| Author | Message | ||
| Dan Gordon (Ferruccio)
Junior Member Username: Ferruccio Post Number: 82 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks Ralph!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 668 Registered: 3-2002 |
DAN: I Forgot your last question: Yes the alternator burned out. NOTE: I am NOT speaking for JRV. JRV explained to me that an alternator has to constantly bust its ass to try and recharge the battery when you have a garage queen that is not driven regularly. There are alternative methods available to keep the battery happy when you are not going to drive the car every day. You can install a device to keep the battery well charged. This will prevent the ALT from working very hard all the time. Also I had to have the AC serviced. The original owner who I purchased the car from lived in The Bay Area. I looked at the car around midnite in March. I froze while I was in his garage. Needless to say I forgot to check the AC. It was blowing strong when I got the car home. It was not cold. It had alot of residue in some of the fittings from lack of use. The car was recommended to me from the Sales Mgr at Al Burtoni. I have heard that they are reliable cars. I have also heard that some people have had problems with the cars. Every car is different. It is a hand made auto. NOTE: I "assume" that Lamborghini from time to time changed different suppliers for parts on the car. This perhaps brought about a different story for different cars ?? I am not positive on this. I do know that if you line up ten of the same models of Lamborghini's you will find each car has some significant differences after you have taken them apart. ie.... One car might have ATE brakes, and the earlier car may have Girling. All of this may help explain "perhaps" why some have had better luck than others ????? It is not like GM where you have 30,000 cars that are basically the same from the beginning to the end. Each car will almost be different in some way or another. For sure when it comes from year to year. I just found out that the inside of the dash on the 88 is different from the 89. Interesting how they would change the inside of the dash while they knew that the C/T line was going to close very soon. The outside of the dash is similar from 88 to 89. I hope that I am not boring you all. Thanks Omar. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 880 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ralph. thanks for the input, your reflections and experiances are invaluable. | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 666 Registered: 3-2002 |
I cannot compare the car to a Ferrari. The main competitor of the C/T QV was obviously the TR. Realize that they made alot of TR's. Each car has some inherent issues. Do your research here. Alot has to do with personal preference. The TR has belts and the C/T has the clutch. These are the main normal maintainance issues with the car. I will not complain about anyones ride. I like TR's also. Lots of torque and power. I have only been in a TR and 512 TR one time. I do not have significant time in each car. 512TR should be compared to the Diabolo. Do not purchase the first car you run into. Spend alot of time with research and study the market. | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 665 Registered: 3-2002 |
Dan: The car's main problem is the clutch. Allan has had good luck with his clutch when he had the car. Do not do stupid burn-outs and your clutch will last. The car will rock after you start rolling. All Italian cars are not drag racers. My car has 9,600 kilometers with the original clutch. The clutch really grabs and feels like it has plenty of life. Purchase a motorcycle for the burning acceleration. Look for books, tools, service records ( NO GAPS ), low # of owners, was the owner a car enthusiast ?, originality, compression test, PPI ~ from someone who knows the cars, etc... The good thing is that the car has probably been sorted out by now; if it has been kept for quite awhile. They offer alot of performance for the money. Good Luck. | ||
| Dan Gordon (Ferruccio)
Junior Member Username: Ferruccio Post Number: 80 Registered: 2-2003 |
Ralph, I know you just bought your countach. But has anything gone wrong with it yet? Do you have any advice in buying the car(what to look out for Clutch, etc.)? Can you compare the car to any other exotics like some Ferraris? Thanks | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 659 Registered: 3-2002 |
OMAR: I have never been in any Lotus. I heard they handle very good. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 873 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ralph, is front visibility worse than a 87+ Esprit? | ||
| adrian low (Audionut)
Member Username: Audionut Post Number: 339 Registered: 4-2003 |
Well put Ralph. Your last line sums it up perfectly. Wish I had one. | ||
| Dan Gordon (Ferruccio)
Junior Member Username: Ferruccio Post Number: 76 Registered: 2-2003 |
Ralph, Thanks for the Info!! | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 655 Registered: 3-2002 |
Dan: Greetings. Like everyone else, most people are happy with what they have. I am happy with the C/T. Most people claim that the 4 valve car is the one with "far" more performance. An owner of a two valve car claimed that his was like a row boat compared to a 4 valve. I have never driven a two valve car. I have no way of evaluating the two. Most people recommend finding a 4 valve car. Parts are harder to find on the earlier cars. I do not have enough time with the car to tell you about reliability. Everyone has different stories. I have heard both good and bad stories. This is not limited to just the C/T. Visibility is poor. There is a bad blind spot. That is just one thing you will have to live with. Frontal vision is fine. There is a dash glare on occasions. You will learn to get used to the "blind spot." Simply just pass up a car and turn into the lane when you see the front end in the rear view mirror. You could also install a small camera if that helps you. You can also use it to spy on your maid when you are not driving. This way you can be confident that your maid is not stealing your wives lingerie. The car has an abundance of luxury on the inside. There is leather everywhere you look. Everything is hand stitched. They do not make cars like this anymore. Who needs a luxury car when they used to make cars like this ? The paint is decent. A modern entry level Lexus will have higher quality paint. Most Italian cars are like this. They repainted some F 40's after they were delivered to the USA. Unfortunately I feel you cannot leave a car like this anywhere. It will only be a matter of time before vandalism will occur. I feel that I will need a car sitter; if I ever decide to park and leave the car (especially at night). I know its crazy but what are you going to do ? How long until someone keys it ? 15K to paint the car ! A car sitter is cheaper. I am not into taking the car and parking it on a Sat Night. A car sitter is the way to go. I was looking for a Sunday AM driver when I purchased it. The car is not very difficult to shift. It requires effort. It is not a workout in the gym. The clutch is stiff. Again it is not the end of the world. If you cannot make sacrifices to some degree, look into a new Corvette. That car is loaded with refinement. The clutch and break petals are close together. You really need small shoes here. The C/T was designed in the very early 1970's !!!!!!! Ergonomics, driver comfort, and refinement were really not factored into design at the time. It DOES NOT have the refinement of new modern cars. The tires on the car are terrific. It easily comes out on top with all the other cars of the era in this department. The car is like a go cart in the turns. I suppose the brakes are typical of the period. Fair-by todays standard, with no place on the track. Ingress and egress is difficult. It is a pleasure to go in and out though. It is not your daily driver correct ? The doors are enjoyable. Years ahead on styling and function. The car is a thrill to drive and own. It is not a practicle car you can use very often. It is a joy to own as a third car. They will never make a car like this again. | ||
| Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
Intermediate Member Username: Kennyh Post Number: 1151 Registered: 8-2001 |
Taek-Ho, CountachXX (Will)'s 512tr has more then 40k miles on it (I believe) and I know that if his Lambo could stay out of the shop, it would have just as many. It's one badass car, there is no denying it. I just have never seen one that didn't have some kind of issues. Chances are you know much more then me, but having experience at various track events in the NE, everyone seems to have some kind of problem. With that being said, I'd still love to own one in the not so distant future; I believe this car is the "ultimate" exotic car. | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Intermediate Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 1944 Registered: 11-2002 |
Kenny, Having known some Countach owners I would have to say that is definitely not the norm. Also keep in mind having a good mechanic who can sort the problems well is crucial with any exotic. Stay away from any 20 year old car that has 10k miles only too. That pretty much translates into a light restoration. All sorts of crap is going to have to be replaced. These cars are meant to be driven and when they're not, like any machine...they fall apart. Cheers | ||
| Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
Intermediate Member Username: Kennyh Post Number: 1149 Registered: 8-2001 |
Dan, one of the forum members who I spent most of last summer with had the worst trouble with his Countach, he said he invested over double the value of the car to get it running, yet it never has been 100%. On the way to the Poconos concourse last year the battery kept going. Imagine seeing a 512tr Ferrari jump a Countach on the side of the road!  | ||
| Dan Gordon (Ferruccio)
Junior Member Username: Ferruccio Post Number: 72 Registered: 2-2003 |
Ralph, I can't help but notice that you have a Countach. How do you like it? How bad are the manintance costs? Are the erogonomics as bad as the magazines say? How reliable has it been? Any other info would be helpfull | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 651 Registered: 3-2002 |
Like "ANY" of these cars purchase the very best one you can find. A bargain will hit you between the eyes a month or so down the road. Sure there can be good buys out there. It does happen some times. I originally started looking for a bargain. I realized real soon that it would probably take forever to find one. Typical situation: Pay 10K more at the top of the market prices for a low mile car with documented services and few owners. ~or~ Save the 10K or around that amount, and purchase a car with many owners and no documentation of any services. The owner will probably not know what if anything was done to the car. Choose where you want to be. Countach 4 Valve cars: Anywhere from 55K to as hi as 90K asking price. Two valve cars: I presume are a little lower. | ||
| Scott Levinsohn (Rennen)
New member Username: Rennen Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2003 |
I always found those guides to be a little lower than market value, at least asking prices. | ||
| Dan Gordon (Ferruccio)
Junior Member Username: Ferruccio Post Number: 71 Registered: 2-2003 |
Nada says an 1987 Lamborghini countach is worth 55,000 does that sound right? I thought you could pic up a decent one for 65,000 but 55,000 seems low. |