Swap A 512TR For What??

Keep the 512TR for sure. Great machine. MHO
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Have you tought of a Gillet Vertigo Streiff? It's fast and VERY exclusive.
http://www.renaudkuppens.be/video/vertigoroad.html

 

Let me share my thoughts, with the recognition that the issues you are raising are very subjective. I've had quite a few Ferraris, never an 80's TR, but i did have a BBi which, frankly, was probably the most enjoyable Ferrari i owned purely from a visceral and overall aesthetic standpoint. (Some here may disagree- and say my 550 Barchetta was the dog's pajamas, but that's why i said it's subjective).
I currently own a 6.0 Diablo and it is a wonderful car, fun to drive, very involving in an older school way - probably similar in some respects to the TR, but more up to date. (I always thought the interiors in the 80's TRs were pretty cheesy, but again, that's my take). With the budget you mentioned, i would seriously consider a Porsche CGT. I got to drive it on the track in ideal circumstances with great coaches, i thought it was the best car i've ever driven. Dunno if the CGT market in the UK has stood up better than here, but the cars here lost their market bloom almost immediately. Also don't know if there even is such a thing as a RHD version. THe Diablo is a great car- at least the 6.0 is. But, the CGT has more of almost everything, save for the bling factor- and that's in the eye of the beholder.

 

What he says...nothing since could entice this highly unsual "drivers" car out my garage, nada.

 

I took my 512 from Atlanta to Nashville and I must of gotten a 100 thumbs up. Everyone loves that car. I was surprised by the guys who work at FOA and how they loved the car. Some of the guys there go back with me about 9 years. The 512 is still a popular car and seems to be a favorite of many.

 

Well said, case is closed!

 

How about my favorite.....
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LOL, thats 1 of the Ugliest cars out there, especially the Convertible. It reminds me of Quasimodo

 

What are, RHD Diablos or Anniversary RHD Diablos?

Maybe get a RHD Diablo and give it the Anniversary treatment.

 

No offence meant to the Ferrari-isti but while I love my 512TR too and its awesome straight through pipes, I'm definitely leaning towards a Murcielago as a replacement. Have I lost my marbles...read on!

STYLE: Yes the 512TR is a Pininfarina classic, but the Murcielago just oozes moderinity and elegance in my opinion. While the Murcie is also a large car, I doubt its wider or larger than the 512TR. Is anything?

DRIVING: I've driven both and well, I admit it, the 512TR needs a better driver than me to get the best out of it. The gearchange is classical but not so easy to flick from gear to gear and the engine is so balanced/flywheel so light, that I can't change gear fast enough before the revs have dropped considerably. Meaning lots of playing with the accelerator to avoid toasting the clutch or excessive jerking. So you see, I'm an amateur driver that's trying to make the best out of a racing gearbox and what I believe is an ex-F1 ('70s) engine. Basically, the car is great...but I'm not a great driver. In the Murcielago on the other hand, quick gearchanges are possible (even for me) and you don't needs a leg like Schwarzenegger to operate the clutch.

ENGINE: Ah yes, the flat-12 boxer engine. Perfect pistons orientation, wonderful sound, low centre of gravity. But a bit of a maintenance nightmare. Let's be honest, running costs are high when done officially. And no, I don't like the idea of my engine being pulled out every 3 years. Call me old-fashioned if you like, but it doesn't inspire confidence. Hell, even Ferrari is moving to chains now, i.e. F430. And yes, the Murcielago engine is chain driven, like all Lambo 12-cylinder engines - including my ex-Miura and its predecessors. Now that inspires confidence, trust me.

INTERIOR: Sorry, but the Murcie interior design wins out over the 512TR's every time. I can't comment on the smell of the leather, but I'm fairly confident it'll be similar and last equally as long.

WOW FACTOR: The Murcie doors alone will do it. You'll still curse them sometimes but I already do that with the heavy 512TR doors in my narrow garage. Personally, I think an outrageously coloured Murcie will always induce a certain wow factor in observers. The 512TR also never fails to impress of course but if the guy who started this thread wants a change...then go for it.

SAFETY: You may thing I'm mad here, but with more crowded roads it is an issue here in Europe. I know I'd rather run into something with the Murcie than the Ferrari. The former has airbags, traction control and carbonfibre strength - sorry guys, but it is the 21st century.

CONCLUSION: The only 512TR replacement that I'm chewing over is the Murcie. I'll miss my 512TR like hell, but I just know it needs a better driver than me. (Yeah, I know I should be kicked out of this forum for a lack of skills.) Will I regret it if I make the change, you bet. Will I regret it if I don't make the change, yes, even more so.

MY ADVICE: Simple, go for a test-drive man! Judge for yourself and think about what's important for you. A Diablo is nice for example, but the Murcie is a whole generation younger in terms of technology, etc. Now that inspires a wow factor in me, an engineer at heart. Now let slip the dogs of war as I expect a severe pasting from this forum...gulp!

 

Buy a Noble. With your budget your Dad could buy one for you too.

Ken

 

Dan

by the sounds of your murci versus 512tr post, you quite obviously don't want your father to get rid of his 512, why not buy it off him?

 

not unavaliable there is a few about

 

I don't think you should have to worry about that, we're all pretty objective and open minded, and your post was well worded and thought out. Many here love Lambos too, so have no fear.

And welcome!

Wes

 

360 CS ?

 

Wes/F1Ace, thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm glad to see that the Ferrari guys on the forum aren't anti-Lambo on principle. Vive la difference, as the French say.

Back to the original issue now. Dan, I guess the best advice to finding an alternative to the 512TR is to go for a few test drives, isn't it? The simplest thing is to find a big Lambo dealer, arrive up in the Ferrari so they'll take you seriously, and then talk turkey. By the way, one thing I've noticed during the last 12 months has been the vast number of Diablos over here that have been traded-in for Murcielagos and Gallardos. Could their owners have all been wrong? Chew it over.

I do think its a bit unfair of you to say the Murcielago looks like a big Audi. Jeez, I fail to see any visual link at all. Just because VAG Group invested in the company and appointed top designer Luc Donckerwoke to oversee the 'new clothes' on the car, I don't think you can say its an Audi-like beast. Just ask an Italian if they think so. ;-)

The Murcielago interior is rather discrete and minimal in my opinion. Its not exactly festooned with buttons. My BMW has far more. Sure, the 512TR's is not bad in an '80s kind of way. But the Murcielago interior is definitely a nicer place to live I'd say. So on that score, I'd award points to the Murcie. But hey, I'm biased in favour since I want one one day.

By the way, when I went to the Spa Italia event recently, Lambo's chief test driver, Valentino Balboni, spent most of his time lapping the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in his Murcielago (with cooling wings permanently up - and electric fans to cool the brake discs whenever he stopped for a break) and not in the specced up racing Diablo, so far as I could tell. I can only conclude he thinks its a better car too. Or ask Jeremy Clarkson on BBC2 TV if you want another opinion in favour of the Murcielago.

Note too the way that Billy Idol will give your Lambo a free sunroof with his chainsaw if you ask nicely! Best of luck with the upgrade.
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The 512TR does not have a heavy clutch or heavy doors. The Countach has a clutch like lead on the other hand. As for driving experience the 512TR is very demanding & needs an excellent driver.

The Murc is nice but its a bit of a Lozenge shape & its a little boring compared to a Countach or a 512TR. The Countach is the ultimate for WOW factor, the 512TR is elegance w WOW, the Murc again is nice but a little bland

 

The Noble is more of a drivers car than you want anyway after reading your 512 comments again. It will out handle both the 512 and the Murci, and do 0-60 in the same ballpark as either.

The Murci isn't really an "upgrade"; it's a sidestep. It's a modern exotic with reasonable creature comforts and power/handling, but won't win any prizes for either against better competition, especially in handling. See Saleen, Enzo, etc. which are obviously a few leaps higher in price.

An "upgrade" can mean several things. If you want to upgrade in snob appeal, you might consider a vintage car. While people may say, "Oh, a Lambo. Gold chain set, not an enthusisit" and with a newer Ferrari it's all kinds of silly crap as well. But get a Daytona, or 365, or anything vintage and everyone just drools. Vintage owners don't care what the newest bells and whistles are since their cars are timeless. You used to have a Miura? THAT is as classy as ANY vintage car can get!

If you want a power/handling upgrade get an Atom as seen on Top Gear. 0-60 in under 3 seconds! Not really a practical car for around town though.

Ken

 

Well said, William!