[DeTomaso] Ferrari 308GTB dilemma no Pcar content

[Scott Carpenter]

I own both a '71 Pantera and an '85 Ferrari 308 QV GTS... I can honestly
tell you that they are completely different cars.

However I absolutely love both of them.  The 308, even my QV, is quick but
it is not fast compared to anything modern.  Heck my 2008 Cadillac CTS V-6
has about 70 more Horsepower.
Straight line performance was about even with a (completely stock) late 80's
5.0L Mustang. Although the Ferrari does corner much better than the
Mustang.  The Ferrari is also much more fun to get there.. I've owned lots
of 5.0L Mustangs and none of them would wind as high as the Ferrari.

The big thing to thing about with the Ferrari is the maintenance schedule...
there is a lot of preventative maintenance where you replace something
because it is old BEFORE it breaks.  In some cases such as the timing
belts.. if they break you are looking at a very expensive rebuild. So most
people tend to do the "major service" every 5 years which includes replacing
the timing belts as well as re-shimming the valves and various other things
that I am sure someone else knows better than me..  I took mine to the
dealer for that service as I kind of know my personal limits as to what I
can and can't do.  It was about $6500 parts and labor for them to do the
service.

If  you are handy with a wrench and are comfortable doing it yourself then
the parts to can be bought  from a few vendors for about $1200.  A Ferrari
is not a mythical beast.. it is still just a car.  So working on it is not
much different than working on any other car...

I will echo the sentiments of others who have responded... find the best car
you can afford to buy.  Don't get suckered by low mileage because it is
about a 2 minute job to disconnect the Odometer and the same to re-install
it.. Besides you don't want something that was never used because then you
have to spend a fortune replacing everything before you even get to play
with it...

I've owned my 308 for 4 years now and the Pantera for about 7... I've
probably spent the same on both but I've also had more work done on the
Pantera including having it re-painted.  I can tell you that I've had more
mechanical problems with my Pantera but that stems from some things the
previous owner did in the engine.

Anyway that is just my two cents.. I agree the Ferrari is a great compliment
to the Pantera.  In fact I'm already thinking of adding a V-12 Ferrari in
the future.  I know there are other Ferrari/Pantera owners out there I am
sure they will chime in...

Scott