1989 Ferrari 328 GTS from North America - Comments

I continue to have a problem with the battery draining. I have replaced the battery and the wiring has been thoroughly checked, but the problem remains a mystery.

This vehicle is visually stunning. It appears to be moving quickly even at standstill. Sitting behind the wheel gives you the impression that you are part of the car.

Performance is better than I expected from (by North American standards) a small V8 and the handling is outstanding with exceptional braking capabilities.

You are right on.

I have owned a 1989 328 GTS for seven years. Having raced 15 years I enjoy hammering this car on the track. The weight to hp ratio is not efficiant. I would call this car a luxury liner. The Dino 246 has a great wt. to hp ratio. Hammer this car and feel Ferrari's racing heritage. The 308 GT/4 in right hands can dust a 328 on a short track. The targa style top on the 246 and 8's leak and create wind noise and makes a perfectly beautiful car suffer. Purchase a Berinetta and drive the car... You only have one chance in life... Don't park it... The 328 is a very costly fox of a car. The Daytona is by far the best...

I own my Ferrari 328 GTS 1988 since 4 years. Every spring it starts immediately. It rides well in particular on tight curvy roads.

I have a problem with oil leak and I need a tray on the floor. Cooling water is also leaking. Else I have no problem and I enjoy my car.

My 328 1988 with 32,000 miles is my second Ferrari.This car begs to be driven quickly on winding roads and sounds great. Though I have no dealer close by, I am fortunate to be able to do much of the service and repair effectively. Both my Ferrari's have been very reliable however both are over 15 years old so $$ are spent annually on maintenance and prevention. I budget/accrue $1200/year/car while driving each about 2400 miles/year.

Ferraris and any other performance car really hate being left in the garage (especially climate controlled, dried oil seals anyone?)... engine and gearbox seals amongst others need regular lubrification (aka they must be used). Bottom line is my 328 GTB has 124,000 Km runs like a sewing machine and doesn't leak a drop (well maybe one or two... but it doesn't need a bed pan). Why do so many folks buy a jewel of a sports car and then condemn it to death by not driving it??

If you're buying something exotic look for around 5,000 Km per year on the clock and a full service history, the pristine 328GTB which has 2000Km in the last 20 years will be an absolute nightmare.

Well I have just found this site and am extremely happy. I have been a Ferrari/ especially the 288GTO and 328/ enthusiast for 28 yrs as my uncle bought a 288GTO when I was four. I long for those days again, of rides along the California coast, but my uncle died last year and along with him my 288GTO dream. I still reside in California and so my 328 dream will continue on, and I dream of the day I can purchase one of my own. To date I believe 328 is still the most stunning and revolutionary style in sports car history. The lines, and curves reminiscence of the most beautiful woman in the world. She is, and will always be my mistress and I long for the day when we can finally be together and dance the dance of passion and life along the Pacific Coast highway once again. To all Ferrarista's keeps your dreams alive and always, "Drive strong" El Duche'

This is fine with me.

Please help me.

I want to purchase a 328 and I want to DRIVE it. Mostly I want to be able to get in the beauty and go. I do not intend it to be a daily drive but darn close. I am in Dallas Texas so it does freeze but mostly it is a nice climate.

I am hoping I can find some other folks on here that can give me some advice and I can go from there. Please let me know your thoughts and if you have a good mechanic in the Dallas that will be able to work on mine when I get it.

PS-- I want to purchase one in the next year.

Thank you SO much for your input.

Je1495000@gmail.com is good way to reach me.

I was lucky enough to drive a 328 GTS a few years ago and the thrill is still with me! I was a passenger at first in a car owned by the son in-law of my girlfriends neighbour. It was a pristine '89 I think, red on tan interior and sounded so very sweet. Nick took me for a Sunday drive in an industrial area of Toronto and I was completely blown away by the sheer speed of the 328 and the amazing sound coming from the engine. I mean it was so loud and high pitched that NO car I'd ever been in had left such a strong impression on me. It sounded like a high pressure vessel that was ready to blow. Amazing and overwhelming at the same time. Now, I must let you all know that I am a BIG F1 fan and sportscar fan, but my selection was limited to

Camaros, Mustangs, Vettes and Trans Ams. All were nice cars with big engines and fair handling, BUT, the Ferrari was and is ALL THAT and more. A thrill inducing, hair raising, sensory overloading memorable ride. No BS! This thing just about scared me 'spitless' as a passenger, and I LIKE speed! He was FLYING down this empty road banging gears on a clear sunday with me having to let off a 'rebel yell' to ease the incredible tension I was feeling build up as a passenger in this fantastic ride! WOW! We approached an area that would lead us into the more populated part of town, where a sign indicated an 'S' shaped chicane with a 15km speed limit and for a second I wondered to myself how we would make it seeing as we were probably going close to 200km/hr at the approach. The 328 put me at ease as it braked calmly and sliced thru the chicane like the proverbial 'hot knife thru butter'. Very impressive and confidence inspiring! I think I'm still smiling!

Best part is Nick let me drive his beautiful machine and I will be ever grateful and NEVER forget it! A Ferrari is like a very fit athlete with superior lung capacity and fluid grace. The car was exceptionally well balanced and made an immediate impression on me. I have driven Formula cars on two different occasions and the 328 felt every bit like a Formula car. Perfectly balanced, surprisingly quick and capable in turns and under braking. Magnificent!

Enjoy your 'cars' as they are certainly meant to give 'big boys and girls' thrills aplenty!

P.S. The Monday when I went to work I shared with my co-workers that I had driven a Ferrari, when a woman said "it's only a car." I had to laugh and immediately correct her by saying "No. A toyota is 'only a car'. What I drove was a FERRARI 328 GTS and trust me IT is NOT 'only a car'. It is a fine race-bred machine with a veneer of street civility that a few lucky and/or smart people can get to experience". Work hard, save money and live the dream as Road and track says, it is worth it!

To Je1495000@gmail.com:

It is 2009 by now, so you might have already gotten a 328. If not, here's my 2 cts on what to look for:

- Don't go for cheap, it'll cost you later: there really is no such thing as a bargain Ferrari. It usually implies that either it was poorly maintained (which could have very expensive consequences for you), or that it is of dubious ancestry (involved in serious accidents, cobbled together, etc.). Don't be afraid to spend a few '000 more on a nice car.

- Then again, don't get sucked into the Ferrari perfectionista trap: these cars are at least 2 decades old by now, so a few nicks here and there and a bit of patina is unavoidable, unless of course you get a garage queen (see comments above: bad idea, they should be driven!) or some 'concours' star (start thinking big $$$)

- Get some help buying it: have someone with expertise check it out, make sure you have some idea on history, maintenance, etc. Look around a bit.

- If possible given your local environmental regulations and availability, get a Euro spec car. They really are better and nicer to look at.

Best of luck, in the end I can assure you from personal experience: they ARE worth it!