Any 550 owners who used to own 512tr or tr?

I'm glad to share my experience. I owned an '86 TR for 10 years (bought new, put on 44K miles) and also drove 512 TRs and an M. I'm also 6'3", long in the legs, not in the upper body. I took delivery of a new 550 in June '97; I still own and enjoy the car.

I also have driven many miles on the highways in your neck of the woods. While I live in San Diego, my wife and I have taken numerous trips in Ferraris and other cars through your area. We often stay at the Stanford Inn on our way to the Benbow Inn.

The TRs are OK for shoulder room, but leg room is shorter. I ended up sitting in the classical Ferrari position with my legs splayed, hitting my right knee when shifting into 1st gear. I improved the seating arrangement by putting half-inch spacer under the front of the seat tracks, tilting the seat cushion more than the adjustment range provides.

TR handle differently and have to be driven differently. Pushing a TR requires more concentration, primarily because you have to be certain that you don't let yourself get caught having to suddenly lift the throttle in a turn when you are driving fast. The rear can come around quickly on throttle lift and it's impossible to catch once the car has rotated more than some 30 degrees. At least it was for me. Having driven old 911s is great preparation.

When driving TRs hard on winding roads you end up having to deal with them to some extent like two cars: you have to manage the front and the back. A 550, by contrast, feels like one nicely integrated piece. The 550 feels more agile; its performance potential is more accessible. TRs tend to understeer more than the 550 in tight turns. In this situation, in a TR, you momentarily lift the throttle just the right amount to get the car to rotate through induced oversteer and then apply just the right amount of throttle to balance the car. It's very satisfying when you get it right. Getting it wrong can be expensive.

The brakes on the TR were not very good. 512 TRs and Ms are better, 550s better yet. I made a big improvement on my TR, which had too much of a front brake bias, by installing a manually adjustable brake balancing valve. This resulted excessive front wheel lock up (no ABS), better control (you can't steer with locked up wheels) and shorter braking distances because the rear brakes contributed more.

Before taking delivery of my 550 I was worried that I might find it not challenging enough, that it might be too idiot proof. It certainly is more forgiving and its potential is more easily exploited, but it has superior agility and balance to the TRs and is more powerful. On the other hand, one of the nicest sounds is the intake sound of a 512 TR or M on wide-open throttle. I think the chassis of the 550 is stiffer also.

 

Wow, great write up. Thanks!

Dale

 

Feel free to email me offline. I currently own both and would be glad to offer any input.

 

PM Bruce Wellington BWS550 - he had a TR prior to his 550