Firstly like to say how glad i am to find this site, plenty of friendly people who answer questions from novices like me! I have decided eventually to fulfill the dream and buy a ferrari having by now owned most other cars I loved as a school kid. The BB512 has always been my favourite and right now prices are so tempting but cant help thinking that a testarossa may make more sense from a reliability and maintenance viewpoint! Any advice greatly appreciated, also would I be right in thinking the boxer will hold its value better over time?
I faced the same predicament about 2 months ago. I bought the Boxer on gut feeling. I fell in love with it when I sat in it. I ahd driven a TR and liked it, but when I sat in the Boxer it just felt like it fit. I do think that the value of the Boxer will hold up better especially because they are so much rarer. I think you have to drive them both and go by your gut feelings thats what I did and am very happy. Good luck with your search, great decision to have to make. You may want to post this question on general chat to get many responses./ You can also search the archives as I believe this question has been raised several times before. Charlie in New Jersey
Hi Steve and welcome to fchat, Buy them both, I love both the cars and its a real hard choice. Personally id buy the Testarossa, another user "Hi Steve" comes out on some of our rideouts and i must say i never get bored of the great body lines on that car. Post some pics Steve when you eventually decide to take the plunge. Whatever you do you will enjoy the experience. Joe Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Steve, A rather nice predicament to be in, but personally I'd choose the boxer. I think they are just stunning cars & there's something about them that makes them really special. This thread might interest you, http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2075 I noticed there are couple for sale here: http://www.ferrariownersclub.co.uk/sales/sales.asp I hope you enjoy whichever you choose & please post pics. Regards Phil
Hi Steve, first of all, a very warm welcome here at ferrarichat.com Enjoy your passion & drive with all the great gents here on board. BB512i or TR? GO FOR THE TESTAROSSA!!! I drove several years a 308GTSi QV and decided to go for a 12 cylinder last year. I have test driven B4 I bought my new toy: BB512, Testarossa, 512TR and 550. The BB512 just love it for the beautiful old vintage interior (right spelling?) Testarossa and 512TR isn`t such a big difference as the price difference is! 550.....don`t worth to talk about it to me. After a long search, I found and bought my `91 Testarossa and I`m so happy to drive this "beast". Try to testdrive the bb512 and the testa! Good Luck Wolfarossa FORZA FERRARI
No Contest - 512 BB all the way, I have been lucky enough to own and drive both a 512 BB and F512M both were good cars, but the 512 Boxer will always win if not on looks alone but with it's heritage factor and it's fabulous handling, These things make it a clear winner IMO ? You try parking a TR in a tight space too ? When all advice has been sought You'll still have to make the decision, all I would advise is, if you can, get a drive in both type of car, this will soon help the decision making process + if it's always been a 'DREAM' to own a 512 BB & you can afford to do it - Why hesitate ? Good Luck, Steve
Gotta agree with Steve, The BB was a stunning looking car upon it's lanch, and to this day continues to be one of the most stunning looking sub 40 grand cars around. I won't deny that I was never a fan when the TR came out, but now it looks "dated" rather than "classic". I suppose the TR would have more of the sensibilities of a more modern car, but buying an older Ferrari is never really going to be a sensible idea!! If you must have a "practical" Ferrari, you are probably better going with a good low mileage 328. Just my tuppence worth. Stig
BTW guys, I am very unfamiliar with ferrari specialists in the uk, currently enquiring about cars in Talacrest, SantAgata Classics, and one private sale bb512. Any input on dealers would be welcome steve
Nick Cartwright Specialist cars in Matlock. A genuine guy and nce clean cars. Verdi in middlesex. Karl a geniune guy with nice cars.
Kent High Performance Cars in Maidstone - speak to Simon, Roger or Arthur they are always extremely helpful, have a superb range of cars for sale and are very enthusiastic. Plus I think they have a 512 and TR in stock. I don't think any Ferrari is that practical. The only place where I feel relaxed about leaving the car is either in the garage or next to fellow F-cars. I have often parked the car in service stations to go for a coffee/p. stop as far way from everybody else as possible. Guaranteed when I come back somebody has parked right next door to the car - always makes me laugh. Difficult choice Steve but for me it would have to be the 512bb. Good luck with your search. Regards Henry
I bought my F355 from Talacrest a couple of weeks before Christmas. They were very easy to deal with, straight talking, and I'd recommend them to anyone. Guy Tedder is the main salesman there. They are a real bunch of enthusiasts too. I've always preferred this type of dealer. Are you looking at their Grigio 512TR with very low miles on it? I went past the other day and it was occupying prime position in the front centre of their showroom.
Richard has a good point because Talacrest have this TR and a fantastic silver BB in stock, so you could maybe test drive them one after the other. I have seen the BB up close and personal and it look sensational. Whilst I have no great love for a TR, the one at Talacrest with the Gunmetal finish looks rather lovely; I guess it's one of those Fcars that looks better when it is not in red! Stig
Had planned to look at a blue 512tr at SantAgata Classics, lovely colour, I think the owner there by the name of Amari called it medio blue, only thing is cambelts, they were done 400 miles ago but that was in 2001, do they need to be changed now?? car can be seen at www.saclassics.com steve
Steve, that 512 TR looks stunning . Never seen that colour on a TR before . The norm seems to be belts changed every 3 years so i assume they will need doing. Can't you factor that into purchase price? Tony
According to Amari at Sa classics there were only ever two trs painted in that colour and one has been exported to australia recently, the price seems fair and he is willing to negotiate so hopin to travel over in next few days to take a look, still the boxer 512 is my preference tho?? steve
Steve, I think that 512 TR has just changed the whole basis.... very rare colour, well cared for, low miles and with advantage of being much more modern than BB..... Just my opinion and i'm sure whatever you buy will be stunning. Tony
During my search for the 355 I spoke with manu at Scuderia Systems for some general advice. We talked about 355 specific stuff mainly but manu really raved about the 512TR as an alternative, saying it was very 'chuckable' and that it could be had for the same price as a 355. I wasn't interested in a 512 however (way too big for my garage actually). Manu passed comment about that specific one, saying that it wasn't in the 'most valuable colour' - in other words a Rosso one should cost more. I imagine as a buyer you'd be buying one in a 'rare colour' rather than a 'less valuable colour' if you get my drift...
Yeah its a matter of personal taste, i think trs look better in dark metallics, but that medio blue really is striking, when i called about the car he had no hesitation in telling me that he has it for sale for almost 6 months now so maybe its not to everyones taste, and just on that point, there are quite a few Tr and testarossas for sale at the moment in UK, whats the story with the market for this model?? steve
512TR is an impressive machine. Feels much more modern than you might expect, roomy, comfortable and v. fast. The noise, on the inside,is just glorious. I'd never even considered them until I had a drive in one, but would happily own one now. Just love the look of the Boxers but never been in one and they're getting on a bit now. Being no mechanic, this scares the crap out of me.
I think with either of these cars, trying to be a practical amateur mechanic will merely succeed in elevating repair bills even further, on through the stratosphere, through the ionosphere, and into a low orbit not far from the European Space Station. With either of these you cars, you have to buy them accepting the very real fact that at some point, you are probably gonna have to open your wallet very very wide, bend over, and take it like a man!! I agree that the TR looks great in dark colours; haven't seen a blue one, but Grigio TR that they have at Talacrest is just plain yummy. Stig
