which was the better Ferrari in the late 80s?

3/18/2007 3:27:36 PM

355

3/18/2007 3:34:22 PM

since when was the F355 in the late 80's? you are so way off.

and you are comparing 2 different model strands (nothing wrong with it, just a little odd)

model successions:

mid-engine entry-level supercar:
348 GTS -> F355 -> 360 Modena -> F430

top of the line front-engined GT
Testarossa -> 512 TR -> 512 M -> 550 Maranello -> 575M Maranello -> 599 GTB

top of the line super-supercar
288 GTO -> (308 GTB ?) -> F40 -> F50 -> Enzo

4-seater supercar
412i -> 456GT -> 612 Scaglietti
*********************************************************

that said, the F355 was one of the most beautiful and sexiest ferraris ever.

i would pick the following from each list:

F355
512 TR/512 M
F40
456GT

3/18/2007 4:04:24 PM

3/18/2007 4:10:10 PM

355 just by the sound of it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEngc7TDxfs

3/18/2007 4:27:18 PM

i lose

i agree though i like the looks of the 355 better but that flat 12 is narsty

3/18/2007 4:28:33 PM

Quote :

"top of the line front-engined GT Testarossa"

not front engined

Quote :

"(308 GTB ?) -> F40 "

308 -> 328 -> 348 -> 355, etc

3/18/2007 7:32:56 PM

512bb?

(F40 or 250GTO is my favorite ferrari of all time)

3/18/2007 8:21:48 PM

Going by the reference pic guth posted, the 512bb (and its earlier sibling the 365bb) were the first of the Testarossa's flat 12 line. What would make the most sense to me would be to edit 0EPII1's list into different lines as there is a 20+ year gap in the front-engine GT line between the Daytona and the 550, also remembering there are many cars (such as the entry-level Mondial, 308-with-a-smaller-engine 208, and the 308 GT4 that isn't really part of the more well-known 308 series) that don't fit neatly in any of these. Starting in the late 60's because it's hard to make much sense of it before that:

mid-engine "entry supercar":
206 -> 248 -> 308 -> 328 -> 348 -> F355 -> 360 -> F430

Grand Touring:
Daytona -> 365BB -> 512BB -> Testarossa -> 512TR/512M -> 550 -> 575M -> 599

2+2/4-seater:
365GTC/4 -> 365 GT4 -> 400 -> 412 -> 456 -> 612

Supercar:
288 GTO -> F40 -> F50 -> Enzo

[Edited on March 18, 2007 at 10:58 PM. Reason : f]

3/18/2007 10:51:59 PM

355.

[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 7:00 AM. Reason : ]

3/19/2007 7:00:12 AM

^^ thanks that was off the top of my head...

there seem to be discrepancies in the graphic posted.

for pics of all models, go to:

http://www.supercars.net/lists/completeF.html

all production models, racing models, concepts, one-offs commisioned by rich people, etc.

look at this pontiac-looking ferrari FX:

http://www.supercars.net/cars/3597.html

p.s. also:

http://www.fast-autos.net/vehicles/Ferrari/
http://seriouswheels.com/cars-f.htm

[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 8:49 AM. Reason : ]

3/19/2007 8:41:47 AM

late 80s?!

the Testarossa was my favorite car as a kid, but I'd definitely go for the 355.

3/19/2007 12:44:05 PM

The 355 is a great car. It sounds fantastic and looks equally as beautiful but I find it very difficult to argue with a 12 cylinder Ferrari... put me down for the Testarossa.

3/19/2007 3:11:33 PM

^ even though the 355 would slaughter the rossa in all parameters of performance?

3/19/2007 5:20:24 PM

pre turbos... yep it sure would

3/19/2007 5:27:11 PM

^^I think it'd be a pretty close race. The Testarossa has 10 more hp and 86 more lb-ft. The 355 is 500lbs lighter (which is pretty significant) but the Testarossa is lower and wider. So, yes the 355 might win but it'd be close.

3/19/2007 8:09:43 PM

It wouldn't be as close as you think.

3/19/2007 9:59:20 PM

Testarossa is a one-of-a-kind, like the 959

3/19/2007 11:00:37 PM

hahahaha not its not... if it was you couldn't pick one up for 50-60k

not much is in 959 land... i mean bill gates spent tons of money lobbying for a law that would allow him to bring one over here... commonly known as "the gates law"

Quote :

"In fact, due to the 959’s questionable emissions and unknown crash ratings, it took a federal law signed by President Clinton for Bill Gates to legally drive his 959 on American roads."

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 6:12 AM. Reason : .]

3/20/2007 6:09:08 AM

not to mention, 959s cost a million when they came out, WELL BEFORE the mclaren, which, in those days was unheard of.

they probably cost more now, amirite?

3/20/2007 6:44:40 AM

^They cost more than that now, but no, the MSRP of the 959 was never anywhere near $1,000,000. It was more like 350,000-450,000 and was a natural competitor of the Ferrari F40, which was priced similarly.

3/20/2007 12:00:06 PM

^Which brings up a better comparison question... Not factoring in money/current or future value, would you rather have a 959 or an F40?

I'm a Ferrari guy so I'll take the F40

3/20/2007 12:04:16 PM

.... both...

seriously if i had 450k that had to be spent on a car i would f-ing cry.. i couldn't chose.

3/20/2007 12:17:20 PM

^^its so close I'd have to drive both, but I think I'd go down the F40 path. If I had to DD the car though, it'd be the 959.

3/20/2007 12:33:16 PM

Quote :

"The 355 is 500lbs lighter (which is pretty significant)"

that's VERY significant. the 355 isn't a stellar performer to me, going by numbers anyway, but i don't think it would be much of a match with a testarossa.

3/20/2007 1:05:04 PM

You felllas missed the point. My point was, the testarossa does not belong to any particular Ferrari vehicle legacy. There wasnt any particular model that preceeded or followed it. Just as the 959 does not belong to the 911 or 944, etc legacies. They're unique.

3/20/2007 1:45:19 PM

i see your point there

but if i told you honda civics are like mcdonalds' you'd tell me to shut up too

even if i was referring to the fact that they're both soul-less and can be seen at every stoplight.

3/20/2007 2:08:53 PM

Quote :

"There wasnt any particular model that preceeded or followed it."

dude, did you see the picture up in the thread?

3/20/2007 2:13:11 PM

^^^So the 512BB didn't preceed the Testarossa, and the Red Head wasn't followed by the 512TR, the 512M, and then the 550 Maranello when the made the switch to front engine? B/c thats how it went.

3/20/2007 8:56:13 PM

nm now I see the picture. I stand corrected

[Edited on March 21, 2007 at 4:53 AM. Reason : .]

3/21/2007 4:44:06 AM

I'm always glad to spread Ferrari knowledge

3/21/2007 12:14:06 PM

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/ferrari_599gtb.asp

4/4/2007 4:39:05 PM