I'd rather have a Fiat Abarth than an average 30 year old Ferrari.
Which one?
I’ve driven a Testarosa round a track, more of a grand tourer really. Not that fast low down, I think they have around 390bhp but are quite heavy.
Values of 911s have started to soften, I would like an 80s model as they just look so cool, never driven one though. Think the other half will end up with one when she retires but probably a more recent 997.Testarosa is a Grand Tourer and was always meant to be one. They made about 10,000 of them too... Lovely to look at though!
I respect lads that try to run 30 to 40 year old stuff but really, it's the stuff from 10-20 years ago that's where the fun is still at with some level of reliability. Although you might have a chance with a well sorted/modified air cooled Porsche..and I mean well sorted and I suggest modified as all the cork sniffers have ruined prices on unmolested cars so what the hell.
Values of 911s have started to soften, I would like an 80s model as they just look so cool, never driven one though. Think the other half will end up with one when she retires but probably a more recent 997.
It tends to be forgotten that Enzo Ferrari's passion in life was racing - he only made road cars to get the money to go racing (IIRC, his old friend Luigi Chinetti, Ferrari agent in North America, persuaded him down this route). The cars were often beautiful (well, they were Italian), but terribly badly made (ditto), but Enzo didn't care, as wealthy customers often had several, so that they'd have something to drive while the other one got fixed. They were often noisy and uncomfortable, and both impractical and expensive to repair - the panels were often hand-beaten, so that no two were exactly alike. And they were often aluminium and bolted directly to steel chassis, with the resulting massive electrochemical corrosion. I believe that things improved when Fiat (finally) took a controlling interest in the company (it had been quietly sponsoring Ferrari for years, as it saw Ferrari as standard bearer for the Italian car industry) and took over the road car business completely, leaving the old man to run his beloved racing team for the rest of his days.The first one was a Testarossa. The seats are for garden gnomes and the headrests dig into my lower back. The engine squeals at low revs and the interior panelling reminded me of British Leyland.
The 348 Targa started pissing water on both our legs in a downpour, he even had two towels stashed away to manage the situation.
The classic Ferrari dream is completely shattered. They were not even that fast.
Felt like a bus without suspension.
The Grand Tour put a Testarossa and A Countach around their track, the Testarossa was slower than a Focus ST, the Countach not much better. They are terrible compared with modern cars. I think newer Fezzas are OK but plenty of YouTube vids of folks spending a fortune trying to run older ones on a budget generally unsuccessfully.
I did have a chance at getting a cheap 308 a few years back but was strongly advised not to by every car trade contact I have. I heeded the advice.
Audi R8
My other half has a 997. Nice, good, but I never look back at it when I get out of it. A guards red late 80s one with a whale tail grabs my attention every time.Values of 911s have started to soften, I would like an 80s model as they just look so cool, never driven one though. Think the other half will end up with one when she retires but probably a more recent 997.
My other half has a 997. Nice, good, but I never look back at it when I get out of it. A guards red late 80s one with a whale tail grabs my attention every time.
My other half has a 997. Nice, good, but I never look back at it when I get out of it. A guards red late 80s one with a whale tail grabs my attention every time.
If it feels agricultural that is a shame. A 205 gti or Mx5 from the same era feel nimble and taught to me. Maybe only cars under 1000kg can stand the test of time.I was out with a crew including this early 80's one. He'd bought it 5 years ago and it broke down bringing it over from England to NI.
It helps if you're handy with a spanner. At least get a sit in one. Quirky for sure.... agricultural to drive (ducks for cover)
If it feels agricultural that is a shame. A 205 gti or Mx5 from the same era feel nimble and taught to me. Maybe only cars under 1000kg can stand the test of time.