Some 458 Spider news

I usually stop in at Lake Forest whenever I am in that part of the country, and this time I actually went by to see if they had a Mclaren in yet. They don't, just a rolling chasis which was still pretty interesting. I asked about the 458 spider and the salesman told me that "our people have seen it and it is definitely a folding hard top." I asked him if he thought that would hurt coupe sales since a hard top converible avoids most of the pitfalls of a standard spider. He said apparently Ferrari thinks it will because our coupe allotment was reduced by 20% for next year. He has been a very reliable source in the past.

 

"Hurt" is such a negative term. "Offset" seems more appropriate. I don't think anyone is expecting most people to buy both a coupe and a spider - although some people do ultimately end up with both.

 

I know in the past I never considered a spider because I do a lot of track days and they are generally not permitted. A folding hard top gives you the benefit of top down driving on sunny days yet is still trackable. With the exception of cost why get a coupe?

 

Weight, and therefore performance.
Structural rigidity, and therefore handling and ride.

And sometimes aesthetics, though looks are personal.

 

Some of us never want the wind in our hair.

 

Mitch- That is because some of us have no hair, me included.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Weight will only be about 150 -200 lbs which is irrelevant in the hands of occasional track day amateurs who can't drive anywhere near 10/10ths anyway. It may have some structural rigidity advantages but certainly not as great as with a true soft top.

 

This pretty much would be a description of myself. I cannot drive the car near the limit and the "extra" weight to me would not be noticeable in terms of lap times and overall feel. I am the type of buyer who wouldn't even think twice about a folding hardtop over the coupe. Knowing that I get a real roof and the option to put it down, makes the choice very easy. Like you said except for the price, you really get the best of both worlds.

The next guy may want the wind in his hair. Not that you buy the car for him anyway.

 

I think once you have bobbed the top off, the chassis will never be as structurally sound, hard-convertible, soft-convertibble, or GTS. Once the top is no longer carrying structural loads, the chassis is simply less stiff.

 

I feel exactly the same. This is the first time I am thinking spider, and that's a plus for Ferrari in my opinion.

 

I will play devils advocate here:

While none of us drives at 10/10s ALL of us experience the aesthetics of the car every time we drive it. Based upon 2 facts, I suspect the spyder will not be as visually striking as the coupe:

1) It will have no glass cover for the engine (as an owner I can tell you that this never ceases to amaze people)

2) The lines of the car will deviate from those of the coupe. On FC, with all of the differences of opinion, there is near unanimity on the beauty of the 458. Any deviation from that body, by my estimation, will look inferior.

The coupe is dead - long live the coupe!

 

I will take soft top all day long for a spider- lighter, easier to fold and the new multilayer lining tops are quiet and secure. If i want, I will get a true coupe that has not been chopped up.

 

I know to me, a Ferrari is meant to be a race car on the road and a convertible just does not give me that feeling........

Coupe all the way for me.

 

You're right. It's a good thing Ferrari doesn't make open top race cars. That would be terrible
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Because maybe you live in connecticut, Minnesota, Canada, etc (as well as countries where e cold can freeze your balls to the size of dimes) and have little to no use for a drop top?

 

I wonder when you add the spyder allotment to the reduced coupe allotment whether you will have more cars available for 2012?

 

Actually I live in the South, and my attachments are much larger than yours. If you would have read the thread before being a smart ass it clearly said that standard spiders aren't permitted for most track events.

 

Mike, not sure why you suggest I'm being a smart ass nor do I get the track reference. I'm speaking about being in cold weather areas and the lack of desire for a drop top. Check your attitude at the door and grow some reading compression. Now, by the way, I am being a smart ass

 

If you used the word "you" in a collective sense and not personally then no offense was intended and none is taken.

 

LOL

 

This news does not please me. I'm not sure what it is but folding hardtops should stay on GTs.

 

+1

 

haha oh man... nice