Anyone traded from a 458 to a Testarossa?

@ryalex has a both a modern mid engine fcar and a TR and would be perfect.

 

If you haven't already, go drive one....buying one for nostalgia may leave you wanting.

The obvious bit is you need a good indy mechanic. Modern cars are so high performing and reliable, but of course WAY less visceral and satisfying to drive.

OTOH, adding to a stable is never a bad thing.

 

The TR is a much simpler car to maintain. No computers or hi tech. No cruise, no power steering, no ABS. It is mechanical GT car and easy to drive IMHO.

 

I would say an 80s car is NOT easier to maintain (the systems themselves are easier to understand how they operate however), what with engine out services and mostly mechanical systems that break more often, plus the 30 year differential in age factors in to reliability.

I just had a similar situation at work this week (Mechanical Engineer). We have a set of two valves, one that needs to close when the other needs to open. The vendor proposed a mechanical linkage, very simple to understand yes but multiple moving parts will require more servicing and will ultimately suffer reliability issues (25 year requirement). We proposed putting in pneumatic actuators (with one moving part) and letting the logic in the control panel open and close them. WAY more reliable system with less maintenance.

Don't think I'm a tech rules guy, just got back from an hour long drive in my '05 Ford GT.....and I guarantee you I had more fun than anyone on the road....that damn thing is just magic to drive.

 

I had both a 458 and Testarossa at the same time. I hate to say this, but I really disliked the Testarossa. From a driving perspective, the offset pedals really annoyed me, plus the car was just not fun to drive. Mechanically, I had nothing but constant problems.

For nostalgia, I picked up a 1988 Porsche Carrera. Love that car so much that I bought a 964 to be its stable mate, along with the 458 I still have.

 

engine out service $15k

 

Depends on what the car needs, could be more or less....

 

PO - Offset pedals rule. TR is more fun than any p, whether it's moving or not.

Engine out 3k (indy) - 7k (dealer) in Europe.

 

Did you ever drive it with 18 inch wheels with modern tires? My car was completely transformed when I changed the wheels/tires
No more rolling and very satisfying to drive on twisty roads. I do have a GT4, arguably one of the best handling cars ever and sometimes I prefer to take the TR for a canyons drive. It is just old school and fun.


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80's car will still drive in 50 years.

New and improved maintenance free digital car - highly unlikely.

 

yep, mine was over $20k with while you are in there stuff

 

Hey Fernando! Long time no talk. You were a great inspiration when I had my Testarossa. Never thought I would be a Porsche guy, but I was hooked when I bought my first air cooled. I’m now restoring a 964. Still love my Ferraris, but this is different.

 

I had a 458, added a TR last year and put around 5k miles on it in the first 7 months, in no particular order:

• The TR is a grand tourer not a sports car, as long as you expect that
• where the 458 is nimble, fairly light feeling and “tossable” into corners, the TR is a low and wide plank that feels a lot heavier, even if it’s only a couple hundred on the scale
• No power steering makes parking lots a PITA, it’s comically heavy to turn when you start moving
• Highly recommend storing the original wheels and putting modern, larger wheels (I went with my friend’s Iconosis replicas) and fresh modern tires (he also got me a deal on new P-Zero although I prefer Michelin), that was a major jump in traction and smoother feel
• Sounds blah compared to a 458, I’m still on the fence which exhaust but that’s inevitable
• Stock stereo is like a 1984 GE alarm clock radio
• Revs surprisingly high on the road for a 12 cylinder. Freeway speeds quite buzzy, around 3k rpm (even the V6 296 has an OD 8th gear for very low RPM 65-80mph)

that said, once it’s in your blood it’s hard to get out. People absolutely go nuts over it at every gas station and most lights. Friends were texting for rides and drives for months. It’s easy enough and slow enough for my 17 year old.

Despite being Ferrari #4 it still was a big day of vindicating my childhood fantasies. I quickly decided it would be the last to go, if I needed to sell toys. So objectively, it is the worst car I own. But I love it.
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Only thing that matters.

Like with everything important, "better" is nothing compared to the "experience". And that's between you and the car, or "car".

The TR attracts a wide audience. Many enjoy it for what it is, others modernize it.
Although emblematic of the 80's, it's one of F's most iconic models and its appeal is timeless.

 

Unlikely any car with an IC engine will be running in 50 years....legislated out of existence.

 

Perfecto !
I feel the same way about my 512TR.

 

This is something I’ve actually been wondering about. I tend to keep cars indefinitely. I still have my first car from when I was a teenager. Considering most late model Ferraris have a lot of electronic and proprietary software, once Ferrari drops support will it still be possible to keep these cars on the road when the electronic fail?

 

With enough money, dedication, and interested parties, there most definitely will be a solution… But again, it won’t be cheap!

 

There are 3rd parties now that are starting to offer ECUs for 90s cars.

 

Exactly. No reason for that trend to change. Now orphan models like the usual 2+2 May have a bit more trouble, but even then, there should be enough overlap for most components to keep them running and it looks like someone has already figured out a solution for the PTU issue. I’m waiting for someone to do somewhere for the DCT Longevity issues But no reason not to believe given the clear market demand…

And of course by “cheap” I’m talking in relative terms here …

 

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Nice to catch up my friend
The 964 is a beautiful car, along with the 993 (for me) they are the most beautiful Porsche models. Congrats on your purchase, always wanted to restore a car but keeping my TR to my OCD levels is basically a never ending restoration process



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Your TR looks lovely on 360 Modulars! Did you shave the rear wheel hubs? Any issues with rubbing in the rears?

 

Nothing!! no spacers needed
The rears poke out a bit more tab the 16s but they don’t rub at all and they actually look aggressive


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