California Vs 458 as an Every Day Car?

Hi Guys,

I am in the process of trying to spec a California order that I have placed for May delivery (updated version), and you guys have been really helpful in guiding me with options. However in the back of my head I am thinking Should I get a 458 instead.. here are thoughts that keep going around in my head..:

Background: I have had a Bentley GT as my only car for 6 years and wanted something different with responsiveness and fun to drive.

1) To be honest I much prefer the looks of the 458 to the California.

2) However I plan to have only one car, so it needs to be to reliable enough to drive every day to work and back (25 mins drive each way) and for going out in evenings and driving around town in weekends. (I don't really do many long stretch journeys). Is a 458 really an every day driving car and reliable enough to not break down.. as being an only car I don't want to be stranded.

3) Price difference is not too much between the 458 and California, £175k for a well specced California and about £205k for well specced 458. so about £25k-£30k price difference.

4) I have always wanted a convertible and like the California hard top convertible feature, I could go for the 458 spider but earliest delivery I could get would be Dec 2012 (and thats to long to wait)

5) Am I better of buying a pre-owned California, saving £50k then maybe 2 years from now buying a spider? or just go for it with the new California.

6) 458 is a newer model, fewer on the road and turns more heads (I guess that's some part of the reason of buying a Ferrari).


I know a lot of options.. but its a big decision and usually like to stick with my car for about 4 years..
Let me know if you guys have any thoughts any??
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Everyone is different but personally I wouldn't go down the route you are planning on going.

For daily driving I just don't see why you would take a Ferrari. It gets banged-up, mothers with trolleys run into the side of your car, mud gets into the interior as you run for shelter from that rainstorm, the appeal of a Ferrari gets lost sitting in traffic jams every day, they are awkward to park because of the massive doors and car width, they have massive cost per km compared to other cars and they are simply not as reliable as high-volume cars.

I personally drive a Porsche Cayman S and BMW 335i daily and my Ferraris are for special times: the weekend, holidays and so on. It's easy to rent or buy a garage if you don't have storage space at home. A 2nd hand BMW or Porsche will cost fractions of the Ferrari, have limited depreciation, be more reliable, and frankly generally also nicer to be in. Ferraris are not designed for commuting, they are designed to go fast. So for me there is no contest. The DD is just there to get me where I need to go with in comfort. In short - I think you're trying to get everything you ever want from just one car, and that car doesn't exist.

Anyway, getting back to your questions: if you really want a drop-top then I think a Cali now and waiting for the 458 Spider is a good choice, especially if you prefer the looks of the 458. I would go second-hand on the Cali as the model is a bit older now and a restyling is coming up - a sure-fire way of saying the next model can't be too far out. I can recommend going for a new 458 Spider - a gorgeous machine and specifying it to your own specifications is a wonderful process.

If you go that route, I would buy the 2nd-hand Cali and immediately also put my deposit down for the 458 Spider to get my name in the queue.


Onno

 

Well in an ideal world I would rent or buy a garage in town and get a 458 spider and a new shape 2012 Range Rover for an everyday car.

So might make make more sense to buy a 2nd Hand Cali now then wait a year or two and swap the Cali for the 458 spider. Then buy a Range as well as an every day car?

 

It sounds like you live in a major UK conurbation - how is a big heavy Rangey compatible with 'responsiveness and fun to drive' in the 25 minute commute - wouldn't a Fiat 500 Abarth be more appropriate and sixty grand cheaper ?

 

Cause plan to have kids within 2 years.. Range Rover as an addition to the 458 will be good for that and for passengers etc. and a comfortable drive when the 458 may get too difficult for everyday use.

 

Sounds like a good idea to me.... I live in London and drive my Cali to work everyday though and it's not a problem at all as a DD.
I have my kids in the back as well pretty often ;-)

 

I don't see how you could live with a 458 every day. For a commuter car the Cali is better because you sit up higher, you have a very nice sized trunk and a much better (although not great) multimedia system. I have also had two passengers in the car in a pinch.

I am curious to know if you enjoy your commute. I have never worked in London but in Hong Kong I use a driver. Driving a Ferrari in stop and go traffic is not that much fun. If it is a combination of long open stretches and traffic then it is probably worth it but if it is traffic 70 or 80 percent of the time I would get a comfortable commuter car and a 458 for the weekends.

 

That sounds like a plan. Two big benefits; (i) you get to drive a Ferrari now(!), (ii) you get to own/try both the Cali and a 458 spider later.

Sounds like a win/win to me.

 

Don't see why not. No problem for me despite I own both. The 458 is more everyday to me than the California. The trunk is bigger than the Cali and it sounds better, drives better and feels better. I had qualms when getting the 458 but after getting it, I couldn't get my hands off it and it makes me want to drive it more to work everyday. Now it's my DD (I have a JEEP but I don't even wanna drive that). I drive it monday to sunday and my JEEP is left to rot. When I had my Cali, I'd drive my JEEP more. What does that tell you? It is a sin not to use the 458, such a wonderful car, more. Love it. Totally everyday no problem and it's the best of Ferraris distilled into the best everyday package. It is a looker and a worker. That's just me but I have had both but now only drive the 458.

 

BTW, no problem for Thomas Magnum. He drives his ROBIN 1 308 as a daily. I drive my 458 daily.

Believe it or not, since delivery to now everyday no problem. ZERO problem. The 911 I once had PDK C4S failed to start and had a bulb out. So far, very reliable. I plan to put 30K km on her and then see. It's a very reliable car. Perhaps I am lucky.

 

I can understand the joy derived in driving the 458 as a DD, but how does it handle the changing conditions of the roads? In the Philly area I would be concerned about the uneven surfaces and "bottoming" out. The Cali sits higher than the 458 and should not have a problem.

I would not want to have to enter parking lots on an angle or fear hitting one of our famous potholes only to find a part of the car laying in the road. Curious if any 458 owners have had any problems in similar areas.

 

Wasn't the Cali designed to be a dd?

 

I own both as well and I don't agree. Also I in no way see how the 458 has a bigger trunk. Even with the top down I think the California has more. Also the California has a back seat. I agree that the 458 sounds better but I believe that the California sounds better around down because those butterfly valves open up at a lower RPM.

As an every day driver I think it depends on your commute and your personal preference. I have my 458 months before my California and the Cali is the one I drive the most of the time.

 

Just did a quick search and found that 458 trunk listed as 8.1 vs Cali 12 cubic ft (granted probably with top up). Plus there's the back seat or bench area for extra stowing.

 

More hills and more curbs over here. Again, perhaps I am biased, the 458 has excellent clearance. No problem at all. Touch wood. The GT3 911 will scrape the bottom front lip more but no, so far so good... so far excellent handling, quality and when in auto light on throttle excellent in traffic. The gearbox is extremely smooth. If you have ever driven the E gear on Gallardo and Audi R8, you will know what driving in auto for those would be like... quite neck breaking. I would never use a Gallardo as a daily but 458 is absolutely a joy in auto. Traffic jam, is a joy for others to admire a static art. So far so good. Some would complain the 458 sits too high with a large gap on wheel arch.

 

Agree. However, the 458 is very everyday as well with usability kept in mind. I mean it. Comparing to the doors of the McLaren, the 458 is way more usable. The McLaren needs a contortionist driver and passenger to get in. Not fun. The SLR's grooved tub is also a pain to get in. I'd say Ferrari had really put a lot of effort into making the 458 a DD supercar. I really m overjoyed and think that this is the best everyday supercar for me. It's definitely the best purchase ever in my life so far. I have bought 911s and others as well as California and none had ever given me more joy and happiness than my 458. Hence, I just want to share my joy. I am gonna use it as a DD.

 

It's quite personal I think. You have good points. However, never had I ever once used my backseats at all. Hence it is quite hard for anyone to comprehend how a Mid Engine Supercar can be a DD but this is as good as it gets.

 

Best thing to know which one would be a better daily driver, I did a Ferrari experience. I drove some 458's on the track, albeit on a rainy day and realized that the suspension and comfort was something I could drive frequently. I think I would prefer a 458 Spider.

As a daily driver for me, they both suck because I feel to flashy driving a Ferrari every day. Been listening to the news lately talking about the TOP 1% earners and the Occupy Wall Street. The way the news protrays it, I am going to get spat on or worse when I get out of my car. Going to have to keep the top up.

A Ferrari is my frequent driver, but not daily driver. Going to grocery store for milk, taking my kid to school, going to my kids friends birthday party, no Ferrari. I just drive a more modest car then, like a Porsche, "ugly squashed beetle" as Jeremy Clarkson calls it.

 

I work in downtown NY, Few blocks away from zuccotti park. I had every intention of ocasionaly driving the Cali to work, but have seconds thoughts due to the points you raised. I wonder if I should have just got a Maserati instead.

 

If you want a convertible, the California is a good car for everyday. Of course, some folks also have 458 and drive them too. Or you could wait until the 458 Spyder comes out. I would rather have a Maserati or Aston Martin to daily drive and keep the F-car for weekends.

 

Short and simple, I would say go for the 458.

 

Re: Agree. Very much agree on the OCCUPY WALLSTREET part and lately due to global financial woes there have been many many hatred towards bankers and top earners (albeit unfortunate) and there were times when green peace activist would burn hummers. The best way is to drive a TESLA or politically correct ride - Lexus Hybrid and PRIUS.

Re: There has also been a revolution in that there's an anti-consumerism and anti-capitalism wave around town when people shy away from luxury and go no frill. I do observe this trend. What used to be luxury and cool like wearing Gucci loafers and Prada suits (bling times)is trending towards borderline very 80s/90s and better left to the developing countries or others like India and UAE. This is also a trend, people go tees and jeans and enviro and shy away from luxury.

The California is a lot more forgiving on the suspension. And now they say McLaren and SLS are everyday cars? The look at me doors? Thanks but no thank you. Well nonetheless, it is a tad comical either way to brand California and 458 as everyday. Let's try Prius and Lexus.

 

Obliged to agree. 458, the best supercar money can buy currently (hyper car aside). After owning a 458, I don't think I have any other desires for other rides. Perhaps an Aventador but certainly not a Bugatti. 458 any day over Bugatti and even Pagani for me. This one is everything distilled up to the most usable daily dose for a supercar. Enzo for everyday, anyone?

 

Bugatti, no ... way powerful and probably very fun to drive but not anywhere near as beautiful as a 458 or Cali, or Enzo for that matter.

 

I don't drive my Ferarris to the office but I only go there 0-3 times a week so I consider my California a daily driver. They are flashy and embarrassing to show up in if you are going to be meeting people you know.

As for Occupy Wall Street, I don't really care what random strangers think. I have had $0 in stocks or any other sort of managed investment portfolio since the Dot Com Bubble and the richest 1% is an enormous group. The guy in a current body style 911 or S-Class are all likely the richest 1%. I earned my money and I am going to drive what I like. Maybe some people earned their money by stepping on the throats of the poor and middle class but not me.