No sooner had my foot gone to the
floor had the old beast leapt forward with such a violent thrust
that my stomach had been plastered to my spine. The immense torque
of that engine just pulled and pushed us forward in a fury of
red. I now know why the designers at Pininfarina came up with
those strakes over those huge air intakes. They have to be about
the only constant shape when viewing this car at speed and exagerate
the sense of velocity the onlooker gets. That is of course aside
from the reasoning that in some countries holes that huge on a
car aren't allowed to remain uncovered. So here I am hurtling
down a street in an industrial section of town where the road
is bad and cars are few and far between.
 |
As I get to the end of
the safe zone for speed the guy thinks of something he
should have told me earlier. He points to a couple of
boxes on the floor and says that those are the new brake
pads that are going on the car tomorrow and that I should
give plenty of time to slow down. Through the thick accent
I gathered from the tone of his voice and what words I
could extrapolate, I figured that it was time to brake...NOW.
|
Needless to say...it was pretty
scary. No sooner had I slowed down, I noticed we were about a
block from his dealership. I took the TR back promptly. I was
pretty amazed at a few things. The 1986 Testarossa that I had
driven was in fair condition overall, with it's engine being the
strongest point about it. The second thing was the price he asked
for it...80 grand. Was it worth it? I would say not. I only went
around the block pretty much and that was enough. No car with
that kind of power should be lacking brakes...and no Ferrari of
any worth should be in that condition with that many miles while
commanding such a premium.
Three years later Jim and I find
leg room behind the wheel of yet another Testarossa. This particular
red head was in very good condition. This was a 1990 model year
car, which by that time had done away with the annoying placement
of the side view mirror and added another on the passenger side.
Also replaced were the single torsion nut wheels, and in their
place a more standard five lug configuration light alloy wheel.
The body was near perfect and the interior was spotless. The leather
had nary a crack and everything was clean and worked well. All
except the battery...starting the car just didn't happen. So while
waiting to get the car jumped and ready to go, we took out the
F355. Fast forward...were back in the
TR, the car jumped, and purring quietly. I ease into first gear
expecting that scary grind, but I get no protest from the gear.
We ease out of the drive and into the parking lot. I noticed something
I hadn't remembered too well from my first TR encounter. The steering
at low speed is HEAVY. You really have to muscle the Testarossa
around parking lots as well as just about any other low speed
maneuver. There is no power assisted steering and with the combination
of the steering wheel position, the width of the car, and those
huge, gripping tires you really have to get into it. When your
not used to a car without power steering you really feel it when
you have to get a car like this to move. We pulled onto the access
road to the highway and I got ready to push it up to the next
level. I stabbed the accelerator and we felt that stomach-punching
surge as we rocketed up the ramp. I shifted up and braced for
that gut wrenching grinding noise. It didn't arrive. I was surprised...the
other TR needed about ten to fifteen minutes before you could
even make a smooth shift, let alone get into second. From what
I had read this was to be expected. Third gear...no drama...that
is no drama in the gearbox.
| The real drama
was what was happening behind our heads. That big flat twelve
was pushing us along with power that seemed to come from the
hand of God; scooting us across the kitchen floor, like I
used to do with my matchbox cars. The Testarossa goes about
its business unlike any other car in its caliber. There are
surely quicker cars these days but none of them do it quite
like this! |
 |
As we approached the open road
I really punched it up and let Jim feel the power of a dream.
The speed gathered and with it the lift in the front of the beast
increased. The nose got more flighty and loose as the tach rose
in REVs. The car started to feel very unstable and the steering
feel became light and uncommunicative. The big red head started
to become a handful again. Not in the same sense as in the parking
lots but in a sense that if you don't pay attention something
could happen very quickly. As I slowed I felt the car coming back
into that sweet spot where it was delightful and I could wipe
my brow and take a sigh. We made our way off the highway and onto
some easy curving roads. While taking the curves we had put before
the car I noticed that as we gathered speed the nose got light
and affected grip even worse through the turns. My confidence
was dwindling into nothingness and I began to have less fun. The
TR has plenty of grip through moderate speeds and curves but when
ultimate quickness is the order of the day...unless you are a
very good driver, please don't try to wring good lap times out
of this car. We ended up pretty much cruising the rest of the
drive, stabbing the throttle from time to time. It just wasn't
as fun as the F355 we had driven only an hour before. Was I disappointed?
That answer would have to be a very stout "NO!" I just had explored
all I wanted to in this car and we were comfortable and somewhat
exhausted from our previous stint. We were so comfortable in fact
that I started to let my mind wander. Where we Han and Chewy about
to shoot into lightspeed? No...but when you're behind the wheel
of a Ferrari Testarossa you can say such things and act them out
with authority when you mash it. Jim and I just cruised along
at a leisurely pace mentally evaluating the car and the experience
thus far. The engine just pushed us along quietly at a slow pace
and was just as ready to give it it's all when called upon.
This was a day of dreams realized.
We drove one of the most sought after and desired cars of our
youths and it was great. The Testarossa gave me a new perspective
on the differences between the different generations of Ferraris
and made me realize that as much as I had always wanted to own
a TR, I never would. Not that it was a bad car...it just wasn't
quite as fun as the newer, smaller, more agile, and solid feeling
F355 berlinetta. To add, it just didn't
instill the same kind of confidence that I was expecting to come
from the one-time flagship of Ferrari's line. The Testarossa is
a fine choice for the Ferrari enthusiast who has always aspired
to own the big red head and can afford the maintenance on a Ferrari
12 cylinder engine.
 |
Along with the less than
perfect handling and many quirks that come with it are
the joys and excitement of one of the most striking and
memorable Ferraris ever built. Don't forget that monstrous
torque and that never-ending stream of power served up
from the small pedal under your right foot. All of those
attributes combine to form something of an anomaly in
the automotive world.
|
A super car that is less than perfect
in today's age but can still crack a smile and make eyes bulge
as it leaps forward with an urgency unlike anything else on the
road. From the mid 50K range to the 100+, depending on variation
of TR, it's still not cheap but if it's something you've always
wanted...then the Testarossa won't likely disappoint. Just be
sure not to drive one of the newer Ferraris and expect the TR
to deliver the same experience.
^
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