458 thoughts....

[chrisABP]

Actually going to visit this dealer on Saturday to view another car.......but then after spending time on their page I got thinking for not a lot more £££ maybe I could see myself into a 458.

Never owned an F car before, recently divorced myself from Porsche ownership (997 GTS, Cayman R, GT4, Boxster Spyder) and now wanting to step up into a supercar.

Whilst I am there (150 miles from home) it would be rude not to take a look at this car to consider all options. Any thoughts on the car? Spec? Anyone know the car?

https://www.romansofstalbans.co.uk/stock/ferrari/4...

Thanks in advance

[WCZ]

colour of the seats arent to my taste but the spec has everything people go for in the 458 and the price is very good imo

[andyr]

Hey - I have just bought my first F car - a 458 spider. Looks your potential car has a decent spec - all the right options. And it has the Ferrari Power 15 warranty until March (only covers the drive train). Looks like the dealer will throw in a service - make sure it covers not only the necessary items but also the advisory items that come up. You should also get a discount on the warranty renewal as you shouldnt need another inspection prior to renewing if its been serviced recently.

You could ask the dealer for a paint correction detail and PPF to be thrown in to the price.

I'm sure once you see it and drive it you will find it hard not to hand over the cash!

[F355GTS]

You'll not regret buying a 458, brilliant cars and best I've ever owned

[Gibbo205]

Had my Giallo Triplo Strato 458 Italia coming on for three years now and 15,000 miles done it, totally trouble free and incredible to drive.

Driven Mclarens, Lamborghini's and even Ferrari's other offerings the 488, F8 and 812, only the latter could tempt me out the 458 and even then its not enough, 458's are just so engaging and thrilling without even going that fast. A 458 is fun to drive at 50mph, yes it can do 150mph down a back road as good as any other supercar but my point is you simply do not need to do so to enjoy the car whereas many other cars today only come alive at highly illegal speeds.

It is for this and this alone what makes the 458 one of the very best super cars you can still buy today with the added benefit of modern technology to make it possible as a daily car and reliable.

If you like it, buy it, amazing cars! All I would want on that car is the carbon dash, centre panel and paddles, latter easy to retrofit, but the dash is about 10k.

[Akajak]

Perhaps, get chapter and verse on service history, check whether gearbox has been replaced, but looks attractively priced.

[Gibbo205]

Akajak said:

Perhaps, get chapter and verse on service history, check whether gearbox has been replaced, but looks attractively priced.

I thought gearbox major issues were extremely rare on these cars and generally limited to pre 2012 cars which this one is, but I think its super rare and the Power Warranty does cover it failing, most common failure is the sensor which can be replaced and is also covered I think.

If I remember correctly:

2010: Very raw gearbox, proper slams in race mode, very mechanical and more prone to failure. Engine map also has a lot of pops and gurgles.
2012: Gearbox software address, now an artificial thump and engine map was toned down sometimes around 2011 I think, less gurgles.
2014: Independent magneto shocks, so they can adjust independently of each other which reduced lap time by around one second on their Fiorono test track.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Friday 10th September 17:56

[andyr]

Gibbo205 said:

A 458 is fun to drive at 50mph, yes it can do 150mph down a back road as good as any other supercar but my point is you simply do not need to do so to enjoy the car

Completely agree with that. That's rare in a car.

[fridaypassion]

Peak super/Supersports car for me. Gearbox is amazing properly raw car. I have had a hankering for a GT3 for a while but even after over a year of ownership the 458 has started to worm its way into my affections. One of the reasons why is using it on track. I have done Silverstone and Blyton park and to be honest I think its a better track car than road car! The brakes actually work on track which is a bonus!

[Akajak]

Gibbo205 said:

I thought gearbox major issues were extremely rare on these cars and generally limited to pre 2012 cars which this one is, but I think its super rare and the Power Warranty does cover it failing, most common failure is the sensor which can be replaced and is also covered I think.

If I remember correctly:

2010: Very raw gearbox, proper slams in race mode, very mechanical and more prone to failure. Engine map also has a lot of pops and gurgles.
2012: Gearbox software address, now an artificial thump and engine map was toned down sometimes around 2011 I think, less gurgles.
2014: Independent magneto shocks, so they can adjust independently of each other which reduced lap time by around one second on their Fiorono test track.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Friday 10th September 17:56

I stand to be corrected but I think the spread of gearbox failures includes post 2012 cars.
And you are correct in some cases they can now be repaired rather than replaced.

[Drl22]

It really isn’t just hype with these cars. Many cars are now faster but unless you track them you won’t know. The price seems fair to me. I paid £125k for my 2011 with similar miles but that was back in January before things went a bit crazy. The carbon is seen as a big thing but in reality, you forget about it pretty fast, you have the important bits on the steering wheel and paddles if you were to go for that car.

Coming from Porsches it will feel very different and raw but, from what you’ve said, it sounds like you’ll like that. I think mine is a keeper no matter what else I buy, it’s just so good.

Minor annoyances, I have cabin rattles but have been told this is something you just have to get used to and when it’s being used as intended I never notice it, there is so much else going on. It throws false error reports from time to time which is disconcerting but switching off and on again usually resolves them.

Have a drive and I’m sure you’ll fall in love.

[RSbandit]

One of these was being driven properly at a Nurburgring trackday last week and it sounded orgasmic!

[fridaypassion]

One of the things I like about them is they do have a bit of a raggedy edge. Where the gt3 is a tool for turning in lap times the 458 will wriggle and quirm and our needs driving. The steering is much better on the Ferrari it was criticised at launch but because its hydraulic and for some unknown reason Porsche went electric the r58 by standards now had superb feedback it weights up in the corners and you can really feel what's going on up front.

I've found mine also to be a very capable gt having driven it to Germany. No rattles in mine and in 14 months its never had a warning light or anything. Just about to stick some PS4s on it having killed off the super sports. Donington booked for next month.

[Gibbo205]

You’ll enjoy the PS4S as quite an improvement over MPSS in dry and a big step on in the wet.

[Durzel]

Looks decent. Good spec too, including carbon seats Shame it doesn't have the carbon centre tunnel console, but hey ho. Ferrari warranty until March 2022 is a nice bonus.

Amazing cars, particularly aurally.

[andyr]

So where is the write up on the test drive, Chris ?

[chrisABP]

andyr said:

So where is the write up on the test drive, Chris ?

458 looked stunning but sadly it sold on Friday so was purely a quick look around as a distraction to the car I was there to view. Hopefully have a decision on that one early this week….

Thanks for all the comments folks - very much appreciated as I take this next step up the automotive ladder 👍

[Gibbo205]

chrisABP said:

458 looked stunning but sadly it sold on Friday so was purely a quick look around as a distraction to the car I was there to view. Hopefully have a decision on that one early this week….

Thanks for all the comments folks - very much appreciated as I take this next step up the automotive ladder ??

The 458 is a very very special car, more so than a 488 or F8, its the last NA mid-engine car from Ferrari and also the last V8 styled by Pininfarina but forgetting all this have driven the 430, 458, 488 and F8.

430 - Rawest, but more a weekend ONLY type of car, the F1 gearbox though good when at full chat can be somewhat annoying at city speeds. The 430 is a great car and for me the Spyder is the one to get simply because you can still see the engine. However its really a weekend toy.
458 - Is really the car that is the true modern classic, they managed to combine the rawness and feel of the 430 (race / manual) but also make it an easy daily or commuter if you so wish (wet / auto), the engine is a true masterpiece with one of the largest if not best power range of any car I've driven, plus the car rewards all driving styles it can be ballistic on the road but to enjoy if there is simply no need to drive that fast its a fun and engaging car at legal speeds, plus just look at it, the lines and sleekness are impeccable, it is without doubt one of Ferrari's finest achievements.
488 - Bonkers fast and now becoming great value for money, also lots of grip, but as a road car for fun it simply fails to deliver as its not fun at legal speeds, you really have got to get up the car closer to the rev limits where it whistles but the grip is good and you just end up going crazy fast, also the sound though not terrible it can never even come close to the 458, not even with an exhaust fitted. Also the styling, sorry it looks like someone sat on the bonnet, its got gaping holes in the side, but the bum looks good. However they are now pretty much priced at 458 levels so you either buy the slower car that is more fun and engaging on the road with better soundtrack or you buy the 488 for its numbers and track ability, one major step up on the 488 is the brakes are superior to an 458.
F8 - An even quieter 488, but sharper styling, more performance, more grip and so dare I say it more boring on the road, plus at the 230k, just buy a Pista because that is more special, sounds better if still not great but with prices getting close I'd take Pista everytime, but saying that I'd take a Speciale everytime over a Pista, for the drive on the road I'd probably still take the 458 over them all. Just I can hands down say the Pista styling and looks, WOW WHAT A CAR, but to drive on the road 458 / Speciale please. If its track work duties, then Pista!

In short good 458's sell quick, dealers have little to no stock but have got 488, Pista, F8 plenty for sale, which tells you everything!

So you gotta be quick as most owners with 458's don't see any upgrade path so they are simply keeping them.

[blueSL]

Not that you own any of them, if your profile is to be believed…

[Gibbo205]

blueSL said:

Not that you own any of them, if your profile is to be believed…

I own 458, Boxster Spyder, 1978 Corvette pace, GR Yaris, Honda S2000 and an Aston V8 Vantage, I've not updated my garage on here for a very long time.

Garage updated along with some recent previously owned cars.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Tuesday 14th September 17:55