@@RumblesBettr I think his clothes match his personality. As far as fat people wear silly clothes, I don't care as long as they don't dress like they are skinny. I'm fat and wear loose fitting jeans and t-shirts because no one wants to see me in tight fitting clothes (including myself).
Was on the autobahn back in 88 driving a dodge shadow turbo zipping along at about 120 in the right lane. Saw a flash of headlights behind me and by the time I changed lanes it was on my ass. A red Testarossa blew by me and the roar of that exhaust note! Damn! Will never forget that.
Same thing ( but different vehicle ). It happened to me in '90. On my way from the Munich zoo with my son, on a dusky lazy Sunday. I saw in my mirror about a 1/4 mile away, a black 911 giant whale-tale rapidly approaching. I thought that I had enough time to switch to the slower lane. About 100 meters away he was flashing his lights ! I barely made it over when I heard a loud BOOM!! I thought that somehow he hit us! It shook my young son out of hos nap, lol!. I just watched in awe how that black engineered prowress turn into a tiny black spec before my eyes!!!
And BMWs of the same vintage. Halloween orange! At the time they decided that night vision is less effected by red light. It's what "fighter planes used". Still looks great, though!
OK, I have one of those. Or the 512 TR, that is. Have spent 50 000 km ( 35000 miles) in it. And it is a lovely car. You don`t need sport exhaust unless you want to show of. The engine sound is fine also as stock ( and nice/ harmonic/ comfortable when driving for a long time). The car is in many ways more comfortable than modern sports cars because of softer suspension. So long journeys are no problem. And I am 6 ft 2 inches ( 190 cm) tall and I fit "just fine". My stomach is a bit smaller than JayEmm, but my shoulders considerably wider ;-). Mechanically the engine is bulletproof, but the differential a weak point. So expect it to break at some point. Calculate it in your running costs ( 15-25000 pounds/ dollars/ euros - and the repair takes 6-12 months. Not easy to get all the parts). I would absolutely recommend that car and those who buy it should use it. Take long journeys around in Europe. But mentally be prepared to leave the car at some Ferrari workshop somewhere and collect it 3 months later ;-) haha
@@Narxist Hi, the car is reliable. But if you can’t stand small issues ( a noise, a switch not working properly and so on) the 512 TR is not for you. But the 512 is cooler than the smaller V8. And it is comfortable.
The test is just so iconic, growing up with Outrun and Kavinsky, it's just too much of a legend to care how good it actually is. I must have one in my life
@@SlavicMogger Outrun and Kavinski are a generation after that. Young people today, i.e. 30 and under, would not have grown up with Miami Vice being a thing in their formative years.
@@vomErsten True, but i'm 16 and i find Miami Vice to be the most important period of time of the testarossa, that show is responcible for giving a popularity boost to the already successful testarossa. Miami vice gave it the character.
Great review - funny how subjective looks are - as an 80s kid I think the TR is amazing and have been generally dissapointed in modern Ferraris styling. Nothing looks like a TR - part of its charm for me. Thanks Jay.
The testarossa is absolutely abysmal around a track, decent in a straight line; and beautiful to drive on winding roads. The true essence of a gran-tourer.
I'm glad you liked it. I had the same prejudice to it as you had - until I bought one. Here are the ergonomic changes needed: 1. Lower the seat (by reducing upholstery) 2. Extend the steering column 3. Add a rearward extension to the gear lever. 4. Fit Toyo R888R NOW, it's a REAL hoot!
As an 80’s kid this is a cool as they get. Those days there were hardly any super cars, but there were a lot of dream cars that you aspired to and were proud to display in your bedroom or on your school books (I was one of those). These days there are so many super cars and Hyper cars that it all became muddled and, quite frankly, common. It’s a fabulous looking car and that’s good enough for me.
That is an excellent distinction. Somehow, I hadn't thought of it before. A dream car needn't meet any mechanical/performance criteria, just so long as many people found it really desirable.
Cocaine white, with an Ether scented air freshener. Perfection. I believe the TR has a really good, factory fitted chopping mirror too. They thought of everything 😄
Testarossa. Along with Diablo and Countach, this was one of my ultimate dream car back when I was 3. Growing up, I somewhat preferred the 512TR instead of the Testarossa, though. But hey, if one is up for sale and I got the money I wouldn't hesitate to get one. Rosso Corsa with Crema interior please. Cliche? Yes. A good one.
Definitely an 80's poster car. As a 70's kid this was one of the most lusted after cars of my childhood. I had several toy versions of different sizes to go with my F40, 959 and various other 80's exotica. I even loved the 348 that followed in the early 90's as it evolved the look of the Testarossa. Another cracking video and car.
This is the coolest car on the planet in my opinion, what a character what an icon. I owned a 512TR for a few years and honestly it sorted most of the issues of the early cars and was incredible to drive!
Great review buddy. Finally you get to drive two of Ferrari's greatest. Testarossa fitted with sports exhaust sound delicious, it's a lovely surprise to drive. To avoid the height issue for taller drivers, simply take hacksaw and chop off roof. Looking forward to the CS review, particularly because its a silver CS , hopefully you managed to find a decent tunnel for the CS because that car is hands down one of the best sounding that came out of Maranello in standard form. P.S Rob has GREAT taste in Ferrari models to own 😎
I was lucky enough to win a ride in one of these when I was about 14 (so over 30 years ago) and it was the most memorable experience of my life. My dad was a rally driver so I'd been in fast cars driven quickly, but the sheer brute force of the Ferrari blew me away.
A former boss of mine (RIP George) was the owner of one of those 8 yellow, right hand drive Testarossas. He had originally purchased a Honda NSX, but after only a few days of ownership deemed it lacking in the “special character” he was looking for, so he parted ownership with the NSX and that’s when he purchased the Testarossa.
It's interesting to hear this side of "the NSX story." As perfect as the NSX may be, and as flawed as a Ferrari may be, if I had the means to decide between the two I would go with my heart - to Italy.
@@JimV90 Don't get me wrong, you have got one of the best and most desirable cars on earth and I applaud you for keeping a piece of automotive heritage around for our children to see. But it wouldn't be my personal choice.
As a teenager when this thing came out, you would think it would have been something to get excited about and yet the looks really didn't appeal. But now, looking back with a more nostalgic eye, it is definitely a lot more appealing and although it is still far from being the prettiest Ferrari, it is certainly not the most ugly. Thanks for a great review and nice to know such well kept examples still exist.
Finally! I've been waiting for you to review a Testarossa for a while. Nothing makes the 80s outro more appropriate. A 512TR with its lower CoG and smoother front end must be damn near perfect as a GT / Supercar, if one can live with the heavy clutch. I will always prefer the looks and purity of the BB though, even though it has a reputation for flawed handling. DiMontezemolo should have kept a mid-engined car in series production alongside the 550. There would always, always be a market for them.
The specimen you drove is the nicest looking by far, the change to the front end for the 512tr and the F-512M ruined the looks completely. For my tastes, the best looking and most complete package would have been a TR with the original front end, but with all of the technical upgrades found on the F-512M (including the popup headlamp delete). The cheese-grater side strakes are the signature of this car, they are, and always will be gorgeous.
The F - 512M is my choice by far. Beautifully restyled at front, and much nicer traditional round tail lights. Wheels a touch over done but ok. Head lights are fine as they are. Not to mention extra power. I believe there's only one in Kiwiland.
When I was a kid, I had a Hot Wheels of a TR that would change color when you ran it under warm water, from red to yellow. I was obsessed with the car back then because of the strakes and the wide wedge shape - it just looked like a supercar should look. It sounds like one, too. Great video as always James.
He is so spot on in his description, this is the first extremely well done video on the Testarossa I've seen. The sound of the performance competition exhaust and camera shots are wonderful.
I remember the positive early road tests and was always surprised that it then seemed to get such a negative image later on - but for me the BB and 308 styling were so much of my era that this 80’s style of testrossa and 348 just never got me - not that I can afford them - but it’s best in yellow that is for certain
I was a back packer in Zurich Switzerland in 1998 every night an old beat up Testarossa with straight pipes used to blast for hours around the city centre streets ..every night..it could be heard for a few minutes before being seen definitely fun street drama.
I love it for many reasons, I was a teenager in the mid 80s and a huge Miami Vice fan, it’s a Ferrari, it’s a Ferrari that’s not red (nothing wrong with a red Ferrari apart from pure predictability), it sounds awesome, yellow is the racing colour of Italy, my favourite colour is yellow. I could go on, I even like the brown interior which surprises me.
One of my poster cars. I have never managed to sit in one, hugely jealous. Great review, loved that you just got in it and had a little rip in it rather than a full teardown and full history. Makes me wonder what my f-type will be like in 30 years and its all gone electric. I dream of getting in these machines and cranking up the sound of silence that will be the motorways, and scaring all the kids in these 'loud things'
*you just got in it and had a little rip in it rather than a full teardown and full history.* Ha ha, agreed. Nothing more boring than a car reviewer droning on about 4,000 millimetres this and 2,000 kilograms that. We just want to know about The Experience ; - )
Sometimes i cry with regret because of how much i put into that machine. But i also cry with happiness too as it was a great time to be a kid. Even met my first GF while playing that game haha
This was the one for me in the 80's early 90's. Great looks and sound are what matter most when you are dreaming. As a boy those side slats were unfathomably cool.
Great review again, James! I understand that it´s not always possible to record all you want, but car sounding as maginificient as this one truly deserves a shot of acceleration from the camera using at least 2-3 gears 💕
As the former owner of both a 512TR and a 550, each driven extensively in the UK and in Europe, I can tell you categorically that the former feels great in the dry, but it's an entirely different story in the wet. A friend in the FOC used to hillclimb their 512BB and felt the same about their car. You have been warned ;-)
As a former FOC member myself, most of the owners I knew rarely took them out in rain. They looked at me in horror when I told them I drive my 308 in snow and as a daily driver!
Love the reference to Oliver Reed! Wonder how many viewers remember him? Great machine btw. I remember Fast Lane concluding, years ago, 'cumbersome in town. Devastating elsewhere'.
@@JohnDoe-jy1kn Indeed. I remember years ago he bought a racehorse, and wanted to name it, 'The 'orse', or 'Bar the field'. The jockey club denied his request on the basis that it would cause confusion! lol
I was just perming over Testarossa/TR videos, thinking, ‘JayEmm hasn’t reviewed any of these’....I return to my home page, and there is this video, less than a day old... What a wonderful, glorious review. And I want one, so badly
God I love this car soo much. The f40 is more iconic as a supercar, but the testarossa is (also thanks to miami vice) just cooler to me. The design might be eye-catching, but I honestly think it is not that crazy looking. It is in one sense minimalistic with its clean lines and the lack of any wings. And I love the metallic sound of that flat twelve, doesn't sound as brutal as a countach/diablo, but yet again, more minimalistic.
That's a classic I've really sat in.... when I was 13 years old and went to a friend's house after school, my mother called me later and said she was picking me up at the bus stop... and I went to the bus stop and suddenly there was a red Ferrari Testarossa and my mother was behind the wheel, she borrowed it from a friend. The ride was only 2.8 km, but it was an experience. The Testarossa was not entirely original, it had a Maserati engine and was the first car the friend had completed, he also worked on a Lamborghini Countach and a Lotus Esprit S1, which were never completed. My mother has always been very interested in sports cars, so I gifted her a MX-5 NB as a present for her sixtieth birthday.
Love everything about the colour combo, even the brown carpets! But I do think that Tubi exhaust is a bit too 'trumpety' for the 12 cylinder, which needs more high-end rasp. Great review, as always.
Having been on the Jayemm band wagons for a while now and watching most of the videos I think this is the best so far. So informative, I love the facts at the beginning. As a regular car fan but definitely not an expert they’re just the sort of gems I like. The presenting as always is as good as anything on TV and I love the little “Jayemm-isms” that are scattered throughout. The only think that would make this video better for me, the Ric Flair shirt (I have the Ultimate Warrior one myself). The nature boy shirt needs to come out for the most beautiful of cars. Woooo!
A few years ago I we saw a yellow Testarossa for sale in Exeter at £25k! A week later it was for sale at the Ferrari dealership for £35k. Now look at the prices! I wish we could have afforded to buy it at the time!
An excellent review of the Testa. I have a June 85 Chiaro Celeste (metallic mid blue) with cream and leather interior and dark blue carpets Testa. I sold my 550 as the testa was the sweet spot for my driver engagement and fun. (The Challenge Stradale you sbout to review is just too harsh for me and I am not a paddle fan for a fun car). The 550 (also Chiaro Celeste) was highly anemic as a driving experience (IMHO), even with the x-pipes fitted and the sticky buttons were just downright annoying. Interestingly, I am 5' 11'' and fit comfortably (I could see your head almost hitting the roof, so I wonder if the seat in mine has been lowered?). But I am, ahem, trimmer than Jayemm (78kgs) and find the seats fabulous and supportive. For many years I too was not interested in a testa as I had read stories of being impossible to see out of (rubbish it is quite reasonable. Try a Countach for visibility!), heavy to steering (rubbish, as reviewed, the steering is go-kart like once past walking speed), unreliable (Serviced yearly at a specialist for circa $AUD$1000. I have had mine over 6 years, did the cambelts and service at a specialist this year for $AUD4900 and replaced the fuse board in 2020 which solved a few issues). The weak points are the fusboard - they burn out (as they do on most F cars of the era) and if you flog it horrendously over a long period of time you are likely to have the diff explode suddenly and any without warning (and you maybe just creeping along at a service station when it happens). It is a metal fatigue and design issue that was rectified in the 512TR. I have not bothered with the preventative fix that can be applied as I do not track the car. I have had a few cars over the years (I am 60 now) and this one is my personal favourite for driver engagement and fun. My Testa has a mid-Tubi, the car reviewed likely has the open Tubi and is a just a bit too boomy (on the inside) for me. Great review. Very well researched. Thank you.
What an amazing noise! One of the four standout 80s supercars, that had pride of place on my bedroom wall (the others being the 959, Countach & Esprit Turbo). I do remember. Contemporary reviews mentioned the recalcitrant gearbox, interesting James had no such issues.
Everybody remembers to criticize the design for spoiling low center of gravity but in terms of packaging the gearbox below the sump is an excellent choice. And while it does rise the center of gravity, the flat shape of the engine does offset that. Given that this was never supposed to be a race car, I say well done Ferrari.
The 512BB LM wasn't powerful enough (NA in a sea of turbo monsters) and I don't think it had factory support either. So it probably couldn't perform as well as it should have.
Yes, I always noticed the criticism re the high centre of gravity but when I had the opportunity to see one apart it is a compact package and the gearbox while under the crankcase is actually alongside the dry sump. The overall height of engine and gearbox is 475mm which is lower than a small block Chevy at 551mm.
I like the 512M. Enough to have bought one! It’s beautiful and I love it in the flesh. And it drives beautifully and sounds like nothing else. Titanium engine, 440hp, howls like a banshee. It needs some love I reckon. :)
Oh my good God, the Testarossa, this Testarossa is absolutely Glorious! The sound is just orgasmic. This has to be a 1 of 1 in the world. The only other yellow Testarossa I've ever seen has a black interior. The few Ferrari's that are painted yellow or (Gallio Modena) always have all black interiors. This still deserves to be a bedroom wall poster car even after over 30 years. I know that Mr. Harry Metclafe has a red Testarossa and drives it regularly. He clearly demonstrated that it was much easier to live with than a Countach. Richard Hammond and James May did a great comparison between the two. Where James drove the Testarossa. Thank you.
In the late '80s I was in the army stationed in Germany. I was sitting on a back of a deuce-and-a-half, ( an army 2 1/2 ton truck ). I saw 4 polizei ( German police Porsches, 2 in the front, 2 in the rear ), escorting a car truck full of Testarossas in various colors!
The sound of that boxer 12 would make it a worthwhile drive, even if it was stuck in a lorry. Great videography, and an interesting review of a Ferrari I’ve never much cared about, despite it coming out when I was in high school, and I was ga-ga for the 308/328s.
I had one. Added electric powersteering(EZ powersteering, Holland) for easy city driving. Fantastic car, everything worked including AC. Comfy. Really quiet. Drove it 500km in one day and came out fresh(or almost). Goes like a gocart, glued on the road. Sold it because belts and clutch were soon needed. Got paid money back. Garage told me some parts not more available so they had to go second hand. Highly recommended if 15'k plus(euros) for belts and clutch do not scare you.
The 512 TR is the one I'd have as it just looks so right but the 512M was dynamically better...... agreed though that the Testarossa is undervalued. Especially when you look at what an F40 costs now.
SixTEEN year old tires?! Holy moly talking about unsafe... This leaves me a bit baffled since the tires were supposed to be one of the things you should upgrade/maintain the most, otherwise it's hard to really feel the true character of the car.
Very nice, was lucky enough to spend time around a good old carb'd 512bb and that engine was very special indeed. The way it went down an A road with a nice degree of float was fabulous.
I worked for an American computer company in the late 1980s and was assigned to one of our biggest clients in Australia. The client's managing director had a Testarossa (amongst a few other nice cars) and I often parked next to it. I loved the looks and still do. They got down to a ridiculously low price in Oz a few years ago and I was seriously tempted. But then I thought of the cost of keeping it on the road. One of my co workers had a 512BB and that was a lovely car too. He said that it was a pig to drive. He boiled in summer and froze in winter. His Honda Accord was much nicer to drive. So was his 924 turbo and his E-Type. One of the problems with the 512BB was that you'd skin your knuckles if you turned the steering wheel with the front quarter-light open. Problems all around, but I still love the looks of the Testarossa. Like the BB, you'd probably have to keep it in a shed and only drive it on cool days.
Gotta say, you're probably the most honest, straight up reviewer on youtube, period. I always appreciate your take on these classic cars. Question though: in your professional opinion, what's better as a whole, testarossa, or a 355?
A few years back I thought I wanted an '80s Ferrari and checked out a few, including a Testarossa (even though I have always considered them ugly and over-styled). What struck me first, as mentioned in this great review, is that I simply did not fit in them. But the other thing, was what I considered to be the abysmal build quality/attention to detail in Ferraris of that era. The interiors in many of the cars were simply falling apart, even ones that had seen little use. So, let's just say I decided I didn't want a Ferrari after all.
The Testarossa might be the most misunderstood car Ferrari ever made. And that's a good thing, cause I'd quite like one and I want prices to stay low!!!
I think the issue with the interior, is the exterior colour. In Red it'd go better I think, hence why this overall colour combination is rare. Still looks great on the outside, agree with you not a fan of the inside but yeah, Red would suit better I think
There's a red one on AutoTrader right now with black leather and dash. Personally, I love a lighter interior in Ferraris (almost never on another car), but I can see the sense of a darker interior.
@@ian9outof10 Honestly I think it's just too many colours too. All brown with say a Green exterior? That might work, Tan is the same, Cream with Blue, but it's the mix of Cream/Tan-Brown that kinda is too much and it doesn't tie into Yellow, it's like 3 bright and different colours.
Thanks to you both, especially Rob, you're a gentleman and a scholar sir. Now that's out of the way...yes, I too really liked the steering. In 1975 I loved the Khamsin, its' interior looking much like this 90's era 'boxer. My pal here in the colonies phoned, "I've got a New TR, you wanna have a go?" It was Mediterranean blue metallic, while his Daytona coupe was rosso corsa. At 6'-3" limber and jazzed, I drove Seattle-to-Portland 300+ km in my '67 DB6 Vantage. Point here is, clearly I can take a beating. TR was a the Biggest Disappointment. Ever.
Great video review of this car, which I always lusted after from the days of Miami Vice. One thing I did notice from the video and wonder, does that windscreen wiper on the drivers side actually clear the whole windscreen On the drivers side when you're driving it? It looks as though it won't.
I was thinking about buying a Testarossa a couple of years ago and took it for a test drive. I went there with the frame of mind of buying it. The shape is iconic, everything else was a completely underwhelming experience. Poor handling, poor performance and not a drivers car. The interior was very disappointing. It felt like an old car and is which is to be expected. A lovely car to look at but not a drivers car.
A guy in the early 90s took my mum out in one to try and impress her, when she got back she simply said - "what a load of Italian crap! It leaked when it started raining, so uncomfortable, noisy and alleys porsche 911 is quicker and nicer!" ... that said it all for me.
And how did you exactly do that magic trick? I mean, Jay does not seem like a liar for me, and in this video I can see there is nothing really between his hair and the top of the car. So, what is your explanation? No offense, I'm just asking because of curiosity.
@@staLkerhu No magic tricks. Michel Air Jordan used to drive Testarossa (512TR to be precise, plates M-AIR-J) and he is certainly much bigger than I am.
On my 92 TR, the seat issue was a simple fix. We lengthened the straps the cushion sat on and then my 6"1" frame fit. I did have to add a Capristo exhaust as well.
One of my all time favourite cars, I grew up watching Don Johnson AKA Sonny James Crockett fang his around in Miami Vice and have loved the Testarossa ever since.
Hey bud I think this is the best TR vid I have seen to date. Outstanding Love this color too. Have an 83 308 qv and need this to match it. You’ve sealed the deal in my mind.
My ten year old son who as never shown any interest in cars said the car looks and sounds fantastic and is currently drawing cars at the moment. Hope for him yet. Ps he said he liked the shirt too.😀😃
I recall the first time I ever saw a Testarossa. It was driven by a little old man, aged about 80. He could barely see over the steering wheel. It's sad that in real life, most people can't afford a NEW Ferrari until they're on the wrong side of 60. Hence the need for secondhand classics.
It’s an aesthetic masterpiece. Anyone suggesting otherwise is saying more about their own taste than the car design. I really like this channel, but not really a fan of the “my disdainful prejudices about an icon are wrong, what a surprise’ narrative. Anyway, beautiful specimen of a really important car.
The styling is so outrageous, but enough about Jay's shirt
🤣
This genuinely made me laugh. 👏🏼
Never understood why chubbers wear such outlandish clothes. Why draw more attention
🤣
@@RumblesBettr I think his clothes match his personality. As far as fat people wear silly clothes, I don't care as long as they don't dress like they are skinny. I'm fat and wear loose fitting jeans and t-shirts because no one wants to see me in tight fitting clothes (including myself).
Was on the autobahn back in 88 driving a dodge shadow turbo zipping along at about 120 in the right lane. Saw a flash of headlights behind me and by the time I changed lanes it was on my ass. A red Testarossa blew by me and the roar of that exhaust note! Damn! Will never forget that.
Same thing ( but different vehicle ). It happened to me in '90. On my way from the Munich zoo with my son, on a dusky lazy Sunday. I saw in my mirror about a 1/4 mile away, a black 911 giant whale-tale rapidly approaching. I thought that I had enough time to switch to the slower lane. About 100 meters away he was flashing his lights ! I barely made it over when I heard a loud BOOM!! I thought that somehow he hit us! It shook my young son out of hos nap, lol!. I just watched in awe how that black engineered prowress turn into a tiny black spec before my eyes!!!
One thing I love about Ferraris of this vintage is the dark orange coloured font they used for all the gauges . . . just looks really cool
And old Honda motorbikes
The fun thing is : The Renault R5 (turbo) has it as well.
And BMWs of the same vintage. Halloween orange! At the time they decided that night vision is less effected by red light. It's what "fighter planes used". Still looks great, though!
OK, I have one of those. Or the 512 TR, that is. Have spent 50 000 km ( 35000 miles) in it. And it is a lovely car. You don`t need sport exhaust unless you want to show of. The engine sound is fine also as stock ( and nice/ harmonic/ comfortable when driving for a long time). The car is in many ways more comfortable than modern sports cars because of softer suspension. So long journeys are no problem. And I am 6 ft 2 inches ( 190 cm) tall and I fit "just fine". My stomach is a bit smaller than JayEmm, but my shoulders considerably wider ;-).
Mechanically the engine is bulletproof, but the differential a weak point. So expect it to break at some point. Calculate it in your running costs ( 15-25000 pounds/ dollars/ euros - and the repair takes 6-12 months. Not easy to get all the parts).
I would absolutely recommend that car and those who buy it should use it. Take long journeys around in Europe. But mentally be prepared to leave the car at some Ferrari workshop somewhere and collect it 3 months later ;-) haha
So cool how much did your cost
@@Narxist Hi, the car is reliable. But if you can’t stand small issues ( a noise, a switch not working properly and so on) the 512 TR is not for you. But the 512 is cooler than the smaller V8. And it is comfortable.
The test is just so iconic, growing up with Outrun and Kavinsky, it's just too much of a legend to care how good it actually is. I must have one in my life
Umm, Hello? Miami vice..?
Amen!
@@SlavicMogger Outrun and Kavinski are a generation after that. Young people today, i.e. 30 and under, would not have grown up with Miami Vice being a thing in their formative years.
Kind of an overpriced Mondial, isn't it?
@@vomErsten True, but i'm 16 and i find Miami Vice to be the most important period of time of the testarossa, that show is responcible for giving a popularity boost to the already successful testarossa. Miami vice gave it the character.
Great review - funny how subjective looks are - as an 80s kid I think the TR is amazing and have been generally dissapointed in modern Ferraris styling. Nothing looks like a TR - part of its charm for me. Thanks Jay.
This Guy is Nuts ! The Testarossa is a GREAT Looking Car !
Was always my favourite car as a kid. Love the look of it.
@@makoshark69x96 yeah is my favorite ferrari !
The testarossa is absolutely abysmal around a track, decent in a straight line; and beautiful to drive on winding roads. The true essence of a gran-tourer.
Abysmal is quite the wrong word. It’s not like an f40 at all, but it stills handles quite well on the track for a car of it’s time
I'm glad you liked it. I had the same prejudice to it as you had - until I bought one. Here are the ergonomic changes needed:
1. Lower the seat (by reducing upholstery)
2. Extend the steering column
3. Add a rearward extension to the gear lever.
4. Fit Toyo R888R
NOW, it's a REAL hoot!
As an 80’s kid this is a cool as they get. Those days there were hardly any super cars, but there were a lot of dream cars that you aspired to and were proud to display in your bedroom or on your school books (I was one of those).
These days there are so many super cars and Hyper cars that it all became muddled and, quite frankly, common.
It’s a fabulous looking car and that’s good enough for me.
That is an excellent distinction. Somehow, I hadn't thought of it before. A dream car needn't meet any mechanical/performance criteria, just so long as many people found it really desirable.
It looks great in yellow… Shows the man who ordered it could think for himself.
But aesthetically and for max 80s style, nothing beats cocaine white.
Cocaine white, with an Ether scented air freshener.
Perfection. I believe the TR has a really good, factory fitted chopping mirror too.
They thought of everything 😄
To me it looks wrong in any colour other than red
@@ventisette. That's because you can't think for yourself.
Testarossa. Along with Diablo and Countach, this was one of my ultimate dream car back when I was 3. Growing up, I somewhat preferred the 512TR instead of the Testarossa, though. But hey, if one is up for sale and I got the money I wouldn't hesitate to get one. Rosso Corsa with Crema interior please. Cliche? Yes. A good one.
Definitely an 80's poster car. As a 70's kid this was one of the most lusted after cars of my childhood. I had several toy versions of different sizes to go with my F40, 959 and various other 80's exotica. I even loved the 348 that followed in the early 90's as it evolved the look of the Testarossa.
Another cracking video and car.
Understandably I first read that as "80's erotica" 😂
@@mta01ajd 🤣🤣👍🏾
This is the coolest car on the planet in my opinion, what a character what an icon. I owned a 512TR for a few years and honestly it sorted most of the issues of the early cars and was incredible to drive!
I agree, so iconic
Thomas, mind if i ask how you afforded it?
Im a young man and want to work towards being as successful as I can
After the diablo, yes
@@BySixa all you need to do is inherit some money.
The 512tr looks just right aswell imo, with the subtle styling changes 👌🏾
Jay and Harry give by far the best car reviews in my humble opinion.
I've tried others but these two are so much more endearing .
Thank you Jay . 🖐️
Shmee take note. It's about the cars not your latest acquisition.
Harry is awesome not afraid to drive them for real👏 I love his 1000 mile videos.
Jay. You are the benchmark that demouro should follow. You talk awesome about cars. Love your work. Keep going strong
Great review buddy. Finally you get to drive two of Ferrari's greatest. Testarossa fitted with sports exhaust sound delicious, it's a lovely surprise to drive. To avoid the height issue for taller drivers, simply take hacksaw and chop off roof. Looking forward to the CS review, particularly because its a silver CS , hopefully you managed to find a decent tunnel for the CS because that car is hands down one of the best sounding that came out of Maranello in standard form.
P.S Rob has GREAT taste in Ferrari models to own 😎
@@ericmoore3174 Tesla or any ev can replicate? Please explain this...Maybe you meant can't...
Omg the looks, the noise, the presence, the drama, the memories (Outrun + Miami Vice). What a sports car even if badly flawed 😍
I was lucky enough to win a ride in one of these when I was about 14 (so over 30 years ago) and it was the most memorable experience of my life. My dad was a rally driver so I'd been in fast cars driven quickly, but the sheer brute force of the Ferrari blew me away.
A former boss of mine (RIP George) was the owner of one of those 8 yellow, right hand drive Testarossas. He had originally purchased a Honda NSX, but after only a few days of ownership deemed it lacking in the “special character” he was looking for, so he parted ownership with the NSX and that’s when he purchased the Testarossa.
It's interesting to hear this side of "the NSX story." As perfect as the NSX may be, and as flawed as a Ferrari may be, if I had the means to decide between the two I would go with my heart - to Italy.
@@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X As an NSX owner, this is blasphemy. 😮
Shame, as that NSX was by far a better engineered car.
@@JimV90
Don't get me wrong, you have got one of the best and most desirable cars on earth and I applaud you for keeping a piece of automotive heritage around for our children to see.
But it wouldn't be my personal choice.
@@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X Nah, I get it. Just pushing your buttons. Ferraris are fantastic. What Ferrari exactly is your holy grail car?
As a teenager when this thing came out, you would think it would have been something to get excited about and yet the looks really didn't appeal. But now, looking back with a more nostalgic eye, it is definitely a lot more appealing and although it is still far from being the prettiest Ferrari, it is certainly not the most ugly. Thanks for a great review and nice to know such well kept examples still exist.
It looks exactly how a 9yo would draw a supercar imho. 🤣 I love it for that reason alone.
Finally! I've been waiting for you to review a Testarossa for a while. Nothing makes the 80s outro more appropriate. A 512TR with its lower CoG and smoother front end must be damn near perfect as a GT / Supercar, if one can live with the heavy clutch. I will always prefer the looks and purity of the BB though, even though it has a reputation for flawed handling. DiMontezemolo should have kept a mid-engined car in series production alongside the 550. There would always, always be a market for them.
The specimen you drove is the nicest looking by far, the change to the front end for the 512tr and the F-512M ruined the looks completely. For my tastes, the best looking and most complete package would have been a TR with the original front end, but with all of the technical upgrades found on the F-512M (including the popup headlamp delete).
The cheese-grater side strakes are the signature of this car, they are, and always will be gorgeous.
Koenig took the Strakes out ! And the Car Looked Way Better !
The F - 512M is my choice by far. Beautifully restyled at front, and much nicer traditional round tail lights. Wheels a touch over done but ok. Head lights are fine as they are. Not to mention extra power. I believe there's only one in Kiwiland.
When I was a kid, I had a Hot Wheels of a TR that would change color when you ran it under warm water, from red to yellow. I was obsessed with the car back then because of the strakes and the wide wedge shape - it just looked like a supercar should look. It sounds like one, too. Great video as always James.
He is so spot on in his description, this is the first extremely well done video on the Testarossa I've seen. The sound of the performance competition exhaust and camera shots are wonderful.
I remember the positive early road tests and was always surprised that it then seemed to get such a negative image later on - but for me the BB and 308 styling were so much of my era that this 80’s style of testrossa and 348 just never got me - not that I can afford them - but it’s best in yellow that is for certain
I was a back packer in Zurich Switzerland in 1998 every night an old beat up Testarossa with straight pipes used to blast for hours around the city centre streets ..every night..it could be heard for a few minutes before being seen definitely fun street drama.
cool story, bro!
I love it for many reasons, I was a teenager in the mid 80s and a huge Miami Vice fan, it’s a Ferrari, it’s a Ferrari that’s not red (nothing wrong with a red Ferrari apart from pure predictability), it sounds awesome, yellow is the racing colour of Italy, my favourite colour is yellow. I could go on, I even like the brown interior which surprises me.
We are on the same page!
One of my poster cars. I have never managed to sit in one, hugely jealous. Great review, loved that you just got in it and had a little rip in it rather than a full teardown and full history. Makes me wonder what my f-type will be like in 30 years and its all gone electric. I dream of getting in these machines and cranking up the sound of silence that will be the motorways, and scaring all the kids in these 'loud things'
*you just got in it and had a little rip in it rather than a full teardown and full history.* Ha ha, agreed. Nothing more boring than a car reviewer droning on about 4,000 millimetres this and 2,000 kilograms that. We just want to know about The Experience ; - )
Just the sound alone is magnificent!
One word: Outrun! I was obsessed with this car during my childhood
As was I. I completely agree.
Sometimes i cry with regret because of how much i put into that machine. But i also cry with happiness too as it was a great time to be a kid. Even met my first GF while playing that game haha
James great review. Obvious that you did huge a amount of research for this and great to see you in one in your special shirt!
This was the one for me in the 80's early 90's. Great looks and sound are what matter most when you are dreaming. As a boy those side slats were unfathomably cool.
Always liked the way the testarossa looked. Had a model one in my bedroom as a kid.
Great review again, James!
I understand that it´s not always possible to record all you want, but car sounding as maginificient as this one truly deserves a shot of acceleration from the camera using at least 2-3 gears 💕
As the former owner of both a 512TR and a 550, each driven extensively in the UK and in Europe, I can tell you categorically that the former feels great in the dry, but it's an entirely different story in the wet. A friend in the FOC used to hillclimb their 512BB and felt the same about their car. You have been warned ;-)
As a former FOC member myself, most of the owners I knew rarely took them out in rain. They looked at me in horror when I told them I drive my 308 in snow and as a daily driver!
I own a 90 .. I love it .. you off base on a few of your comments .. overall enjoyed the review
God I loved these cars....this summed up the 80’s perfectly.
Love the reference to Oliver Reed! Wonder how many viewers remember him? Great machine btw. I remember Fast Lane concluding, years ago, 'cumbersome in town. Devastating elsewhere'.
He knew how to raise hell. A real man's man.
@@JohnDoe-jy1kn Indeed. I remember years ago he bought a racehorse, and wanted to name it, 'The 'orse', or 'Bar the field'. The jockey club denied his request on the basis that it would cause confusion! lol
The title of the video should be “is it really that good” instead of “is it really that bad”. The testarossa is one of the best driver’s cars ever
I was just perming over Testarossa/TR videos, thinking, ‘JayEmm hasn’t reviewed any of these’....I return to my home page, and there is this video, less than a day old...
What a wonderful, glorious review. And I want one, so badly
God I love this car soo much. The f40 is more iconic as a supercar, but the testarossa is (also thanks to miami vice) just cooler to me. The design might be eye-catching, but I honestly think it is not that crazy looking. It is in one sense minimalistic with its clean lines and the lack of any wings. And I love the metallic sound of that flat twelve, doesn't sound as brutal as a countach/diablo, but yet again, more minimalistic.
Agreed man, I can't stop looking at it
Ιconic car of the 80's that gives a salute to the boxer 12 cyl engine. Exceptional design ageing with class & elegance!
That's a classic I've really sat in.... when I was 13 years old and went to a friend's house after school, my mother called me later and said she was picking me up at the bus stop... and I went to the bus stop and suddenly there was a red Ferrari Testarossa and my mother was behind the wheel, she borrowed it from a friend.
The ride was only 2.8 km, but it was an experience. The Testarossa was not entirely original, it had a Maserati engine and was the first car the friend had completed, he also worked on a Lamborghini Countach and a Lotus Esprit S1, which were never completed.
My mother has always been very interested in sports cars, so I gifted her a MX-5 NB as a present for her sixtieth birthday.
Love everything about the colour combo, even the brown carpets! But I do think that Tubi exhaust is a bit too 'trumpety' for the 12 cylinder, which needs more high-end rasp. Great review, as always.
Having been on the Jayemm band wagons for a while now and watching most of the videos I think this is the best so far. So informative, I love the facts at the beginning. As a regular car fan but definitely not an expert they’re just the sort of gems I like.
The presenting as always is as good as anything on TV and I love the little “Jayemm-isms” that are scattered throughout.
The only think that would make this video better for me, the Ric Flair shirt (I have the Ultimate Warrior one myself).
The nature boy shirt needs to come out for the most beautiful of cars. Woooo!
A few years ago I
we saw a yellow Testarossa for sale in Exeter at £25k! A week later it was for sale at the Ferrari dealership for £35k. Now look at the prices! I wish we could have afforded to buy it at the time!
An excellent review of the Testa. I have a June 85 Chiaro Celeste (metallic mid blue) with cream and leather interior and dark blue carpets Testa. I sold my 550 as the testa was the sweet spot for my driver engagement and fun. (The Challenge Stradale you sbout to review is just too harsh for me and I am not a paddle fan for a fun car). The 550 (also Chiaro Celeste) was highly anemic as a driving experience (IMHO), even with the x-pipes fitted and the sticky buttons were just downright annoying. Interestingly, I am 5' 11'' and fit comfortably (I could see your head almost hitting the roof, so I wonder if the seat in mine has been lowered?). But I am, ahem, trimmer than Jayemm (78kgs) and find the seats fabulous and supportive. For many years I too was not interested in a testa as I had read stories of being impossible to see out of (rubbish it is quite reasonable. Try a Countach for visibility!), heavy to steering (rubbish, as reviewed, the steering is go-kart like once past walking speed), unreliable (Serviced yearly at a specialist for circa $AUD$1000. I have had mine over 6 years, did the cambelts and service at a specialist this year for $AUD4900 and replaced the fuse board in 2020 which solved a few issues). The weak points are the fusboard - they burn out (as they do on most F cars of the era) and if you flog it horrendously over a long period of time you are likely to have the diff explode suddenly and any without warning (and you maybe just creeping along at a service station when it happens). It is a metal fatigue and design issue that was rectified in the 512TR. I have not bothered with the preventative fix that can be applied as I do not track the car. I have had a few cars over the years (I am 60 now) and this one is my personal favourite for driver engagement and fun. My Testa has a mid-Tubi, the car reviewed likely has the open Tubi and is a just a bit too boomy (on the inside) for me. Great review. Very well researched. Thank you.
Agree wholeheartedly with you Phil, it's a special car and maybe that's why it's so polarising.
I'm 6.2. And I fit perfectly in it! You have to live with it for a bit.
Jay needs to loose some ballast, I fit in my 87 at 6.0 fine.
What an amazing noise! One of the four standout 80s supercars, that had pride of place on my bedroom wall (the others being the 959, Countach & Esprit Turbo). I do remember. Contemporary reviews mentioned the recalcitrant gearbox, interesting James had no such issues.
Farts(exhaust) like Oliver REED as well!!!
Everybody remembers to criticize the design for spoiling low center of gravity but in terms of packaging the gearbox below the sump is an excellent choice. And while it does rise the center of gravity, the flat shape of the engine does offset that. Given that this was never supposed to be a race car, I say well done Ferrari.
Part of it might also be to reduce the polar moment of inertia compared to having a transaxle behind the engine
And to be fair, it did compete as a race car in its previous iteration as the 512 bb lm
@@mattiasmehta4665 But let's be fair, the 512BB LM was a back marker to make up the grids!
The 512BB LM wasn't powerful enough (NA in a sea of turbo monsters) and I don't think it had factory support either. So it probably couldn't perform as well as it should have.
Yes, I always noticed the criticism re the high centre of gravity but when I had the opportunity to see one apart it is a compact package and the gearbox while under the crankcase is actually alongside the dry sump. The overall height of engine and gearbox is 475mm which is lower than a small block Chevy at 551mm.
I like the 512M. Enough to have bought one! It’s beautiful and I love it in the flesh. And it drives beautifully and sounds like nothing else. Titanium engine, 440hp, howls like a banshee. It needs some love I reckon. :)
A car like this is at that point where its flaws just become character, and I love it
Loved that shape as a 10 year old when launched in 1984👍
Thanks for showing your shifting the gears in this video. We never get tired of seeing that, like in Miami Vice. Cool review!
Oh my good God, the Testarossa, this Testarossa is absolutely Glorious! The sound is just orgasmic. This has to be a 1 of 1 in the world. The only other yellow Testarossa I've ever seen has a black interior. The few Ferrari's that are painted yellow or (Gallio Modena) always have all black interiors. This still deserves to be a bedroom wall poster car even after over 30 years. I know that Mr. Harry Metclafe has a red Testarossa and drives it regularly. He clearly demonstrated that it was much easier to live with than a Countach. Richard Hammond and James May did a great comparison between the two. Where James drove the Testarossa. Thank you.
That noise is fenominal! Great video as always James
In the late '80s I was in the army stationed in Germany. I was sitting on a back of a deuce-and-a-half, ( an army 2 1/2 ton truck ). I saw 4 polizei ( German police Porsches, 2 in the front, 2 in the rear ), escorting a car truck full of Testarossas in various colors!
As a former Ferrari owner - and of course a red one, I have to say that the Testarossa looks absolutely fantastic in yellow! Wow, really fantastic!
I started this video clean shaven and ended it with a Moustache.
I bought one and was expecting the worst. It’s sublime.
The sound of that boxer 12 would make it a worthwhile drive, even if it was stuck in a lorry.
Great videography, and an interesting review of a Ferrari I’ve never much cared about, despite it coming out when I was in high school, and I was ga-ga for the 308/328s.
Now, after recovering from that marvelous engine noise, let me watch the video again listen to what Jay actually said.
I've driven a red one but it only had a low and high shift and a 3 song radio 😎
I had one. Added electric powersteering(EZ powersteering, Holland) for easy city driving. Fantastic car, everything worked including AC. Comfy. Really quiet. Drove it 500km in one day and came out fresh(or almost). Goes like a gocart, glued on the road. Sold it because belts and clutch were soon needed. Got paid money back. Garage told me some parts not more available so they had to go second hand. Highly recommended if 15'k plus(euros) for belts and clutch do not scare you.
The 512 TR is the one I'd have as it just looks so right but the 512M was dynamically better...... agreed though that the Testarossa is undervalued. Especially when you look at what an F40 costs now.
Thats because snobby collectors don't deem them rare enough to fuck with the prices.
SixTEEN year old tires?! Holy moly talking about unsafe... This leaves me a bit baffled since the tires were supposed to be one of the things you should upgrade/maintain the most, otherwise it's hard to really feel the true character of the car.
Img the noise, has to be one of the best sounding Ferraris ever!!
I love it and looks awesome in Yellow, just needs black interior!!
Very nice, was lucky enough to spend time around a good old carb'd 512bb and that engine was very special indeed. The way it went down an A road with a nice degree of float was fabulous.
I worked for an American computer company in the late 1980s and was assigned to one of our biggest clients in Australia. The client's managing director had a Testarossa (amongst a few other nice cars) and I often parked next to it. I loved the looks and still do. They got down to a ridiculously low price in Oz a few years ago and I was seriously tempted. But then I thought of the cost of keeping it on the road. One of my co workers had a 512BB and that was a lovely car too. He said that it was a pig to drive. He boiled in summer and froze in winter. His Honda Accord was much nicer to drive. So was his 924 turbo and his E-Type. One of the problems with the 512BB was that you'd skin your knuckles if you turned the steering wheel with the front quarter-light open. Problems all around, but I still love the looks of the Testarossa. Like the BB, you'd probably have to keep it in a shed and only drive it on cool days.
Gotta say, you're probably the most honest, straight up reviewer on youtube, period. I always appreciate your take on these classic cars. Question though: in your professional opinion, what's better as a whole, testarossa, or a 355?
Both are such different cars it is hard to even compare. My vote would be for the 355, but really its about which one gives you "the fizz" more
A few years back I thought I wanted an '80s Ferrari and checked out a few, including a Testarossa (even though I have always considered them ugly and over-styled). What struck me first, as mentioned in this great review, is that I simply did not fit in them. But the other thing, was what I considered to be the abysmal build quality/attention to detail in Ferraris of that era. The interiors in many of the cars were simply falling apart, even ones that had seen little use.
So, let's just say I decided I didn't want a Ferrari after all.
The Testarossa might be the most misunderstood car Ferrari ever made. And that's a good thing, cause I'd quite like one and I want prices to stay low!!!
Thanks for letting us enjoy that sound.
Mega car, brown and magnolia looks great to me.
Sounds lovely and you seem to be driving more animated than usual!
I think the issue with the interior, is the exterior colour. In Red it'd go better I think, hence why this overall colour combination is rare. Still looks great on the outside, agree with you not a fan of the inside but yeah, Red would suit better I think
There's a red one on AutoTrader right now with black leather and dash. Personally, I love a lighter interior in Ferraris (almost never on another car), but I can see the sense of a darker interior.
@@ian9outof10 Honestly I think it's just too many colours too. All brown with say a Green exterior? That might work, Tan is the same, Cream with Blue, but it's the mix of Cream/Tan-Brown that kinda is too much and it doesn't tie into Yellow, it's like 3 bright and different colours.
I new someone who had one and he never had issues. It sounded great and beats the ones of today just on looks and sound alone.
Great video, like you, this was never a car I had yearned for, much, much better than I thought.
Thanks to you both, especially Rob, you're a gentleman and a scholar sir.
Now that's out of the way...yes, I too really liked the steering. In 1975 I loved the Khamsin, its' interior looking much like this 90's era 'boxer. My pal here in the colonies phoned, "I've got a New TR, you wanna have a go?" It was Mediterranean blue metallic, while his Daytona coupe was rosso corsa.
At 6'-3" limber and jazzed, I drove Seattle-to-Portland 300+ km in my '67 DB6 Vantage. Point here is, clearly I can take a beating.
TR was a the Biggest Disappointment. Ever.
Great video review of this car, which I always lusted after from the days of Miami Vice. One thing I did notice from the video and wonder, does that windscreen wiper on the drivers side actually clear the whole windscreen On the drivers side when you're driving it? It looks as though it won't.
I was thinking about buying a Testarossa a couple of years ago and took it for a test drive. I went there with the frame of mind of buying it. The shape is iconic, everything else was a completely underwhelming experience. Poor handling, poor performance and not a drivers car. The interior was very disappointing. It felt like an old car and is which is to be expected. A lovely car to look at but not a drivers car.
One of my dream cars (in white with the tan interior of course)!
Love that you actually found one of these in Giallo Modena to demo for us. Such a rare treat on a TR 🔥🔥👏👏.
Nice one Jay, great video. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work. All the best man.
Come on James... red Testarossa = Outrun arcade game. 80s Fantasia ❤️
A guy in the early 90s took my mum out in one to try and impress her, when she got back she simply said - "what a load of Italian crap! It leaked when it started raining, so uncomfortable, noisy and alleys porsche 911 is quicker and nicer!" ... that said it all for me.
I saw the tyres and thought, 'FFS.' But this machine really makes the best of what its got. Great review Jay.
I'm 6'4 (194cm) and fit into my Testarossa perfectly well. There is still some room over my head.
And how did you exactly do that magic trick? I mean, Jay does not seem like a liar for me, and in this video I can see there is nothing really between his hair and the top of the car. So, what is your explanation? No offense, I'm just asking because of curiosity.
@@staLkerhu No magic tricks. Michel Air Jordan used to drive Testarossa (512TR to be precise, plates M-AIR-J) and he is certainly much bigger than I am.
On my 92 TR, the seat issue was a simple fix. We lengthened the straps the cushion sat on and then my 6"1" frame fit. I did have to add a Capristo exhaust as well.
One of my all time favourite cars, I grew up watching Don Johnson AKA Sonny James Crockett fang his around in Miami Vice and have loved the Testarossa ever since.
The wide flat hips and rear end and side intakes are what makes this car a piece of art. *Chef's kiss*
Hey bud I think this is the best TR vid I have seen to date. Outstanding
Love this color too. Have an 83 308 qv and need this to match it. You’ve sealed the deal in my mind.
HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE THAT INTERIOR!
Great car and great review James. What a glorious sound !
Looking at pics of it, I don't mind the look of the 512M too much, but I like the 550 a nice bit more, that's a really nice looking thing.
That exhaust note is absolutely sublime.
Flat 12 engine, underrated
James, what camera/lens combo are you currently using?
Nice review - keep up the fabulous work 🚗
I love videos like this looking at underrated cars. Maybe one day you'll get the chance to try an F50?
My ten year old son who as never shown any interest in cars said the car looks and sounds fantastic and is currently drawing cars at the moment. Hope for him yet. Ps he said he liked the shirt too.😀😃
I recall the first time I ever saw a Testarossa. It was driven by a little old man, aged about 80.
He could barely see over the steering wheel.
It's sad that in real life, most people can't afford a NEW Ferrari until they're on the wrong side of 60.
Hence the need for secondhand classics.
It’s an aesthetic masterpiece. Anyone suggesting otherwise is saying more about their own taste than the car design.
I really like this channel, but not really a fan of the “my disdainful prejudices about an icon are wrong, what a surprise’ narrative. Anyway, beautiful specimen of a really important car.