Long Term TR ownership

Hello TR owners,

I currently own 328gts/550/360CS. I am very happy with all the cars and have no plans to upgrade or sell. I like to find good cars (both in terms of condition, and what they offer in the driving experience) and stick with them.

A black TR has always been on my mind however. I was wondering if owners might share with me whether they have owned their cars for a long time and love them, or has it been more of a brief affair, fulfilled the need/dream and moved on? Also, at what point do TRs get impossible to sell - 50k miles?

Many thanks for you help!
cb

 

Give Rob, Uzz32soarer a call, he lives near you (Australia that is )
He has a few Testas including and 'M'.


P

 

Where are you based Chris?

 

Hi Rob, I am based in Sydney. You are at least closer to me than Phil! I see you have a number of TRs, so your commitment is strong. As I said in the first post, I wanted to see if the love affair lasted only a couple of years, or if it becomes a car you want to keep around for quite a while. I am not interested in flipping cars all the time to try things, etc, so I like to be sure what I get I am happy with. I have read the buying guides, etc so I know some of the obvious issues with the TRs - electrics, transaxle, major service/engine out expense. I go back and forth as to if its going to be for me, so searching through the posts here and asking some questions from you guys.

cb

 

13 yr Testarossa owner - in a nut shell, it's a 12 in the rear, with timeless looks of a super model.

You will find it very different to the 360cs and 550....imagine it like the 328 just with a lot more power...but with the 80s feel. The Testarossa in overall size is actually smaller than your 550 and 360 when put them side by side.

Find the best one you can find without stories or gaps in the service and you should be fine. They are temperamental when cold , and need time to warm up, as well as the gearbox, but once up to temperature there is nothing like the 12.

Good choice, and great addition to your current collection.

 

Thx Big Red, good points. Yes I'm sure the TR is much different than the CS or the 550, both of which are very quick cars. I have been asked why I keep the 328 when it is a much slower and older car. And that is why I keep it! It offers something the other don't, like lack of power steering, targa roof, 80s braking, and of course, the shape. But what I really like is that I can drive the 328 all the way to its limits - I can keep my boot on it whenever I like and keep it on the boil. The 550 I can do a little less so, and the CS, well, you need a lot of road or a track. I think TRs must be better than the market price reflects, but that's a draw point too.

 

well said. +1

 

Six year owner here. I have had no surprises with this car. It has been rock solid since purchase. Routine maintenance and fluid changes only. Sort out any electrical issues and you will be set. Will do my second major this fall.

I just added a carbed GTB to the garage. VERY differnt cars and driving experiences. The TR is wicked quick but a real handful in the twisties - it can do it but you have to work pretty hard. However, with pretty good luggage space it is meant to load up and get out of town for a long weekend. It will chew up highway miles like no ones business.

You have a great collection already. The TR would be a great addition. Nothing like 12 cylinders screaming behind your head.

CC

 

I am a newbie relative to the others as I have had mine only 5 years. Also have a 360 so I can compare the two, but there is no comparison. TR can be frustrating but with all the great help on F-Chat I always have been able to sort it out the couple of times I had a problem.

And like Big Red said, it's a 12 in the rear with timeless looks. You'd be amazed at how many cars out there copy the key design elements

 

I've come to learn and enjoy that Any F-Car screaming behind your head is...."Sweet Music"....

 

We've had one since 99. Been the most trouble free care we own.

Great for travelling, not so good around town.

With the fitted luggage you can actually pack a useful load. Without you better pack light.


Always thought a black TR with a well done flame job would look great.

No TR is sale proof, it is just a matter of how much you want for it. I bet the high mile cars cost their owners less per mile buy a big margin so in reality it will cost less to run up the miles.

We got ours with 1000 miles on it. For that 1000 miles it cost the original owner $230,000 in depreciation alone.

Don't buy as an investment.

 

You an always give me a PM and I'll send you my number for a chat. Yep, three and a half in the shed and a lifetime love affair I suspect. You have the only other Fez that I would consider, 550 and I hope it's a manual?

 

Sixteen years with a TR and loved every minute of it.....

Rgds,
Vincenzo

 

All great info thank you. I am accustomed to 8 screaming behind me, so 12 has to be better by at least 50%!

My 550? Three pedal all the way. Grigio/bordeaux. Never even considered F1. The 550 hides its size via all the torque the V12 is pumping out. As others will tell you, you could just put it in third gear and drive it as an auto. Slapping through the gears is a delight and I never grow tired of it. The CS only comes in F1 as you know and I wasn't sure about it but went ahead. The first 2 weeks I thought I'd made a big mistake. But I just kept driving it and really there is some technique to getting the most out of that gearbox. There is a road I take from the floor of a valley up to the top of its surrounding ridge. It's entertaining in any car. Lots of second to third back and forth and a couple down to first. I love rowing the 550 through there. When I drove the CS through there however, I was blown away by how much faster I was able to go. I would be curious to time it against the 550 as it felt like it would have cut the time in half. Am I through taking the 550 on that road? No chance! It's huge fun...it's just different.

Would I buy another F1? No, one is enough in a mental car like the CS. Unfortunately Ferrari have decided for us that F1 is the way forward. You will go faster in an F1, but to me at least, it's not all always about getting there first.

 

^

Chris, based on your comments above, the testarossa is the car for you then given what you have experienced in the Ferrari world.

It is a full on gt car, and going through the gears like the 550 and the 360cs you just mentioned, the testarossa would be a hand full, could be good or bad, depending on your taste.

Going on long trips from 3-5 gear is where the testarossa will shine - bring you lady friend, and overnight bag, and do a nice picnic and drive through the country Side and you will experience what the testsrosa was made to do - eat up miles of miles in 3 and 4 th gear going to 7,000 rpm .

May in suggest going for an early single mirror car, as opposed to the 512 or an M - much more raw and simple type of car and the single bolt wheel looks better no abs brakes, no power steering - pure driver input type of car that is involving.

Have fun !

 

I've owned mine for 12 years and hes been very reliable and exciting to drive. Frankly it's a beast and no matter where it gets the looks and stares as if it were a new car. Also get used to having it parked right in front of the restaurant when you go out to dinner.

 

Big Red, well you are reading my mind. My next question was what year is preferable. I have seen some posts saying to avoid the early cars I think the reason being electrics from memory. What about tyre and wheel choices on the early cars...is that an issue for owners? Or is the 512tr a better choice with motronic & better brakes? My initial preference was for a post 88 car with 5 lug wheels, but I would love to hear the pros and cons of living with centre locks.

 

Always buy the best one you can find.

I prefer the early cars as I am biased. Considering you have a 550 and a cs , and the 328 is modern ( relatively speaking ) I would opt for the early cars...single bolt, and fly mirror, the euro cars had the TRX tires, the early cars with the 16s are challenging to find the rear rubber....but it's the more raw of the tr line up.

Go see a few to see what you prefer, you will see the differences from the early cars to the 91....the single bolt cars look better IMO.

Have fun in your search!

 

Actually the 360 & the Testarossa are the same length at 176 inches & the Testarossa is wider by 2 inches at 77.8 inches, so for all practical comparisions, essentially the same in size.....the 550 is Longer at 179 inches & a width of 76 inches...I knew the "size" statement was wrong, as I believe the Testarossa is/was the WIDEST Ferrari ever produced in a 2 door model....Mark

 

Go put them side by side - decide for yourself.

Someone must have been drunk when they took the measurements

 

Well those Eyetalians do like their wine!!....I do believe the Testarossa is the WIDEST (j lo) assed Ferrari ever made, side by side looking at the rears, my DeTomaso Pantera looks like Kate Moss as compared to J Lo. The dimensions sited were from Ferrari....Mark

 

To Big Red's point. My TR only looks big when it is sitting in the garage. It might be wider than the 360 by a hair, but whenever I park next to one, the 360 visually dwarfs it.

As for the OP's initial question. I bought a one owner TR a couple of years ago, I have 26 years of service records from the same shop, demonstrating a very reliable vehicle--but obviously not one that is inexpensive to service!

I keep writing and deleting these long winded explanations of the cars virtues...but my words can't do the car justice so rather than belabor the cars merits, let me try to put this succinctly... for me, The Testarossa represents Ferrari at its absolute best. It is a car of such undeniable passion, exquisitely designed and executed. It offers immense performance, which is only amplified by the directness of its controls and its old school design. For people my age, it is the car that defined Ferrari and one of the few automotive icons where the car lives up to the hype.

I have been offered a nice chunk of change a few times for my car and some of the offers have been very enticing. However, each time I ask myself, what other Ferrari would I rather own. Unless its an F40, the buck stops here.

That being said, she is not for everyone. I predict you will either be bitten and keep her forever as many owners do, or you will sell her within a few months. From my experience, the majority seems to fall into those two categories!

Good luck either way!

 

Guys, I was looking through some old posts, can someone tell me about early US cars 85/86...from memory they are down about 10hp and have 150lbs of extra weight. I assume the hp loss is some US emmissions, but where is that extra weight carried? Bumpers, or side intrusion bars? The cars are certainly the 'cheapest' in the world, though I am aware there is difference between inexpensive and value.

 

Chris, yes you can get a USA spec car 1985 - 1987 and use it here under the club rego rules LHD without any sort of local compliance, or comply the car and register locally with full rego.

BUT...........nobody want's a cheap Testarossa, especially a LHD model out here in Oz. You will have zero chance to sell it again down the track. Whereas. you will spend a lot more getting a UK delivered factory RHD car but at least it will retain good value and be a saleable asset. There are two left hookers available here for well under 100k but both have been for sale for a year or so with no takers.

 

Fair call Rob, thx. I suppose with only a few buyers here in Oz, it would be silly to marry a left hooker. I'll turn my sights on the UK!