Question re: maintenance costs for 308/328 vs. 355/360

BS. 308/328 requires much less maintenance $ than the other cars. mainly because the older cars allow engine in-situ cambelt services. a quick search on here would reveal many threads supporting this.
Greg

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

 

Agree with this. Also 355 and 360 parts prices can be astronomical in comparison, especially if F1 gearboxes or power tops are in the equation.

The argument for the 355 and 360 used to be that they were much newer, but frankly they're all old used cars at this point, and considerably more complicated than the 308/328.

 

It will depend on the car. Like condition, a 308QV or 328 will probably be the lowest maintenance, but I'd think a carb 308 would be as much or more than a 360. 355 probably the worst of the lot due to engine out service.

However, the 355 and 360 are in a different league performance and ergonomics wise (especially the 360 interior). None will be cheap and I doubt the difference on a per year basis would be very much between any of them. Maybe you'd have to spend $4-500 a year more for a 355 vs. a 328, but probably less if both cars were well sorted. I wouldn't make that part of my buying criteria as having the car I wanted would be (is) well worth a couple hundred a year.

 

None of these cars are cheap to maintain.

I have seen major service + incidentals bills of $8K+ on a needy 308/328, and in excess of $18K on a needy 355.

Ferrari of Denver has a 308 QV listed that apparently had $20K worth of work done to it recently, so... you have to want a Ferrari, and there are no guarantees.

They are a lot of fun, and while $5500 was a lot of cash to service my 328 on its last major I always got a rush driving it. Hard to put a value on that. They aren't technically as good as a contemporary Porsche, but even when they leak a bit or you end up paying $200 for a switch there's still something about the cars that makes you forgive them.

 

I can assure you the Ferrari of Denver 308 has had that amount of work done on it. It is a decent car for sure. I have looked at it many times when I have gone to the dealership.

 

Spend cash first and get a good inspection. Be patient for the right car. There will always be another opportunity.

I own a 328 and a 360CS and formerly owed a 355. Easily the 355 was/is the most expensive. In 3 years with my 328, I have done belts and a water pump and fitted new tires. Less than a year with my CS and only had to do belts. My 355 was a needy one and I don't want to condemn them as a good one is truly great. No Ferrari is inexpensive to service, but I would recommend setting aside a budget every year to do fluids and belts when needed. Get a good mechanic you can trust and when they say to do something, just do it. And of course, drive the car - don't let it sit there suffering for a drive!

 

Keep in mind that the 360 doesn't need the engine out for cambelt changes and doesn't need valve adjustments. And without an F1,maintainance costs will be lower (including longer clutch life).

 

I've owned both a 328 and a 355. From my personal experience, both cars were decent examples and therefore quite representative. If you intend to own for 4 years or more then I would expect the 355 to cost considerably more to run. Approximately double the cost of a 328.

 

+ 1

My 328 major was 3-4k

My mechanic says to budget 7-8k for my 355.

360's are in the middle but can catch up with clutch changes which are much more than the 355... Especially if it is a 360 F1.

Robb

 

Not sure why your service costs in the US are so high, they seem to be double what we would pay in the UK. Generally costs of running a business are lower in the USA than here so I dont understand this.

 

I have fluids done each year on my 328,just did a major(including cam belts,water pump ,valve adj,,fluids,gasket replacements,filters )at local Ferrari dealer for the cost of 9,910.My 328 is an 88 with 16,000 miles.Concourse condition.Is this a reasonable cost or did I pay too much?

 

It depends. If they had to pull the motor to get to some leaking gaskets I would say that's probably right as it's not easy to pull a motor out of one of those. If they didn't pull the motor we'd really have to see everything that was done, but it sounds quite high.

 

Motor was not pulled.

 

308's are a true classic and one of the best looking cars ever made but 355's and 360's are in another world as far as performance is concerned. The Toyota Camry blowing away the 308 video for example.

 

OK... time to put away the BS - O - Meter.

The 308 and 328 are probably the least expensive to maintain than any other Ferrari. It never needs engine out service aside from a complete rebuild, the clutch is easy to replace as are the timing belts, the valve adjust is just like a Fiat 124 but with less room to work and using the same shims. If you have a Fuel Injected version, it's using common Bosch parts. If there were a VW Bug version of a Ferrari, it would be the 308/328.

The 355 is close to one of the most expensive to maintain.

The 360 is somewhere in the middle, probably closer to the 308/328.

I have no idea what your mechanic is referring to but if he told you this, he's flat wrong.

 

True, but there are modern BMWs under warranty and with 'free' maintenance that will eat a 355 for lunch while carrying groceries and a couple of kids. Old cars are old cars - I think anyone who buys an old car and dwells on 0-60 is knocking on the wrong door.

If someone wants a reliable Ferrari that won't kill you in service costs, and 0-60 isn't the main concern, the 328 is the hands-down winner. Plus at $60K for a nice they're a raging bargain. You can't get a decently equipped Boxster for that sum. Also, I found the 328 to be wonderful to drive. The fun factor is still there.

 

355 and 360's are 0-60 in appox. 4.6 seconds. Even a new M5 is only something like 4.2. Not exactly eating it for lunch.

 

I'm interested in this thread as I've always wanted to get a 355. I've had my '78 GTS for about 17 years now and do all my own work...just wondering how much stuff can be done on a 355 by a DIYer.

 

No contest here, the 355/360 are more expensive to maintain.

 

They're quite easy to work on in my experience. Clutch is super easy, engine out is probably the hardest thing on it but can be done without a lift, there are multiple DIY's on how to do it. Electrical system is fairly simple and there is a lot of info on how to troubleshoot/repair out there.

 

Thanks, I might have to look for one in the near future.

 

If you get a 6-speed then everything can be done by a DIY'er. Just put a header back on yesterday. I'm the only one who has touced my 355 in two years of ownership.

 

A 355 Will cost $$$$$$$$ at some point - no escaping it. this is why you see some with really poor mtns, as its costly and never ending.

308 - depending on health and service - can be reliable but will eventually cost some $$ - same with 328. 328 have pretty much great reliability and are something you could ( dont want to) but could live with every day....

355 - hands down beautiful car... so pretty... but can suck the cash out of you fast. there are some that dont but most will.

besides the normal belts etc... consumables you have:

valve guides,
exhaust headers
cat's - throwing CEL's
shock issues
sticky bubbly switch gear & leather pulls away etc...
F1 pumps & clutch life
AC units that not work well
Electric tops -

So as you can see there is a lot to go wrong, and its a matter of time before it does.

if you buy a car with guides, and headers etc... all done... then the price is high, but you will still have the normal mtns to do. you can do belts in place but huge headache, and not all service guys will do it... I was hot and heavy after a 355... but after conversation with Ferrari NA ... decided against it. but when they are woking well- FANTASTIC CAR!