Boxer ownership

Interested in your opinion of ownership of a 512bbi. Currently am an owner of a 328 gtb '89. Love the car.

I find the big sister interesting. Any thoughts?

Much appreciated, Bob.

As earlier stated on a thread the engines seem to be rebuild along with other components well under 20k miles. ??? Un-driven cars, even still makes me wonder. Good to hear that TR's go 80k miles with the same engine type.

Thanks again! Prices??? I am interested in the last year(s).

 

Yea....buy one!!! It is a great car that will bring a very wide smile to those that own them. But the real joy of a Boxer or a TR type car is something no other Ferrari has. The absolutely lovely sound of 12 cylinders. And that sir is the finest sound you will ever here!!! It beats Mozart, Chopin & any other great sounds of music all to hell. You will find by owning a 12 cylinder that the spring in your step will increase, the smell of the air to be more pleasant and your heart will skip a beat or two when you fire one up!!!! And if you are at the point in life where sex isn't a priority anymore......It will make you feel 40 again!!!

Best of luck in your decision!!!

 

A good Boxer is a wonderful car.

You see cars being rebuilt with low miles because they have been sitting-- Boxers don't seem to take kindly to sitting for long periods. A daily driven Boxer would be good for 100,000 miles plus easily. You might have to do the clutch in that timeframe, and obviously maintain it, but the basic motor and car will run forever if you take care of it and drive it regularly.

Also, look out for dodgy federalization schemes. Some of them were really mickey mouse, and contributed to reliability issues.

 

Buy a good 15k to 50k mile driven one and you will be a happy man. An early Sunday morning mountain drive in my Boxer is pure therapy. And, while not perfect, out of the 6 Ferraris I have owned, my BB512i has been the most trouble free. But, buy a 5k mile garage queen and you will be getting a Thank-You card from your mechanic's children as they graduate from college.

 

That is good advice. I actually prefer buying cars with miles. Have had my fill of coveted sculptures with correspondingly low-mileage and their pent up demands for mechanical attention.

Get one that's been maintained, driven, sorted, loved.

The Boxer is - to me - the last of the romantic, hand-hammered link to Enzo. That they could/would even DO a mid engined 12 was asking a lot for a production car. No wonder he didn't try to federalize it.

I've really enjoyed my 328s, and without a negative tone in my voice, felt the car was more visual promise than visceral performance. You'll find the Boxer an overkill answer to "Why doesn't this car have more power"? It a pulling, willing, shrilling, chilling machine.

It is due for its time in the appreciation spotlight. You're shopping for the right car, at the right time.

 

Pure and simple...a Boxer will just stomp the crap out of 328 performance-wise and sound-wise. I was fortunate enough to drive a carb 512 BB and it is easily the most badass Ferrari I've driven (and I've driven 355s, 348s, and modded 308s... oh, and 328s); like a 70's Can-Am car, or what I imagine one to be like. If you have the means, and can find a good one...I would recommend a carb 512, but others (for some reason ;-) ) feel differently.

 

i think you meant big brother!

 

they are great cars. but, they must be sorted to yield the performance and utility that make you love it.

either buy one that somebody else has taken apart and put back together, or buy a cheaper one with some service needs and be prepared to completely take it apart - at least you will know what was done! on a car this potent, i wanted to know that every single piece of equipment was vetted and tested.

i bought one and had it completely revised, replacing every non-perfect part, and now it is a beautiful and reliable machine (within reason for a 30 year old piece of handmade italian machinery of course )

 

I bought an '83 with 19,000+ miles on it. In two years, no real issues. Had the A/C fine tuned so it worked in Florida summers, reversed the clutch once, sediment in the fuel tank once caused rough running. Since I had the best non-computer Ferrari shop near-by, I never worried.

I had it lowered, rebuilt Konis (6), and new springs, the car handled and looked great even on those metric tires. Had planned to go to 18" rims, but never got around to it.

I guess I should not have said I had no real issues. There was this as*h*le that rear-ended me and totalled the Boxer.

Lasat of the handbuilt Ferraris, and when I met Sergio Pininfarina, he said one of their favorite designs.

 

Wouldn't sell mine.

There is no drive like a Boxer.

I bought mine from a collector a few years ago. It sat for 10 years, had 63000 Km.
the best thingI did was replace everything. The best approach is, cover everything off make a list. After all everything was 30 years old. There is nothing wrong with being picky, have it done corectly the first time with soneone who really understand the BB. I am picky and was never happy with its running, so the motor now has 447HP.
Interior, brakes, cooling, etc. I even bought a set of 17 three pices wheels, and an extra set of spline hubs.
The car is great, exciting everthing a Ferrai should be.

 

I think about your accident almost every time I look in the mirror. So glad to still have you around, even after all you went through afterwards, it is a miracle you survived.

Your Boxer was a stunner! I never get tired of the great pics you took of it.

OP, if you don't know any of the many Boxers here local in SoCal, bring your 328 to Cars & Coffee or one of the many weekend events and spend some time with a Boxer and owner in person. Probably others like me who would be happy to spend time with a serious prospective owner.

Any way you do it, be around as many Boxers as you can and get informed. Lots of opinions out there, but only you know what is important to you.

And stay posted here, many of the Boxers for sale end up being vetted by the knowledgeable ranks here in this section.

 

Thanks William. I still spend a lot of time looking in the mirror.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Love my 328gtb as it does everything I need, with the understanding that is a car from 1989.

The boxer of course is roomier plus the four extra cylinders. I think it would be a treat.

Probably looking at the last years and sorted out. I do find it odd that even the driven cars have a history of replacing / repairing much of the mechanicals, more than I would imagine.

This said, I remember reading the article about "think you an afford a 550" a few years ago and I did an about face. As it turns out, having had a Ferrari for a while I see the difference between owners and the history of each car. They are an individual circumstance.

Thanks again, look forward to any other info you can throw my way.

I am not going to track or punish the car, just spirited street driving when possible. I am in tune with enjoying the cars for their being unique.

I did the thrashing about in other cars over the years and now enjoy the sounds, handling and beauty of these machines.


One question that I have> Why is there so much air between the top of the tires and the bodywork???? I assume that these cars are stock.
Is there any loss of compliance in a lowered car and any drawback to either set ups??????

Thanks, Bob.

 

Indeed, there was a black/black example sold with 110K showing, don't recall if that was kms or miles, but it had proper attention to the engine and had gone a LONG way....

 

The most beautiful road Ferrari ever made in my opinion.
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I'm led to believe that lowering the car is okay if you know that you'll be driving on good roads, otherwise there's a very real possibility that you'll start grinding away the headers if you lower it too much.

 

Front overhang clearance issues exist even with the stock setup. Beware. Don't ask me how I know.

Very charismatic car to tool around in and it makes that sound (al least the BB does, never driven a BBi). Not any more room in it than the 328, but that is why I don't take it to the mall.

 

Love my Boxer! Driven regularly and enthusiastically mostly on the back roads where it really shines. Well sorted and maintained - just the way the factory intended. Every outing is a real occasion. Mine has over 50,00 miles on the original engine - still very very sweet. I recommend keeping the factory rims and XWX tires etc (unless you are going for best lap time). Gives a surprisingly compliant ride (remember the chassis and suspension were designed to work with the high profile tyres). Overall I can't recommend Boxers enough. I agree with what is said about pre purchase advice. I would avoid unused garage queens and cars that has been messed with. A driven, sorted and well maintained Boxer is a joy indeed. There is a lot of misinformation and IMHO BS about Boxers made worse by rehashed old magazine articles. Drive a good one and make up your own mind. Good luck with your decision / search. Best wishes S

 

i agree with all you said. the recycled of sheehan articles do the car no favors. this is not a "talking points" car but instead one that needs to actually be experienced.

when i drive mine (far too infrequent i should add) i often literally say, "what an effen machine!"

 

Who's that old guy in the Boxer pic?... Never mind...obviously no one important...

 

Of my cars, the BBi would probably be the last to go. It ticks all the right intangible boxes: the noise, the smell, the butt accelerometer, the intimate cockpit...hard to convey in words its magic.

The BBi at Cavallino a few years ago.
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Go For It.
You won't regret it one bit.
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Mine at an FCA event, love the 365 headers sticking out the back.
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Thanks Steve , I was looking all over for my picture i posted several years ago
By the way Enzo's favorite road car !!
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My car at Palo Verdes Botanical Gardens 2004.
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