Which car is cheaper to own, 355 or testarossa?

The 5k - 10k maintenance for a TR is high.

Good luck with whatever you choose - You can't go wrong!

 

You can if you choose a blue one. JK bro.

 

Pure logic would say that the 355 is cheaper newer and fewer cylinders,however when You buy a Ferrari a logical decision is the last thing on Your mind,You will enjoy it whichever car You buy.
Dave Mc

 

No comparison: the 355 will be a lot cheaper to maintain. The TR has 12 cylinders, cruder emissions, and earlier electronics. The 355 is almost good enough to be a daily driver, provided you get one after 97.

 

Your quote from Ruf'dup is so idiotic, I wonder how can anyone repost such an empty and totally stupid remark.

 

Because as a P car owner myself, I find it rather amusing. The idiocy of the comment makes it funny imo.

-Ryan

 

The TR will cost a little more to own, but not that much. And when you consider the difference between the flat-12 in the TR and the little v8 in the 355, it is well worth it. A V8 is a drink made with tomato juice that belongs in you frig, not something that belongs in a Ferrari anyway!

 

For 5-10K a year, I wouldn't want to own a Testarossa either. It is not just a tad high, the truth is, if that is the cost of ownership of such a car, it should not have been sold in the first place. It should have been junked. Just wondering, where did you are get that number from? Regardless which model you decide on, they are all good choices BTW. And as long as you are sure that a Ferrari is what you want, and have a full understanding of that your wife will probably give you hell from time to time, either on the cost of ownership or time you spend with the car instead of with her etc. then I think you are good to go.

 

lol .....Not sure where you are getting your numbers of 5-10k for maintence on a TR but man I would love to be your mechanic. Both are great in there own right......but if the wife is calling the 355 prettier.......not sure if thats what I would want to drive if my heart was with a TR.

My 86TR will never be traded for a 355....sorry for the 355 guys, but the TR is a great raw race car over the 355.

 

I've only driven the TR once. Owned a 355 for several years. The 355 was a better car in all respects but one: noise, didn't have the 12 cylinder sound. It was faster, handled better, stopped better, and worked better in town.


the 360 is in another league all together.

 

I'm not so sure the TR would be more expensive to maintaine then a 355. Take into consideration the issues a 355 has. Possiable valve guide problems(very expensive to repair could run upwards of 12,000 depending on what needs to be replaced). The exhaust manifold issues..lets see I belive on fellow on here has gone through 4 sets. I belive his is a 95? so thats about 20k right three in just manifolds. Now on top of that you have you're major services about 5-7k again depending on what you need..remember tensioner bearings are about 800 bucks each..and you need 2 of them. Water pump is about 1200..and other stuff along they way which falls into the "while were there catagory". The 355 being a newer car has much more "tech in it to go wrong. Not saying that it is a common thing to happen (in fact the engine electronics are very good) but they can fail..which can lead to big money being spent at the dealer. 355 spider has roof issues that are a psin in the butt to repair.

So factoring the things on this list that are knowen problems with the cars you can see how possiably the 355 would be more expensive to keep.

The TR is a very basic machine. Most parts on the car are sorced from other makes like Fiat or Alfa. The electrical is not that complicated and most electrical issues can be found at the fuse panel. It's fairily easy to fix these this. The transmission is a weakpoint on the cars. This can be very expensive to repaire..about the same cost as 4 manifolds on a 355..and more then likely the trans will not fail again for as long a you own the car. The clutch is anpther expensive component but you can rebuild yours for about 600 bucks installed.

Engine out service price will infact work out to be about the same as a 355. The tensioner bearings are cheaper and the belts are also cheaper. Labor wise it is more expensive because you are dealing with valve adjustment on 12 cylinders and your normal wear items like spark plugs(which are cheaper then the 355) In fact a set of 8 plugs for a 355 is $225. A set of 12 for the TR is $95.

 

I agree with Tom on this one with two exceptions: 1, A major on a TR in my experience costs less, parts wise similar maybe less for the TR. Labor, well the motor almost falls out of a TR. I charge less for them. 2, The TR is getting to be an older car and age related items are hard to quantify but will be more.
I have seen TR motors go 200k miles, they are very tough. While I do like 355's, the motors will never go that distance.

Also for a diy'er there are more things you can do on a TR. Much less complex car.

But yellow360 is correct in so far as the driving issues, the 355 is a big leap technology wise and drives like it.

 

BPU:
I don't think the F355 market has gotten that soft yet, so finding a 70K car might not be realistic. I think you might be looking more at 80-85K for a clean car with records and service. The TR is pretty much depreciated so the gap in initial purchase price is closer to 25-30K more; not 15K.
Money asides, I'd go for the F355. IMHO, newer cars will have less issues in the long run.

Best of luck!

 

You might be "lol" but I am LMFAROTF after seeing the 5 to 10k annual figures. The only way I can see you hitting that is having a major and clutch replacement once a year Hmmmmm...that actually sounds like a good idea

Cheers,
Travis

 

I don't own one yet, but I'm gunning for a 355 spider. Because I want a convertible, the 355 is purely my choice.

BUT, as opinions go....here's mine:

The 355 is likely to be less costly to maintain and due to being newer have less problems over the long-haul. Your wife will more-so enjoy driving it (if she drives it at all). Many Ferrari owners strongly recommend the 355..perhaps it's "Ferrari made near practical". I'm figuring they'll depreciate down to the high 60's and linger for years.

The TR is unique, it's not the most expensive Ferrari, but it certainly is an icon of sorts. I may be stretching it...but in my age bracket, the TR put Ferrari on the map. The cheese-shredder sides, 12-cylinder engine and the whole beast in and of itself is just classic Ferrari. over the long-haul, I'd expect it to be more of a collectors/classic vehicle. Investment wise it may be a better choice. More costly, yeah...but unmistakenly Ferrari. The way the rice-burners are copying designs..the 355 can blend in sometimes.

My train of thought is this: don't think. Buy whichever makes you more excited and gets your heart throbbing. If you can afford to move on one of these machines, you can afford the lumps & bumps & costs associated with keeping one. There is no right or wrong.

My last thought is this: go out and have 'fun' with about 4-5 really hot & beautiful woman. I'm not really sure how this will help you decide which Ferrari to buy, in fact...it likely won't, BUT it seems like a good idea just the same and you could argue that someone on F-chat told you to do it. Now...if you'll excuse me, I'm going to jump off a cliff.

 

Good question, NOTOBOY will be able to answer this question for you.

 

Suprised that no one has yet mentioned that you should definitely get the 355, as your life will be roses--the wife will be pleased and you know what that means!!

 

Good luck with whatever you choose - Just be careful of the cars on the low end of the price bracket - You get what you pay for. I'm not sayin you can't get a great 355 for $65k, I'm just saying that the car is priced at the low end of the scale & it is up to you to figure out why!

 

I had my 88.5TR for about 6 years now. It was bought with about 40K miles......it now has about 63K miles.......never towed. The problems during the six years:

1) Replaced the mother board.......$750. A common problem

2) Had one caliper freeze.......had it ss re-sleaved.......$300. The others are still fine. I still have the same rotors and pads.......still good.

3) Valve cover gasket leaked.......replaced it........$90.

4) Differential seal leak.......replaced it........$30.

5) Torn CV-joint boot.......replaced it.........$30.

I just got through with the major.........total cost of parts was about $450. During the major, I noticed some pitting in the radiators.......they didn't leak. However, I had them both re-cored.......$700. The clutch is still the one I got with the car..........still has about 1/3rd life left.......I don't race the car.

Where are these people getting the $5K-$10K yearly costs from????????

If one has a lift, the engine is VERY easy to get out!!!!!!!!!!!, AND put back in.

As someone mentioned, the electronics, and FI systems are very basic, and easy to assess and fix. I read where the clutch, on the 355, has to adjusted by a computer..........only found at the dealer. I avoid the newer F cars just for that reason. They are getting too technical, and only the dealer has the proper test, and set-up equipment.

My Boxer is even easier to work on!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hey Henry - You willing to come to Cali when I am ready to do a major?

 

Buy the one you love. But don't forget, it's cheaper to pay more up front to get a good one.

 

Jerry: Sure, I will come........but how can I get the lift on the plane?????haha I just came back from a week's vacation in San Fransisco..........great place, but I wouldn't want to live there. It seems you CA people are paying WAY TOO MUCH for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After the trip, I really appreciated, where I live, much more.

BO: If you ever come up to Door County, give me a call. The TR will be up for sale next Spring........when I finish with it. I have stopped for the Winter........too cold!!!!!!!brbrbr!!!

 

Henry - I'll buy a lift for your upcoming arrival.

Yep, we definitely pay too much for everything! I have always lived here, so I don't know any better.