Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Why a 308GT4? (Was: First 1000 miles done in the 308 :) )

[Peter Pless (ferrarilist]

I agree with everything you saw except for the fast and great handling bit
:)

Do the 16" rims make the ride harsher? I'm not really too fussed about
improving handling.

Sodium valves!! *shudder*

I want to get new carpets and recover the instrument surround...anyone have
a source for original carpet and vinyl materials? 

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert W. Garven Jr. [mailto:rgarven [at] gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 16 May 2007 10:46 AM
To: Peter Pless
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Why a 308GT4? (Was: First 1000 miles done in the 308
:) )

Friends,

I think Peter found out what the rest of us Gt4 owners already know, that
this is one fun, fast, great handling, easy to work on, great visibility,
little Ferrari. I have around 47,000 miles on mine still with sodium valves,
After warm up I shift almost every shift at redline.
Drive the car at least once a week and it has made my life complete.  
It is easy to work on and sounds and feels like what a Ferrari should sound
and feel like!

I do however suggest the QV or after-market 16" wheels, they were an option
in Europe as early as 77-78 and they give the car a tremendous boost in
handling. I still have 3 other sets of wheels, but the QV ones I got here
from Dave Handa are the best thing I ever did for the car except for tee
Tubi exhaust!
The wheels are the exact same design as the original just 1 inch bigger
around and it is easier to find a good tire, although 16" tire are actually
becoming rarer in this age of ever expanding rim size.

Enjoy the car in good health!

Rob Garven

On May 15, 2007, at 7:10 AM, Peter Pless wrote:

> Never an LM!!
>
> Well..i wanted a carby car because the club has fragmented a 
> little...they now have carby events and modern events....and all the 
> old codgers who I hung out with in the club drive the oldies...i 
> didn't want a twelve...and since it's going to be, more or less, my 
> everyday car, I like its practicality. Let me add, however, that my 
> previous every day car only did 2-3000km a year!
>
> Plus...the one I found is a ripper!
>