Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Sold my dream car (1981 308 GTSi) after 24 years and why I did it.

[Robert Garven (rgarven]

Michel,

Glad you had a good time with the car. Sorry you had to let it go, but 
understand. Hopefully you stay on the list and contribute!

Your pal,

Rob

On May 22, 2025, at 3:47 AM, Michel Savard <mysavard [at] videotron.ca> wrote:


> 
> I sold the dream of my life. My 1981 308 GTSi is gone. I’m in Quebec, Canada 
> and it left for British-Columbia, Canada yesterday.
> I had it for 23 years and 9 months. It had 108198 miles. I drove an average 
> of 1470 miles every summer. Longest trips: Boston, Atlantic City, Toronto.
> 
> I drove it once this year to make a video for the buyer. It was exciting for 
> 1 1/2 hour again after 5 months. The magic was still there, the SOUND was 
> just awesome. It was a cold april day, perfect for this engine.
> 
> But it was time to let it go. I retired (I’m 66 years old) last december and 
> after 44 years without the engine ever being taken out, I was afraid it might 
> happen anytime now. For all those years the thrill of solving problems, 
> taking apart a corner, bumpers, going under the car on cold cement, replacing 
> this and that, searching for parts here and there around the world, asking 
> questions on this list, going on Youtube to watch Ferrari owners fixing their 
> problems and giving good explanation was almost as exciting as driving the 
> 308. I loved solving problems.
> 
> But now it just became a burden. I used to say “Well it’s a 25 year-old car, 
> so it’s normal that this breaks”, then, “Well it’s a 30 year-old car, so it’s 
> normal that this breaks”, then “….35…”, then “….40…”. I just got tired. I had 
> a whale on my shoulder. Every little thing got me anxious. 2 years ago, my 
> front engine seal had to be changed: 1 mechanic said I had to take out the 
> engine and the other said he was certain he could changed it without taking 
> out the engine out. The later got it right after keeping the car for the 
> whole winter. But boy did this made me nervous for so long. Remember last 
> year when my horn worked when stationary but not on the highway ? (FYI: The 
> horn decided to work when I drove it in april, go figure). The gas pump fuse 
> blew when I tried to start it in april. Never happened before. It got to a 
> point where every little thing made me so nervous.
> 
> So, almost 24 years as owner, 108198 miles on the odometer, just retired with 
> a teacher's pension, traffic is horrible in Montreal and its suburbs. Rush 
> hour is 7h to 19h. No joke. Weekends are not that different. I woke up this 
> morning and I was VERY RELIEF.
> Most important, I would like to thank this LIST for helping me for all those 
> years. You guys have been so helpful.
> 
> I’m sure many of you want to know about $$$$$. In all transparency, that’s a 
> rare word these days, I paid $38,500 cad in august 2001 and sold it for 
> $77,777 cad.
> 
> Forza Ferrari!
> Michael savard
> P.S.: Here is the last picture of me with the 308 from 
> yesterday.<vendu-20-05-2025.jpg>

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