Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 355 Advice [Ferrari Digest, Vol 24, Issue 43]

[David Thursby (david]

WRT to tr's and 512tr's... The differential in both cars should be 
updated to that of the 512M. The 512tr is still better than the tr, but 
both were improved upon for the M. Oops - those diffs are NLA.

tr interior parts are getting incredibly hard to find and expensive. 
512tr interior parts are just expensive.

If you need non-mechanical parts for a tr, you are probably sol unless 
you want used. 512tr is better, but still not good. So, if you buy 
either of these, the interior you get is the one you'll keep. Don't buy 
a cheapie with the expectation of redoing the interior. The center 
console on the tr in particular is a high demand item that is NLA new. 
All the used ones seem to be cracked; just like the ones people are 
trying to replace. 512tr rear lights are NLA new. I get 2-3 calls a 
month for these - seems a lot of 512trs are needing new tail lights due 
to crazing and cracking.

Mechanically, most parts are still available for both cars, but some 
items can be outrageously expensive. Oil lines are a commonly asked for 
item. If available, they are almost all > 1K each. tr brakes suck. the 
pads are the same size (but different shape) as 308s. How these things 
stop is beyond me. 512tr has serious 4 pot Brembos.

Bottom line - tr's are half the price of 512trs for a good reason. Buy 
what you can afford; you only get what you pay for. <insert other cliche 
here - it's probably true for these cars>

Just my observations... Dave

cdatte [at] spawar.navy.mil wrote:
> I'd think that an 80's TR with updated per service bulletins 
> especially trans wouldn't be that bad for the money
>
> At 02:37 PM 7/31/2008, clyderomero [at] worldnet.att.net wrote:
>