You think it's costly to maintain a TR?

WOW!!! what a joke. I thought TR parts pricing was an insult to common sense

 

Wait when the 355/360 hits up on 20 yrs old and owners or fake owners see the price of replacing some leather pieces in that car...it will make the shirkage dash on the TR look like a coffee at dunkin donuts Ferrari in italy are licking there chops on those parts prices...whats sad...and i think what will happen, you will see those cars be chopped up like crazy to save costs...for example used engines going from one car to the next, if too expensive to repair...its already slowing happening now since the 360 is under 100K now.
The TR will look like a bargain in another 5 yrs

 

I don't understand this, you can get leather guys to replace any leather in the car for fairly reasonable cost.

 

The TR is beyond a bargain price right now.

 

i was using leather as an example...i didnt think we had to get so granular on a specifc part and peice....the 355/360 long term will be a much more costly proposition to repair than the TR was my point.

 

Reality check, campers...
New caps and rotors are still avaialble from Ferrari...

Caps <$100
Rotors <$50

The OP has a few other misc. items listed....

 

I was just quoted $979 for a new TR cap.

 

Yikes! Try Ferrparts.com or Eurospares UK

 

There is always the Newman fix. Make the part from scratch & sell a few the way he did with diff. carrier.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

One of the problems with parts for our Ferraris is the Italian tax laws. As I understand it, the tax on parts for a car over 10 years old is very high and this applies to the manufacture of parts. This is why allot of dies and parts were shipped to England (FerrariUK)

I agree with Bigred....about the 360. Guess what will happen when they stop making computer modules for those computer laden cars. The TR will still be around because of their relative mechanical simplicity.

Even now, a single Diablo ignition module ( 2 required ) will cost you around $6k....if you can find one. You can't get one from the factory now.....so what do you do?

....yes indeed, what do you do?

Look at that 430 video screen dash pod....can you imagine the cost on the replacement....in 10 years....can you find one?

I personally believe, the older Ferrari's including our beloved TR's will be the only ones still on the road.....especially the carbed cars.


Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

I guess that's why the ad is listed in the "paid subscription" section of the forum!!

 

sorry im a newbie to the TRs. Were they carbed? I thought they were fuel injected.

 

Maybe refering to the cars previous to the BBi ?

 

Dear Ferraristi,

Sorry about that. My post can be read incorrectly. I meant to say our Testarossas (mechanical fuel injection ) will be around along with all the carbed Ferraris....bb, 365,daytona etc.

I think the newest cars will be especially difficult to keep on the road because of the interface computers.....multiparameters shared info between modules.

For example, you can put a Motec computer system on the early Diablo (91-93 ) as the ignition modules were straightforward.

My 97.5 VT Roadster is almost impossible because of the interface with the GFA central computer ($6K ) .....and this is 12 year old technology. I dread new F or L cars....besides they all look ugly anyways.....after the Diablo and F 355

Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice !

 

I think it will be easy to get replacements!

All modern cars are run from electronics and there is a big market there to maintain. There will be enough specialist suppliers offering their brand of gizmos that fits any car that I doubt that there will be real cost problems with the "running" bits. The 360 dash and the like, well yes I agree, things bespoke like that will be a nightmare. It is possible already to move over to modern electronic ignition systems on the TR series as some have described on this forum.

P

 

I respectfully disagree. This is a big discussion on the Diablo forums. A simple car like the TR can be upgraded to a aftermarket full system like the Motec....with support.

The problem lies in the propriety electronic modules that the more modern cars use. Lambo doesn't make the modules anymore (10 year Italian tax laws ) and they so far have not been able to be repaired. I had a GFA go out on my VTR and was still able to get one from the factory...NOS. ($ 6K) I still have my old one with no burns. It was scoped and tested. It was determined that a chip went bad but it still can't be repaired. What happens in the future?

If you have a more sophisticated OEM computer system, it's tough to add the aftermarket system. Where does the new one start and the old one stop. The modules that control the ignition get signals from the alarm computer, air bags, abs computer....it's very intertwined.

I've actually had this exact discussion with George Evans of Evans Automotive ( one of 3 top Lambo shops in the US ) My above posting was from our discussion....about going Motec to my VT Roadster in the future. I can't see this not being an issue with modern Ferraris as well.....10 year Italian tax laws.

Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice !

 

gotcha. thanks! I've been dead set on finding a 360 or 550 as my first ferrari but the recent prices I'm seeing on TRs has made me start to seriously consider one.

 

Its tough to say which is less of a headache to own, a simple carbed car or a 360. The carbed cars have ever-changing fuel formulations to deal with and adjust for through jet changes. Ethanol can really bugger the fuel system up on a carbed car but CIS isnt safe from the alcohol either, especially the fuel distributors. Newer cars with electronics are immune from the jet changes as they compensate through O2 sensors and pulse-width adjustments by the PCM but require expensive electronics to do that. None of them are safe from more than 10% ethanol in the fuel unless ferrari makes Flexfuel ferraris. Cant win but im happy right in the middle with a mechanical injected boxer, the best of both worlds! Better than a crummy lambo lol :0

 

Dear Ferraristi,

Maybe you should upgrade to a mechanical injected Testarossa.....Win Win !

crummy lambo??

sure....all you 308...I mean boxer girls say that out loud but....you secretly want one....dont' you !

Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

In the midst of the humor in this thread are some valid points to consider. As a former TR owner and do-it-yourselfer, I don't think TRs are particularly expensive to keep on the road. In my opinion, the only Testarossas that are expensive to maintain are the ones that haven't been. I feel that the cars that are neglected are the ones that most all of the horror stories are based on. Unfortunately these stories are the ones most potential buyers hear....and the ones telling it are usually don't know what they are talking about. If you maintain a TR, and drive it properly and regularly....it will be VERY dependable. If you do periodic maintenance, and not just wait till a part fails....these cars will not let you down. The day will come when people will wake up and see how good the TR really is....then we will see values start to rise. I'm hoping that values stay "in the tank" for just a while longer....until I can get me a 3rd Testarossa. That's about the highest recommendation I can give I'd say...

 

Dear Ferraristi,

Carguy !

....nice to see you around. Your post is so true.

The TR maintenance is really based on high hours of general upkeep and parts cost.

But...the car is really well engineered and very reliable. Sure there are a few issues like the fuse box and formerly the diff ( big thanks to Newman!) The engine itself is very solid and doesn't breakdown like say a 355...burned valves, oval-ed cylinder liners...cracked headers.

You really don't have in general many high cost component failures on the TR....like $ 11.5k headers and exhaust for the VTR engine cover design flaw. ( keeps too much heat in the engine bay....accerates component failure )

It's just the high cost of the engine out belt service that everyone sees and that seems to be the "stuck" reputation.

From a car point of view....whow! Just nothing more exotic and wild...inside and out.

From a maintenance point of view....whow ! Just nothing more expensive...inside and out.

Yes, TR maintenance is cheap compared. Lambo parts are extremely expensive and this is coming from a guy that buys perfect TR tail light twistlocks.

But....when the doors go up....well, we'll let Newman finish it.


Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice !

 

...that being said....I will say going back to the TR after the VT Roadster is not a disappointment as one might think.

Sure the power is down, the interior is more conservative but the TR is just such a damn fine car. It's so smooth on the power curve, no vibration, lots of torque and very comfortable.
I just love the "feel" of the car and it's more "raw" nature. Oh, and it's just happens to be the car from my Miami Vice obsession.

...and don't forget the fact it doesn't look like anything else including the newer "blob" Ferraris


Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

.....shamiles panties fall down?