Are TRs the next Pantera?

Well, it's not to far from being granted to FerrariUK for parts support.

Speaking for myself this had made a night/day difference in 308GTB ownership. But really, like the TR or 308, ownership makes no $$$ sense whatsoever unless you are in love with the car!!!

 

EFI supposedly adds 40-50hp, bringing the car up to around 512TR levels.

Why not?

 

In my eyes, I would see nothing wrong and would not devalue a car that has been properly modified to keep it running and reliably too. I emphasise "properly" modified (competent shop/known-brand components/neat & tidy installation/etc...).

 

LOL

 

I honestly don't think that the TR is THAT expensive to maintain. While you quote correct figures for some parts.......remember, these are "list" prices. I have found that there is a competitive market out there for parts.

I just bought new distributor caps, for my TR, for $300 each........and these are original, not repros. A fellow Chatter bought them for just $220 each. On my desk, at the office, sits a brand new TR clutch........about $1600. The fun of owning a TR is searching for reasonable part prices. Granted, some parts are still high, but so are they on 308s. The trick is to find the "right" source.

When my TR fuel pump stopped, I bought a complete mother board, for $700. This included all new relays and fuses........I now have about 15 spare relays.

I have not had a problem with the seat belts (65K miles). Last year I had the recall done on new belts.

While replacing the copper gaskets for the FI system, dealers wanted anywhere from $0.50 to $1 per gasket. I found a source where I bought 100 gaskets for $12. I wanted to replace a couple of nuts.....dealer stated $2.50 per nut..........bought 100 for about $12.50.....WOW........now I will replace all the nuts, and still have 80 left over!!!!!!!!

Many people stated their dashes warped.......this would be expensive, but mine is still like new. I feel lucky here.

So, while parts are generally more expensive, it is part of the fun of searching........at least for me, but then again, I do my own maintanence.

 

Don't forget, that the TR clutch has "two" discs, not one........hence, the price? I have driven my car about 25K miles (PO had more), and the clutch is only 2/3 worn......so, if one doesn't race the car, the clutch should last. I have heard of some getting 50K-75+K miles on one clutch. From what I read in this forum, other clutches seem to go out MUCH earlier.........so, is there a real deal with them?

It is hard to believe that coils will not be made anymore. Aren't there like 10+K TRs out there? Maybe there is an aftermarket one, and that is why no one is buying original? I don't know.

I have never had a problem with degredation of the electrical connectors......with ANY of my cars.

I have done nothing to the seatbelts.......they always worked fine, even the new ones, due to the recall. They have always worked.

If a slow-down ECU goes on my car, then I will just plug up the holes, and not use the thermocouples. I have test pipes, that I made, to replace the cats, so it wouldn't be a problem anyway......you don't need the slow-down ECUs if you have test pipes.

Remember, I could care less about keeping my car in concourse condition.........I only want to keep it in running condition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

No, my silver 512TR is pure performance. I will be rebuilding the trans to make it sronger & see if I can get 600 hp out of the engine w/o turbos

 

i think you answered your own question. given that the values of tr's have fallen so much, you might as well dispense with trying to keep it completely original, or having all the work done by some sort of ferrari garage. go ahead and use parts from whoever's parts bin, as long as they are identical in function. go ahead and do the work yourself or wherever you can get it done cheaply.
the important thing is to have a reliable and fun car. very few people will ask you if your distibutor cap is genuine oem. and if the car works better than it did when new, then who cares ?

 

If you are going to modify the car. I'd reccommmend calling James @ Norwoods. He's done a MILIION of mods to TR's. He has a great feel for the cars, and is familiar with your feelings.

 

Patrick, did you just wake up one day to discover you own an "old car"?


Just feel lucky that you don't own an old Bugatti,
talk about having parts custom made!

 

The TR is not that much more expensive to maintain than my 328. Major service for my 328 was 3,800 and the same mechanic quoted me 4,800 for the TR. They are both great cars - The 328 is a bit more nimble, while the TR is much smoother & feels a bit less like a race car.

I think if you can find a nice TR in the 40's (I paid way more than that for mine ), jump on it! They are absolutely gorgeous cars! Nothing beats the back end of a TR and the sides are just timeless.
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Nice - I didn't notice your location - I think I do remember you - Was it a red TR?

I hope you make it down to CC again so we can get our TR's together.

Don't scare me too much - I'm a new owner.

Hopefully once Ferrari of UK starts sourcing parts, they will come down a little in price and be a little cheaper.

 

I hope this doesn't come out as a flame, it isn't meant to be that way at all! I do love TRs, heck, back in the 80s when I was in grade/middle school I had the poster on the wall.

I've also owned one and loved it. But I think the problem with TRs is that they have become something of a faded glory car in many ways. I see a lot more rough ones than I do nice ones, and, let's face it, they aren't cheap to maintain. and nor are they the most reliable things on the planet. Mine was the most troublesome Ferrari I have ever owned and I maintained it like a madman as did the 2 POs. They are also a very "80s" design and many people feel they look quite dated these days. So they are getting to the same point where Quattroportes, Lagondas, old Rolls-Royces, etc are.

A lot of people can afford to buy one for what's really new BMW 330ci or M3 money but can't afford to maintain it. So the cars get driven into the ground. They have fragile interiors and a lot of the ones I see look awful inside.

$35K? I don't think NICE ones trade for that. I do think the typical rough and edgy TR isnt worth much over $35K if even that much.

 

All you guys are sooo bad!!!!!! Shame on you!!! i'm going to tell my mom on you! ;-)


Here i sit having the '85 Euro spec 308QV modded for better street/track, lowering the weight, race seats... all the while LUSTING to ALSO have a TR. Reading the posts and seeing the cars here makes me want to sell one of my personal toys (not the 308) to get a TR.

SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!


i hear there is a GREAT example for sale for about $45k with around 60k miles and GREAT service history


(As i begin to sing) If i was a rich man...

Enjoy(ing) the Music (Roger Waters "Pros And Cons of Hitch Hiking" right now)

Steven R. Rochlin

"So I stood by the roadside
The soles of my running shoes gripping
The tarmac like gunmetal magnets
Fixed on the front of her Fassbinder face
Was the kind of a smile
That only a rather dull child could have drawn
While attempting a graveyard in the moonlight
But she was impressed
You could see that she thought I looked fine
And when she turned sweeter
The reason, between you and me, was
She'd just seen my red Ferrari

So we went for a spin in the country
To feel the wind in our hair
To feel the power of my engine
To feel the thrill of desire"

 

Steven...you NEED to get a TR!! You'll wonder why you didn't get one in the first place too! They are truly amazing machines -- and everytime you stomp on the TR's pedal you'll be grinning from ear to ear! My wife literally screams everytime I take her for a spin and push the car a bit (and we're talking nowhere even near redline here) -- the car flat out scares her at speed. And the TR performs all this almost effortlessly! Be prepared for lots of attention from fellow motorists and pedestrians too -- people love to see TR's on the road -- they point, wave, follow you, gawk...it's almost embarassing sometimes. You won't be able to drive one incognito

BTW, did you see the 5th Gear Top 10 video link on one of the other threads? TR wins!

 

I disagree that the TR looks dated. I still think it is one of the best looking cars on the road!

 

What link for video???? i missed it somehow

As for needing to get a TR, i KNOW i KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STOP TEASING ME WILL YOU!!!!!!!! You are worse than this 21 yr old exotic sexy gal i dated 2 years ago (yes, i awas 37 at the time). Well, actually she didn't tease THAT much... well... she did kinda have a "going to eat you alive smiley grin" look on her face quite often, and... well... she was "T"rouble... but you KNOW it was all worth it, but, well... you know?

EH HEM, anyway. Where was i. Oh yeah, a TR. Dude, the TR will be my travelling/cruising car while the 308 will be for "tossing about" on the roads. At least that's the plan (crossing fingers).

Problem is, i REALLY like the original HIGH mirrors, but want a later model due to factory improvements. Hmm... nothing a good body shop can't "fix"

 

Dated..hah...I just came back from the Christies Ferrari display at Rock Center and amongst the GTO, Lusso and Daytonas there is a black 87 TR (advertised for $59.9k by autosport design with 33k miles) that is in fair condition, by no means perfect and the crowds are hovering around it!

 

That's an excellent plan!! TR's love the open roads!

Here's a link to the streaming 5th Gear video (it's listed at the top of the website):

http://www.ferraridefrance.com/main.php?lang=us&state=1

And here's a link to the F-Chat thread (just ignore all the negative comments about the 308 / TR ):

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15907