512 buying advice | FerrariChat

512 buying advice

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by GeorgeLouis, Apr 20, 2021.

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  1. GeorgeLouis

    GeorgeLouis Rookie

    Apr 20, 2021
    1
    Full Name:
    George Louis
  2. Shark01

    Shark01 F1 Veteran

    Jun 25, 2005
    5,687
    Dang there are a lot of new auction sites popping up.....which would be my LEAST favorite way to buy.

    The best way to protect yourself is to get a proper and extensive PPI prior to hitting the bid button.
     
  3. V4NG0

    V4NG0 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2018
    694
    Full Name:
    Charles Edward Cheese
    Oh my, black/black 512TR. If I were in the market, this would be the one. Good luck!
     
  4. Zeff

    Zeff Formula Junior

    Oct 8, 2018
    678
    Cupertino, Ca
    Full Name:
    Ryan
    I personally don’t know about the car. I would start with calling the dealership who did the last major back in 2018 and see if I could speak to the service advisor and or technician to get insight into its condition. They would have a lot of insight. If I was able to talk to them and that provided positive info then I would fly out there and do further investigation ie my own ppi as well as my own inspection. I would look at and test everything. I would closely look at all the cosmetic details etc. Determine how perfect it is at 12k miles. I bet it’s pretty nice.
     
    MOSS likes this.
  5. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Mar 25, 2002
    36,206
    houston/geneva
    Full Name:
    Ross
    this car will sell for close to 200k.
    probably worth your time and money to go see it yourself with an expert and do a ppi on the spot.
     
  6. George Vosburgh

    George Vosburgh F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    What a beauty! My only thought with any of the 512TRs is that if you go for a '94, the carrier gear is fixed so you don't have to worry about blowing your transmission apart. The earlier cars, in my opinion, should be discounted if the carrier has not been upgraded.
     
  7. turbo-joe

    turbo-joe F1 Veteran

    Apr 6, 2008
    8,866
    southwest germany and thailand
    Full Name:
    romano schwabel
    wrong thread title :(
    under only 512 I understand a boxer, carb or injected, not a 512 TR

    would be great to introduce yourself a little even you write here not new to ferraris
     
    buzzm2005 and George Vosburgh like this.
  8. EZORED

    EZORED Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 24, 2007
    1,015
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Dennis
    Get a PPI, and go drive it no manner what!!!!!!
     
  9. Zeff

    Zeff Formula Junior

    Oct 8, 2018
    678
    Cupertino, Ca
    Full Name:
    Ryan
    You drive it you’ll buy it fire sure.
     
    EZORED likes this.
  10. MOSS

    MOSS Formula 3

    Apr 28, 2004
    1,619
    They shouldn't be discounted. I have owned 4 that never had a single problem. Abuse is the main culprit but everyone here by now knows my opinion.
     
    George Vosburgh likes this.
  11. c4b4the04

    c4b4the04 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 9, 2017
    383
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Cassidy
    I'm going to take a guess at the issue with the lights. Chances are, someone had some burned terminals on the fuse board as a result of motors (fuel pump, fans) sitting and drawing tremendous current through the aging circuit board. It wasn't a good design when new and the connectors are not really up to the task. Bypassing those terminals is well documented online and common, and I learned the hard way that you can damage the multilayer board inside if you overheat points inside for the "fix". I'm quite competent at circuit repair, but these boards are fragile and it didn't take much to make my lights stay on permanently. It is evident when you see the 5 layers all laid out where it connected together.

    In short, the car likely needs a new fuse board. They are 1200-1500 range and add a few hundred extra if your connectors are all melted. New ones are printed using 3D additive technology (stronger than the originals). I'd argue no wiring is damaged at all, and just a swap of a common-fail part will fix that.

    Remember that it still likely has slow window motors (grease is 30 years old), 30 year old heater core hoses, likely the original engine hoses, fuel lines, steel injectors (they don't like ethanol fuel, so you'd want to swap to modern injectors) and a host of little annoyances. This one certainly looks like a nice car overall. I flew down to drive mine before I invested in it and never regretted doing that.
     
    Supernaut, EZORED and MOSS like this.
  12. Zeff

    Zeff Formula Junior

    Oct 8, 2018
    678
    Cupertino, Ca
    Full Name:
    Ryan
    Funny thing is nobody and I mean nobody is going to discount their car because the diff wasn’t upgraded. If it isn’t broke at the time the car is being sold then there would be no argument to discount. I know it doesn’t break on every car. Otherwise you would here everyone complain on this site that theirs broke and they need to upgrade. I do think abuse plays a big part/ driving style.
     
    MOSS and sherrillt like this.
  13. Drew_4RE

    Drew_4RE Formula 3
    Owner

    Dec 19, 2005
    2,291
    FL
    Full Name:
    Drew
    I fear you are correct. My biggest issue with this car is the clear lack of maintenance when needed. If they wouldn’t spend the $2k to fix the headlights or have a dent properly repaired, what else has aged and gone I repaired that we don’t see easily or know.

    I love to buy cars and do all the service myself so I know what is there, but when they approach the top of the market in price - it makes it difficult.

    Again, I fear you are correct simply because there are so few 512TRs coming on the market lately.
     
    JD1 and turbo-joe like this.
  14. MOSS

    MOSS Formula 3

    Apr 28, 2004
    1,619
    Agreed. I have seen more break than I like but considering how many were made it isn't huge.
     
    Zeff likes this.
  15. Supernaut

    Supernaut Karting

    Dec 3, 2019
    146
    Annapolis MD
    Full Name:
    John Panek
    #15 Supernaut, May 5, 2021
    Last edited: May 5, 2021
    There might be a silver lining in that type of situation - I love buying cars with these type of small defects. They are relatively easy to repair, and might give you some small leverage in the buying negotiation. The main things for me are accident history and engine condition (compression and leak down numbers). Those are deal breakers, not $2k repairs. And agreed of course the $2k stuff could be indicative of much bigger issues hiding, which your PPI should catch.

    Edit: sold for $220 wow. 10 year old tires, woof.
     
  16. msdesignltd

    msdesignltd F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 17, 2003
    17,762
    NYC. / E. Hampton
    Full Name:
    Michael
    sherrillt and turbo-joe like this.

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