Is Ferrari's Iconic Testarossa Truly Terrible To Drive? 

As a child of the 80's I'm not seeing where all the hate for the styling is coming from. It's absolutely gorgeous in my opinion.

Never heard that the testarossa was terrible to drive, i heard it was more of a GT car and the countach was terrible to drive but felt more thrilling.

Short answer NO, its fantastic but the 512TR is GOD MODE. Had both and both were 100% reliable. Never let me down ever. Such amazing cars.

Easy to drive if you are wearing white espadrilles with no socks and called Crockett.

One of the most stylish & beautiful car ever made in my opinion, screaming Miami Vice vibes from the 80s...along with the DeTomaso Pantera GTS.

A friend has a Testarossa and a 512TR, both of them he has already driven almost 200000km without the slightest pity, he uses them like normal cars, he never had a problem and he loves the cars!!

What ever it's minor flaws may be, it looks and sounds fabulous. 😎

Several comments on your review. The engine is in actuality a flattened 180 degree V12, not a 120 degree V12 as stated. I have extensively driven the earlier progenitor 512 BBi with the earlier 2 valve per cylinder DOHC version of the flat twelve engine, and then later additionally have driven the Testarossa, both on race tracks during Porsche Club Driving School events, so I agree with you about what is a seemingly paradoxical more rearward bias surprisingly atypical for a true mid-engined car caused by the 512BBi and Testarossa higher center of gravity by the elevated crankshaft, and additionally accentuated by the back four cylinders of the flat twelve being actually behind the rear wheel axle line placement. In effect the higher center of gravity and the more rearward engine positioning above the transaxle, make the both the Testarossa and the 512BBi, function more like a true rear engined car, much like the 911 Porsche, but noticeably heavier in feel. So to drive at speed, much like a true rear engined car such as the air cooled 911, brake before the curve, going back on throttle in and through the curve, thus giving more weigh transfer planting of the rear tires when in the curve. So if you drive the 512BBi and Testarossa like a "big" heavy classic semi-trailing arm rear suspension air cooled 911, then these Flat Twelve Ferraris become quite satisfying to drive briskly. The only downside of both the Boxer and the Testarossa are the marginal brakes relative to their weight, with fade occurring typically after multiple deep braking applications, very unlike the superb, never fading, braking typical of Porsche 911's of the same era. On a race tracks, like Mid-Ohio or Nelson Ledges, you had to plan your allowance of deep braking, keeping track of the number of deep applications, trying to limit the onset of inevitable fade. These fade characteristics never were evident on the street. Allowing for their era typical under-braked characteristics, I found both of the flat twelve Ferraris very enjoyable to drive.

I got the chance to drive one once. The only thing I found a little disconcerting, was just how heavy the clutch was. Other than that, I found it lovely to drive.

Oh the memories! Oh the style! Oh, Miami Vice! Be still my heart... Greetings from the Netherlands

I've been a classic car nut since I was a boy (b.1991) and have never heard anyone say the Testarossa was bad to drive. Plenty of people said that about the Countach because it was very rough and agricultural, but the Testarossa was seen as a much less harsh and exhausing beast to handle by the standards of the day.

I just started watching 4th Season Miami Vice, and although later seasons are a bit mixed batch, it is always so great to see that Testarossa. I have always loved how it looks. Old Ferrari's always have a sweet spot in heart. Btw. You made my birthday a bit special with this video. Thanks!

The "Testarossa" name pays homage to the famed 1957 World Sportscar Championship-winning 250 Testa Rossa sports racing car. Testa Rossa, which literally means "red head" in Italian, refers to the red-painted cam covers sported by both cars' 12-cylinder engines.

Great video. I have a 1990 Testarossa. Yes, I agree with all of your points. If you look at the Ferrari sales brochures, is it a GT not a Sports car - not a race track in sight. The weight distribution is the interesting thing as I had mine up to 255-260 km per hour and coming out of a corner it did want to drift to the outside. But then, so did the Porsche 911 "Widowmakers". I have driven my Testarossa on 4 - 5 hour road trips. And can simply say, not a more enjoyable car to be in.

One of my neighbors has had one for nearly 30 years now. Sadly, it hasn't left the garage in about 10...

Oh the memories of Miami Vice! Excellent critique of the car as always Jack! 👍🏻

That map reading light was taken straight out of a Fiat Uno😂

Be funny if you passed Harry Metcalf coming back in his Testarossa along that stretch of road. Nice car, one of my favourite.

Any Ferrari has compromises or flaws but oh my god that engine is to die for. The sweetest sounding mill going

I have one. It's awesome and beautiful. When I park it I come back everytime with multiple people taking pictures of it. Once, 10 people - I took a picture of them taking pictures. And, drives like a missile.

One odd little thing about this car: It was powered by a 180 degree V12. It is horizontally opposed but it is NOT a boxer engine. This is due to the crankshaft design which has six throws.

What I love about your videos, as this one shows very well, are the details you show that no one else does. As a big car nut I thought I knew the Testarossa well enough, but I now have more than doubled my knowledge of it. It's the weird little details and imperfect angles. Things that make me feel like I'm there.

Love a Testarossa. As a child in the 80s I was taken out in a black demonstrator at Maranello Concessionaires in Egham after we just went to see the cars, great memories. Then add in Miami Vice and Test Drive on the Amiga 500

And perhaps it's most important feature was the ability to turn heads and get parked in front of fancy restaurants ... which it most certainly does. And better than anything made in the last 25 years at least.

I remember seeing one of these in the Paris showroom in 1990 on a trip to Europe with a couple high school buddies. The beautiful girl in the showroom in a red sweater and black leather miniskirt humored us as we made awkward small talk with her and knelt down behind the Testarossa and marveled at how it was all black mesh designed to evacuate heat. The showroom had the Testarossa, and a historic model, but I can't remember what it was. Coincidentally, the Lamborghini showroom was on the other end of that block and all they had in it was a red (or was it white? or yellow?) Countach, and I think the girl in that showroom had a yellow sweater and a black leather miniskirt.

Oh Jack, man that engine note is so sweet! I should have it as a ring tone! Always loved the Testarossa ever since Crockett rocked up with one in Miami Vice

My first Ferrari was a Testarossa , an ex Greypaul Motors demo. It quite frankly disappointed me in many ways but made me a Ferrari enthusiast in others. I always thought the gear shift, the fabled gated gearshift was poor (and I had a sorted Alfa GTV6 at the time), the engine didn`t until right up the rev range sound that great (again beaten by the Busso V6) and the car always felt heavy and large. Our family`s nickname for it was "Fat Arse". It did however possess tremendous traction out of corners, was controllable on the throttle and the engine had a very flat band of torque. Just for fun I`d put it in top gear at 30mph and let it roll along without protest. The aerodynamics were pretty good too in that you could maintain 160mph along an undulating bumpy road and it remained perfectly stable. Doing all my own maintenance I always found it reasonable to work on too. Overall still glad I owned one.

We lived next door to a house that a guy rented just to keep his Testa Rossa in most Sunday's he would arrive and start it up. Eventually, I plucked up courage and went round to ask him about it. He said I could go out in it with him, off we went and he said, you may have read about me, I bought it from Nigel Mansel sports cars and got caught at North of a hundred within a mile of the garage on my way home, nice sedate drive until we came to a hill and he floored it, police never set speed traps going up hill he said😂😂

The mirror was there for the passanger to put on lipstick. If you had this in the 1980s you didnt stay single for a long.

I love mine. I agree with everything you said. Especially about exhaust. I have a tubi. 2nd gear synchro is terrible, that was the case in all TRs. Mine is the same, forget 2nd gear when cold, but it’s super stiff from 1st or 3rd. Throttle input when up or downshift will help the synco however.

Great review, maybe not one of Ferrari’s greatest handlers but certainly a looker!. PS got to compliment you on your video making, as someone that’s toying with the idea of starting a bike channel I now know how hard it is to speak into a camera without constant “Erms” and “Errs”!, top work 👍

That sound is just lovely. The moment you turn it on, I got goosebumps. The live sound must be something else.

Jack, that car makes you genuinely happy. You should buy it.

It's an Autostrada or Autobahn Cruiser. You could make the scene in Monte Carlo, too.

Sonny Crockett (Miami Vice) first sees his new Testarossa in "Stone's War". James "Sonny" Crockett drove a white 1986 Ferrari Testarossa, following the destruction of his Daytona Spyder by a Stinger missile fired by Eddie Kaye, an illegal arms dealer. The Testarossa was given to him by his boss, Castillo, in "Stone's War," Oct. 6, 1986. It was when I first fell in love with the Testarossa. +++++++++ Sonny had a scene driving the Daytona b-lls out with Devo, "Going Under" blarring. IT WAS EPIC.

What a beautiful 80s icon! 😍😎 Flaws and all... The Content keeps getting better and better! Loved the detailed and informative description of the design of the Testarossa. 👌 Thank you Jack Sir and keep up the great work🙂✌

Jack. Another brilliantly informative video. You are on another level. I remember in 1988 Kings Road Chelsea seeing a 10 hour old testarossa with the new Aug plates and being amazed by its beauty.

The Ferrari Testrossa is a car that perfectly characterises the 'exesses' of the 1980s and was a very good fit for the then extravagant and overindulgent US market. On its debut I considered the car to be crass and a somewhat blundering design, however I have now grown to like it's excessive styling cues which 'scream' 1980s.

Jack, your soooo real about classic cars! Toptastic dude! Keep going & all riveting as always! Rx 🙏🏽👍🏽❤️

OK, Jack... I had one of these for abut 6 months, when they'd gotten cheap (which didn't last very long). Never came to grips with the styling, especially compared with my old BB (which I kept for several years), but the interior had more room and the A/C was MUCH better. Alas, the car did not fit well on our narrow lanes here in NZ. But I'd gotten it just after the major servicing was done, so it didn't bankrupt me (ask about that cost before buying one of these). The handling was not so bad as proclaimed in the enthusiast press, until you got near the limit of adhesion, at which time it got nasty and clumsy (not a welcoming combination). However, I never did get over the cheapness of the switchgear, which looked straight out of a mid-level Fiat, and the orange/yellow instruments were just plain ugly. But I made a bit of money on it...and it's the last newer Ferrari I will ever own. I prefer cars whose mechanicals I understand and can work on myself! Good video, though.

A great review with very practical down to earth information on a real icon. Probably the most discouraging thing in the Testarossa is the fact that cambelt replacement needs the engine being extracted and this is due also rather frequently !

It was in the Sega Outrun game and in Miami Vice, and those are the only two criteria I care about making me want one 😂 let's be honest though: MOST 1980s cars were flawed!!

This is a dream car, and poster car, for many a Gen-Xer. And those of us who are from the US, know that it was used in one of the greatest TV shows ever made, Miami Vice. This Testarossa would also be much better in left hand drive, as I'm not left handed, and live in the US. Thanks.

I love it, my friend that had several Alfa Romeo's and a Lamborghini Espada, called the sides "cheese graters" I like it, and the Mondial coupe. But I'm old, and have a 1986 Alfa Spider Veloce, Greeting from St Louis MO USA!

That tiny foot-well stopped me from driving one a few years back... I was handed the keys and told "Go on, you can take her for a spin".... But not with my size 13 extra extra wide feet I couldn't. That was so disappointing. 😞

I've driven only a few but the gearchange was typical of 80s Ferraris, you change from the shoulder rather than the wrist, but it should be precise and accurate. In one sequence you seem to be driving with the lever in neutral, which implies all is not well with the linkage! 60:40 back to front will indeed feel like there's a lot of weight at the back! But back in the day when most cars weren't so wide the thing you felt initially was the worry about just how much extra width was invisible behind you. But overall you're dead right; the TR was a touring GT, not an agile sports car. The torque of that engine is immense and made it a very relaxing car to cover distance.

Nice thing: When hearing the exhaust 'noise', Google Subtitles says: 'music'.

I drove one 20 years ago, and I found it surprisingly well behaved. The only thing that annoyed me was the width and poor rear view as I (on my very first encounter - the female owner wasn't going to embarres herself) had to back it out of a long narrow driveway with 100 people watching me. All went well and I got to drive it the rest of the day :)

I had an ‘89. The exhaust note did not sound like the one in the video. Stock exhaust was much more subdued. YES, it’s a GT car! Designed to drive all day at 160 mph on the autostrada. High speed handling was excellent. Low speed had heavy under steering tendencies. The car was very reliable. The 512TR is the one to have. FORZA FERRARI !!!

Loved the dropping hippo animation. Nice video Jack. Cool engine noise.

Surprisingly clean and cool interior in an 80s kind of way. “Moment of inertia” I think is the right term from my physics days.

Another good video Jack, my poster car (from that shop Athena) back in the 80s...what a soundtrack 👍

Id change the lubricant in the gearbox to something that is modern and synthetic. Oh, lock your door😊 The suspension issue, that can be tuned out with modern shocks and springs that don't take away from the look of originality.

Well Jack, I don't like the styling as much as a 308 but I'd be happy to have one parked in my garage anyway. It's red, it's a Faz, it sounds right, so yeah, I could live with it. Good review, thanks.

As a teenager I spent a long time studying the testarossa and countach try to pick a favourite. Finally chose the testarossa and been a Ferrari fan ever since. Only got into f1 due to becoming a Ferrari fan over that car. Oh the prancing horse had broke my heart a good few times over the years. But the Shumi days were just glorious

Hello Number 27! Another excellent review.. and I couldn't agree with you more! Yes, the Testarossa was given a negative write up by Car Magazine when they eventually received the first RHD to road test. Years before that likewise with the F40 comparing it to the 959. Back to today, 2023, I belive not only has it aged gracefully but is also fine value for money. Now Ferrari are churning out models and numbers that were unheard of before.. making them, for me, less special. Lastly, that first UK bound Testarossa (B842 MPB?) was later bought by a car rental company. A friend of mine rented it for months and I was fortunate enough to be a passenger a few times. My very first impression - after putting on my seatbelt and facing forward was: "Wow! You can actually see perfectly well out of it!" An epic Fioravanti design and an engine to die for. Thanks again Number 27.

F40. 288GTO and then the Testarossa is my ultimate favorite Ferrari's. Timeless cars. Thanks again Jack. GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Bloody sensational! Was always a Countach boy/teenager/man, still am, but I love the Testarossa too. Used to be a Ferrari dealer near my bus stop (in Melbourne) back in the latter part of the 80's and we would always wander over for a look. It wasn't the Countach no, but it was still great and I remember the smell of the thing, brings back such great memories. BTW this review is almost a carbon copy of the many Lexus LC 500 reviews going back 5 years ago. AT first it was looked at Lexus's answer to a Porsche 911..but this it wasn't (and isn't), it was of course a hugely capable GT car and when the penny dropped, many reviewers changed their tune by the end of the drive proclaiming its no razor sharp scalpal like the 911 but one of the worlds best GT's.

Like so many now-classic cars, ultimate performance is almost irrelevant now. The high CofG issue was only ever relevnt to misbehaving journos on launches. As a classic, style, practicality, maintainability and feelgood facotor are what counts.

Context is everything - especially in hindsight. Great video and I really, really want your job - ha!

As much as I love the Boxer, the obvious choice would be the Testarossa, more refined, easier to work on, easier to live with and such iconic styling!! Nice review!!

Great video - I always wondered what they were actually like to drive. As a boy, I was a huge fan of the Countach and, perhaps a bit less, of the Testarossa. Without ever having any prospect of driving either, so it was all aesthetics, really. Picky point: in your on-screen correction at 11:14, you mean "moment of inertia", not "movement".

For me the Testarossa, is one of the nicest Ferrari's, and truly Iconic. The Sound also, I always remember seeing/hearing a Testarossa, doing some fast laps, on Zandvoort! That V12 sounded like Formula 1 I reckon it drinks as good as it sounds.. It's art to look at, U can park it in a living room, I would.. ! If I had the money, I would buy 2, and get 1 restomodified. with power brakes and Clutch, and a 5G-Tronic, with a J-Gate 🤔! I bet that would change a lot, when handling those 1700Kgs. I would love, to see U driving/reviewing a X308 Daimler Super V8, and compare it with the XJR. Since U recently recommended the X308 XJR. Thank You, for another nice Video & Greetings All!

Cover radiator vent holes for safety. Um.. did anyone notice the two massive holes containing the wheels?

I got to drive one once and the pedal placement was kinda weird, the clutch seemed really close to the break pedal and the pedals were on the small side. I had to take care to not hit the breaks when going for the clutch. Beautiful car though, can’t believe I got to drive one.

Takes me back to my childhood, if you were a car fan in the 80s you had a poster of one of these, or of a Countach. I had a Countach personally, although by all accounts they are absolutely awful to drive. The Testarossa absolutely looks of it's time, but still good today IMO, and the sports exhaust on that one makes it sound really sweet too.

the Testarossa is the epitome of the 80s, the Testarossa is the 80s, exaggerated in aesthetics, liked it or not, it was the fashion of ostentation that dominated. The subsequent TR and F512 M were much improved in handling. Nice review

I can imagine being at the Pearly Gates… “So how did you die?” “I got sucked down the side intake of a Testarossa”

I can just imagine what Ferrari engineers were saying when US law makers were afraid some dummy would get sucked into an intake...lol

To me this still looks wonderful, seems only yesterday I saw one for the first time... I'm not a Ferrari nut, but this is a lovely shape - but I'd still prefer an old Lotus! Great, great quality Mr 27, as I keep saying, this is simply becoming the finest drivers channel. PS I'm half Italian too, my pop was Sicilian, from Syracuse. He was flogging a beaten up old Panda around the town last time I saw him.

On a trip to Palm Springs California 1988 I saw a burgundy metallic Testarossa in traffic. It’s I believe the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen.

Absaloutly brilliant video jack ❤👍what a beautiful car absaloutly awesome love it brilliant

I drove one once back when I was a CPA (car parking attendant).

I had two in the early 1990s. Great cars, but definitely Grand Touring cars. What surprised me, relative to the other sports cars I owned such as the Porsches and even the Ferrari 348s of that era, was the massively wide tires of the TR had relatively little grip at take off. I don't think I have ever owned a car that was as easy to spin the rear tires on. Otherwise, lovely car. I still have a full luggage set from one of them if anyone is looking for a set.

I had one. Installed electric power steering from ez power steering in Holland. Still kicking myself because I sold it. It was magnificent in all fields👍

I always loved the Testarossa its wider rear and that amazing engine noise!

Great video jack and what a great car. For me this was a bedroom wall poster car, with the Countach. It's always compared with the Lambo but as you have alluded to they weren't really "type" rivals even though they are perceived as such. The elephant in the room is of course you should have knocked on Harry's door and said pleeeease can I borrow both his teatarossa and Countach,as well as "borrowing" "his" road !! I think the teatarossa is lovely, the strakes down the sides created many lookalikes I think there was a Tr7 or MR2 bodykit with strakes, never mind stuff for Escorts and Astra's if my memory is correct, obviously they did stand out but the "Carlos Fandango"(see RU-vid "Hamlet" cigars and a Ford Anglia for younger viewers)wheels needed to fill the arches didn't really suit what ford or vauxhall had in mind in the drawing board😂😂. The testarossa will always be synonymous with Miami Vice for me , and the way in which Michael Mann filmed it, but also the sound of the V12 bouncing off the buildings made it fantastic. I think the car you tested sounded brilliant, in fact Jack it's the best engine audio I've heard on the channel. When I win the lottery 😂 it will be a hard choice between a Testarossa and Countach, do I wanna drive round like Don Johnson in pastels or do I cram mysen into a Countach?(no cannonballer Spandex jumpsuit mind 😂) Decisions decisions! As a suggestion could you do a part 2/3 with the 512TR to compare ie the one without strakes , and fixed headlights (just to see what it's like) , as whilst I prefer strakes it would be good to see what Maranello did for the facelift. Great video as ever jack, would love to get my Focus on the road and take it on Harry's road one day! Best wishes , Ben 🇬🇧🇺🇦🚌🚐🇮🇹

Hated the styling then, appreciate it now. It's actually improved with age.

Okay, it may not be perfect, but my god, it sounds gloriuos. you ar one lucky fellow, given the chance to drive it. Congrats.

Good observations as always. Thanks!

Anyone who watches Harry's Garage knows how much Harry loves his and the amazing trip he took a few years back... NOTHING WRONG with these.. Wish I had one..

The real question is, how does the handling compare between the Testarossa and the Countach?

Older Lamborghini and Ferrari cars are so crappy vehicles that you almost feel sorry for the guy at the steering wheel when you see one of those fancy money pits passing by on the road. Thinking, what is the next disaster waiting to happen for him: Blown headgasket, failing ignition system, fire in the engine bay, warped brake discs, or clutch burned out again, just to mention a few examples. When I was younger I was so fasinated by these things but now they irritates me in a way.

As always, thank you for this brilliant review.,JACK !

The 80's, an exotic sports car and a big mirror in the glove box. I wonder what it was mainly used for??? 🤣🤣🤣

It’s a fabulous sounding machine. But you can already tell from the rear visibility that the engine is quite high.

I recognise Harry's left hander up the hill. Must be the Cotswolds?

The Testarossa will always have a special place in my heart. When I was about 12, I won a ride in one and it blew me away. I'll never forget having a drag race with a couple of lads in an escort, fantastic car.

A lovely beast that defined an era. Terrific engine sound. You mention the Countach...a side by side with this would be interesting.

I recall everyone saying ,its nearly 2m wide 😅

Key point that may have been mentioned already. Hardly surprising you could say, but according to rumoured myth - this was exclusively designed first and foremost as an American market barge with Italian pedigree. Doctors, lawyers, drug dealers - you name it 😅 I'd love to see Ferrari's concessionaire worldwide records - guess who delivered the most amount of Testa's? No prize.

Don't get where you are coming from with this initial opinion Jack. The Testarossa was and is an amazing car to drive, it can do everything. My old man bought a 3 year old one in 1991 having owned a 911 Turbo previously. He did almost 30k miles in it over 5 years and loved it - great GT, amazing looks and what a sound, good luggage space too and running costs were no more than the 911. It never broke down and if he wasn't a 75 year old now with a dodgy knee having watched this video with me with a tear in his eye he'd have another! He can't remember exactly but he had no issues with the gear change but he did change the gearbox oil on all his Ferraris to a brand he unfortunately can't rememeber...top info I know...!

The Testarossa is my Euromillions car, hands down. BTW, is the engine really a 120 degree V12? Surely it's 180 degrees?

In the USA where we call the luggage space the trunk, a front-mounted compartment has the inelegant name of "frunk". Would you call it a "froot"?

The induction sound recorded from this Testarossa, is better than any other Testarossa, TR, or M that I found in youtube. Was there anything special about the intake in this car? sounded like it had carbs.

Back in the 80s a chap who live near Dartmouth had one nice car 😮

Everyone had the poster on their bedroom wall…next to Samantha Fox.

Absolutely not!!!! the only problems arise when parking the car in the parking mall and the frequent change of the distribition belt. (each big service - pending on your style of driving). On the highway and in the mountains it drives glorious! Twelve cylinders singing and sufficient horses to go onward.

People tried it off road and they were really really disappointed 🙄

That answers a question why, back in the 80's I had a race with one of those along one of the windiest country roads in SA, Lobethal to Wistow, I was driving my 120hp heavily worked Cooper S (a proper Mini) and the Testarossa could not escape me, right through the full 360 bends of that road, in the middle of the night it was one of the most memorable drives I had back then. Nobody at that time believed he was trying 100%, but I saw him drifting out of tight bends enough times to know he was giving it everything he dared to. It was also a first for me, I never could have passed him but I beat plenty of others in those days with many cars making similar power including a 911 wide body who sadly met a bad end, although with no injuries beyond the ego...