458 Speciale not so special?.

[classba]

Any chance that the 458 Speciale won't be that special once the 488 GTB lands?. I'm told that the 488 GTB is so good that it surpasses the 458 Speciale in all areas and will we see more Speciales for sale soon with prices take a downward dive?.

[steelej]

They're very different cars and the specials are all very highly regarded, 360CS, 430 Scud, 458 Speciale, they'll all command a premium over the "mass produced" models, even something as good as the 488.

John.

[Maff]

I drove the 488 GTB a few weeks ago and its a superb car, much better than 458 and that was a hard act to follow. Levels of mechanical grip it has is amazing, and the turbo lag is not noticeable, unlike the 12C which feels very much on boost when it is, the 488 still feels like an NA engined car due to the way the torque is limited in gear, and almost no turbo boost is applied in 1st and 2nd gears, and only max boost in 7th gear.

It does run out of rev range very quickly though due to gearing IMO. 488 very usable though. Think of 599 GTB to F12 and its same for 458 > 488. I still have my 599 GTO though as thats the 'better' car IMO.

However, having ran a 458 Speciale for over a year, the Speciale is still the drivers car, and much like the 599 GTO to F12 comparison, it depends what you want from a car.

Neither is better than the other, they are different. If you can have both, great

[classba]

Thanks guys...

Maff, the reason why I'm asking the question is because I'm in the market for a LHD Speciale. I missed out on a great car couple of months back from Joe Macari and now kicking myself. Some of the UK dealers ha now gone bonkers pushing the LHD car prices to near of the RHD which IMO is insane. I'm looking to import one from Europe to save some pennies.

I just don't want to be caught up in the heat wave now paying premium price only to find them dropping after the 488 GTB lands.

Cheers.

Edited by classba on Monday 27th July 18:31

[classba]

Thanks guys...

Maff, the reason why I'm asking the question is because I'm in the market for a LHD Speciale. I missed out on a great car couple of months back from Joe Macari and now kicking myself. Some of the UK dealers ha now gone bonkers pushing the LHD car prices to near of the RHD which IMO is insane. I'm looking to import one from Europe to save some pennies.

I just don't want to be caught up in the heat wave now paying premium price only to find them dropping after the 488 GTB lands.

Cheers.

Edited by classba on Monday 27th July 18:31

[nutbehinddawheel]

Maff said:

I drove the 488 GTB a few weeks ago and its a superb car, much better than 458 and that was a hard act to follow. Levels of mechanical grip it has is amazing, and the turbo lag is not noticeable, unlike the 12C which feels very much on boost when it is, the 488 still feels like an NA engined car due to the way the torque is limited in gear, and almost no turbo boost is applied in 1st and 2nd gears, and only max boost in 7th gear.

It does run out of rev range very quickly though due to gearing IMO. 488 very usable though. Think of 599 GTB to F12 and its same for 458 > 488. I still have my 599 GTO though as thats the 'better' car IMO.

However, having ran a 458 Speciale for over a year, the Speciale is still the drivers car, and much like the 599 GTO to F12 comparison, it depends what you want from a car.

Neither is better than the other, they are different. If you can have both, great

The 488 is better on paper-all the stats indicate this.
It is an engineering marvel-this aptly demonstrated by the in depth technical presentation given before driving the car at Millbrook.
However IMO it is a point and shoot "instant" car.
Over time you will no doubt drive into the car and love to appreciate all of it's assets.
For me also, the Speciale IS the drivers car , a car that make you feel great from the moment you belt up,start the engine and drive off.

[AmoCS]

I read that there were c3,000 Speciale's produced, so perhaps not so special?

[Slickhillsy]

AmoCS said:

I read that there were c3,000 Speciale's produced, so perhaps not so special?

Don't know why people get so hung up on numbers. If a collector then ok, if they made 300 or 3000 it's still a brilliant and very speciale car!

On the 488... Isn't the ethos of most performance car manufacturers to use the previous outgoing model a platform for the next (gt3 comes to mind). 488 has to be better or people will vote with their feet and reputation put at risk. Doesn't take anything away from the outgoing car - thats progress.

360 CS is still epic in spite of the 430, same for the Scud / 458 and now the Speciale / 488...

LHD Speciale would be a most excellent purchase sir...

[chris neeves]

classba said:

Thanks guys...

Maff, the reason why I'm asking the question is because I'm in the market for a LHD Speciale. I missed out on a great car couple of months back from Joe Macari and now kicking myself. Some of the UK dealers ha now gone bonkers pushing the LHD car prices to near of the RHD which IMO is insane. I'm looking to import one from Europe to save some pennies.

I just don't want to be caught up in the heat wave now paying premium price only to find them dropping after the 488 GTB lands.

Cheers.

Edited by classba on Monday 27th July 18:31

I am the proud owner of a UK supplied LHD, which was probably one of the last sub200k already in the UK examples. It's my first ferrari, but not my first supercar, and in my opinion it is special and moves the game on nicely compared to the Italia, particularly if you want something more 'focused'. Which i did. Whilst not as exclusive as the CS or Scud i doubt there is as many in uk/european circulation as the overall global production numbers suggest, mainly because 100's have gone to the new money in far east, india and middle east which were not open markets awash with cash a few years ago, they will never come back to europe, and if they do, they won't have been looked after for various reasons. I don't particularly care if it loses a bit value wise when the 488's land, but even if it does it wont be much and as long as the uk economy does well and i seriously doubt it will lose much if any in the short/medium term, and long term who really knows. RHD prices are a 50-85k spread over LHD which is insane for such a car. If you can head into Europe and get what you want sub210k good luck. mobile.de and lacentrale.fr are your friend. Deals can be done just be careful. I bought mine because i wanted one, have done for years, and the special is more then special enough to make me part with the hard earned. The 488 is i'm sure a great car, but as a new car, not tagged as special in any way, will surely command a small premium when delivery start for those who have no patience, then follow the same depreciation curve as the 458, albeit more so as maranello pushes production numbers up to satisfy future shareholder demands. just my two penny's worth. Get into a speciale, it's not to late !

[classba]

Thanks Chris, you are lucky to buy one at sub 200k.... the one I mentioned was asking for 195k and I could of had it for a lot cheaper and that was only 2 months ago. I have driven a friend's RHD Speciale which has prompted me to buy one BUT I'm not willing to get my balls ripped off so to speak by some UK independent dealers. They are seeking them through the same channels and slapping on their massive margin IMO.

This will also be my 1st Ferrari so very much looking forward in owning one.

[Anjum]

Just my opinion - but I think they will do down as on of the greatest Ferrari's of all time! Obviously biased - but in this day and age of electric assistance and nannying - Ferrari seem to have got the balance exactly right - it's playful - it's fun - but if you overstep the mark - you will get bitten!

It really is a so much fun - that this is the first car that I've owned in many years that I have no intention of ever selling! It really is that good. Are McLarens faster - yes. Will the 488 GTB be quicker - yes. But are any of these cars as much fun? I don't think so - although I've yet to drive a 488 GTB. I think that the 675LT is probably a lot quicker - and I suspect is the most fun car that McLaren have made to date.

If you have one - then you'll know what I mean - I can't wait to get mine back on track soon! 11 track days and counting!

I love it!

[Mermaid]

I agree this one is rather speciale.

[martisracing]

Based on the CS and Scud it will hold its value. With regard volumes the general view is that the CS has the smallest volumes and the Scud the most. The Speciale sits somewhere in the middle nearer Scud volumes. If you are looking at the facts the CS is probably not as good as a 430 and definately not as good as 458. Rarity and how focused car is means more than out right performance on future values. Just look at the way a GT3 Porsche is always worth more than a Turbo of a similar age.
The only definite point is that in 5 years the 488 will have dropped in value by a lot and there is a chance the Speciale might not!

[BruceC]

Wise words. 488 will cost 50k depreciation within 2 years

[Russell996]

AmoCS said:

I read that there were c3,000 Speciale's produced, so perhaps not so special?

I doubt it that high based on CS/Scud/Speciale known numbers but then production hasn't stopped yet, I was at the factory last week and although we weren't allowed to see the V8 line due to the 488 Spider which they are revealing today we did see quite a number of 488 coupe's and Speciale's coming out of the doors for their brief test drive. (more Speciale's than 488's by about 3 to 1)

martisracing said:

Based on the CS and Scud it will hold its value. With regard volumes the general view is that the CS has the smallest volumes and the Scud the most. The Speciale sits somewhere in the middle nearer Scud volumes.

I don't believe that is the current thinking regarding Speciale numbers, there is a great deal of evidence that Speciale production will out number Scud's quite substantially, there are already more UK cars, the World market is now far larger than in 2007/2008 and production hasn't yet stopped.

Edited by Russell996 on Tuesday 28th July 13:25

[RamboLambo]

Awesome car no doubt but the main reason I didn't buy one was the number being built as a regular production model. If Ferrari says 3,500 you can bet your bottom dollar there are a lot more for starters.

Keep it and drive it and you have neither made or lost any money but had a shed load of fun. Life is too short to sit round watching it appreciate or depreciate in the garage

[nutbehinddawheel]

AmoCS said:

I read that there were c3,000 Speciale's produced, so perhaps not so special?

"Special" must surely be defined by how good a car is to drive and how it makes you feel.
NOT how few were built.
Are we in these day's of insanely increasing values , in danger of confusing special with valuable.

[Slickhillsy]

martisracing said:

Based on the CS and Scud it will hold its value. With regard volumes the general view is that the CS has the smallest volumes and the Scud the most. The Speciale sits somewhere in the middle nearer Scud volumes. If you are looking at the facts the CS is probably not as good as a 430 and definately not as good as 458. Rarity and how focused car is means more than out right performance on future values. Just look at the way a GT3 Porsche is always worth more than a Turbo of a similar age.
The only definite point is that in 5 years the 488 will have dropped in value by a lot and there is a chance the Speciale might not!

Scud was apparently somewhere between 1600 - 1800 units, but no one knows for sure...

[Rocco1]

Slickhillsy said:

Scud was apparently somewhere between 1600 - 1800 units, but no one knows for sure...

3200/3500 is about the right number of Scud units produced

[Russell996]

Rocco1 said:

3200/3500 is about the right number of Scud units produced

1.38 Scuds registered in the UK for every CS registered in the UK. Total of 1288 CS's produced.