maintained better and more reliable than a low mileage car that has been stored wet , and driven dry.

Agree. i recently bought a 1990 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE, have a thread on it in the British section.

67,000 miles and it needs piston rings, and a valve job. I know turbos are hard on an engine, but evil owners are a cars worst enemy. Car drives ok, does NOT smoke, but it had a strange miss at idle from the burned valves. PPI's will tell you alot about a car, or an educated butt dyno test drive.

[jsa330]

Forza has an '84 with 35K miles @ $33.5K

http://www.forzamotorsports.com/exot...s-for-sale.htm

Bought my car there, good place to deal with.

[Crallscars]

Originally Posted by Big red

What makes you think finding another car with less mileage will give you less problems?

Is this a car issue , or a model issue for you ? If it's just the car, and you want a different model , than I understand....but if you want to repurchase the same car, I would think if you take it to a great shop, throw the correct money into it...you have your car fixed correctly.

Somehow, selling your car in the mid 20s or low 30s, and buying the same car all over again, I can't see how you would be ahead ? Unless you're current car is worse than you are describing?

This car was just not well cared for, I am forever rebuilding and correcting the previous owners sins. An example was replacing a the clutch, it turned out the only thing wrong with the clutch was the previous owner put in the wrong disc, it was much thinner than what was suppose to be there and started to slip just after I bought the car. The wood be mechanic didn't replace the pressure plate and found a simular but very wrong disc, then screwed up every adjustment and modified the clutch linkage so that the clutch would work....what a mess to clean up.

She has had far more than her share of electrical issues, all caused by previous owners, stereo shops, gas station attendants & alarm centers. Fuse original block is still ok! Just everything connected to it has been messed with.

In every case, I have corrected the problem to an original configuration and the problem was resolved, but usually uncovered another problem. It's not a Ferrari issue, it's all the previous owners issues.

[Big red]

Originally Posted by Crallscars

This car was just not well cared for, I am forever rebuilding and correcting the previous owners sins. An example was replacing a the clutch, it turned out the only thing wrong with the clutch was the previous owner put in the wrong disc, it was much thinner than what was suppose to be there and started to slip just after I bought the car. The wood be mechanic didn't replace the pressure plate and found a simular but very wrong disc, then screwed up every adjustment and modified the clutch linkage so that the clutch would work....what a mess to clean up.

She has had far more than her share of electrical issues, all caused by previous owners, stereo shops, gas station attendants & alarm centers. Fuse original block is still ok! Just everything connected to it has been messed with.

In every case, I have corrected the problem to an original configuration and the problem was resolved, but usually uncovered another problem. It's not a Ferrari issue, it's all the previous owners issues.

Ok, but I don't see how spending similar money as what you would sell, get you a better car.

There are many private stories like yours here ....I'm thinking the exchange will just leave you with a car you have to start all over again. I don't think your will find much better of a car in the price you mentioned....not to mention, you fixed certain things already on your car...it's not like you have to redo that part. I wish I had more to offer you ....but if you have had it with the car, then best to sell and start over.

Good luck !

[PV Dirk]

My car has been mostly reliable but I had an issue with my turn signals. One side blinked quicker than the other. Found a bulb not flashing in front. Bulb was fine, cleaned contacts and it worked again. Next day quit working. I pulled it apart more extensively, did some tracing and found that where two wires were crimped into one connector, one wasn't making good contact, just oxidation over the years, nothing visual to indicate a defect. Factory connection that was just no longer good. I think I had my front light assembly apart 4 or more times before it was fixed. Even from the factory there can be occasional issues.

Sorry you've become frustrated with yours.

[BigTex]

Originally Posted by Pras19821

Hi - Would be interesting in getting owners' experience of how much mileage actually matters. I thought a regular service would keep a 308 running quite smoothly - Maybe an expensive engine rebuild of some sort every 60k miles or so, but all addressable issues?.

Thanks

They start to fray around the edges...

Call into Mark at Sphere here in Houston, see if anything in the Vault is on the market.

[BigTex]

Originally Posted by thecarreaper

I am in Savannah and have a euro 83 GTS. Not what you were asking for, but the car shows 15k miles, had 18k KM on the old Euro speedo. I do need to get that stuff documented i guess for resale. If you want to poke around on a lower mileage car that's close, send me a PM.

Just did T belts, alignment and fuel calibration this month. Been thinking of selling the car to finally get 100 or so acres of land I have been watching sit for sale.

Good luck on the land deal, something I should have done YEARS ago.....