Why are TR prices so low?

I would say that they are relatively low due to their dated style, as you said, as those of us who grew up with the neon and pastels of Crocket and Tubbs gather the financial means, the prices will rise. I figure they will hover for another decade or so, and then take off like a rocket as our kids finish school and our income finally becomes ours.

 

TRs have 2 simple problems:
1. Their asthetics is not appreciated by the current market.
2. Too many were made, negating exclusivity.

 

I think the main problem that affects TR sale prices is the very high maintenance costs. Many people want them until they do the research and find out how much they cost to maintain: nearly 1/4 - 1/5 of the car's worth per year

 

There is your answer. I wanted an 80's Testarossa, but when I went shopping... I found I couldn't stand the dated interior, the exterior had lost some of its mystique and the major cost$$$.

 

You need to drive them pretty hard to get those sort of maintainance costs, or have found a real bargin when you bought, but they sure are not cheap. And unlike a 308, to live out that other 80's TV show dreams, the average H.S. auto shop skills are not going to cut it to do your own work.

 

The TR was a volume production car relatively speaking Ferrari wise.........a Boxer is rarer by roughly a factor of 4.

The Boxer has more flowing and voluptous esthetics......today it looks timeless and exotic when parked next to the cheese grater. Koenig really did have the right idea about those strakes too.

Both are pricey to fix and have their quibbles........so for me that is it. And I like TR's....don't get me wrong.

 

All the factors mentioned may someday just be the facets in the macho legend of this car - and the diehards will be rewarded, I think.

There is one fact about it which cannot be undone - it is still (20+ years later) making as big a visual impact on the public as when it was new.

There is another fact about it which also cannot be undone - it is the last top line 12 cylinder car made while Enzo was still alive. It is also very probably the last big midengine 12 to ever be offered to the public outside of specials like the Enzo or the F50. It is also very likely the last 12 cylinder Ferrari ever to be able to claim a lineage back to the engine of a real F1 winner in the classic manner.

This will be IMHO the next big "I woulda coulda shoulda" after the recent Dino surge. But it may well take 10 years.

 

The volume aspect is probably a small part of the story (Dino 246 is not a rare car), but as posted the styling and maintenance costs put a lot of people off.

And, if you do like the styling, the 512TR is a better car and will always command more in the market.

As far as Miami Vice, I think people put way too much emphasis on '80s TV shows as a factor in 308 and TR pricing. There's no doubt those shows contributed to strong sales back in the '80s, but in 2008 it's hard to argue that guys are indulging their Crockett or Magnum fantasies. The cars stand on their own merits (and issues).

Next cars to rise: Boxer, 308, 328.

 

You may be a little late for that Boxer, from what I am seeing.

 

True, they've already gone up quite a bit.

 

I really think some Ferrari owners are way to "nose in the air" and down play in such a country club air about these cars (TR)..............
Oh those strakes..............
So dated a design..............
High cost of ownership............
Watch out for that flimsy diff...........
You do know there were 7000 of these produced?......................
I really think some of you take yourselves way to serious and above the masses, ................................

The styling is still relavent
The engineering is still superior to many other vehicles (raw and purpose built)
Beat it and it will make you pay
Roll out of the hole......it ain't a Fury with a Dana 60
Figure there are 6000 left...........relative to other desirable cars as seen at Barrett-Jackson..........rare......
I am a blue collar, jean and t-shirt wearin' 55 year old motorhead........I got my dream car and others are envious....Cool!

To be perfectly honest, I could give a sh*t if my TR was valued by the Ferrari community at $500, and was sneared at by the automobile world in general and it's Pebble Beach critics...............I love the way it looks, drives, sounds and is always waiting for me in the garage.....Thank you Enzo....and F*ck the rest!!

Kerry

Let the slammin' begin

 

I don't know why people comment negatively about the testarossa's looks. It looks spectacular, and won't soon be confused for anything else...

Maintenance, is a very relative thing. $7000 for a testarossa major right now is high relative to the cars price. But, if the car triples or doubles in value...the cost of the major stay the same...

The major on a Boxer is about the same, probably within $1000 of the testarossa...so I don't see how maintenance costs are any worse.

The strakes are classic. Now worse than a Caddies fins, a muscle cars "shaker" hood, or that ugly 7 foot high nascar tail on a roadrunner. How about the goofy eagle on a trans am? The oversized tail on a countach? The rubbermaid whale tail on a 911?

There were only a handful of cars that defined a generation, and the testarossa and 308, and countach were it...



And the fact that these cars were on tv shows and plastered on every magazine cover I remember is extremely important. People want what they couldn't have then. 50 and 60 year olds are buying cars from the 60's and 70's...because thats what the cool kids had, or their neighbor, or it was in R&T at the time.

My generation, now in my late 30's drooled over porsche turbo's, ferrari testarossa's, 308's, countaches, and later, diablo's. Thats it. Those are the cars I wanted. What other cars from the early 80's to late 80's are more desirable than these. Hell, I don't even remember much of anything domestic being great at the time (vette? gag.)

And honestly, I think the boxer is overplayed. Nice car, but I didn't even know what a boxer was until I got on this site. But for that matter, I didn't know much about Dino's, or daytona's either.

Those are cars that belong to the generation before me. Most dino owners I see are in their 50's and 60's... Most Daytona owners are too. Boxer owners are about 10 years younger. Most 308\testarossa owners are in their 30's early 40's...

Notice a trend? The 50 and 60 year olds of tommorrow are going to be the buyers of these cars...

Its just like rock and roll . I love the 80's stuff, don't mind the 70's stuff. Despise most of the 90's stuff. I would guess that most Dino lovers feel pretty passionate about the music of the 60's . Perhaps even Lawrence Welk makes you tingle all over...

To each generation...their own dreams and dream cars...

 

You know, I'm a sucker for a side well-stated. I haven't "aquired" the taste to appreciate a TR, and dang it, I keep WANTING to like it, but my eyes tell my brain to shut-up.

Though not converted, your points are very well made and taken. The terms, "unattractive, expensive, dated, over-produced" are all quite relative, probably greatly appreciated more later.

 

I think a lot of people who bought a Testarossa bought it for a small group of reasons (Ferrari name, looks, 12 cylinder, and maybe the 80's thing). I bought it for none of those reasons except one. I bought it for the mechanical part. To me, I'm just not crazy about the looks, some are and that's great, but many aren't. Ferrari name, yes, but this wasn't a defining car for Ferrari. The maintenance I don't worry about I do my own. While I've been enjoying myself at everyones comments on the strakes (which I don't like), I still have mine on and it's no where near the top of the list of things I'm doing to the car.

Here's my list of things I find objectionable:

1) Parts cost: Please don't tell me it's a Ferrari because that's a crock. Ferrari was no different than many speciality manufacturers of the era, they pulled many of there parts from common suppliers. The problem is finding out who and what number to order. I purchased a set of front wheel bearings that had a range between $750 each to the ones with Ferrari's logo for $1540 each. Now $750 for wheel bearings is still hard to take, but it's better than $1540.

2) Electrical: This is a common problem with British and Italian cars of that era. I plan on reworking the whole electrical system to make it more robust. This includes some of the starting issues with the starter.

3)Mechanical: I am going through a complete rebuild of the mechanicals. Not all of it is required, but it makes me feel better, and I like working on it. I just wished I didn't have to do so much research on parts to find them. Changed out the brakes to Brembo's and went to 18" rims and tires.

4) Internal comfort and usefullness: This is a personal issue with me and my height. I have owned numerous sports cars and I am used to crawling in and out, but Ferrari's are different in how they position steering wheel and peddles. I plan on modifying this to suit me. Hate some of the gage layout, but I'm not sure yet what to do about it. The seatbelts are another issue and I hate them. I have found all the necessary items to change over to a non-mechanical system. I plan on doing this in a way in which it will appear to be stock from the factory. I like the seats ok, but I just need to see if there is a way to get a little more room.

5) Cosmetics: Now this is the one that you usually see people getting their panties in a wad over. The strakes are something that I've notice cause great emotions with some and I must admit I find very amusing. I have toy'd with doing something similar to what 90Koenig did to his which I think really looks great. I have several concerns which might cause me to do nothing. First, I would need to find someone who would do a quality job at a reasonable price. Second, I would like it to be someone close enough that I could drive over and see it being done. So, I might end up doing nothing. Like I said it's not a big emotional thing with me. Now I don't like the pop up lights. If I can figure out how to replace them and do so without changing the basic lines, then I will.

I have no illusions about this car becoming priceless in my lifetime and I have never purchased a car that I wouldn't improve because I was worried about it's resale. If someone wants a car with all it faults, then there are plenty out there. I believe the Testarossa is priced just about right with all the above considerations.

John

 

I couldn't have said this better myself. Thank you! Half these yankers "giving their opinion" don't own a Ferrari and never will.

 

Just remember you heard it here first. The single fly mirror knock off will be the one to have.

My kids still go nuts for the TR, and all there friends...they dont know what to make of it (8-12yrsold) . All this negative talk comes from mostly people who either cant afford it, or refuse to accept it.

Is it costly to maintain, of course, so will the 355, 360, 575...and every other ferrari. The boxer has its own following, its value has increased becasue most people into boxers are "conisures" of ferraris. Everyone that i know (general public) thinks the boxer is a 308, or an ugly car......again, these are the smae people that cannot afford a boxer either

As more TRs get twisted, or parted, the values will eventually come up. You will see that take place in about 10 yrs when people have the option of a 360, 355 or a TR.....that will be the discussion (soon) do yo ui buy a 355/360 or a TR...those threads will be starting soon. Then you wil get the camps that say, you gotta get the TR cause its a 12....blah, blah....

Are TRs low in price ? Maybe, but people should buy what they want not becuase they think they need to make others happy.

How many happy 550s and 575, and 360 owners are out there nowadays ?

My quess is the same enjoy the ride, if you want an investment, buy some "gold"

 

We all decide our own aesthetic preferences - no point in debating.

$7000 for a Testarossa major is extortionate relative to the value of the car. 308/328 majors are stupidly expensive at $4000, and those cars are in the same price range. You may disagree, but the general public looking to buy a Ferrari likely doesn't see the value in it. That affects prices. I know it dissuaded me from considering a TR. You get to pay that $7000 (or more) two, three or maybe four or five times before these cars move up in price. If you love TRs, then I can understand that -- I'm not exactly getting rich off my 328 -- but I don't think someone who buys a TR now for $50K and pays for majors on the 3-5 year schedule has any hope of coming out in the black before he's a very old man.

The strakes - up to you. Recognizing that I'm only one data point (but one who buys a lot of cars): Caddy fins are fun in a car-show setting, but no one drives them around anymore outside of parades; the Roadrunner tail, as you say, looks ridiculous; the Trans Am eagle is about as cool as Burt Reynolds; the Countach with front/rear wings is kitschy -- Lambo experts like the early Periscopa cars. And - the 'rubbermaid' whale tail on the 911s has aged very poorly. I say all this having grown up in the '80s. (My brother's a diehard Porsche guy, and he won't buy a 911 with the whale tail...)

I like the TRs more than all of those cars. But when it comes to market price, I see why they're low.

 

Duly noted. But ...

We disagree.

 

Ok, im gonna go on a limb here..........why would you buy a TR then if you are doing all the above ?

Wouldnt you have been happier in a Corvette ZO6?

Explain this to me ??? because if i was to complain about electricals, seating positions, cost of parts i would never buy such a thing.

Let me ask the question differently then .........what do you like about it and why did you buy it ?

 

Well there big red I don't see any Ferraris in your past or present, but actually the question is very easy. Potential. I've worked on cars all my life to have them reach what I consider their potential or at least as far as I'm willing to go. Fortunately, I don't have that limited view of things. Anyone who thinks these cars are manufactured to the limit at the time they were manufactured and remain so are fooling themselves. There are always trade offs to improve the sales of your goods. Anyone who accepts paying inflated prices for goods which can be purchase for far less, well I believe the saying goes something like "A fool and his money are soon parted". My eyes are wide open to reviewing a design and improving it where appropriate. I enjoy this process, something I assume you don't. I would fine the Corvette as 'low hangin fruit'.

John

 

When will they rise?
Well, the market now appreciates those funky 1960's Cadillacs with the big tail fins.
All these kids growing up these days have an interesting esthetic sensibility with their piercings and tatoos, bucking traditional notions of beauty.
Maybe someday they will appreciate the funkyness of the sideways cheese-grater.

When will they rise?
When the market decides.
Until then, individuals are free to buy Zimmers and give the finger to the market.

 

while the TR'S have not moved in value for the last five years...their seblings have almost double in price...does that answer the question...too many made and too dated....

 

What siblings exactly have doubled in price?

Last I checked, the primary late 80's ferraris are the 308/328 and the testarossa. I haven't noticed 308's double? Maybe I missed it...

The boxer is not its sibling. More of an older brother. The dino is that uncle you only see on Christmas...and doesn't look like anyone else in the family...