Took the new to me 88 Testarossa out to try a variety of different
driving situations today.
Conditions are 38 degrees farenheit, misting to light rain California
style, with never quite warmed up Pirelli 8000 16 inch tires, but all
on quality hard surfaces. 100 miles or so. Top speed 115 mph for
about 1/4 mile (at which point everything in the rear view mirror
started looking like police). Some "19 mph" posted turns.

Observations:

1 On the narrow bridge leading to the 19 mph turn, I had no idea
where the outside rear flanks of the car were, or if they were about to
brush the bridge guard. A bit scary, that.

2, A u-turn is difficult on a narrow road, not just because the
turning radius is huge, but because it takes muscle to turn it at all
from 0 mph

3. On level highway at 70 mph in 5th gear, the only sound I hear is
the wind. No engine noise at 2800 rpm top gear. Eerie.

4. In second gear, accessing the freeway, the car seems MUCH faster
approaching 7200 rpm (which appears to be about redline) than stated
stats would indicate. Seamless power, and the car suddenly RUSHES.
Fun.

5. Third gear seems quite enough for 70 mph, is the most responsive,
and sounds best.

Whomever it was (Tiger/c ? ) that said a stock muffled TR is quiet, is
dead on correct. I find myself driving at 5,000 rpm and above just to
hear the engine.

Lastly, this seems like an "any mood, any time" vehicle. Cruising
back at 70 mph in 5th, I put on the stereo, and I could have been in a
high quaility sedan wrapped in leather, comfortably seated, the
aftermarket Macintosh/Alpine/ADS music system clear as a bell, and just
the right amount of air flowing through the interior. The feeling that
one could drive a thousand miles, and arrive none the worse for it.

Dropping into second and working the curves, with one poor downshift
from 3rd to 2nd actually creating a grating lockout, I became aware of
how hamfisted my shifting skills are, which is remarkable since I've
continuously driven stick shift cars as my sports vehicles for the past
40 years or so. I am not smooth on the box, and the drive suffers for
it. Suddenly I have all the engagement in foot location for quick
braking, back to acceleration with no smooth interplay on shifting,
that my skill set can handle.

So, now I have a QUESTION. As you know, I just had the 30K done
(17,900 miles actual) My shop uses SWEPCO oil, which they like. Upon
return from the drive, I waited about 3 minutes, then checked the oil.
I pulled the dip stick, and put it back in all the way, BUT DID NOT
RETIGHTEN THE CAP. Upon checking I was at the minimium oil level.
Does this seem correct? I would expect to be 1/2 way between minimum
and maximum. Anybody know?

"Red TR" <liw (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote

My 308 says to check immediately after stopping so as to avoid a false
reading (as the sump is lower than the tank it would read lower I would
think) So check again the moment you turn the engine off.

mrcheerful