from a 599 to 458

[Jonny TVR]

Seriously thinking about it.

I love the 599 but it feels and looks a little dated. Considering a move to a 458. I would like a F12 but they are quite a bit more than 458's and I'd like to try a V8 that handles .. less of a GT.

Good move?

[Taffy66]

Jonny TVR said:

Seriously thinking about it.

I love the 599 but it feels and looks a little dated. Considering a move to a 458. I would like a F12 but they are quite a bit more than 458's and I'd like to try a V8 that handles .. less of a GT.

Good move?

When i was researching my first Ferrari purchase last year i eventually narrowed it down to the 599 and 458..I came very close on making an offer on a 599 until i saw my perfect spec 458 Italia at Redline cars just before Xmas..I bought the 458 and have no regrets as i think its a truly special car to drive and will go down in history as one of the best Ferraris of all time IMO.
I might have felt the same on the 599 which i still hanker after and pretty good value now at sub £120k..What put me off the 599 in the end was the worry about the durability of the single clutch F1 gearbox, but even so i still rate them highly.However not quite as highly as a 458 which i'd like to keep forever.
Used 458's vary hugely in spec and mine has all the Carbon both inside and outside plus the C/F seats but you have to pay more..Bide your time on the 458 until you get your ideal one in both colour and options..

[Jonny TVR]

Thanks Taffy.

The spec of the one I'm looking at is:

2013 17k miles,Grigio Silverstone with Nero leather and Alcantera Carbon racing seats, 20-inch forged polished painted Alloys, carbon racing pack inc steering wheel, sports exhaust pipes sports sill covers, radio nav system, front and rear park sensors, chromatic mirrors, Scuderia shields, Bluetooth and Nero Alcantera headlining. Service pack and warranty until May 2020.

[Jonny TVR]

Just thought .. do all of them have the nose lift as I would need that where I live.

[Taffy66]

Jonny TVR said:

Thanks Taffy.

The spec of the one I'm looking at is:

2013 17k miles,Grigio Silverstone with Nero leather and Alcantera Carbon racing seats, 20-inch forged polished painted Alloys, carbon racing pack inc steering wheel, sports exhaust pipes sports sill covers, radio nav system, front and rear park sensors, chromatic mirrors, Scuderia shields, Bluetooth and Nero Alcantera headlining. Service pack and warranty until May 2020.

That's exactly the same colour and spec as mine and as a result i'm seriously biased and call it a brilliantly perfect spec..GS is the only colour i really wanted as its by far my favourite Ferrari colour..
If i was in your shoes right now in my typically impulsive fashion, i would place a holding deposit on that 458 this afternoon..Its a brilliant spec IMO..
The best of luck..

[Taffy66]

Jonny TVR said:

Just thought .. do all of them have the nose lift as I would need that where I live.

Mine doesn't have it and IMO it sits pretty high and personally not needed where i live..It might be different where you live but even without they don't catch anywhere near as badly as my GT4,GT3 or even GTS did..

[Jonny TVR]

Thanks again Taffy .. you sound even more impulsive than me! will have a think and ask about the front lift as I live down an awful lane/ track.

[nbot]

For me (and I am biased) but the best colour for a 458 is nero Daytona - given the front grill / fins are black when they are offset against other colours - for me it just doesn't work - where as with black it blends in just perfectly and gives the car such a slick look. Second best colour for me would be GS - it took a while for me to find the right spec on my 458 - I have owned my since November and its just one of the best super cars there is - naturally aspirated, solid on residuals and drives beautifully.

here's mine

[MDL111]

probably makes sense to try to do a test drive as they are very different cars. If you want something less GT, then a 458 is a good option.
I personally prefer the F1 box on the Scud to the DCT on the FF (have not driven a 458 or 599, so unfortunately no first hand input on the specific cars)

[f1_dragon]

Jonny TVR said:

Thanks again Taffy .. you sound even more impulsive than me! will have a think and ask about the front lift as I live down an awful lane/ track.

If the car has front lift it will have two buttons on the end of the centre tunnel, vs. just the one (to open glove box) if it doesn’t.

I got my Nero in Feb and am absolutely smitten. I’ve got a drive out on some nice roads planned for Easter Sunday and am counting down the days, it’s an epic car that really wants to be driven.

If I hadn’t gone for Nero, GS would have been my next choice, my cousin had one with black wheels and it looked stunning, really suits the lines imho.

Good luck with your search.

[Taffy66]

f1_dragon said:

If the car has front lift it will have two buttons on the end of the centre tunnel, vs. just the one (to open glove box) if it doesn’t.

I got my Nero in Feb and am absolutely smitten. I’ve got a drive out on some nice roads planned for Easter Sunday and am counting down the days, it’s an epic car that really wants to be driven.

If I hadn’t gone for Nero, GS would have been my next choice, my cousin had one with black wheels and it looked stunning, really suits the lines imho.

Good luck with your search.

I'm glad you're enjoying your new 458..I agree with everything you've said about the 458, really, really special car..I think that either Nero or GS are both awesome in the 458 and i would have been happy with either.
What do you intend doing with regards to warranty once the complimentary 6 months runs out..?

[MDL111]

re warranty - I don't know if the 458 is as susceptible to this as the FF (less torque), but my gearbox already needed work twice, so I am keeping the warranty until it is no longer possible (15 years I think).

[f1_dragon]

Taffy66 said:

I'm glad you're enjoying your new 458..I agree with everything you've said about the 458, really, really special car..I think that either Nero or GS are both awesome in the 458 and i would have been happy with either.
What do you intend doing with regards to warranty once the complimentary 6 months runs out..?

Haha, I was going to ask you later in Summer as you’ve a few months on me.
Such a shame Warranty Direct have ceased their cover on the 458.
I’m having the Forza controller fitted next week which will probably complicate matters for me.

[GrahamPM]

I had a 599 HGTE and never got on with it - it always felt too big & cumbersome. Looked a million dollars; but not for me. I test drove and subsequently bought a Grigo Titanium 458. Bloody fantastic!! Handled superbly and went like stink!
The 458 would always get my vote over a 599
Graham