Any regrets changing 430 Spider for 458 Italia?

[sealtt]

Hello PH,

I bought a 2006 430 Spider last year and it's been great. I have not used it very much, but I love how it looks, I find it great fun to drive and I think they are really good value.

However, after driving a 458 at Castle Combe I find myself hankering after one! I love the idea of the 458 Spider, but I just really find the Italia looks so much better (in my opinion!), and the Spider is actually still an extra £20k-£30k over the Italia, albeit for a newer model year so they aren't as cheap to buy which must always be considered.

As such my idea is to trade in my 430 Spider after a few more sunny months & then get myself a 458 Italia.

I would mostly be using it for town driving a couple of times a week, a countryside blast once or twice a month, and track days 2-4 times a year.

I know the 458 is a far superior car to the 430, but I just wonder if anyone went from a Spider to an Italia and regretted the loss of cabrio function, or any other aspect of the 430 vs the 458 I may not have considered.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Harrydino1]

The great thing about the 458 spider is that it looks virtually the same as an italia when the roof is up, so you get the best of both worlds. I have a 430 spider and one day will buy a 458 spider and whilst I appreciate that on a track a hard top is the way to go there is nothing quite like dropping the hood on your Ferrari early on a brisk summers morning and listening to that glorious sound track! So yes, I would miss the spider!

[F355spider]

Yes made that change.

458 felt like a hypercar compared to 430 spider, much more involving and less of a poseurs car dare i say it. Controls on the steering take a bit of getting used to, gear changes are 458s party trick and faciiity for unlimited launch controls should you choose. 458 is just so good at everthing and italia looking much better value than 458 spider in used terms.

Im now in a Speciale, but rate the 458 italia as one of the best drivers cars i have owned.

[GRBF430F1]

There was a day when the convertible was a compromise but Tin top spiders are so much nicer than rag tops.

Personally I prefer the 458 spider over the Italia as you effectively have 2 cars in 1. There is nothing like open top motoring IMHO and especially when you can listen to a Ferrari V8.

Italia is different but I think you will always feel something is missing on a nice sunny day. Worth the £20k premium all day long to me

[F355spider]

GRBF430F1 said:

There was a day when the convertible was a compromise but Tin top spiders are so much nicer than rag tops.

Personally I prefer the 458 spider over the Italia as you effectively have 2 cars in 1. There is nothing like open top motoring IMHO and especially when you can listen to a Ferrari V8.

Italia is different but I think you will always feel something is missing on a nice sunny day. Worth the £20k premium all day long to me

Its not +20k for a cabrio if the op is looking at early 10/11 plate 458.

[BruceC]

GRBF430F1 said:

There was a day when the convertible was a compromise but Tin top spiders are so much nicer than rag tops.

Personally I prefer the 458 spider over the Italia as you effectively have 2 cars in 1. There is nothing like open top motoring IMHO and especially when you can listen to a Ferrari V8.

Italia is different but I think you will always feel something is missing on a nice sunny day. Worth the £20k premium all day long to me

Cant believe it but I agree

[BruceC]

Had 430's great but 458 is new technology in comparison - imop a much better car

[sealtt]

Well the cost factor does play a role, more that I have a mental block with >£150k on a car! Suddenly starts to seem really expensive when the nearest big number is 200k. But that could be rationalised, the main thing is I just don't love how the 458 Spider looks, whilst I do love the 458 Italia appearance, I actually prefer the 430 Spider looks to 458 Spider.

Day to day I don't really like the roof down because I feel kind of embarrassed with people looking at me stopped at traffic lights in town, but it is great fun in the countryside, suburbs and especially on the track.

F355spider said:

Yes made that change.

458 felt like a hypercar compared to 430 spider, much more involving and less of a poseurs car dare i say it. Controls on the steering take a bit of getting used to, gear changes are 458s party trick and faciiity for unlimited launch controls should you choose. 458 is just so good at everthing and italia looking much better value than 458 spider in used terms.

Im now in a Speciale, but rate the 458 italia as one of the best drivers cars i have owned.

Did you miss the convertible aspect of the 430 when going to the Italia?

[F355spider]

sealtt said:

Did you miss the convertible aspect of the 430 when going to the Italia?

Not at all, rarely had the roof down on the 430 for the same reasons you mention.

[sealtt]

Here's a question... do you find the 458 is more enjoyable to drive at low / regular speeds? E.G. on regular roads at 50mph-60mph do you find it more enjoyable? I find the F430 a little frustrating to drive 'slow' it's only at a brisker pace that it starts to feel more lively and enjoyable. Being in a line of traffic on an nice curving A road in the F430 is torture! I'm guessing the 458 is the same because they just want to 'GO'! But what's your thoughts on that one? I know it's way better on the track and pushed hard, I've experienced that myself, but I'd be really interested how that translates on the road.

[purpleperil]

sealtt said:

Here's a question... do you find the 458 is more enjoyable to drive at low / regular speeds? E.G. on regular roads at 50mph-60mph do you find it more enjoyable? I find the F430 a little frustrating to drive 'slow' it's only at a brisker pace that it starts to feel more lively and enjoyable. Being in a line of traffic on an nice curving A road in the F430 is torture! I'm guessing the 458 is the same because they just want to 'GO'! But what's your thoughts on that one? I know it's way better on the track and pushed hard, I've experienced that myself, but I'd be really interested how that translates on the road.

458 more enjoyable all round IMO. And with its extra power you don't need to spend as much time stuck behind traffic
You're also not worrying about your clutch all the time when in crawling traffic!

[mwstewart]

I am worried about two things:

1) The suggested loss of rawness and precision in the 458 - from what I've read it sounds like it has become more refined/soft
2) The extra power making it frustrating on the road

Any owners comment on the above?

[Durzel]

mwstewart said:

I am worried about two things:

1) The suggested loss of rawness and precision in the 458 - from what I've read it sounds like it has become more refined/soft
2) The extra power making it frustrating on the road

Any owners comment on the above?

From what I've been led to believe from conversations with more than one owner is that it is "several steps forward" technologically and in practical terms than the 430. That's not a slight on the 430 at all, but the vibe I get is that the 458 is the car where they got everything right. No more thinking about how to avoid using reverse, or wondering when the manifolds are going to crack, etc. I haven't heard it described as "savage" or in any way a compromise, or practicably unusable on the road or whatever.

I know some would argue that it's the Italian way, you pay for the engine and the rest comes free, etc.. but I don't think anyone would say they enjoy having to concern themselves with those foibles. The 458 sounds like it's one of the first "mature era" cars from Ferrari.

I'm still in the market for a 430 myself, but am strongly tempted by the 458 if it weren't for the fact I'd be taking a instant £20k bath buying one now from a dealer (a Ferrari sales guy even told me as much on the phone).

[rosino]

Two obervations on some of the above comments :

- I agree 100pct that Italia looks much better than the Spyder. Glass engine cover probably main reason.

- bid offer spread largely down to the fact people want to buy from dealer. As opposed to a nice private transaction subject to inspection and warranty applied. That would save you 15k

[Steve12NG]

Conversely, I think the Spider is in no way a compromise looks wise, and it offers an entirely different experience as well.

As has already been said, it's two cars in one.

As soon as they become more "affordable" I'll be in one for sure.
Not going to sell the 355 for it though, so I'll have to try to justify it as the "everyday" Ferrari.

Edited by Steve12NG on Friday 10th April 13:30

Edited by Steve12NG on Friday 10th April 13:32

[Emonda03]

Owned both & currently back in a 458 Italia, my 458 spider was a big disappointment to me, and I stress this is my view only.
Whatever anyone says, the spider shimmys/flexes a bit ,certainly on Yorkshire roads anyway.
Another thing I didn't like was the bench behind the seat protrudes further meaning leg room is less in the spider, at 6'5" I felt that bit cramped in it, whereas the italia is fine ( both cars had racing seats )
I really missed seeing the engine when I had the spider, I love looking over my shoulder and seeing the engine in the italia.
I think the rear lines on the italia look so much nicer than the spider
My current 458 ( a 2012 model ) sounds epic, pops & farts on the overrun,for some reason my spider was noticeably quieter.
I hardly ever really drove that much with the roof down,bit like sitting on a beach to me, I really liked the idea of it, but when it came to it I got pretty bored of it fairly quickly, topless just didn't add any great sense of occasion at all for me
So I am very much an Italia man, wouldn't have another spider, but as I say the above is just my experiences & findings, I am sure many love their spiders

[GRBF430F1]

Emonda03 said:

Owned both & currently back in a 458 Italia, my 458 spider was a big disappointment to me, and I stress this is my view only.
Whatever anyone says, the spider shimmys/flexes a bit ,certainly on Yorkshire roads anyway.
Another thing I didn't like was the bench behind the seat protrudes further meaning leg room is less in the spider, at 6'5" I felt that bit cramped in it, whereas the italia is fine ( both cars had racing seats )
I really missed seeing the engine when I had the spider, I love looking over my shoulder and seeing the engine in the italia.
I think the rear lines on the italia look so much nicer than the spider
My current 458 ( a 2012 model ) sounds epic, pops & farts on the overrun,for some reason my spider was noticeably quieter.
I hardly ever really drove that much with the roof down,bit like sitting on a beach to me, I really liked the idea of it, but when it came to it I got pretty bored of it fairly quickly, topless just didn't add any great sense of occasion at all for me
So I am very much an Italia man, wouldn't have another spider, but as I say the above is just my experiences & findings, I am sure many love their spiders

Now were you topless in your Italia or on the beach ?

[Kyodo]

Harrydino1 said:

The great thing about the 458 spider is that it looks virtually the same as an italia when the roof is up

Erm, the Spider actually looks nothing like the Italia when the roof is up!

I much prefer the Italia as a design but if I were to have either to own, I'd go for the Spider as the open top experience is great and it's the best of both worlds.

Edit: Although I say above I'd take the Spider (money allowing), I only have Ferrari tin-top experience with my open top driving being Porsche. I guess it depends on where you live too - lots of convertible Ferrari's here in the South East, but it's surely harder to 'blend in' in other parts of the country!

Edited by Kyodo on Saturday 11th April 11:09

[GRBF430F1]

Kyodo said:

Erm, the Spider actually looks nothing like the Italia when the roof is up!

I much prefer the Italia as a design but if I were to have either to own, I'd go for the Spider as the open top experience is great and it's the best of both worlds.

Edit: Although I say above I'd take the Spider (money allowing), I only have Ferrari tin-top experience with my open top driving being Porsche. I guess it depends on where you live too - lots of convertible Ferrari's here in the South East, but it's surely harder to 'blend in' in other parts of the country!

Edited by Kyodo on Saturday 11th April 11:09

Yeah and the Italia looks nothing like the spider with the roof down

Ever seen anyone sat in a Spider with the roof down on a glorious sunny day and thinking to themselves I must put the roof up !

Once the tin top spider was launched sales went 80/20 in favour of the convertible.

If its down to budget and you are desperate to get into a 458 of any description I understand your predicament as I was there myself a few years back but I just thought it was worth waiting for a spider. In the end I chose another spider ( 650S ) over the 458 so all is well that ends well.
Don't rule out trying a late 12C spider as they have a price advantage over 458 and I think you will be amazed quite frankly

[Kyodo]

GRBF430F1 said:

Yeah and the Italia looks nothing like the spider with the roof down

Agreed. So we're thinking the Italia looks nothing like the Spider then