458 Speciale appreciation thread

[M7arthy]

Its been nearly two years since i've taken delivery of my Speciale and im glad to report that the car still doesn't fail to impress ! I love the idea that it was Ferrari's goodbye to the N/A V8 and what a goodbye that was. Looking forward to hear other owners experiences with their cars so far.

[ajr550]

Got mine in May 2014.Have done 9000 miles and loved every one of them.The car has a great breadth of ability but just encourages you to "go for it" all the time.
Mildly surprised I still have my licence !

[adamjsmith]

I've had mine for about 18 months, foolishly paid top dollar for it but I'm fairly confident the value will return if I keep it long enough. I love the torque, the gearbox, the way the f1-trac is calibrated and the way it turns in never ceases to amaze. It's surprisingly ok at touring too.

However I've also recently acquired a 360 CS and, I have to admit, part of me thinks it's more fun to drive. It's 200bhp down so you can use more of it on the road, plus there's a bit less lateral grip and it makes a better noise.

[M7arthy]

adamjsmith said:

I've had mine for about 18 months, foolishly paid top dollar for it but I'm fairly confident the value will return if I keep it long enough. I love the torque, the gearbox, the way the f1-trac is calibrated and the way it turns in never ceases to amaze. It's surprisingly ok at touring too.

However I've also recently acquired a 360 CS and, I have to admit, part of me thinks it's more fun to drive. It's 200bhp down so you can use more of it on the road, plus there's a bit less lateral grip and it makes a better noise.

I must say the 360 CS does sound glorious ! probably has something to do with the 5 valves per cylinder layout. TBH i don't know what to make of the noise the Speciale makes, i think the engine makes a variety of interesting sounds especially up top, but down low it does sound like a gruff 4 pot engine.

[WCZ]

they're one of the greats and nothing beyond it has pretty much interested me

[ajr550]

However I've also recently acquired a 360 CS and, I have to admit, part of me thinks it's more fun to drive. It's 200bhp down so you can use more of it on the road, plus there's a bit less lateral grip and it makes a better noise.

360 CS is a great car.I had massive fun following one down some twisty bits on Mille Miglia Tribute this year.
Have to admit we had a "rev off" at the factory with the same CS and Speciale was second best in that department !

[baypond]

adamjsmith said:

I've had mine for about 18 months, foolishly paid top dollar for it but I'm fairly confident the value will return if I keep it long enough. I love the torque, the gearbox, the way the f1-trac is calibrated and the way it turns in never ceases to amaze. It's surprisingly ok at touring too.

However I've also recently acquired a 360 CS and, I have to admit, part of me thinks it's more fun to drive. It's 200bhp down so you can use more of it on the road, plus there's a bit less lateral grip and it makes a better noise.

any pics of the CS? did you go left or right hand drive?
I am seriously tempted to buy a high mileage left hooker if prices drop so I can just drive it with impunity!

[adamjsmith]

It was a very cheap high mileage LHD car that I bought for the same reason - it's there to be used, not sit under a cover in my garage.

I don't have any of my own pics online but here are some from DK's archive

http://www.dkeng.co.uk/Vehicle_Archive/782/Ferrari...

[AmoCS]

Show your appreciation

https://clubstradale.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=...

[sardis]

Imagine my disappointment on opening this thread to find owners discussing how much they enjoy owning and driving their car rather than speculating about what it will be worth in x months or y years time or a trade in against z.

No wonder people say PH is going downhill...

[ajr550]

sardis said:

Imagine my disappointment on opening this thread to find owners discussing how much they enjoy owning and driving their car rather than speculating about what it will be worth in x months or y years time or a trade in against z.

No wonder people say PH is going downhill...

Guess what,the value discussion has moved to the Aston Martin thread !!!

[baypond]

adamjsmith said:

It was a very cheap high mileage LHD car that I bought for the same reason - it's there to be used, not sit under a cover in my garage.

I don't have any of my own pics online but here are some from DK's archive

http://www.dkeng.co.uk/Vehicle_Archive/782/Ferrari...

I am sure you will have more hours of fun that most. Great looking car

[M7arthy]

sardis said:

Imagine my disappointment on opening this thread to find owners discussing how much they enjoy owning and driving their car rather than speculating about what it will be worth in x months or y years time or a trade in against z.

No wonder people say PH is going downhill...

High milage Ferraris !! Armageddon must be around the block...

[sardis]

Indeed, whatever next? I will have done 6k miles in my car in the last twelve months. I invest in a set of sottozeros to ensure all year round fun, just about to do a slightly alternative Scottish 500 at the end of this month, then will swap onto them. So far I have managed to avoid the plagues of locusts or frogs.

Enjoy your driving in good health

[_Leg_]

sardis said:

Indeed, whatever next? I will have done 6k miles in my car in the last twelve months. I invest in a set of sottozeros to ensure all year round fun, just about to do a slightly alternative Scottish 500 at the end of this month, then will swap onto them. So far I have managed to avoid the plagues of locusts or frogs.

Enjoy your driving in good health

Did the 500 in August, albeit in my Spider rather than the Speciale. Superb, despite the bloody midges on the west coast.

One word of advice, whatever you do, dont stay at the Gairloch Hotel. Without doubt the worst hotel I've stayed in, ever.

[boxerTen]

Have had mine two and a half years, done 5000 odd miles, several hundred of those on track. Is a magnificent driver's car, delightful on the limit, gives away a little in acceleration to a 488. Can't see myself selling it - is nothing out there that tempts me ... yet.

[Durzel]

Bravo to all of you actually driving them

[m5touringv10]

M7arthy said:

i think the engine makes a variety of interesting sounds especially up top, but down low it does sound like a gruff 4 pot engine.

I agree low down it doesn't sound great, but it really comes alive over 5000 rpm.
An exhaust change sorts that out!

Edited by m5touringv10 on Friday 6th October 18:13

Edited by m5touringv10 on Friday 6th October 18:25

[stefan1]

M7arthy said:

Its been nearly two years since i've taken delivery of my Speciale and im glad to report that the car still doesn't fail to impress ! I love the idea that it was Ferrari's goodbye to the N/A V8 and what a goodbye that was. Looking forward to hear other owners experiences with their cars so far.

I am a relatively new owner, but already I can easily see why the car would still thrill two years down the line.

I hadn't planned to buy one, but I'd sold my gorgeous TDF blue F12 in April (HR Owen made me an offer I could not refuse) and a couple of months later they told my 812 would be at least 2 years away (1st world problem, I know!).

However, the sales chap, being ever savvy, pointed out they had a 2 year-old 499 mile (yes, four hundred and ninety nine) Speciale for sale, and "how about trying that for a couple of years?". The car was in gorgeous white, with a lovely, simple spec. Sold.

Since buying the car I've tripled the mileage in two months and by golly I cannot think of another car that eggs you on so. I had driven one very briefly (for two laps) at Fiorano three years on the Sport Pilota driving course, but that was such a short experience I hadn't really taken away any real sense of the car.

The party piece is the handling. It is just so, well, biddable. The F12 was too, but the Speciale is on another level, thanks no doubt to its lighter weight. And of course it looks fantastic. To my eyes, the best looking Ferrari of the last 15 years.

The plan is to trade the Speciale in for the 812; but at the moment I cannot imagine selling it!

To end, a question on the exhaust. Perhaps the only very slightly less good element of the car is the noise. It is more of a "blare" than something tuneful. Flat plane crank V8s can sound better (exhibit A: 918 Spyder), so I am pondering an aftermarket exhaust. I'd welcome the PH view on the best options.

[m5touringv10]

stefan1 said:

I am a relatively new owner, but already I can easily see why the car would still thrill two years down the line.

I hadn't planned to buy one, but I'd sold my gorgeous TDF blue F12 in April (HR Owen made me an offer I could not refuse) and a couple of months later they told my 812 would be at least 2 years away (1st world problem, I know!).

However, the sales chap, being ever savvy, pointed out they had a 2 year-old 499 mile (yes, four hundred and ninety nine) Speciale for sale, and "how about trying that for a couple of years?". The car was in gorgeous white, with a lovely, simple spec. Sold.

Since buying the car I've tripled the mileage in two months and by golly I cannot think of another car that eggs you on so. I had driven one very briefly (for two laps) at Fiorano three years on the Sport Pilota driving course, but that was such a short experience I hadn't really taken away any real sense of the car.

The party piece is the handling. It is just so, well, biddable. The F12 was too, but the Speciale is on another level, thanks no doubt to its lighter weight. And of course it looks fantastic. To my eyes, the best looking Ferrari of the last 15 years.

The plan is to trade the Speciale in for the 812; but at the moment I cannot imagine selling it!

To end, a question on the exhaust. Perhaps the only very slightly less good element of the car is the noise. It is more of a "blare" than something tuneful. Flat plane crank V8s can sound better (exhibit A: 918 Spyder), so I am pondering an aftermarket exhaust. I'd welcome the PH view on the best options.

The Speciale is second to none when it comes to handling balance and playfulness. It's great fun and as fast as you'll ever need on the road anyway. This video sums up the speciale perfectly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_Ywh8I9-4

As for exhausts novitech or the ipe innotech would my choices.
Both will transform the sound of the car and you'll love the speciale even more!