It’s obvious that the Ferrari Testarossa is a sports car of the ’80s and its stunning design makes it a popular choice, but it has its downsides.
Few things scream the ’80s like power suits, padded shoulders, Cyndi Lauper music, and Ferrari Testarossa cars. This mid-engine sports car has become a symbol of the excess of the ’80s, even before producers featured it in movies like The Wolf of Wall Street and Gone in 60 seconds and TV series like Miami Vice. Ferrari introduced the Testarossa (Type F110) in 1984 at the Paris Auto Show, and the Pininfarina-designed vehicle became an instant hit with the affluent crowd. It didn’t take too long, and the paparazzi photographed celebrities and A-Listers like Elton John, Tom Selleck, Mick Jagger, and Richard Pryor in their own Testarossas. But despite the hype, there are some issues that gearheads shouldn’t ignore if they consider buying a Testarossa. This Ferrari car is more affordable than other models; thus, some owners say that buyers shouldn’t “expect perfection.”
“You can’t hop in a Testarossa and cruise effortlessly to a fine Italian dinner for two at the Olive Garden — as it really needs to warm up before you can actually enjoy it. Cold and hot starting issues are rampant with these cars, mostly due to their complicated fuel injection system,” says Tyler Hoover, a Ferrari Testarossa owner.
Evidently, there are other issues with the Testarossa than the ones presented by Hoover, so here’s why this Ferrari model isn’t as good as people think.
The Ownership Cost For The Ferrari Testarossa Is High
As you can imagine, the ownership cost for a Ferrari is pretty high. According to ValuePenguin, the standard insurance for a Ferrari has an average cost of $5,508 per year. You must keep in mind that the cheapest model, the 2022 Portofino, has a base price of $227,000. As a result, insurance rates for luxury cars as expensive as the Ferrari will always be higher. But that’s not all. Repairs and maintenance costs are also pricey. Ferrari Fort Lauderdale estimates that an oil change typically costs roughly $195 for all late-model Ferraris. Meanwhile, annual fluids for the Testarossa can cost around $1,000 and brake pad replacements will cost between $500 to $1,395. “Major service repairs to belts, gaskets, bearings, and seals range in price from $3,200 every five years for the 360 to $7,715 for the Testarossa,” says Ferrari Fort Lauderdale.
Additionally, Ferrari owners need to remember that this is not a regular car, so they can’t wash it at the neighborhood automated car wash. In addition, the Testarossa will require ceramic coating on a regular basis.
“A traditional wax job, meanwhile, might only sustain that glossy look for a couple of weeks. Waxing on a regular basis can cost upwards of $4,000 over a five-year period, whereas a one-time ceramic coating application can cost between $500 and $2,000,” adds Ferrari Fort Lauderdale.
The Testarossa Is Impractical In Traffic
The Testarossa is unquestionably a lovely car, and you’ll want to drive it as frequently as you can. The size of the vehicle, though, presents a minor issue. Although the Testarossa has a commanding exterior, its body feels excessively large and wide for everyday driving.
Looking back, we wonder why no one on the design team considered the impracticality of this car, even though the 1980s were the decade of excess when everything had to be bigger, wider, and more stunning. This Ferrari model obstructs the entire lane of traffic and irritates other motorists.
The Ferrari Testarossa Has Two Recalls
Considering that the Testarossa is a custom-made, rare, super-engineered exotic sports car that has a hand-assembled engine, you wouldn’t expect this vehicle to have a recall. However, the Testarossa had recorded two recalls in its history, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall from 1982 is for the steering column.
“The upper steering column locknut was manufactured with inferior materials and inferior self-locking properties,” says the NHTSA summary. Ouch, you wouldn’t expect a Ferrari exotic to have anything built with “inferior materials.” Meanwhile, the 2003 recall is for the passive restraint system, and it impacted 2,008 vehicles, including Ferrari Testarossas, from 1987 to 1991.
The Ferrari Testarossa Is Notorious For Starting Problems
On the FerrariChat, several owners complain about “starting problems.”
“My 1990 Testarossa is in great order and generally starts perfectly. On occasion, after having run and when hot, it will not re-start until it cools down. Turning the key just gets a click click. It did do this one time when cold in the garage, but seems to be more common when very hot,” comments a Testarossa owner. Unfortunately, he isn’t the only one that has encountered this issue. Another FerrariChat user has posted about a similar problem in a different post. By now, most Ferrari fans know about the hot start issue of the Testarossa, so this prancing horse is notorious for the wrong reasons.
