458 Italia & 430 Spider Owner looking at Testarossa ownership

I have had a 1988 T/R for five or more years and love it, bought it with 30K miles and now have 50K. I also have three other "sports" cars, a 65 Ford F100 and a pre war Buick and have not found the Ferrari all that expensive to operate. Find a good one and get a good handle on the nature of the prior owners. Low number of owners is a god sign. The old school Ferrari is nice for it will allow you to do anything you want yourself. I found a good independent in my area and had an engine out service at a very good price. Compared to my more modern Ferrari the T/R is a refreshing car to drive, a very different experience. You can't go wrong with a good T/R it will give you a great experience and a safe place to park some $. Look for one with updated fuse panel, hoses and gold kit. I added those four upgrades myself, not hard to do. I know you will enjoy your new ride!

 

I have all three and have had two testarossas.
one thing is you can not hold a mid 80 s TR with early 80s technology to 2013 vehicle standards. It doesn't have power steering or brakes which can make it hard to drive. Braking is not that great compared to the modern cars. Interior feels old.

But that is not the fault of the car. Compare it to a mid 80s corvette and the TR is from a different planet.

maintainance is costly but so is a 458 or 430. I have never spent $10000 for a brake job on a TR.
Contrary to ebay and even here on FChat, 10/10 cars are getting a premium and selling in the $100000+ range.
Certainly you can buy a $50000 tr (or even less) but you can spend $35000-50000 to get it sorted out and somethings may not even get sorted. Unfortunately the mighty supercar that we all admired in the 80s and 90 fell into hands of mere mortals and became neglected and abused. Mere mortals cringed at a $500 oil change let alone anything else that would have needed. I have seen a 86 tr on a used car lot (cars that hlooked like the were repo'd, pawned or stolen) with ballons tied to it. These cars gave the TR a bad name

I will never sell my 91 testarossa. I am second owner and it just crossed 10000 miles (16000kms) It is the only car that excites me the night before I know I am going to take it out. At a recent charity even it drew more intrest than my 458 parked to its right and an f12 parked to its left.

The TR and the 308/328 are the still the cars that the public screams "wow look at that ferrari" You just dont see awesome ones anymore. Infact the organizer actually specifically requested the TR as he said they would be 12 - 15 458s/ 430 etc.

Certainly you wont drive it hard with the other cars in the garage. The TR can do it and will love it but why cut a log with a handsaw when you have a chainsaw nearby. It is a great car to cruise in and feel like a moviestar in. Wolf of Wall street will rekindle that.

Good luck!

 

Just adding my two cents as well, having just taken the plunge on an '87 TR just before Christmas. My TR is very challenging to drive for the reasons listed before (no power steering, also the clutch is heavy and requires a bit of heft to engage, etc). That being said, though, that's what makes it awesome. After driving it, you really feel like you accomplished something. It puts you in touch with the road much more than other, more recent Ferraris I've driven. Also, its looks are so distinctive. No offense, but to me the 430 and 458 look like (beautiful) sports cars, but not necessarily Ferraris. When you see a TR, there is no doubt it's a Ferrari!

Joe

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

 

I am meditating right now thinking of a proper response to your questions.. I was very in touch with my TR.. I had a 90. She was so easy to please and more importantly willing and looking for pleasure.. No comparison to the later f cars.. Your more connected in the TR.. The TR needs you and wants you.. The new Ferraris know you want them so they dont have that reinforced connection and willingness to please you the driver.. The smell alone in your garage is intoxicating.. Like a hot b*tch wearing you favorite perfume.. Leather, oil and emmisions all wrapped up in one fragrance but you can still pick out each individual scent. You open the door.. woof.. The scent of leather so pronounced... right in the face... trying to lure you into the drivers seat.. ONLY YOU - the owner - no one else.. Yes she knows the difference.. She gives off a very strange vibe to strangers and people that just want to check her out.. You can look, you can smell, you can even touch to a certain degree - but dont even think of getting behind the wheel.. Trust in earned in the TR.. Initial drives are very uneasy.. Your feeling her out and her feeling you out.. The clutch is nice.. dual disc and easy to drive.. I deep push but not difficult to engage..

Paragraph break - for the complainers..

The shifter.. hmm... one word.. finesse.. Once warm she complies but in time you will find the sweet spots to where she likes to be shifted.. No ***** footing in the TR.. She need a man - you grab her and be assertive.. Let her know who is in charge - not necessarily who is boss.. Your not looking for defiance or rebellion.. She just needs to know you have her and you will take her where she needs to go.. The engine is solid.. The right exhaust set up is key.. Straight pipes (all four) is a must.. She appreciates the gesture by singing her song everytime you take her out.. The more you drive her the more she appreciates you.. Long warm ups, short drives, ***** footing around - forget it.. wrong set of circumstances for her.. not money wise or investment wise.. we are talking about the car here.. They require sorting.. Proper engine out with the right tensioner bearing, timing set properly, valves adjusted etc.. , fuse box modify a must, gold kit in my opinion a must, taylor ignition wires very wise decision.. Stay on top of her.. Get to the point of preventive maintainence.. There will be discussion of the upgraded diff as well to really round out the sorting process.. She is easy to work on although mine did not like when on a lift with her panties down.. These cars require you to care about them.. you - not your money or your mechanic ... You.. I'm not saying to do all the mechanical or maintenance - no.. i'm saying be connected to the car.. If you pay attention while driving - she tells you all her secrets.. Once whipped you will find yourself turning around everytime you close your garage door to take one last peak at the car before the garage door closes or before you close the light.. You'll go in the garage just to take a whiff.. ahhh the Testarossa..

A needy b*tch that just wants to find the right guy to take her out to the motel before going out to dinner. Yes... motel first then dinner.. Not hotel.. Motel.. No one has to know you went to a motel.. Your secret with her.. She'll fix herself up after the fact to look good for everyone after the fact.. No family meetings first.... no double dates then action.. No - she wants action first.. She also wants nice things but is not fusy.. She want attention.... -a nice hand car wash... a hand polish by you.. yes you can use the orbital - but finish the job by hand.. feel the curves.., Patience.. it takes time to understand each one - as they are all different, like your own fingerprint.. Once you come to terms as to what you have.. it over.. hook line and sink.. The car is alive.. they are just very untrustworthy because many just stick them in a garage and take them for a ***** foot drive every now and then... Once they realize they hit the jackpot with the right owner.. its open sesame.. she forgets all the hurt and concentrates on you and satisfying you.. The 360, 430, 458 are all beauties. They are the hot daughters.

R

 

I must agree agan Robbie
but the same feeling I have with my BB and with my TR, so no difference?
no ! ! ! the 512 smells more with leather and with oil and fuel - nice perfume

 

Man!!! Robbie you're a writer, I could feel how much you loved her. You must miss her a lot.
Reading all you guys make me so proud and happy I bought one. After reading Mr.Chairman I'm so anxious to get her HERE and treat her like she deserve. Oufff I'm all wet.......

But I know it's all true because I feel the same with my 308, and the short time I had SERA.

 

i have several exotic sports cars (from as old as an '89 930 and as new as '12 MP4 and some in between) and all i can say is that my 512TR does not disappoint at all. i got a very good car from forum member and it delivers the goods. while it will definitely not perform like the newer cars, you need to soak up the nostalgia and feel of how it was to drive an exotic during that time. for me, it is purer and more engaging: having to press the stiff clutch, turn the non power assisted steering and row thru that shift gate while hearing the glorious v12 sound. i find it more visceral as there is some kind of technique that you need to have in order to harmonise with the car, rather than it being so easy that any tom dick and harry can hop in, drive and be very comfortable. if you are looking for something like that, this car will not disappoint. good luck.

 

Great thread! One question, "long warm-ups and short drives", what about long drives in your TR? How about a 4-500 mile day?, driving across country. Any reason not too?

 

I've done many 500 mile drives and never ran into a reason not to do more of them! The TR is actually a very reliable car if you take good care of it. It is a fairly comfortable car and won't beat you up, apart from your hears if your exhaust is making the flat 12 sing like it should!

 

Most I've done in a day was about 200 miles and I was exhausted. Exhausted in a good way. I went home and my wife said I smelled like pollution. She'll work you. Funny story. Bradwilliams bought my b*tch and he was thinking of driving her back New Jersey to Chicago area. I told he was nuts. Trying to get laid on the first date. If you have experience with her then go for it. First time or just getting to know her period not recommended. Foreplay brother until your at the point where you can make a booty call and you know she will say yes. I could have driven her to California if I wanted to.

R

 

Well, there is nothing left to be said as Robbie summed it all up. And everything he has said is true, I have driven 30,000 miles with mine and never has been a day that I wanted to give her up.

I suffered a back damage from an accident and not able to drive mine much now.

If you are in LA, I am happy to let you drive mine. I have to warn you that you will fall in love.

 

Teasing you???? Just kidding....
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

my 512tr is my favorite car. it is the last analog mid engine 12 cylinder ferrari, and i love it. it still turns heads, and performs as well as you need any car to do on today's roads. it is comfortable, the ac works, the stereo works, the seats are comfy, the canopy is airy, the engine sound is great. i have had it at vmax a few times and it is a vault. i have tracked it and although it is a big car, it still handles pretty well.

i have driven it across europe multiple times - rome to london, geneva to london, london to nancy, geneva to monaco, etc and it was mostly faultless.

it will not handle like a 430 or 458. it will not perform like either of those. but you probably wont see too many either.

 

Good luck with your search Treviso

 

Thank you for the compliment. We are spoiled in Socal.

 

New shifter bushings make a big difference in the shifting. After you own your TR for a while, the clutch, the shifter, and the steering seem like nothing. A louder exhaust is very satisfying to ears. Then you get the rhythm to heel and toe down shift. The drive is great. I even like the sound of the starter.



Ago

 

based on this. the tr should check the boxes.

 

Yes exactly.

R

 

In case you need any more reasons:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLNJ_RLWlmI]The 1992 Ferrari 512 TR: A /DRIVE Film. - YouTube[/ame]

 

this is so true. but the 512TR is not so tiring. the 930 is a bit harder, hence i get the feeling that i should not go past that generation as i feel there is so much comfort and convenience that will be sacrificed already.

 

how can someone go with a TR after a heavy drunken night with so much good wine?
a TR needs your full attention at every time, and with such a drunken head you never will be able to handle it right. poor video ! ! !