Testarossa prices
Discussion
best smilie I could find - where's that popcorn munching one when you need it?...rubystone said:
SonnyM said:
2. High centre of gravity? Lol this is one of the lowest road cars Ferrari ever made.
Sony, he's correct - the car was criticised at the time (and still now) for the engine which was mounted high in the chassis and thus raised the CoG. Ferrari lowered the engine in the 512TR IIRC. ETA I am a fan by the way, it's just that I wouldn't buy one on the strength of it shooting up in price a lot....
One thing I've read is that the 512tr is a better car and the 512M is the best Testarossa incarnation from a technical and drivers point of view. Is this correct?
GilesS3 said:
Testarossa?? V?? They certainly are not - flat 12 boxer engine!! 4942cc fuel injected!! Lovely engine!!
its 180 degree V (ie its flat) but the pistons dont "box". In a boxer the opposing pistons have a crank pin each, in a 180 degree v the opposing pistons share a crank pin. That means that in a boxer the opposing pistons reach the top of their stroke at the same time, in a v one will be at the top and the opposite one will be at the bottom, which is what the testarossa and 512 have.I thought that a testarossa was basically a wide body 512 I berlinetta boxer.
I understood that the 365 and 512 berlinetta boxers had flat 12 engines longitudinally mounted above the gearbox which was done for packaging reasons hence a nice light and airy interior cabin but at the expense of a higher C.O.G. Unlike the Countach which was a V12 but the gearbox was mounted from the other way round and protruded into the interior space hence the massive central cabin transmission tunnel.
The testarossa was a development of the 512 i berlinetta boxer to compete with the new QV Countach. The testarossa got more power from the same engine as the 512 i but now with four valve heads. Also it had a 2.5 inches longer wheel base to make more accomodation space and became 6 inches wider to try and lessen the high C.O.G. handling problems inheritated from the BB flat 12 and gearbox packaging issues. The extra width also allowed them to fit a pair of rear side mounted radiators that the side strakes fed the air to. This was to combat another bb problem of the front mounted rad and plumbing which ran through to the mid engine making the cockpit to hot.
I understood that the 365 and 512 berlinetta boxers had flat 12 engines longitudinally mounted above the gearbox which was done for packaging reasons hence a nice light and airy interior cabin but at the expense of a higher C.O.G. Unlike the Countach which was a V12 but the gearbox was mounted from the other way round and protruded into the interior space hence the massive central cabin transmission tunnel.
The testarossa was a development of the 512 i berlinetta boxer to compete with the new QV Countach. The testarossa got more power from the same engine as the 512 i but now with four valve heads. Also it had a 2.5 inches longer wheel base to make more accomodation space and became 6 inches wider to try and lessen the high C.O.G. handling problems inheritated from the BB flat 12 and gearbox packaging issues. The extra width also allowed them to fit a pair of rear side mounted radiators that the side strakes fed the air to. This was to combat another bb problem of the front mounted rad and plumbing which ran through to the mid engine making the cockpit to hot.
JMC1 said:
I thought that a testarossa was basically a wide body 512 I berlinetta boxer.
I understood that the 365 and 512 berlinetta boxers had flat 12 engines longitudinally mounted above the gearbox which was done for packaging reasons hence a nice light and airy interior cabin but at the expense of a higher C.O.G. Unlike the Countach which was a V12 but the gearbox was mounted from the other way round and protruded into the interior space hence the massive central cabin transmission tunnel.
The testarossa was a development of the 512 i berlinetta boxer to compete with the new QV Countach. The testarossa got more power from the same engine as the 512 i but now with four valve heads. Also it had a 2.5 inches longer wheel base to make more accomodation space and became 6 inches wider to try and lessen the high C.O.G. handling problems inheritated from the BB flat 12 and gearbox packaging issues. The extra width also allowed them to fit a pair of rear side mounted radiators that the side strakes fed the air to. This was to combat another bb problem of the front mounted rad and plumbing which ran through to the mid engine making the cockpit to hot.
Impressive memory you have there I understood that the 365 and 512 berlinetta boxers had flat 12 engines longitudinally mounted above the gearbox which was done for packaging reasons hence a nice light and airy interior cabin but at the expense of a higher C.O.G. Unlike the Countach which was a V12 but the gearbox was mounted from the other way round and protruded into the interior space hence the massive central cabin transmission tunnel.
The testarossa was a development of the 512 i berlinetta boxer to compete with the new QV Countach. The testarossa got more power from the same engine as the 512 i but now with four valve heads. Also it had a 2.5 inches longer wheel base to make more accomodation space and became 6 inches wider to try and lessen the high C.O.G. handling problems inheritated from the BB flat 12 and gearbox packaging issues. The extra width also allowed them to fit a pair of rear side mounted radiators that the side strakes fed the air to. This was to combat another bb problem of the front mounted rad and plumbing which ran through to the mid engine making the cockpit to hot.
But the engines are technically in a V configuration FWIW (and who really cares?)
marcusjames said:
Two reasons not to buy one.
1) They are hideous to drive (yes I have!)
2) The 550 exists
Agreed, but:1) They are hideous to drive (yes I have!)
2) The 550 exists
1) a 550 is 2 generations ahead of a Testarossa, so it was always going to drive better
2) 550s look unbelievably dull next to a Testarossa
At the risk of putting words into people's mouths, I would say that if you're in the market for one of these cars, you're unlikely to be in the market for the other even if prices are broadly similar. Basically, they're so different you can't really compare I'd say
marcusjames said:
Two reasons not to buy one.
1) They are hideous to drive (yes I have!)
2) The 550 exists
Because the 550 exists? Great car but not the be all and end all for what ever type of car you want.1) They are hideous to drive (yes I have!)
2) The 550 exists
I spent a fair amount of time driving TR's 550's 575's etc a few years ago and decided on a 512TR in the end - haven't regretted it for a second. Maybe marginally slower than the 550 that followed but quick enough, decent boot and still a hoot every time I jump in it, great fun to drive.
If it was something you were planning on using a lot then newer is better but that's not always what's needed.
As for a TR being an investment as per original post, I think there's a lot of better things to put your £££ in if that's what you're after. Get the car if you want it or dive into the property/share market if you don't.
Edited by Sneak on Monday 28th March 00:12
Edited by Sneak on Monday 28th March 01:20
deevlash said:
GilesS3 said:
Testarossa?? V?? They certainly are not - flat 12 boxer engine!! 4942cc fuel injected!! Lovely engine!!
its 180 degree V (ie its flat) but the pistons dont "box". In a boxer the opposing pistons have a crank pin each, in a 180 degree v the opposing pistons share a crank pin. As the the differences between the TR - 512Tr and 512M... in my humble opinion it is this.
The 512TR was quite an improvement on the series 1 TR. The cabin is a lot more aesthetically pleasing and modern, the handling is improved, and it has a little bit more oomph.
From the 512TR to the M there was a much lesser degree of improvement, so little in fact that in my opinion, the nicer front end and wheels of the 512TR more than made up for any slight technical improvement in the "unusual, grinning mouth looking" 512M.
Having said that... five years on, I could only stretch to a Series 1 TR as the 512s have gone mental... but now actually appreciate the quirky look of the M
The later two are the the better cars... but that's like saying Jessica Alba or Penelope Cruz have two prettier younger sisters!
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