308 GTSi or 308 QV?

I think the QV is the best option for a number of reasons, including performance (especially a good Euro version). I will not list them here, I am sure others will. As you mentioned, there is a premium for the QV (for a good reason).

 

Welcome Peter! If you are not into HP and just interested in style, any year would have to do as all 308 are beautiful but if performance and reliability you’re after beside the body style, well, there are various differences. Do a search as to what are the difference between year and model. In ten year of production, from 1975 to 1985 there’s quite a different personality for each car. Beside your research for differences for this car, you really should test drive them, better yet drive different year if you can.

 

If you really want better performance, get pretty much any modern sports car for the same $. Otherwise, you'll enjoy the top off. It's an event every time you take it out.

 

I bought my 81 GTSi #38031 4 Year’s ago and have loved every minute of owning and driving it. Is it fast ? No, but when your arse is 6” off the ground everything feels fast. I personally love the black “A” pillars so the earlier 308’s appeal to me more. I looked at a 79 carb car and an 85 Q.V. before settling on my 81 2v. I’ve read lots of posts and stories about the much maligned 2v injected cars due to lower power etc, for me the car will break every speed limit in Australia, it’s 37 years old and it’s a Ferrari, it’s fast enough. In fact I quite like the fact my car was only produced for a short time, and one of 67 sold in the UK, for me it’s s rare car
I’ve been a mechanic for 30 years, my advice to you, buy the best car you can afford. Don’t buy a poor condition Q.V. if the same money will get you a good condition 2v. The pleasure is in looking at and driving a nice car, not bring off the road looking at repair bills, or suffering constant breakdowns. Good luck


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GTS or GTB for you?

 

I like carbed cars. They just sound better IMO.

 

I was in your shoes 15 years ago. As a long time QV owner, I really enjoy the reliability. Always starts and runs. Plenty of power. More like a 328 than an early 308.

I agree with rjlloyd about buying a car in good condition, but all things being equal, get the QV. That was my choice and it worked well for me.

Good luck.


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I have a 1981 GTSi and I would strongly recommend a QV.

Matt

 

All variations of the 308 are uniquely fantastic works of art.

All require a loving owner.

All certainly give the owner more than they take.

My advice, explore the breeds. You will be certain of your choice this way.

 

Simply more usable power.

My ‘81 is very slow compared to a modern Honda Civic.

More power means more fun. But a QV is still very controllable power.

Matt

 

My dad bought it in 1985, and I inherited it two years ago when he passed away.

Matt

P.S. Post your location. It’s a nicety, and you may find someone who will offer you a drive, or at least a ride.

 

If you only live nearby you can drive mine.

 

Go with a QV if you're going to get a non-carb car, unless you can find a GTBi, those are pretty rare-QV GTBs are are hard to find also.

These are all old cars-just go with a carb'd car if you're thinking about it. These cars are all flat crank, they all sound absurd but 4 webers take it just over 11

 

Have you ever thought of getting the best of both worlds? 3.2 QV engine in an '81 308 body?

 

Close, I have a friend who has an 82 308 with an 84QV in it.

 

A lot of it is going to come down to what comes your way.

When you start looking for a 308, you'll discover you can't just walk a row of them at a dealership and pick your favorite one. It can take a lot of searching to find a car you like. And, it may come down to a choice; for example, a concours '81 versus a driver '84. It is never an obvious decision.

Buying an exotic sports car is not like buying a common Honda or Mercedes.

 

Condition, not performance. They are all slow. If you want performance for the same money buy a 355. In the 308 range, king of the hill is a vetro (glass) bodied 308, followed by a steel 77 GTB. After that its a mishmash of 2v emissions carb cars (78-79), 2v emissions injected cars (80-82), 4 valve emissions 308 (83-85), and euro variants of each. My ideal 308 would be an Euro market 83 as it retains the styling I prefer (later 2vi interior, body colored radiator vents and upper rockers, blacked out A and B pillars, and the 4 valves). My 82 GTSi, an USA 2vi, is an extremely reliable fun car and really has been perfect. The price to purchase was less than a comparable QV. The amount of smiles, the same as a QV. Just get in the game and off the sidelines!

 

I think that a few of you are splitting hairs here

I have had my 2V for 10 years now and since then I have had the opportunity to drive a few QV’s. With that said, I think that anyone who says that they can feel a significant difference between a 2V and a QV is smoking in the shower. There is a perceivable difference between the two but it’s hardly noticeable, and if you do notice it it doesn’t amount to much....certainty nothing to obsess about. A 328 is definitely more powerful than a 2V but I would still put them in the same category.....it’s nothing like the difference between a308 and a 355.

I would just focus on getting a solid car in the best condition that you can find and base your decision on that.

Trust me that if you get yourself a really nice 308 you will be happy no matter which model it is

 

Based on my experience I’d say it’s more like the car will find you rather than the other way around. The more narrow your focus the longer you’ll be searching. The first car I looked at was a black ‘79 and the one I ended up in is a red ‘83. It came down to I didn’t care what year or even color. All you have to do is sit in one and it grows on you in about 30 seconds, they are all beautiful but there are going to be aspects of the deal and varying condition that are going to eventually lead you you “your” car.