1988 Ferrari Testarossa from UK and Ireland - Comments

Usual Italian electrical glitches - a few blown bulbs, failed wiper relay, failed starter motor.

Clutch failed at 23,000 miles. This is a good life apparently (!)

Battery goes flat very quickly if the car is not used.

A childhood dream was realised in the Summer of 2001 when I collected my Testarossa from the dealership.

The surprising thing about driving the Testarossa is the sheer width of the thing. From behind the wheel, it feels quite intimidating on first acquaintance, and the heavy steering, and heavier gearbox and clutch are pure old-school supercar, and a real culture shock to those used to more modern machinery. It's a bit of a quirky car to drive in some ways too. For instance, you can't engage 2nd gear cleanly until the gearbox oil has warmed, and the electrics are temperamental to say the least. However as this is a toy, and not an everyday car, I see these things as a reminder that I'm driving something a bit special. Call it character.

On paper, the Testarossa isn't particularly quick by modern supercar standards, but one drive is enough to blow the figures out of the water. This is one seriously fast car. The big flat 12 has grunt virtually everywhere, although really comes alive in the upper half of the rev range. The back squats, and the car howls off towards the horizon with a force and noise that will make you grin for a week. If you can listen to this flat 12 singing its heart out as it spins past 5,000 RPM, and have a single hair not standing to attention on the back of your neck, you are definitely not in possession of a soul. It's engines like this which will make me cry the day that oil runs out, and we're all wafting round in silent fuel cell powered cars. It's engines like this which the internal combustion design will be remembered for.

Although Testarossas are now relatively affordable to buy (by Ferrari standards), the running costs are still tragic. Services cost anything up to £2,000+ and the car seems to deteriorate whether it is used or not. As for insurance, even a specialist insurer on a limited (5,000 mile) policy still wanted well into four figures. If you do decide to realise the dream, look into all this first, and make sure you want it badly enough. I'm actually tempted to sell mine this year and get something a little lower maintenance (another 911 perhaps), but I just know that I will miss this Red Head the second I hand her keys and paperwork over to someone else. She's exotic, achingly beautiful, demanding, and sometimes a bit stroppy, but I'm head over heels.

What a great review!

I have never felt about a car the way you do, but then I've never owned a Ferrari.

Excellent review! I am looking for a Testarossa and was especially surprised about the 2nd gear problem. My recommendation... keep the car! Porsche 911's will be around forever, but not Testarossa's!

Great review really. Its nice to see some people aren't faking on this site. Keep up the good work and write more great reviews about your 911!

Good review! I own a '91 Testarossa and the story is just as it is. The second gear "problem" is a thing that happens with most Ferrari before 2000. Just warm the gearbox up slowly and the machine will do everything that you want. The Testarossa is a dream car with exceptional features. The power is absolutely intoxicating. It is also a real neck-twister. People do funny things in traffic just to have a better look at the car. So be careful out there!

Brilliant review mate.

I've only driven a testarossa at a race day - but it blew me away even then.

It's the only naturally aspirated car I've ever driven that gives you a shove in the back like a turbo car!

But yeah - it's an absolute pig to drive compared to a modern car... the steering and gearbox are sooo very heavy.

But it's still a ferrari. :)

I am in Denver Colorado and I was just looking into purchasing a 1985 model and your review is interesting about the maintainance and the insurance. I love the Ferrari for what went into the design and the engine. I looked at a new Subaru with a friend that will go from 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds which, yes, beats the ferrari, but for $40,000.00 and being an Amercian I feel a lot happier in this car. Hope all your Ferrari's are happy... Dave.

Absolutely spot on review-I have owned various exotic machinery over the years and now have a mint 1989 Testarossa which puts a smile back on my face whenever I drive it.Don't think you can compare it to a 911 though, completely different ethos behind the cars. Depends whether you want a fiery mistress or an obedient manservant.

I have had the pleasure of owning a 1988 911 since new and almost twenty years later I still love the car. I would venture to say that it is the last of the true 911s, meaning no power steering or brakes and a blast to drive.

I have recently made the leap into purchasing a 1985 Testarossa, a boyhood dream, having grown up in the 80s. And I can attest to all the comments that others have made. As much as I enjoy my 911 the Testarossa is in a league of its own from styling to performance to maintenance costs.

The 911 is a superlative sportscar the Testarossa is a super-car.

The only way to sum up the Ferrari driving experience is to say that after driving one you find yourself smiling and grinning uncontrollably.

I own a 1989 Testarossa and words can't describe what its like to drive; well intimidating is one - you can never take the car for granted, the steering (none of that power steering stuff) is my biggest gripe (or pleasure). The looks you get driving around in it is amazing, specially on motorways when you pull in to fill up. I thought I was onto a good thing - the Testarossa will do about 300 miles if driven normally, that's about the same as my jag; only my jag as a 45 litre tank - this has 76 :)

Second gear is a a pain because starting off in 1st is sometimes a bit too high especially if wet, the torque is unreal - I remember pulling off into a services and forgot I was driving a manual and at around 15miles an hour in 5th gear the machine started to complain - but she didn't stall :)

It's off to the workshop for her 18k mile service, cam belts next year - replace them every 3 years, it's an engine out job so have the valves and stuff done as well to save a few hundred £'s; anyway - happy driving.

This is indeed a well-written review, and while I cannot confirm anything regarding the owning or driving of one, I must admit when visiting Meridien in Lyndhurst, UK, the one car, amongst all the Ferraris and Maseratis, that had me smitten was the Testarossa.

Always a fan in my youth, actually beholding one definitely lived up to the awe I had initially founded for them.

The sheer width, presence and beauty it paraded, bullish and raw... Even without hearing that engine, I was in love.

Alas, I am but 24 and not exactly financially equipped to own one, but it is definitely a dream to chase.

Superb review, I will be buying a testarossa within the next 2 years so I'm just getting some prospective on the running cost and this has helped gain more knowledge on what to expect!

Before I go on I thought I would contribute another bit of knowledge about the testarossa: It is quoted by Ferrari a good idea to allow a 20min warm up period before driving, this is submitted by Ferrari as the optimum time it takes to warm the engine and lubricants to decrease chances of damage to the mechanics of the V12. (A downside? I don't think so, it just builds the excitment!)

I love the 80's era of super cars and the f40 (Go to youtube and type - F40 LM) and testarossa have always captured my heart, ever since owning the Matchbox toy replicas when I was a kid I knew I had to have them I'm currently 23 and can't afford it, but I will be financially equiped within four years to afford the f40 and all the running cost's. I plan on owning a testarossa within the next two years and that will do just fine until I can afford an F40. The 911 also a great car, but I prefer the C Class for the day to day stuff.

Regards.

Scott.

Scott, would you care to elaborate on how you plan on attaining those Ferraris within your stated time frame.

13:21 could merely be another toy matchbox Ferrai car... or an inheritance, trust accumulation, lawsuit or patent rights acquired on a new idea.

I also own an '89 Testarossa, and it is a thing of pure joy. Yes, the 2nd gear problem exists - it's just tough to get into second, and is still a little tough once it's warmed up. I bought it with some minor problems - the A/C fan only works on high, the battery goes dead unless driven often (mentioned by someone else as well), and I've yet to get the glove box to open, even when pulling on the secondary cord, but I'll have them look into it when it's due for the engine-out service for the belts, etc., which is coming up shortly. I called my local Ferrari dealership (Orlando, FL) and they quoted me $6,500USD if everything checks out okay otherwise. Ouch. But hey, for the service, they said they'd pick it up and drop it off for free in an enclosed trailer, so, in reality, what a deal!

I own a 1964 StingRay and a 1985 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo I am going to trade both of my cars for a 1988 Ferrari Testarossa.

I almost bought that Testarossa a little over a year ago, and have regreted it every day since.

Put my two cars up for a sale/trade on a car market here in Norway and guess who called??? The bloke that bought the Testarossa I always wanted...

In a few weeks time I will know if the trade is going thru... Time will show... I have reserved the Porsche and the Corvette for the person with that beauty of Testarossa...

Claus Roger Schjerverud Norway.