Testarossa - Yes or No, and why ???
Discussion
Hi Folks,
I have been wanting a Ferrari for many years now and reckon this coul dbe the year for me. But which one to go for?? I keep looking at and then walking away from the Testarossa. But I still keep coming back to it???
Obviously this is not going to be an everyday car and mileage will be very limited, but I would still look for a very nice example and be tending towards a dealer car for some form of piece of mind.
So on this subject, are there any owners past or present in here that can give me their thoughts please?? Or anyone in the know that can pass on words of wisdom?
I am also looking at 328 or 348 models, but then the price of 355 and 360 cars are now heading not that far away. I am limiting myself on buget but they are all round about the same ish price these days give or take.
This is a serious request by the way, so please respond in the same way.
Cheers for now
Dave...
I have been wanting a Ferrari for many years now and reckon this coul dbe the year for me. But which one to go for?? I keep looking at and then walking away from the Testarossa. But I still keep coming back to it???
Obviously this is not going to be an everyday car and mileage will be very limited, but I would still look for a very nice example and be tending towards a dealer car for some form of piece of mind.
So on this subject, are there any owners past or present in here that can give me their thoughts please?? Or anyone in the know that can pass on words of wisdom?
I am also looking at 328 or 348 models, but then the price of 355 and 360 cars are now heading not that far away. I am limiting myself on buget but they are all round about the same ish price these days give or take.
This is a serious request by the way, so please respond in the same way.
Cheers for now
Dave...
I used to own a 1990 example of the TR. The styling was what really did it for me - I still think that it is one of the best F designs. When you see one on the road it really stands out. Unfortunately it drives like an old bus! You just cant throw it about, it feesl very heavy as does the steering. Its not a sports car. Had mine for a year, it cost me approx £5k (2.5k on servicing - cambelt) and another 2.5k on a couple of issues with reliability. If you buy it well, you wont lose any money on resale, so you only have the maintenance to worry about.
Edited by diablovt on Wednesday 28th January 21:42
I think the Testarossa is Gordon Murrays most hated car due to the fussy styling the massive width and the fact it handled like a bus due to a high centre of gravity.
If its about driving pleasure I would go for a 355 every day of the week.
But
I remember going to the Birmingham Motor Show in (I think) 1984 when the Testarossa was the star of the show. It was on a raised plinth on the Ferrari stand and just had the single sweeping mirror located high up on the windscreen pillar. I can picture it with absolute clarity now and it remains one of my most vivid car memories as a kid.
I would love one to look at but not to drive.
If its about driving pleasure I would go for a 355 every day of the week.
But
I remember going to the Birmingham Motor Show in (I think) 1984 when the Testarossa was the star of the show. It was on a raised plinth on the Ferrari stand and just had the single sweeping mirror located high up on the windscreen pillar. I can picture it with absolute clarity now and it remains one of my most vivid car memories as a kid.
I would love one to look at but not to drive.
High centre of gravity?! :-o I thought that was the point of the boxer engine, to keep it low??
Me personally, I LOVE the TR! I love the outrageous styling. I have heard it was not the best handling Ferrari - but then surely, even the worst Ferrari must be better than most ordinary cars?!
I think you need to know why you are buying the car / what you want from it?
If you want maximum hoon factor then you ought probably to look at the 355 or 360 (depending on the type of 'feel' you want from your car)
If you want 'driving feel' then you ought perhaps to look at the 328 or 355?
If you are just needing to satisfy that 'need' within you that has always wanted your childhood dream car... Then it's a no brainer and it's the Testarossa hands down every time!
For me it was the Esprit and Countach. I got an Esprit and now I have a Diablo. The Esprit was the absolute James Bond childhood dream and the Diablo had just enough 'Countach' about it to keep me happy while (ultimately) being faster! I wanted the welly!
However... As I lyrically waxed but the other evening... There will *always* be a place inside me that will always want a Countach and that can ONLY be satisfied by... A Countach!
I don't know you but guessing from your post, I can't help thinking you ought to be getting the Testarossa!
ETA:
PS I ought to qualify what I said by pointing out that I have absolutely NO first hand experience in the Fezzers!
Me personally, I LOVE the TR! I love the outrageous styling. I have heard it was not the best handling Ferrari - but then surely, even the worst Ferrari must be better than most ordinary cars?!
I think you need to know why you are buying the car / what you want from it?
If you want maximum hoon factor then you ought probably to look at the 355 or 360 (depending on the type of 'feel' you want from your car)
If you want 'driving feel' then you ought perhaps to look at the 328 or 355?
If you are just needing to satisfy that 'need' within you that has always wanted your childhood dream car... Then it's a no brainer and it's the Testarossa hands down every time!
For me it was the Esprit and Countach. I got an Esprit and now I have a Diablo. The Esprit was the absolute James Bond childhood dream and the Diablo had just enough 'Countach' about it to keep me happy while (ultimately) being faster! I wanted the welly!
However... As I lyrically waxed but the other evening... There will *always* be a place inside me that will always want a Countach and that can ONLY be satisfied by... A Countach!
I don't know you but guessing from your post, I can't help thinking you ought to be getting the Testarossa!
ETA:
PS I ought to qualify what I said by pointing out that I have absolutely NO first hand experience in the Fezzers!
Edited by evil_dr_fish on Wednesday 28th January 23:30
N1CERB said:
Hi Folks,
I have been wanting a Ferrari for many years now and reckon this coul dbe the year for me. But which one to go for?? I keep looking at and then walking away from the Testarossa. But I still keep coming back to it???
Obviously this is not going to be an everyday car and mileage will be very limited, but I would still look for a very nice example and be tending towards a dealer car for some form of piece of mind.
So on this subject, are there any owners past or present in here that can give me their thoughts please?? Or anyone in the know that can pass on words of wisdom?
I am also looking at 328 or 348 models, but then the price of 355 and 360 cars are now heading not that far away. I am limiting myself on buget but they are all round about the same ish price these days give or take.
This is a serious request by the way, so please respond in the same way.
Cheers for now
Dave...
Hi there,I have been wanting a Ferrari for many years now and reckon this coul dbe the year for me. But which one to go for?? I keep looking at and then walking away from the Testarossa. But I still keep coming back to it???
Obviously this is not going to be an everyday car and mileage will be very limited, but I would still look for a very nice example and be tending towards a dealer car for some form of piece of mind.
So on this subject, are there any owners past or present in here that can give me their thoughts please?? Or anyone in the know that can pass on words of wisdom?
I am also looking at 328 or 348 models, but then the price of 355 and 360 cars are now heading not that far away. I am limiting myself on buget but they are all round about the same ish price these days give or take.
This is a serious request by the way, so please respond in the same way.
Cheers for now
Dave...
I recently bought a Testarossa as my first Fcar and I had similar thoughts to yourself. I seriously looked at the 328/348 option as I was looking for a car that I could probably get my money back on, therefore I wouldn't worry too much about the running servicing costs. However, I opted to spend a bit more and go for a Testarossa as it was the ultimate car when I was growing up in the 80's.
328's are cheaper to run and service, 348's need the engine out for cambelts (like the TR) which is expensive. I think that there was a recent post regarding TR servicing which quoted £1100+vat at Verdi, which was quite cheap.
Testarossa's do have very heavy steering, but once you're moving it's not bad at all. My clutch has jast been replaced and isn't too heavy. The car pulls throughout the range in all gears and the flat 12 makes a wonderful sound, especially at high revs. You won't get the same sound with a V8. They are very comfortable to drive (I drove mine back up to Edinburgh from London and it was fine) and you do get noticed in one !
The F355/360's are different beasts to drive, and have very different styles, which you may, or may not like.
I personally think that the profile of the 360 is stunning, but these cars have some way to bottom out yet in price due to the fact that they were mass produced.
There are only 421 TR's in the UK (I think) which should help keep prices solid. Who knows, they may well become more valuable as time goes by, being the last proper 12 cylinder mid-mounted Ferrari to be made......just look at the crazy prices that 70's classics like the Daytona and the Dino are going for.
Yes. Simple answer.
Ill give you that answer for one reason and one reason only. I was in a similar position to you a few years ago, except I was looking at BBs. I could pick one, local to me for £35k, that was in good nick and was a known car. I made the mistake of asking advice on here and Fchat and then got a load of answers about high centre of gravity, so they rolled, heavy handling, handled like a bus, etc and generally they werent the most "dynamic" of cars. Rather stupidly of me, thinking that more experienced folks than me in the (to me at the time) very high performance part of the car world, knew what they were talking about I listened to them and didnt follow through. Since then of course Boxer prices have double and I have realised that such ppl are talking absolute crap. That 99% of us dont go on track day and we certainly dont take our expensive pride & joys on them and even on the public road 99.5% of us have neither the talent, the time, the will or even the desire to use our cars to 50% of their ability. We just enjoy the experience of sitting in them and driving.
So buy one. If you can afford it, just do it. Drive it everywhere, use it everyday. When you open the garage in the morning smile. When you park at work, get out of the car and start walking across the carpark to the office, stop, look back at your car and smile.
Do it and smile. Dont do it and spend the next few years regretting not doing it. Voice of experience on this one Im afraid (and God yes I regret it - but the Sagaris I got instead wasnt too bad
).
Ill give you that answer for one reason and one reason only. I was in a similar position to you a few years ago, except I was looking at BBs. I could pick one, local to me for £35k, that was in good nick and was a known car. I made the mistake of asking advice on here and Fchat and then got a load of answers about high centre of gravity, so they rolled, heavy handling, handled like a bus, etc and generally they werent the most "dynamic" of cars. Rather stupidly of me, thinking that more experienced folks than me in the (to me at the time) very high performance part of the car world, knew what they were talking about I listened to them and didnt follow through. Since then of course Boxer prices have double and I have realised that such ppl are talking absolute crap. That 99% of us dont go on track day and we certainly dont take our expensive pride & joys on them and even on the public road 99.5% of us have neither the talent, the time, the will or even the desire to use our cars to 50% of their ability. We just enjoy the experience of sitting in them and driving.
So buy one. If you can afford it, just do it. Drive it everywhere, use it everyday. When you open the garage in the morning smile. When you park at work, get out of the car and start walking across the carpark to the office, stop, look back at your car and smile.
Do it and smile. Dont do it and spend the next few years regretting not doing it. Voice of experience on this one Im afraid (and God yes I regret it - but the Sagaris I got instead wasnt too bad
).evil_dr_fish said:
High centre of gravity?! :-o I thought that was the point of the boxer engine, to keep it low??
'In his column in Evo Magazine, McLaren F1 designer and columnist Gordon Murray described the Testarossa as "dreadful", having a centre of gravity "the same as a double decker bus".'http://robson.m3rlin.org/cars/ferrari-testa-rossa/
If you are slightly worried that the Series 1 TR is a bit dated, the Series 2, the 512Tr was a massive leap in ergonomics, handling and performance, while still keeping the original look.
This is the one that I would look for personally.
I too have lusted after one for a long time, although I am now looking at the 550 as I know this would be the more usable car and the wife would prefer it by miles!
However, much as the 550 will be a classic in years to come, I think the TR will be one of the greats.
Good luck
This is the one that I would look for personally.
I too have lusted after one for a long time, although I am now looking at the 550 as I know this would be the more usable car and the wife would prefer it by miles!
However, much as the 550 will be a classic in years to come, I think the TR will be one of the greats.
Good luck
Nice replies, many thanks. Sounds like everyone is of the similar opion but based around either driving hard or just driving to enjoy. Both very valid thoughts and points and in their own way, both also correct.
I think I really have to get my butt into a few and just see how they "feel" to me at the time and go from there?
I currently still really ultimately want the TR but everytime I look at the 360 (especially after jioning www.clubscuderia.co.uk today) and see what can be had for relatively low money... It makes me wonder??
I expect high service costs, but dont do a lot of mileage so this is not really a major issue, if the right car is bought in the first place. Just look at the mistake I made with the Cerbera, and the cost to make it right.
For now the Yes is looking like the strongest vote, but there is the 360 now sat on the other shoulder asking..."are you sure?"
I suppose reading my own words I am talking myself out of the 348 and 355 options, not yet the 328 option until I get a run out in one however.
Best I get an apointment booked with a few dealers for when I get home again in Feb. Credit Crunch is probably the best time to buy a Ferrari, at least thats what I am telling myself...
Cheers all
Dave...
I think I really have to get my butt into a few and just see how they "feel" to me at the time and go from there?
I currently still really ultimately want the TR but everytime I look at the 360 (especially after jioning www.clubscuderia.co.uk today) and see what can be had for relatively low money... It makes me wonder??
I expect high service costs, but dont do a lot of mileage so this is not really a major issue, if the right car is bought in the first place. Just look at the mistake I made with the Cerbera, and the cost to make it right.
For now the Yes is looking like the strongest vote, but there is the 360 now sat on the other shoulder asking..."are you sure?"
I suppose reading my own words I am talking myself out of the 348 and 355 options, not yet the 328 option until I get a run out in one however.
Best I get an apointment booked with a few dealers for when I get home again in Feb. Credit Crunch is probably the best time to buy a Ferrari, at least thats what I am telling myself...
Cheers all
Dave...
DJC said:
So buy one. If you can afford it, just do it. Drive it everywhere, use it everyday. When you open the garage in the morning smile. When you park at work, get out of the car and start walking across the carpark to the office, stop, look back at your car and smile.
Do it and smile. Dont do it and spend the next few years regretting not doing it. Voice of experience on this one Im afraid (and God yes I regret it - but the Sagaris I got instead wasnt too bad ).
What a brilliant answer!Do it and smile. Dont do it and spend the next few years regretting not doing it. Voice of experience on this one Im afraid (and God yes I regret it - but the Sagaris I got instead wasnt too bad
).Well said - it's all about owning and driving your dream.
Even if you only keep it for a short while - do it and enjoy it...
DJC speaketh utter sense imho, how refreshing. I reckon TR's are great value and if I had the garage space I'd be tucking one away, having also declined a £35k Boxer not long ago. Having said that the Boxer was even more capable of consuming wealth than a TR!
Gordon Murray's point about the double decker bus is almost a back-handed compliment - isn't it the remarkable thing about a Routemaster that it's C of G is incredibly low, which is why they can tip to over 45 degrees and not roll over?
Please note this is not a suggestion to tip a TR to 45 degrees and see what happens...
Gordon Murray's point about the double decker bus is almost a back-handed compliment - isn't it the remarkable thing about a Routemaster that it's C of G is incredibly low, which is why they can tip to over 45 degrees and not roll over?
Please note this is not a suggestion to tip a TR to 45 degrees and see what happens...
If you are intending to keep the car for a long time and dont want to lose much money on it then a Testarossa / TR makes far more sense than a 360.
I dont think a good TR will lose anything now and if anything wil probably increase in value over the next 10 years.
360's are now getting very cheap (relatively) and are starting to get into the hands of people who might be able to afford the finance on them but not to maintain them properly. I dont think they have the best image at the moment and that will probably only get worse.
I dont think a good TR will lose anything now and if anything wil probably increase in value over the next 10 years.
360's are now getting very cheap (relatively) and are starting to get into the hands of people who might be able to afford the finance on them but not to maintain them properly. I dont think they have the best image at the moment and that will probably only get worse.
Davey S2 said:
and are starting to get into the hands of people who might be able to afford the finance on them but not to maintain them properly. I dont think they have the best image at the moment and that will probably only get worse.
+1 you are not wrong about that. And i 100% agree that Ferraris are now beginning to suffer from an image problem. Modena Scotland said:
If you don't want the car to lose money, TR.
If you want to enjoy driving, 360.
I would personally go for the TR if you have another decent car you can drive hard.
In all fairness that all depends on how you define "enjoy driving".If you want to enjoy driving, 360.
I would personally go for the TR if you have another decent car you can drive hard.
I personally would never hugely enjoy driving a 360. As awesome as they are, they are just not the 'driving experience' I am seeking.
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