Ferrari 488 - whats the "must have" spec?
Discussion
Hello all !
I currently have a 2019 Vantage and am considering a 488. I've researched the 458/488 thing considerably and have decided that the 488 is better suited to me (mainly due to age/availability/warranty)
So I need to find a nice 488....
Is red really a must? Id rather have a black one or grey but resale is a relevance at this price point for me so if it has to be red then so be it
Carbon seats seem to be a 'must' - all the 488s that have sat for months have the standard seats
JBL audio ?
Carbon driving zone
what else please folks ?
I currently have a 2019 Vantage and am considering a 488. I've researched the 458/488 thing considerably and have decided that the 488 is better suited to me (mainly due to age/availability/warranty)
So I need to find a nice 488....
Is red really a must? Id rather have a black one or grey but resale is a relevance at this price point for me so if it has to be red then so be it
Carbon seats seem to be a 'must' - all the 488s that have sat for months have the standard seats
JBL audio ?
Carbon driving zone
what else please folks ?
They don't call it 'Resale Red' for nothing. Generally speaking, red does command a higher price because it is considered to be THE colour for a Ferrari.
If resale value if of a primary importance to you then red will serve you best in terms of colour.
WRT options, the higher spec the better really. Race seats are nice but don't suit all shapes and as such are possibly somewhat Marmite. Carbon driver zone and dash inserts lift the interior imo, and are also a good addition externally particularly with lighter colours.
If resale value if of a primary importance to you then red will serve you best in terms of colour.
WRT options, the higher spec the better really. Race seats are nice but don't suit all shapes and as such are possibly somewhat Marmite. Carbon driver zone and dash inserts lift the interior imo, and are also a good addition externally particularly with lighter colours.
Edited by Trev450 on Thursday 11th April 09:03
Think there’ll certainly be other threads on this if search.
Colour personal, but I do think mine engined F look good in red, with black just looking flat. Grigio Silverstone looks nice though.
Race seats a must for me and just raise the interior ambiance as well as sit you lower and ‘in’ the car. Spec heavy cars won’t cost a lot more so fill your boots.
The JBL in the 488 is significantly better that the dross JBL of the 458, but not great. Standard system just awful.
Upgraded forged wheels, carbon side intakes and rear light surrounds make a big difference imo. Obviously carbon wheel with lights an absolute otherwise will be very difficult to sell on.
Great car and loved my former Spider.
Colour personal, but I do think mine engined F look good in red, with black just looking flat. Grigio Silverstone looks nice though.
Race seats a must for me and just raise the interior ambiance as well as sit you lower and ‘in’ the car. Spec heavy cars won’t cost a lot more so fill your boots.
The JBL in the 488 is significantly better that the dross JBL of the 458, but not great. Standard system just awful.
Upgraded forged wheels, carbon side intakes and rear light surrounds make a big difference imo. Obviously carbon wheel with lights an absolute otherwise will be very difficult to sell on.
Great car and loved my former Spider.
When I bought mine it had to be red (all my previous Ferraris have been red. It’s personal, but to me there is something special about a red Ferrari), black carbon seats, shields on the wings and carbon led steering wheel. Fsh and warranty.
Anything else was a bonus. In the end I bought one with a lot of external carbon on it too, which is nice but wasn’t a deal breaker.
As far as I am aware black and grey cars also sell reasonably well.
Ps. I owned a 458 before my 488 and personally prefer the 488, but appreciate there are a number of people who feel the opposite. For me the stability, especially the front end, and the brakes are significantly better. I prefer the more aggressive styling of the 488. It’s far too fast for the roads though!
Anything else was a bonus. In the end I bought one with a lot of external carbon on it too, which is nice but wasn’t a deal breaker.
As far as I am aware black and grey cars also sell reasonably well.
Ps. I owned a 458 before my 488 and personally prefer the 488, but appreciate there are a number of people who feel the opposite. For me the stability, especially the front end, and the brakes are significantly better. I prefer the more aggressive styling of the 488. It’s far too fast for the roads though!
Edited by Chris355 on Thursday 11th April 12:04
petjam said:
I would also make sure it has lift. You might not need it but it will help re-sale.
From personal experience I wouldn’t be put off by lift. I’ve bought and sold with and without and really not an issue for most on the mid engined cars (a perceived need for some but not practically). 
garystoybox said:
From personal experience I wouldn’t be put off by lift. I’ve bought and sold with and without and really not an issue for most on the mid engined cars (a perceived need for some but not practically).
Depends on where you live, I am in largely flat Essex and my 488, Perf and 600LT have all scraped at multiple places when I have forgotten to turn it on.Agree on red for resale. That said you probably can't go wrong with a nice blue like Tour de France, black or grey (from a resale perspective). I personally had red (x 2) and have ordered yellow as I had a yellow 360 once but that wouldn't be a resale recommendation.
As for options
Must haves (for me) are shields, leds on steering wheel and race seats. The race seats also look great with a body colour stripe but that is just a small thing. As said, race seats are marmite but I found them very comfortable and they look fantastic (in my ex 458).
Desirables (for me)
Lift (I didn't have it and didn't need it but may be a resale relevant item).
Forged alloys
Carbon bits in cabin esp driver zone and dashboard
JBL stereo
iPod connection (because you can use this to stream to the stereo)
You can get good aftermarket carbon bits if you must have them for a fraction of the cost but that might put someone fussy off.
If resale is really important then I would also go low mileage. For some unknown reason a high mileage Ferrari is as desirable as Typhoid Mary's toothbrush. So buy a high miler (cheaper) if you plan to put big miles on it or a low miler if you want to preserve value and keep the miles low. Which means not driving it as much which is a huge shame also.
Good luck with the hunt.
Also maybe consider an early F8 - basically a Pista mechanically but it does sound a bit more muted.
Or a 458 which is a bit more fun (in my opinion, no-one is wrong in that debate).
As for options
Must haves (for me) are shields, leds on steering wheel and race seats. The race seats also look great with a body colour stripe but that is just a small thing. As said, race seats are marmite but I found them very comfortable and they look fantastic (in my ex 458).
Desirables (for me)
Lift (I didn't have it and didn't need it but may be a resale relevant item).
Forged alloys
Carbon bits in cabin esp driver zone and dashboard
JBL stereo
iPod connection (because you can use this to stream to the stereo)
You can get good aftermarket carbon bits if you must have them for a fraction of the cost but that might put someone fussy off.
If resale is really important then I would also go low mileage. For some unknown reason a high mileage Ferrari is as desirable as Typhoid Mary's toothbrush. So buy a high miler (cheaper) if you plan to put big miles on it or a low miler if you want to preserve value and keep the miles low. Which means not driving it as much which is a huge shame also.
Good luck with the hunt.
Also maybe consider an early F8 - basically a Pista mechanically but it does sound a bit more muted.
Or a 458 which is a bit more fun (in my opinion, no-one is wrong in that debate).
Edited by MingtheMerciless on Thursday 11th April 14:05
Edited by MingtheMerciless on Thursday 11th April 14:52
Actually, when you come to trade in a red car, dealers will pull your trousers down because "we have too many red cars in stock right now."
Any other colour and it's "yeah, it's not a good colour for resale."
Heads they win, tails you lose.
So just buy the car you want, enjoy it and to hell with the resale. And if resale value is an issue then I'd respectfully suggest that you should never have bought an Aston
Any other colour and it's "yeah, it's not a good colour for resale."
Heads they win, tails you lose.
So just buy the car you want, enjoy it and to hell with the resale. And if resale value is an issue then I'd respectfully suggest that you should never have bought an Aston
I searched around for a good deal and tbh go for what suits you best. I have a spider and drive with the roof off a lot so neated electric daytona seats are great. Race seats look the part but if you want heated then that isn't an option in the race seats.
I live in London and the lift is essential. The day I bought it I drove back and forgot to press the lift button and hit the first speed hump. With lift on i've hit nothing, it's great.
Parking cameras are really helpful. Even in the daytona seats visibility in a spider with the rear humps is terrible so cameras and sensors help loads.
Carbon everything. Carbon interior everywhere is just nice. Nice to look at, to touch and also does away with worrying about sticky buttons in the future.
Buy well. If you buy at a good price then you'll be less concerned about resale. Just buy the best one you can afford and get out there and drive it and enjoy! It really is too fast for the roads, the pick up is exceptional and eve in wet mode it breaks traction and snaps!
I live in London and the lift is essential. The day I bought it I drove back and forgot to press the lift button and hit the first speed hump. With lift on i've hit nothing, it's great.
Parking cameras are really helpful. Even in the daytona seats visibility in a spider with the rear humps is terrible so cameras and sensors help loads.
Carbon everything. Carbon interior everywhere is just nice. Nice to look at, to touch and also does away with worrying about sticky buttons in the future.
Buy well. If you buy at a good price then you'll be less concerned about resale. Just buy the best one you can afford and get out there and drive it and enjoy! It really is too fast for the roads, the pick up is exceptional and eve in wet mode it breaks traction and snaps!
I’ve just taken delivery of a 2016 488 Spider. Paid £150k from HR Owen. Super happy with the spec, Grigio Titanio (not a a red car guy), loads of carbon, lift and comfort seats. I’m more than happy with comfort seats as I am planning on touring with my wife. I’m not going to track the car so carbon seats are off no interest to me and are not as adaptable as comfortable seats.
Red Ferraris are just too cliche for me but I obviously understand the appeal.
I’d say below the essential spec is:
Lift
Carbon driver zone (preferably bridge too)
Front and rear Cameras
Safe colour
Hope you find what you’re looking for.
Red Ferraris are just too cliche for me but I obviously understand the appeal.
I’d say below the essential spec is:
Lift
Carbon driver zone (preferably bridge too)
Front and rear Cameras
Safe colour
Hope you find what you’re looking for.
This is where everyone tells you that the spec of their car is the ‘essential…’
Essentials are limited, in my humble view, to shields, forged rims and c/f wheel. Everything else is just personal preference.
I don’t like red Ferraris, others do. Others love lots and lots of carbon, I think it looks plasticky.
I’ve not had lift on any Ferrari and in five years, have never grounded out. I have a parking camera and, whilst nice, I barely use it and instinctively use the beepers.
Standard stereo in the 488 is much better than in the 458 (JBL far better in the earlier car).
Seats were the biggest talking point in 458s, people telling you that if your car didn’t have them it was worth £10k less. I never bothered in the 458 but have them in the 488. To my surprise, they’re very comfortable for me, it’s a body shape thing, so try them out. As said before only comfort seats are electric, or both electric and heated. Factor that in.
A two-tone body is nice, too.
Essentials are limited, in my humble view, to shields, forged rims and c/f wheel. Everything else is just personal preference.
I don’t like red Ferraris, others do. Others love lots and lots of carbon, I think it looks plasticky.
I’ve not had lift on any Ferrari and in five years, have never grounded out. I have a parking camera and, whilst nice, I barely use it and instinctively use the beepers.
Standard stereo in the 488 is much better than in the 458 (JBL far better in the earlier car).
Seats were the biggest talking point in 458s, people telling you that if your car didn’t have them it was worth £10k less. I never bothered in the 458 but have them in the 488. To my surprise, they’re very comfortable for me, it’s a body shape thing, so try them out. As said before only comfort seats are electric, or both electric and heated. Factor that in.
A two-tone body is nice, too.
As above on essentials.
On a two tone body, I had my roof wrapped. Looks just as good as the £8k? official option.
Can't upload so link here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CUcrhuv2ddC7optt5
On a two tone body, I had my roof wrapped. Looks just as good as the £8k? official option.
Can't upload so link here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CUcrhuv2ddC7optt5
MingtheMerciless said:
As above on essentials.
On a two tone body, I had my roof wrapped. Looks just as good as the £8k? official option.
Can't upload so link here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CUcrhuv2ddC7optt5
Factory option is a crazy price. I wouldn’t spec it either; I’d wrap it too! On a two tone body, I had my roof wrapped. Looks just as good as the £8k? official option.
Can't upload so link here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CUcrhuv2ddC7optt5
ANOpax said:
Actually, when you come to trade in a red car, dealers will pull your trousers down because "we have too many red cars in stock right now."
Any other colour and it's "yeah, it's not a good colour for resale."
Heads they win, tails you lose.
So just buy the car you want, enjoy it and to hell with the resale. And if resale value is an issue then I'd respectfully suggest that you should never have bought an Aston
Lol re Aston depreciation, Ive only owned it a few months so hopefully wont be too savage. Ace car so worth whatever I lose !Any other colour and it's "yeah, it's not a good colour for resale."
Heads they win, tails you lose.
So just buy the car you want, enjoy it and to hell with the resale. And if resale value is an issue then I'd respectfully suggest that you should never have bought an Aston
turboman786 said:
ANOpax said:
Actually, when you come to trade in a red car, dealers will pull your trousers down because "we have too many red cars in stock right now."
Any other colour and it's "yeah, it's not a good colour for resale."
Heads they win, tails you lose.
So just buy the car you want, enjoy it and to hell with the resale. And if resale value is an issue then I'd respectfully suggest that you should never have bought an Aston
Lol re Aston depreciation, Ive only owned it a few months so hopefully wont be too savage. Ace car so worth whatever I lose !Any other colour and it's "yeah, it's not a good colour for resale."
Heads they win, tails you lose.
So just buy the car you want, enjoy it and to hell with the resale. And if resale value is an issue then I'd respectfully suggest that you should never have bought an Aston
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