James May interviewed about his 308

Nice. I didn't know he owned a 308. According to the video he also just bought a new Alpine A110, which makes me very jealous as that's the car I'd most like to own next. Unfortunately, it looks like they're not going to be sold here in the U.S., such a shame.

 

I think he's a bit hard on the old 308. For what they are, an exotic car of their day, I think they are relatively easy to drive and live with.

 

I figure Mr Slow loves the 308 but is longer in the tooth now and has less patience for quirks. Maybe he will let loose of it and give a young buck a go?

 

It's pretty --- but its a squared off Dino with pop up headlights.

That's not a knock. Its just being honest.

 

It's a fair point, I think. Owning a 308 means dealing with finicky cooling, sweating when you hear odd noises, dealing with interesting electrical standards, expensive parts, muscle-challenging steering in a parking lot, and minor body repairs that costs more than some new cars.

I could easily sell my Ferrari and buy a car that's faster, brakes better, with a warranty, better climate control, which would offer a fairly maintenance-free existence for the next 5-7 years. Let's not have rossa-colored glasses, it's a fact.

But it wouldn't be a Ferrari.

 

Dino's had eight cylinder engines?

 

We're talking about the looks.

I had both. The 308 is an late 70's revision of the 1967 look but updated with late 70's technology and building methods.

 

Having owned both, which would you prefer?

 

Interesting question. I can honestly say, I'm not sure. They are really different.

The 246 Dino GT to be honest is a pretty lousy vehicle. But its pretty with loads of character. The driving position is weird with little adjustment, the gearbox crunchy until warm, the interior always warm, and the headlights could be candles (although the 308 was barely better). It has better visibility than the 308 with smaller A pillars and the wrap around rear glass. The electric windows take forever to go up and you should do only one at a time to avoid overloading it. The alternator burns out in stop and go traffic because it gets too hot. The fly windows can be pushed open in a second so there's no point in locking it. The interior always smells of gas or oil or both because the sideways distributor leaks oil in the headers and the carbs are right behind your head. I had a Euro version with no smog PCV valve so the oil smell from the crankcase went straight into the air..

The 308 GT or GTS (I had one of each) is more modern, has a much better gearbox, is more reliable, is easier to work on, has a better interior, and has an attempt at creature comforts like HVAC.

The Dino feels like it was made in the 60's. The 308 feels like it was made in the 80's

The Dino is prettier but the 308 a lot easier to live with. So, it depends.

 

True but what high performance car of the late 1970's don't have similar issues today.
Maybe a similar era Porsche 911 or a Mercedes-Benz SL may be less expensive to run, more reliable and offer cheaper parts but the Porsche is not as engaging and the Mercedes is not high performance. Plus neither would be considered exotic.
All the others from that era that I can think of would share similar 308 issues today.

 

Here are a few pics of a 73 Dino and a 85 QV 308 for comparison. I used to own 73 Dino #6288 in yellow and 74 #7796 in red. They were both GTS. I am now owning two 85s QV GTS. For me I felt the Dinos were fragile and rather slow but you look good driving in it. You got to work the gears to get up to speed. I like the distinctive sound of the Dino V6. I think the 308s are better built, stronger but with all the charms of the Dino. The curves, the side vents on both cars are very similar. Just like TheMayor says, they are very close siblings, one was made in the 60's and the other was in the 80's. I missed those Dinos though and don't mind to own one again someday. BTW before they became popular, back in the late 90s at several FCA shows I was told to wait in my Dino until all other Ferraris were placed before I could park it! Can you believe it?
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They are both very pretty cars.
I think one of their best angles are 3/4 front on.

 

The 308 was the evolution of the 246 and if not delayed due to the problems they had with the GRP bodywork it would have appeared in '74 rather than '76.
it's possible that if that had happened prior to the GT4 bombing in the marketplace the 308 might have even had a Dino badge. Heck, if we are going to contemplate alternate history it might have led to there still being a Dino brand today. Maybe all of the subsequent V8's would have been badged as Dinos. We'll never know.

 

Yes I always saw the 308 as the smaller sibling to the Boxer, a theme that Ferrari seemed to continue with the styling relationship between the 348 and Testarossa.

 

Apparently he thinks that everything is better nowadays which I totally disagree. The cars, at least aesthetically, are not better.The food is not better (full with preservatives GMOs etc). He has he own perspective of things which I respect.

 

I, too, was somewhat taken aback by his interview comments about his 308. Quite honestly if he feels like that then he really should get rid of the car. I, for one, think the 308 is a fantastic car for all sort of reasons. I do recognize that it is an older car and so it is going to have quirks... but then again all cars do... including new cars that Mr. May seems to endorse. As an example my "new"-ish X5...side windows will not work if there is any ice build up on it, the locks/cables within my doors seize which prevents one from opening the door (talk about a safety risk), flakey transmission, faulty sunroof, etc... the list is endless. Which brings me to his comment about how new cars are "better"... There is no question that new cars are more fuel efficient, pollute less, have more power, etc...These items are good things, but I feel that this list is cherry picked from a number of things that they are not better at... But, as you say... to each his own.

Cheers,

Sam

 

I agree with Sam 100% and as I always say, “you may have faster, newer, more expensive, more reliable, and quicker car, it’s still NOT a Ferrari 308”

 

What's wrong with how he feels? I feel the same way about my 328. There are better, faster, more reliable cars, but this is still a Ferrari.

 

Good day Paul,

Indeed, his comments and their presentation style could simply be his personality. I guess I simply take peoples' comments as presented unless I see mannerism's that dictate otherwise. If it were me, I would have ended my comments with something like ... "but it is a FerrarI and so that is all that matters". Who knows, perhaps he did and it was edited out?

Cheers,

Sam

 

Good day Mitchell,

Absolutely nothing wrong with Mr. May's feelings about the car. They are, after all, his own feelings. I simply took exception that to me they came across somewhat pointed. However, as mentioned in my previous post his presentation could very well be his personality.

Cheers,

Sam

 

That is right. His very dry personality comes across...