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

[Peter Rychel (dino308gt4]

Michael, it was an absolute pleasure meeting you and spending time with you back in 2022 at Mt Tremblant. You're a true gentleman and I know you'll always be the ultimate Ferrarista (well, except maybe 2^nd compared to Robert Garven, hehehehe!).

Thanks for letting us know it's headed out west and I will certainly keep an eye out for it at our various events/drives.

I wholeheartedly know where you're coming from and you need not apologize for selling. I have the utmost respect for someone like yourself who lived the dream and wasn't afraid of getting your hands dirty. I certainly think differently of those owners who just write cheques (for our American friends reading this message, that's checks! Ha!) when a light bulb burns out with one of their cars. Six figure mileage and almost a quarter century is an incredible achievement when most people change out their cars like underwear. 

And one last thing, please stick around this list! I and I'm sure the others would love to hear some of the (mis)adventures you had with it!

Cheers my friend!

Peter

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From: Ferrari <ferrari-bounces+dino308gt4=hotmail.com [at] ferrarilist.com> on behalf of Michel Savard <mysavard [at] videotron.ca>
Sent: May 22, 2025 3:47 AM
To: PeterGT4 <dino308gt4 [at] hotmail.com>
Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Subject: [Ferrari] Sold my dream car (1981 308 GTSi) after 24 years and why I did it.

 

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.