Buying my first Ferrari... TR or 512?

I personally like the 512tr

 

I love the look of these cars and is the car I planned to buy when I first went to the Ferrari dealer. I love the exterior appearance but the interor is very dated. I did not like the handling, a very stiff and dated chasis. I waited a few months tried it again and bought a 360. A very modern car. I frankly still look at these cars with lust. The 385 hp has a great sound. I sat in one the other day at the dealer thinking maybe I should drive it again. My belief is they will and are beginning to appreciate in value.

When I was talking a TR, I was told by my knowledgeable freinds to get a newer model. I was told the reliability on the newer cars is much better. I sorry to say have no ownership on this car to draw experince from.

Depending on your wallet you could be in for a expensive maintenace surprise. That would be my fear. My 2003 360 was perfect and my 2006 F430 has been the same. They were both on warranty so it is not much of a data point, but nothing broke on these cars.

you may drive a 348. They have some of the same styling cues and would be a little less expensive. I have never driven one but to me they are almost as good looking as the Tr's. Just a thought.

Good luck on what ever you decide.

Lee

 

I would consider the TR and 512's classics. And as such will need to be treated as such. Lots of loving attention is what these beauties require. But well worth it. The 512 has a number of updates over the TR and may well be a bit more reliable. For specifics, check out the TR/512 section , tons of info. You just need to realize, it an old car now. The guy that mentioned he got a 360 instead of a TR, obviously didn't want a classic. Apples to oranges ya know. They are beautiful, and make a fantastic GT car. Something a 360 will not. Do your homework and find a car that has been serviced correctly and taken care of. That is much more important than which year it is.


Darrell.

 

Darrell,

Well said and I agree with you.

Thanks for clarifying this.

lee

 

I just took delivery of a 512 TR, traded in my 355. I have not driven a Testarossa. The 512 looks better to me (than the TR, sorry but the 355 is the best looking car ever, IMO) The interior is much classier. The difference in the way the car handles vs. the TR has been described to me by different people as "night and day". I cannot comment on this. I can compare it to the 355.

As compared to the 355, the 512 is a bit of a classic, but it is by no means a slug. If you have any inclination to buy a Countach, the 512 TR will be light years ahead. The steering is heavy, but only at slow speeds. On the highway, I can steer with a finger. The brakes have no ABS, but are very solid. The sound is awesome, and mine is the stock exhaust. It is quiet at cruise, but the motor fills the cabin with mecahnical music on full throttle acceleration.

What impresses me most is the quality of construction. The leather in the 512 makes the leather in the 355 look like veneer. The doors feel like they are from a vault. Not a squeak or rattle (though the clock "ticks"). Nice seats, tilt wheel, comfy driving position. I have driven a BBi, and I thought it was crippling; this is a true GT car. The climate control works nicely and is quiet. I haven't turned on the stereo, but it did come with a CD from the factory

No, it is not nearly as tossable as the 355, but the drive is very involving and the limits are pretty far out there. I have only been in a 360 briefly, but the torque in the 512 will leave the 355 for dead. Another difference: the 355 sounded best from outside the car, or with the top off where it could reflect from a bridge or wall. The 512 sounds fantastic in the cabin - which is where I am usually sitting.

If you want quick lap times at the local track, the 360 is the ticket. (The 355 also works nicely as a track car). I think the 512 feels more special, more exotic.

 

I have always liked the Testarossa models, I had a '90TR for a while and really enjoyed the car. I have never driven a 512, but I am sure that it only exceeds the earlier model. The car is very easy to drive an if you wanted, almost an everyday car. I have also driven a Countach, and although it is a very good looking car, not very easy to drive and not comfortable at all. So if you really want to use the car, my vote would be for either the Testarossa or 512. Also note that at 512 money you can get a hold of a 355 or 360 in some cases as well. Just trying to make it more difficult.

 

I have a 512 TR, this is a much better car that the TR in updated handling, power and interior aesthetics, if you can afford the higher price. 512M is even better however many are put off by the styling. However because there are more TR's and the price is lower, some members feel the TR is the better value.

 

Either.......or. They are both fantastic looking machines!

 

I owned a '87 TR and loved it. I also drove a 512TR and loved it. The 512 is a better car all the way around but not infinitely so. In other words - if there was a clean '87 TR for $65k versus a clean 512TR for $100k+ ... I might be hard pressed to spend the extra money for the 512TR unless I wanted it for its collectible value.

If you plan to really drive the car then get a TR since it is not likely that a nice one will depreciate much more. A 512 is better as part of a collection or a car that you might not drive as often. Putting miles on a 512 will hurt its value more than putting miles on a TR.

Another consideration is if you have the funds for a 512 and really intend to drive your car ... consider a 360. Prices for 360s are in the same ball park as 512TRs.

 

The '94 512's do have ABS brakes. Can't beat the 512tr.

 

My high-mirrored '85 just looked downright wicked. It was designed without consumer feedback, therefore, was a pure example of Ferrari and PF's vision. Everything after that was done as a reaction to consumer and government demand. Just my opinion.

 

Between a TR and a 512TR buy the 512 if you have the money. More power, more bells and whistles, an upgrade from the TR. As far as a Countach, It is a different animal entirely. Iconic and visceral, one of the stiffest chassis I've ever seen, corners like it's screwed down. An angry sounding beast, more weapons system than car. That said, it is uncomfortable to drive, has NO visibility to the rear (to backup the car without hitting something requires you to sit in the doorway kinda side-saddle). The windows only go down a few inches which means that if the A/C is out, you roast. It is the car that was on the wall of practically every kid's bedroom. Very cool, every guy has wanted one.

If you can only get one of them, get the 512TR.

 

I'd agree with this - my 328 is an '87, and while it has been dependable it has also needed upkeep simply due to age (replacing old hoses and fuel lines being a priority.) The 512TR isn't quite as old, but they're certainly not drive-it-and-forget-it cars anymore.

I was very interested in the Testarossa and ended up deciding against it due to the extensive improvements on the later 512TR (much like the 328 fixed the lingering gremlins from the 308). The big one is the redesigned differential that is cast from one piece on the 512TR and two welded halves on the Testarossa - built to fail eventually, and with wallet-crushing effects. I decided there was no way I would want car that could bite me that badly, even if it looks great. Right now I'm more interested in a 550, but I love those 512TRs.

OTOH, you'd better be OK with $7K+ major service bills every three years on a 512TR (engine out, belt/tensioner bearing replacement plus incidentals). It's a big boy car.

The Countach is the ultimate money pit, and a bear to drive. If you just want to stare at it, go for it. The later ones, with all the wings, flares, and bowling ball wheels, are hideous. The early ones, rarer, are prettier. But $10K for a clutch (IIRC) ... give me a break.

 

I like the 512tr over the TR. The interior is much cleaner and more room for your feet. The engine is improved.

 

I've owned both and put 75K miles on a new 512TR before I sold it to the next owner. He proceeded to put another 30K miles on it without incident.
The 512TR is a much better car all around. It had teething problems, my was a Dec 1991 build date car, the engine gaskets were Ferraris first without asbestos. The gaskets constantly leaked. Ferrari replaced them three of four times under warranty until the figured it out. (The first that worked was using the older Testarossa gaskets with asbestos. They finally found a non-asbestos compound that worked.) The TO bearing was problem in all the cars. The update was the 512M TO bearing. All cars should have this by now. The Bosch starter was a known problem. They updated it to a Nippondenzo unit that never failed.

In theory, the 512TR is a more expensive major service. There is no engine sub-frame on the 512TR. So, it's a lift up and out operation. The TR has an engine sub-frame. It's a slide the engine out on the sub-frame affair.

I used my my 512TR as a commute car. It never, ever, left me stranded. (It did sometimes take three or four turns of key because of the Bosch starter problem mentioned above.) It never, ever, overheated (including in 100 degree days in stop and go traffic).

Still, for a bit more, you can get a 360 Coupe that is cheaper to maintain. Majors on these cars are around $4K or so. It's going to be $7500 and up on the 512TR. And, since its an expensive engine out, you'll end up doing a bunch of pre-maintenance stuff once the engine is out. It cost me $7500 the last time I did one, and that was back in 1996 or so.

PM me if you want to more on these cars. I have a quite a few miles on these things.

Steve

 

Nice to hear you racked up the miles on the 512TR Steve.
105K miles without an issue? Very cool.
Best wishes mate.

 

The 512TR is way better than the Testa. On the 512, the engine is 300mm lower and it really improves the handling. Try to find a 1993 or 1994 model. These are the only ones fitted with ABS. To me the car handles better with a smaller steering wheel than with the stock one.

 

It's wrong to compare the TR vs 512TR ....imo. they are totally different in price.

Now, compare a TR + a 308 VS a 512TR..... that's a good match. Now, both sides has about the same value.
Sorry to say that I can't see the 512TR is nicer than the TR, they are a little different... just a matter of taste.
In term of machanical, I have not seen a problem free Ferrari. Each car or each model got their own individual issues.

Another thing is I don't see the TR as a classic...; they are more modern than most modern cars today. The Daytona, Dino... that's classic. The TR and 550 Modena, in term of modern, they're about the same. Just because, the TR has been around for 20 years, or that we have seen them longer, that's not automaticly put them in the classic category. IMO

TR or 512TR.......????, I'll go with the TR plus a 308, or a TR and a Mondial Spider, or a TR and a new Lotus Exige......imo.

 

I was out for a drive in the 512TR a few days ago and after 3 years of owning it I still think it's an awesome experience, still can't get used to it. One of the things I love is the power, you can feel it when the engine is running. When I rev it even slightly the car actually shudders/shakes. As for the small group of people that think the interior looks dated they're wrong. It is a fact that the 512TR interior still looks up to date, like a stripped out version of the modern Ferraris- stripped of all the computers and gadgets. A pure drivers car. The Testarossa interior looks dated however. A Countach Anniversary is even more attention grabbing than a 512TR however not as practical. I saw a Countach Anniversary last week in London and people seemed to stop what they were doing and stare within a range of 15 metres around it. Also the Countach fitted with a sports exhaust tends to be the most exciting sounding car out there. Have you heard it with a Kriessieg yet? The only thing that puts me off it is it's no where near as fast as a 512TR.