Dated? Dated?? That's what my wife and I used to do before we were married. I guess if one means that it doesn't look like like it was designed in Japan, then yep, it's dated. - I'ts a beautiful example of classic Italian design. By that measure, a Dino would look prehistoric...
Just thought I would make a few comments too. I have had my TR for 15 months now and it has been absolutely fantastic! I love it. It is my first Ferrari and also the TR was the first Ferrari I have ever driven, so last year I realised a dream when I bought it. I paid a low sum of money for it at the time as it needed some tidying up, however I knew that it was a sound and straight car. Over time I have sorted the interior and re-furbed the wheels and sorted the paintwork. It is currently in for a service at the moment and for UKBP £950, say $1700, I have had the following work done (car is approx 37,000 miles for a 86 Euro) Full Belt Change (Cambelts/Alternator/Air Con) Oil & Filter/Fluids Change (Engine/Gearbox/Brake's/Coolant) Refurbed Alternator New rear brake pads General Check over I truly believe this is value for money. I know that some prices on this cars are horrendously over priced, but with careful thought and looking you can get parts for sensible prices. I have located Spark Plugs for £2 ($3.50) each. I bought a K&N Filter for £50 ($80). Yes I have noticed TR's dropping in price, but it was my gain and potentially anyone's gain. I think they have reached a point where they will not drop any further and in within 5 years appreciate in value. About 5 years ago 246's dropped to sensible levels, now I see them being advertised up to £80,000!! TR's will have there time. A very close friend of mine has had many Ferrari's-F40's, F50, 360's, 355's, 348's etc and other serious cars-Diablo's, Countach, EB110-however he still owns a TR. He loves it, he says that he will never ever sell it. His other all time favourite is a Diablo. We both agree that there are very few cars on the road that have the presence of a TR and a Diablo. I am not worried that TR's are looking cheaper at the moment. I have seen cars with less mileage than mine which are complete dogs-yet are being advertised nearly twice what I paid. Pete
Now that is a great plan! The 328 is much, much more tossable. The TR is more like my luxury cruiser. Part of the problem is I have only had the TR for a week or two & I'm still babying it. I would love to keep them both - And who knows, maybe I will!
I agree my TR is dated in the same way that Michelangelo's DAVID or Beethoven's 5th symphony or a Testa Rossa is dated If Ferrari would decide to build a car worth lusting over these days I might be more interested in the new stuff. Enzo- hideous 360- nowhere near as pretty as a 308 although the spyder is ok 575- Where is a real convertible version, Maybe I'll buy one when I hit 50 612- You've got to be kidding me. Ferrari's answer to Toyota styling, about as exciting to look at as my refrigerator
I agree William - The 360 is OK - Especially nice in Spider form. I like the 355. But the TR compares very well to them - It's a bit over the top & to me, more exotic.
Absolutely. The guy who is doing this is a very well respected Lamborghini specialist. I am getting a good rate I admit, as lot of my friends use him for their supercars. TR are always engine out for belts-unless someone knows better...??
Steve, I've been right there with you. I drove a great TR and lusted for one for years, all the time loving my 308. I wanted to "cruise" the TR and "toss" the 308. Well, the 348 turbo fits the bill incredably well. It "out tosses" the 308 by a mile, and way "out cruises" the TR. Having driven both the TR and the 348 Turbo, I'd opt for the 348 Turbo every time. Keep your eye's open for one for sale. If you ever find one, (I beleive there are VERY few available), snap it up. J
$1700 US for all that?? Hey guys, lets chip in and pay this guy to fly HERE and do our belt change/service! I think that if you aren't a DIYer, it would be an interesting idea to toss around. Can't be all that hard to rent garage space. ..
Not bad huh? I forgot to mention he is recharging the aircon too. Mike is always busy, he mostly works on Diablo's and Countach's. Quiet rare to find people like him. Excusing my ignorance completely can you give me some idea of pricing that you guys have been quoted for 1) Annual Service 2) Major Service 3) Belts Change I bought two timing belts, two tensioner bearing, Alternator belt and air-con belt from Maranello's in the UK for $220. I was hopping to pick the car up today but its not ready yet. Shame as there is an Italian Car show on Sunday. Looks like I will be riding shotgun in a Countach or in one of my Lancia's! Pete
I think the price difference is due to competition. I spend time in both the UK and the US (Atlanta). You can get service work done to a generally better standard in the UK for about half the price. Companies like Verdi and a few others do menu price servicing and there are a lot of Ferraris in a small area. Having said this servicing is about the only thing that is cheaper because the cars cost a lot more are in worse shape and lets not forget the high price of petrol and the bloody speed cameras everywhere.
Ferrari built over 8,000 Testarossa models - so they're not exactly rare. Nor are they old enough to be 'classics' - or new enough to be 'trendy'. Buy a good one now - preferably a 512TR - use it sparingly, keep it for 10 years, and I think you'd do pretty well... John
Jeff, No disrespect, but frankly am not a fan of turbo (in general) or the look of the 348. These are my personal preferences and in NO WAY invalidates your choice. Some love Bach, other Beethoven, Billie Holiday... and others the Butthole Surfers. To each their own my friend. PS: we have the emergency brake in the 308 working GREAT now
True the fixed servicing prices help, within 5 mile of where I live there must be well over a 60 Ferrari's which is quite a lot really, so that helps keep prices down I guess. With regards to cars being in worse shape I do agree. I saw a TR yesterday at Brooklands Italian Car day being advertised by a supercar dealer and it looked a complete mess and they wanted over $60,000! It was horrid....Must make my car worth $80,000!!! ;-) Speed Cameras? Yup, nuff said. Have to be very careful.
Peter, I was at AutoItalia yesterday and saw that TR... 61k miles and a total mess for £37k! Like you, I reckoned mine to be worth £50k on that basis. I was there with my TR and a group of F-chatters from the UK section. I didn't see your yellow TR?
Hi Steve, Shocking wasn't it? I really couldn't believe it myself. I saw you car there near the hanger, you talking to someone at the time-nice car! Sadly my car wasn't (still) ready from its service. I am hoping to pick it up some time this week. Was gutted, but what can you do? Had lots done to it as mentioned and want to make sure its perfect. On the look out for tyres for it next. Annoyingly can get cheap tyres from work-Michelin or Bridgestone-but can only get the fronts in one make and rears in the other! Hope to catch up with some of you guys at the next event. Pete
Some companies in the UK offer fixed servicing cost where they service you car "all in" for a set price. Say for example Verdi will do a Testarossa Annual Service for £480 + Tax, Major Service for £1,095 + Tax, etc. I think cars can sometimes be consider -sometimes not all however please note-as the UK has both LHD and RHD, where as almost all cars are LHD in the US. The LHD market is quite fluid over here and cars have been imported from Europe very cheaply and not always in the best of shape, then sold in the UK for a high premium. You have a wide choice, but my goodness there are some dogs as their! Speed Camera are a revenue, sorry "safety", measure that the UK has implemented in great effect. As any of the UK F-Chatters will vouch for they are everywhere. I do perhaps agree with them in extreme cases on the roads, but do not agree with them on a motorway (highway). Pete
Hi everyone! Someone had posted that with the falling value of the TR, you may as well forget concors and do what you like. Well, I don't want to rice her, but I do like the stying of the 512 interior better than my TR. Would it be okay, in your opinions, to update the interior, and keep the original items for another future buyer? Or does such a thing destroy the "character" of a Ferrari? The interior was always the one thing that I was never impressed with, to put it mildly...
I thought it would be very cool to replace the inside door panels on my road 512TR w CF panels like on the Stradale. I will probably be replacing the middle panel between the seats w a nice walnut piece w Cupholders LOL Maybe put a nice CF piece in there later
I think updating the interior would be fine as long as you kept the stock original pieces. It wouldn't harm the value but I wouldn't expect to get more for the car which means you wouldn't recoup your investment in the new interior pieces that you purchased. I think it would look much nicer with 512 seats, etc.
