testerossa for first ferrari
Discussion
Can anyone help he here, thinking of a testerossa for first ferrari something to be used only when weather and work permit. Its by far my favourite Ferrari and I like the classic look over the newer cars.
Is it a good option?, or am i better staying with a 355 or 550 for the same kind of money????
I really like the Testerossa but not sure if age and engineering could create problems against the newer cars.
Cheers for any replies.
Is it a good option?, or am i better staying with a 355 or 550 for the same kind of money????
I really like the Testerossa but not sure if age and engineering could create problems against the newer cars.
Cheers for any replies.
Go for which ever model you want. The Testarossa was my first ferrari and i had no problems with it. There fantastic cars. The running costs of all 3 are not far of each other as well.
I assume you know that the Testarossa will never handle as well as the 355 or 550 in the corners. Which both have electronic suspension adjustment/dampening.
But if your choice is not about the handling, but the dramatic looks and straight line power. Then i say go for it because clearly you want to.
The flat 12 boxer engine is one strong Mo Fo to. The rev limiter was broke on the one i bought and i could rev that baby often into 9,000-10,000 rpm (to the dismay of the ferrari anoraks). So the piddly 7500rpm standard red line of the Testarossa will always be bullet proof IMO.
Remember the flat 12 was also a derivative of the 1960-70s F1 engines.
Go for it.
I assume you know that the Testarossa will never handle as well as the 355 or 550 in the corners. Which both have electronic suspension adjustment/dampening.
But if your choice is not about the handling, but the dramatic looks and straight line power. Then i say go for it because clearly you want to.
The flat 12 boxer engine is one strong Mo Fo to. The rev limiter was broke on the one i bought and i could rev that baby often into 9,000-10,000 rpm (to the dismay of the ferrari anoraks). So the piddly 7500rpm standard red line of the Testarossa will always be bullet proof IMO.
Remember the flat 12 was also a derivative of the 1960-70s F1 engines.
Go for it.
I looked at buying one earlier in the year but in the end decided not too. The general consensus I got was they are reliable as long as they are used. One that has done 100 miles in the last 10 years will probably be a nightmare.
Here is a link to the topics I started regarding buying one:
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
Hope that helps.
Here is a link to the topics I started regarding buying one:
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
Hope that helps.
As has been said many times before, the testarossa is an interesting car to use, the controls are heavy, the interior is very much of its period (designed in the very early 80's) and trim / body parts are expensive and in some cases difficult to source, with the chassis on some cars rusting badly. The gearbox output shaft is a known problem area coupled with a cracked housing / case
For all its faults its also a fun car to own in the real world not as quick as a 348/355 but IMHO the sound and experience is a little more special.
The later series cars have some of the wrinkles ironed out and benefit from the updates, for example you have a greater choice of wheels and tyres for the later cars, if you wanted to change them.
If I were making the 355/Testarossa choice, it would all come down to useage patterns, my choice would be, summer car used for commuting / shopping etc as well as fun = 355, fun car for the weekends = Testarossa
For all its faults its also a fun car to own in the real world not as quick as a 348/355 but IMHO the sound and experience is a little more special.
The later series cars have some of the wrinkles ironed out and benefit from the updates, for example you have a greater choice of wheels and tyres for the later cars, if you wanted to change them.
If I were making the 355/Testarossa choice, it would all come down to useage patterns, my choice would be, summer car used for commuting / shopping etc as well as fun = 355, fun car for the weekends = Testarossa
Testarossa was my first Ferrari and nearly 7yrs later she is still going strong.
They are cracking value for money at the moment, but do your homework. There are a lot to choose from and be careful of low mileage examples, they could be a whole load of issues from lack of use. They need to be driven and hard now again as Chas has mentioned.
Tyres are an issue on TR's so see if they are in good shape as the only company who make a complete set is Kumho.
Servicing every 3 years is cambelt and that is engine out, around £1400-£1600ish.
Get a sports exhaust, mine sounds epic and mind blowing.
Just do it
They are cracking value for money at the moment, but do your homework. There are a lot to choose from and be careful of low mileage examples, they could be a whole load of issues from lack of use. They need to be driven and hard now again as Chas has mentioned.
Tyres are an issue on TR's so see if they are in good shape as the only company who make a complete set is Kumho.
Servicing every 3 years is cambelt and that is engine out, around £1400-£1600ish.
Get a sports exhaust, mine sounds epic and mind blowing.
Just do it
HereBeMonsters said:
If you can't spell it correctly, I would suggest something else.
Can you spell three-five-five?
I am guessing the OP can't spell Nissin or Peugote as you seem so good at doing, so maybe that is why he would rather drive a Ferrari Can you spell three-five-five?
To the OP I would love to own a Testerossa, go for it drive them all, go with your gut feeling and you will know which one does it for you.
marine boy said:
HereBeMonsters said:
If you can't spell it correctly, I would suggest something else.
Can you spell three-five-five?
I am guessing the OP can't spell Nissin or Peugote as you seem so good at doing, so maybe that is why he would rather drive a Ferrari Can you spell three-five-five?
To the OP I would love to own a Testerossa, go for it drive them all, go with your gut feeling and you will know which one does it for you.
Or you could go for a 512TR - which is a remarkable car - and so different to the Testarossa. I was lucky enough to drive a black 512TR (at Verdi) - which suprised me as to how different it was in comparisson to a Testarossa.
They do cost more, however, you should absolutley try one of each to help you make your mind up.
Anjum
They do cost more, however, you should absolutley try one of each to help you make your mind up.
Anjum
HereBeMonsters said:
If you can't spell it correctly, I would suggest something else.
Can you spell three-five-five?
With respect HereBeMonsters Go back and worry about the cost of your Vauxhall Corsas service! Can you spell three-five-five?
we all make mistakes , you mentioned something about your car having ₤50k service in another forum which makes no sense at all, I would rather have to make a decision over which Ferrari to buy , than waste my time talking about servicing a 1.2 corsa at a specialist garage.
people like you do my f
king head in! Thanks for all other deceent comments, Im certain I will go for one - seen a nice grey one at verdi which will look at through Xmas when back in UK just not sure on interior, but they also a have a 512 there so can view the pair of them.
Barabus on www.fcars.co.uk is selling his car. Very very nice car
As others have said, you should buy whatever the hell you want, first Ferrari or not. Last time I looked, there was no obligation on you to buy cars other people aspire to or like.
FWIW I really like the Testarossa. Properly meaty car and one of the few that sounds better inside the cabin than out of it. Oh, and +3 on Si's car- he's treated it like a baby, and a very spoiled one at that!
FWIW I really like the Testarossa. Properly meaty car and one of the few that sounds better inside the cabin than out of it. Oh, and +3 on Si's car- he's treated it like a baby, and a very spoiled one at that!
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