965/Testarossa/456 - As a "Keeper"
965/Testarossa/456 - As a "Keeper"
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Discussion

Penguinracer

Original Poster:

1,773 posts

237 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
Yes this is the Porker board, but as petrolheads I'm sure many of you have wrestled with the idea of the "£35K keeper."

These three all have much to commend them - 964 turbo is a classic, practical, rear seats for kids, built to be used, its racing heritage shines through.

Testarossa - great value at the moment, two seats only, potentially horrific maintenance costs, huge feel good factor even if it's nowhere near as fast point-to-point as it looks!

456 - gorgeous, gorgeous & did I make it clear...gor...
Has rear seats, 12-pack, but maintenance costs & not as sporting a drive as a lovely lightweight 964 turbo.

We're talking about a keeper, not something to have a fling with, more a member of the family, an heirloom if you will!

Your thoughts would be appreciated, especially so if you have owned any of these beauties!

Buttmonkey Racer

453 posts

254 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
Penguin - I had this terrible dilemma ealier this year and wanted a Porsche and a Ferrari. I went for an earlier '86 Testarossa and then a nice '94 968 Club Sport. Total cost a smidgen over your £35k budget for both.

So far the TR has cost me a few quid for cambelts and sports exhaust but just been to Le Mans and back in it and between you and me it aint slow biggrin

No doubt they'll be big bills but a well maintained car should be reliable. Just don't expect 911 build quality - its a 1980's Fiat!!!

The Club Sport was my back up plan and that is even better than I expected.

Both are my 'keepers'. Just need to use them as much as possible as I'm not into garage queens

elms

1,954 posts

283 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
If your planning to keep it as a long term investment it should be the Testarossa without question. They are well overdue a price rise.

supermono

7,464 posts

279 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
elms said:
If your planning...
Improve your grammar for *FREE* in association with SUPERMONO: The contraction of "You are" sounds like "your" but is written "You're".

SM

elms

1,954 posts

283 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
elms said:
If you're planning to keep it as a long term investment it should be the Testarossa without question. They are well overdue a price rise.
Edited for grammatical errors wink

mbutchers

703 posts

251 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
Of the cars you mention, the only one (IMO) that you shouldn't think of is the 456. It was a great car, but as a keeper (and investment), will not hold up nearly as well (value wise) as a Testarossa or 965.
As it's not my money, I think I'd pay a little more, and stretch to a 512M - better car in all respects apparently.
If it we're my money, then maybe I'd be swayed more towards to Porsche, but probably always regret never having taken the change to own one of the most iconic/outrageous cars to come out of the 80's.....thumbup

jonnydm

5,108 posts

240 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
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Buttmonkey Racer said:
You do have one collection of cars!

Freddie von Rost

1,978 posts

243 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
supermono said:
elms said:
If your planning...
Improve your grammar for *FREE* in association with SUPERMONO: The contraction of "You are" sounds like "your" but is written "You're".

SM
Only if you are from an educational background that believes in strangling the english language. You are is accepted as correct at all times.

Gramarr Polis - huw needs then? smile

rubystone

11,254 posts

290 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
Freddie von Rost said:
Only if you are from an educational background that believes in strangling the english language. You are is accepted as correct at all times.

Gramarr Polis - huw needs then? smile
err....I think Dion used "your" rather than "you're"

anonymous-user

85 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
personally i.d get the 964 every time BUT....

355 spider, LHD, £30k...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/114956.htm



Edited by fbrs on Wednesday 20th June 14:30

DJC

23,563 posts

267 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
I have this internal conversation with myself about once a month on average I think smile

No I dont have the right answer yet smile Christ, I cant even bring myself to decide to sell the current car, let alone resolve the "next car" crisis!

MogulBoy

3,066 posts

254 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
Theres a gorgeous silver 456 parked outside Garage Sammy in Geneva almost every morning on display on my route into town. It gets parked safely indoors every night. I can't believe that no one has bought it in almost a year... It's one of those cars that you could almost justify as a sculpture even if it didn't have a motor. Never been brave engough to inquire as to how affordable it might be.

jonnydm

5,108 posts

240 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
The Testarossa is from a bit before my time and I have never really appreciated the look of it. For me it would be a choice between...


http://pistonheads.com/sales/175092.htm

and...


http://pistonheads.com/sales/166681.htm

Both classics. Although very different cars. The Porker defiantely has the rarity card though.

800th post!

paul0843

2,006 posts

238 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
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spend 45k on early 550 maranello

graeme36s

7,230 posts

248 months

Wednesday 20th June 2007
quotequote all
My 2 pence worth. Personally 550 maranello would be my choice. However have some very good mates that live oop north and they own a testarossa, a 512m and a 964 RS Club Sport. They invited me for a track day at Donnington Park last Sunday for my input and we had a great day.
The 964 RS outshone the Ferrari's for handling and brakes. You can thrash them all day long and they just do their stuff. (modded and dynoed at 308bhp). The testarossa has had a big brake conversion carried out as the standard brakes are woefull. Lovely car to drive, no where nimble as the RS but great fun. The 512M unfortunately boiled its brake fluid after 20 minutes, but again great car, awesome sound, much quicker than the testarossa and the RS, just a shame it did not have different brake fluid.
512M would defo be the way to go.

Buttmonkey Racer

453 posts

254 months

Thursday 21st June 2007
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jonnydm said:
Buttmonkey Racer said:
You do have one collection of cars!
Yep and that's why I'm downsizing to stuff I'm really going to use.

I must agree with the other posters above. A 512TR is the pick of the Testarossa bunch. A 512M is a hooligan but very few made and those for sale are still £50/£60k ish

When I weighed it up, I could get a flat 12 classic Ferrari that inspired me as a teenager, or get a 348 / 328 which although desireable didn't quite have the madness or drama of the Testarossa. Sounds awesome too with a nice exhaust thumbup

Penguinracer

Original Poster:

1,773 posts

237 months

Thursday 21st June 2007
quotequote all
I second that - Buttmonkey you have an amazing collection (both past & present)& your notes make for fascinating reading.

My heart says Red Head - exotic, beautiful on the road, rare - your first outrageous summer fling!

Head says - 964 turbo - good build quality, suited to the track, more practical but not as rare or exotic - definitely marriage material!

Depreciation-wise - Buttmonkey I think you'll be quids-in with your misstress - just look at 365BB & 512BB values now!

I can foresee "Big Red's" value climbing out of the reach of people who can currently afford them. Sure the 512TR & 512M would be better again but they're beyond my budget for a car.

I agree that 456 values will probably follow most 2+2 'rarris - just look at the 400 & 308GT4.

964 turbo - sensible shoes or Red Head - gold glitter platforms!
Pork would be the logical choice but then you might always regret never having your personal slice of Faz - & who wants to live a life of regrets?

runnersp

1,061 posts

251 months

Thursday 21st June 2007
quotequote all
I actually think that 456's are a bit of a bargain right now, and will eventually head north... I'd go for one of those, even if I am a Porsche person!

rubystone

11,254 posts

290 months

Thursday 21st June 2007
quotequote all
Firstly, I'd ofer the opinion that it's pointless to compare a 964RS (and a Clubsport at that) with anything this side of a 360 CS on track.

Secondly, the fact that that 456 has sat unsold for a year sums up these cars - pieces of art, static art that is...'cos they seem to sell at a glacial rate...which tells me something about them. I love 456s to death and came close to buying one when I had some free funds a couple of months ago...(funds are still there but may go into bricks and mortar) but the fact that the car I liked (and still like) has been for sale for aeons (and hasn't sold even now) had me wondering about whether the depreciation curve for these cars has reached rock bottom...and also if I needed to realise the funds, whether I'd ever be able to sell the car, privately...or in the extreme case, to a trader....would the trade even bid for the car?

I can't personally see a 964 Turbo II every being an investment car...the 993 T 4 perhaps, on the grounds that it is the "ultimate" 993 (OK so ignore the RS). Rarity does not necessarily mean that a car appreciates - take a look at the Jensen for example....

...and the Testarossa - what a huge chunk of metal for your money and I like them...but how long have we been saying that these cars must take off in value?...3, 4 years and counting...and they've stayed where they are...and they don't sell very quickly...even the 365/512BB hasn't accelerated away in the distance...and that arguably has more cachet and classic appeal.

So the moral of the story? Buy the car that you really like...that way, if it doesn't appreciate, at least it puts a smile on your face every time you look at it/drive it

andy97

4,784 posts

253 months

Wednesday 27th June 2007
quotequote all
Or how about something completely different:

http://www.racecarsdirect.com/viewlisting.php?view...


Butt ugly but very rare, very distinctive, great fun and likely to be just as good a bet (if not better) as a "keeper" as the far more numerous Testarossas, 911s or (glacial seller but beautiful) 456. Be different!