458 throttle jerkiness - is there a fix?

[jordie]

Hi - I need some advice. Ime looking at buying a 458 spider. I intend to drive the car regularly, not just for sunny days, it needs to be I've heard from several sources that at slow speeds, around time, or even cruising trying to maintain a constant speed, the throttle is overly sensitive, which when your nailing it isn't an issue. I have been advised to find a car with cruise control, which I will, but have there been any software updates to resolve this issue. I am told it is a fly by wire throttle. Is there a cut off model year when the issue has been resolved? Thanks in advance....

[Gibbo205]

jordie said:

Hi - I need some advice. Ime looking at buying a 458 spider. I intend to drive the car regularly, not just for sunny days, it needs to be I've heard from several sources that at slow speeds, around time, or even cruising trying to maintain a constant speed, the throttle is overly sensitive, which when your nailing it isn't an issue. I have been advised to find a car with cruise control, which I will, but have there been any software updates to resolve this issue. I am told it is a fly by wire throttle. Is there a cut off model year when the issue has been resolved? Thanks in advance....

You do get used to, I drive mine in race mode all the time pretty much.
However wet mode dials it back and works well on motorways.

Also if doing long distances cruise control is a must or retro fit it as that cures issue completely then.

[Taaaaang]

You'll definitely get used to it.

The only issue, as alluded to earlier is on the motorway. One second you're doing 80 and the tiniest press of the throttle later and it's ban terrority. Average speed checks are a right pain.

[Order66]

Pit speed limiter can be retrofitted also, but as others have said, its not a "problem". I would say it is "responsive" rather than "sensitive"

[George-eed]

jordie said:

Hi - I need some advice. Ime looking at buying a 458 spider. I intend to drive the car regularly, not just for sunny days, it needs to be I've heard from several sources that at slow speeds, around time, or even cruising trying to maintain a constant speed, the throttle is overly sensitive, which when your nailing it isn't an issue. I have been advised to find a car with cruise control, which I will, but have there been any software updates to resolve this issue. I am told it is a fly by wire throttle. Is there a cut off model year when the issue has been resolved? Thanks in advance....

I have owned my 458 for almost 4 years now and have never found this to be a problem. Mine is a 2010 Italia, without cruise control and the responsiveness of the throttle is one of the things i love about the car. You very quickly learn how to drive it smoothly both in traffic and on a cruise. In fact its exactly this instant throttle response that makes this car stand out from any turbo charged alternative.

[MingtheMerciless]

Just having cruise control fitted to mine.

[Durzel]

Order66 said:

Pit speed limiter can be retrofitted also, but as others have said, its not a "problem". I would say it is "responsive" rather than "sensitive"

+1

Responsive, sure. Definitely not something I ever gave any thought to, as in "I keep having to think about my right foot position" or "I wish I could maintain a constant speed". I'd venture any 458 where this is actually a concern isn't functioning properly.

[jordie]

Well thats a consistent response from you all, thanks

[garystoybox]

I had two 458’s a 2011 and a later car.... both were a complete pain on any motorway run; wet mode helped somewhat but I would definitely want cruise if something you do frequently. Always felt the car was either accelerating or decelerating i.e. always felt throttle on/throttle off. Never an issue any other time though so I guess depends what your using it for?

[willy wombat]

Well I've had a 458 spider since 2013 and driven it to Italy and the South of France at least three times and never had the slightest problem maintaining the speed I want to on the motorways. Don't try to drive it in hob nail boots and it's fine. I have a hatred of cruise control in general - I never feel properly in control of my car (any of them) if I'm not doing something with at least one foot.

[Taffy66]

I've had mine just over a year now..Initially i thought it overly sensitive however after a couple of weeks it wasn't an issue..It just takes time to adapt to the short throttle pedal movement..

[BlueIn2Red]

No problem here either. One possibility - the exhaust valve setup can be annoying on the motorway, since the valves can open and close quite often at cruising speeds, even with just a tiny throttle input change. The easy solution is to fit a valve controller, which will let you keep the valves closed (or open, if you like the drone!) all the time.

[willy wombat]

In the past few days I’ve read this thread complaining about the difficulty of driving a 458 due to the sensitivity of its accelerator (rubbish) and another thread accusing the 458 of suffering from “snap oversteer” (even more rubbish). While I disagree with both these contentions, this is a Ferrari supercar we are talking about, not a family hatchback.

[Durzel]

willy wombat said:

In the past few days I’ve read this thread complaining about the difficulty of driving a 458 due to the sensitivity of its accelerator (rubbish) and another thread accusing the 458 of suffering from “snap oversteer” (even more rubbish). While I disagree with both these contentions, this is a Ferrari supercar we are talking about, not a family hatchback.

+1

If I was being uncharitable I'd say that people complaining of snap oversteer or jerky throttle are either driving knackered cars, or have been watching too many YouTube "10 Things What Ferrari Don't Tell You" videos and are taking those opinions as gospel.

[willy wombat]

Or haven't driven the cars at all.

[WCZ]

it depends what you are used to and even if you're used to like a 911 or something it's still very sensitive

as said before you adjust to it

[garystoybox]

willy wombat said:

Or haven't driven the cars at all.

Sorry, that dismissal is more like what I would expect to hear on the Mc forum. The poster asked if over sensitive throttle was an issue. Most replies agreed it is sensitive but you can get used to it over time/ wet mode, etc. I did c30k in my two cars and I never fully became accustomed to it. I must just be a crap driver, but this has never been an issue in any other supercar I’ve ever driven/owned (wasn’t an issue in former 430 or subsequent 488). I totally agree the snap oversteer is a ridiculous comment; the 458 is an effortless and friendly on the limit with everything off on the track and as secure as you can get on road (unless all aids off).

[Gibbo205]

I will echo the above, I also heard similar, I drove around four 458's, couple of 2010's, a 2012 and a 2014 and the throttle was sensitive but fine on them all at no point did it annoy me.

I now own the 2014 car and in warmer weather I daily it but I also use it over Winter too and I still drive it in race mode, the throttle is absolutely fine in race mode and the car loses traction progressively and in a controllable fashion even in wet conditions, plus you know when its going to happen as the chassis is so communicative.

All I will echo is on a motorway the throttle and valves in race mode can be ever so slightly annoying, but wet mode fixes both of those and as I said previously if you do plan long journeys cruise control is a must.

Apart from that the throttle is fine, in fact you notice the hyper steering way more over throttle, it is pin sharp and super fast, its a real stand out feature, the throttle I just got used too, I noticed it but I never found it an issue.

Just go drive a 458, if the throttle is too snappy for you, buy a 488 if you want a less responsive car.

[theRossatron]

I did find it quite annoying, mostly when parking or reversing. It's much improved on the Speciale and 488,

[willy wombat]

Didn’t mean to cause offence, garystoybox. I was a bit of a grumpy old man this morning.