Given my past experience with the build quality of Ferraris, I would say just wait a few years and a few thousand miles. Your 458 will eventually start vibrating at idle
Exactly. Earlier cars sound good without going 80 mph on the street. I cannot understand why Ferrari took a step backward from the 430/Scuderia in sound quality. An aftermarket solution is needed. But that still leaves the smooth and tame idling. Around town the 458 feels just like the California, which is too refined for a race bred machine. The 458 can be fun but only when going very fast, otherwise it is rather boring. Come on Ferrari, put the excitement back in!!!
50 to 100 years from now, when everything goes electric, will anyone be buying Ferraris? What really defines a Ferrari? Is it the sound of the exhaust, rough idle and head jerking / mechanical shifts? Are the electronics, the double-clutch and "greenness" destroying the V8 line? Let's just hope the EPA never passes legislation that all new cars need to operate below a certain decibel level. If the 458's successor is as quiet as a Lexus, will people buy it? I've read quite a number of posts from people who are sad to have had to trade-in/sell their 430 to get a 458. Are these people just buying the 458 because it's newer and new owners say how great it is? What's wrong with just keeping the 430? It's still an awesome car. People don't have to give in to having the latest and greatest. It seems that many would be happier if they ripped out the 458's guts and replaced it with a Scud's. We all know that's not going to happen - and Maranello isn't going to take a step "backward" and go retro on us with the 458's successor. I really hope the V8 line doesn't turn into a neutered lion with a muzzle, because then there would be no point in buying a Ferrari other than to just say you drive a Ferrari. If I want a car that is well-behaved, as comfy as a couch and quiet, I might as well buy something else - like a Porsche. LOL
People, including me, just assumed the new model must be better than the previous one in every way. It is indeed better in some ways but in other measures it is a step backward. If the sound and vibrating idle of the 430 is put into the 458, I would be very happy but this for sure will not happen.
Just so some of you reading this will know there are two trains of thought on the exhaust of the 458. I have been reading on F-chat for some time that some, but not all are disappointed in the sound and the civility of the 458. Last Summer after experiencing the 458 for two days at the Ferrari Driving Experience, I came under the spell of the screaming exhaust note of the 458 at 7K to 9K. I traded my 430 two weeks after the FDE and did everthing I could to get bumped up the list to get a 458. I got my 458 a couple weeks ago and have been busy putting break-in miles on the car. In short this car is amazing. I opted for the upgraded stereo with planar speakers, which the exhaust can drown out if you like Driving this car on twisty hilly roads is absolutely the most fun you can have with your clothes on. The exhaust note can be managed to suit your whim. You can make the car as quiet as a Lexus or you can give it some of the characteristics of an race car. It really is up to you and how you select the behavior of the car and then driver input makes a big difference. I am not sure some realize how much driver input can effect the way the car drives. And there are times when you do want it to be quiet. Like when you are sitting at the stop light directly in front of the local police station. But make no mistake about it, this car is capable of incredible speed. I took it on a 300 mile ride thru the hills of southern Indiana yesterday. I drove on roads that I am intimately familiar with. I have been on these roads since the 70s and some of the twisties that I took in the 458, I was doing it in some cases 20 to 30 MPH faster than I had ever done them before. This car goes where you point it, no muss, no fuss, but absolutely thrilling and addictive in its application. Then just as fast as it accelerates, you can hammer the brakes and select city or sport mode and the car becomes almost docile. This car can truely become whatever you want it to be. A track beast or a DD to the opera. There just isn't anything this car can't do if asked. I love the sound when it is loud and I love the quiet that lets me talk and listen to music, I love everything about this cars exhaust so far. I for one think the ability to quiet itself is an asset not a liability, but regardless of what others say, the bottom line is that the 458 Italia is way better than any of the 5 Ferraris that I have owned previously and the dozen or so that I have had the pleasure of driving in the past. And don't get me wrong I loved my 308, 355s, 512 TR, 430, but this car is literally on another level. Anyway, before you decide which exhaust note you like in your 458 it really helps to experience both loud and soft with a purpose in mind, a track and a nice cruise really is a must and maybe more than once. But hey, if you like a loud obnoxious exhaust all the time you can get a tuner car with big cans and it is a lot cheaper
Yes, the 458 is supposed to be civil around town and exhilerating on the twisties, but in practice this change in behavior is executed poorly. In either sport or race mode, idle and slow speeds are too quiet. Accelerating moderately opens the bypass and causes a sharp increase in noise level. Race mode is more sensitive to throttle movements in changing exhaust behavior. Either mode requires quite a bit of speed before the exhaust sounds good, but the required speed is too much around town. If there is no speed limit enforcement I would drive with the throttle way down all the time but this is not the world we live in. Ideally, the settings should be: Comfort - quiet exhaust at all times and soft suspension. Race - loud exhaust at all times and firm suspension. An aftermarket switch can be installed to make the exhaust either quiet or loud, but when the bypass is open all the time the stock exhaust doesn't sound good until it is at high revs. An aftermarket exhaust with better sound quality is needed.
Even though I don't have mine yet, let's face it, "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. My buddy just picked up an R8 V10 and thinks it sounds incredible. When we took it for a ride, I had to open the window to hear any exhaust. LOL
It depends on the experience level of the owner. When I picked up my Infiniti G37S daily driver, the salesman asked me if I like the sporty exhaust, but I thought it sounded more like a truck.
You're definately correct, which is the point I was making. I've owned 55 new cars and many were high performance sport cars, and actually think the sound of the G37 is awesome. Again, it ain't no 430, but i still find it very pleasing. Anyway, I reserve my 458 opinion until I actually have the car, which shouldn't be more that a couple of months from now.
I've had mine for 3 months and absolutely love the car. Best looking Ferrari EVER, in my opinion. I love the effortless, immediate shifts thru the gears. The steering feels way more immediate and controlled than the 430. Feels safer than the 430. The computer compensates for my deficiencies. If I want the thrill ride and "RISK" I can always turn off the settings on the manettino. FAST... FAST... FAST... Did I say the car if F-ING FAST?! The sound is monstrous, it's sweet music till my ears. EXCEPT the idle sound and low rpm sound is too silent. If I want quiet and need to make a call on the blue tooth which is great as well, I can put it in sport mode. I want race mode to be completely open (valve wise and sound wise) Getting to figure out all the entertainment stuff and electronics was a little annoying but learnable. Fillin up on gas... PAIN IN THE ASS! The scent of the brand new italian stallion... irreplaceable. Wish I could bottle it up and sell it, I'd be a billionaire! Overall, spectacular machine!
How does that make sense? The S5 Cab (with the SC V6) is one of the smoothest cars I've ever driven. I know the 458 is more refined than 430 etc...but you might have overstretched with this statement.
I'm in the "absolutely love the car catagory" with just over 2000 miles including Sebring but am disappointed with some quality issues I've experienced. Bad cell in battery after 200 miles and required a flat bed to the dealer and now a dead AC which puts it at the dealer for another week and a half. I previously reported on the battery cover velco is a piece of s--- and won't stay up without string holding it. Any other issues out there?
My front lifter has an intermittent failure that the dealer is having trouble tracking down, the brake calipers leaked after two track sessions and are awaiting replacement under warranty, the windshield washer fluid bubbled out of the hood during track sessions but the dealer offers no fix, the bluetooth phone interface doesn't work half the time but the dealer offers no fix, and inability to fill up with gas unless the bellows on the nozzle is pulled back. Same old Ferrari quality issues that make these cars so full of the "character" that car journalists love so much.
Front lifter is a luxury and reboots of the system software always fix them anyway. Brake Calipers leaking means you are using the brakes too much, downshift before the brake zone, leaks will go away. Windshield washer fluid bubbling is the easiest to fix. Just replace with POW.... plain old water Bluetooth phone interface, just turn it off, it won't act up anymore and you won't be tempted to break the law by texting while driving And gas nozzle bellow pull back is easy, just buy gas in a state that doesn't use bellows, which I believe is most states As for other Ferrari quality issues......that is what makes a Ferrari a Ferrari......okay I got nothin Sorry, started this post with just the suggestion of replacing windshield washer fluid with water and it just got away from me
Sorry, but there's no such thing as using your brakes too much. You may well not be driving your car as well as you might but your brakes, of all things, should be able to take as much use as you give them without leaking.
Brake problems? Wow, really hope that they get on it asap. 560hp with leaky brake caliper/lines not funny at all.
All makes and models have issues. Regardless of if you spent $300K or $12K, all issues are a hassle to deal with and can ruin your day - and if your brakes don't work, you could be killed!
I am with you....I picked up a new M3 Sedan and have rattles, gas doesnt go in at most stations unless manually manipulating the spout, keyless entry is more like no entry, and so on. Doesnt matter what the price of the car is, all are annoyances. Makes me want to drive a souless Honda.
I certainly get what you guys are saying, but my 2008 430 and my 2010 M3 have never had a singlle thing on the fix it list. Crazy, but true! I wish they were all this good.
I had a few small problems with my 1999 Modena, after that it's been 6 more Ferrari's with not single issue with any of them. A little lucky I presume and the fact that I never let them just sit around probably has something to do with it.
I can find any info on that in the PDF manual; I still have a couple weeks to finalize my options I would appreciate any additional info on this as well as other owners feed back.
My car has the white tach. Correct, the back lighting is only available when the main lights are on or basically at night. Would I order the white tach again.... YES! Rb
