Anr Reason for not having Clear Engine Cover on 458 Spider?

All you have to do is look at it and you'll know exactly why.

The roof covers the engine when it is folded down.

They have to put a protective cover between the engine and the roof or the roof and headliner will boil/burn when you pop the roof back up. Imagine how hot the roof will be if left directly over the engine to cook.

It's impossible to have it in clear.

 

I thought the roof fit in a compartment in front of the engine? Still seems they could put a clear glass piece between the two engine vents? Well, looks like you would only see about 1/2 the engine with the top up or down:

http://www.radical-mag.com/erfahrungen/fahrbericht-ferrari-458-spider/seite_3-4

 

It's directly over the engine near the front. But, it doesn't matter exactly where. It's close enough to reach hundreds of degrees. Just try to touch the top of your engine after it runs for a while. Ouch!

They have to comparmentalize the roof storage area from the engine heat. That's why there is no glass cover.

 

Doesn't matter, though. They did a great job with the styling on the new cover.

 

Totally and completely agree. I very much like it. And, I can't see the engine when I'm sitting in the car anyway!

I do worry about increased maintenance costs though. There seems like a lot to remove if someone has to work on the engine. And, when you lift the rear deck, it's not very attractive what you see there -- it's mainly the airbox.

Oh well... such is the sacrifice for wind in the hair and bugs in the teeth!

 

I also think it's quite cool having the glass on the coupe and the deck on the spider. Gives another distinction between the two cars and adds to the personality of each.

 

Well the ferrari engineers wanted something simple quick and reliable( unlike 360 spyder @ 430) which was achieved but that left a lot of people disapointed ( at least 50/50) for the lack of clear engine cover which was next to impossible to do in the actual set up, the other "bad thing" is that when the top is down the back pillars are so big that it makes the car look like a t top instead of a conv. and also you can not get to the entire engine with the top down but i think overall is a awesome car, if i would be in a market for a 458 , the coupe will be my choice hands down , congrats to all the 458 italia coupe owners it was a smart choice.....

 

Before I start, I should say I have a 458 coupe, and am an ex 430 spider owner. However, I am sad the 458 spyder is not what i wanted. The lack of engine view i do not like, plus it looks like a gts targa not a proper spider. I mean I will get a 458 spider, but it is as if Ferrari have not listened to owners. What they have done is given a coupe owner a open air experience, and made their car obsolete. But have not given the unique spider experience. In some ways, I think I should get a mint 430 Spyder and keep the 458 coupe. The 458 spider will sell, but even a cali looks a proper cabrio in this context. I think Ferrari missed a trick here, and did not listen to customers and thought it knew better imho.

 

If it was obsolete, why am I buying one? The Italia appeals more to me than the Spider, and I am not the only one.


Onno

 

They are apples and oranges. There is no way one obsoletes the other any differently than spiders and coupes have done in the past.

No one said in the past they wouldn't buy a spider because it had a soft top. They wouldn't by one because they don't like convertibles or don't think the extra cost, weight, lack of performance, or changes to the looks were worth it.

It's no different than the 458 spider.

 

I think on the 458 spider the designers skipped the glass cover to allow for more design features on the rear of the car. I wonder if Ferrari will pass on the glass engine cover in the future to allow for more surface area for aero and design. With the glass, it seems to limit what they can do, with it taking up a good portion of the car behind the cockpit. I do like being able to see the engine, however.

 

You said it better than i did and are so right , the 360 @430 spyders are the real conv ferraris

 

With all due respect here, THIS is what is important to you? Showing off an engine as you drive around?

What if the engine never was exposed ever in previous models? Would you still be disappointed? Is the 355 spider not a worthy car because it's engine is covered?

And, this is not a targa. A targa has a partial roof over the rear and a solid glass window. When you remove the entire top and rear window, that's a convertible.

Sorry, whining about a glass cover sounds pretty petty to me.

But, I'm glad you don't like it. I'll get mine sooner.

 

Funny, you forgot about the 512 TR too. Maybe I should post a fake thread about how I hate the looks of the Spider, then we can both get on the waiting list sooner?

 

Glass panels are for top load washing machines now.

 

Why don't they make a clear 458 Spider? It could be like Wonder Womans invisible Jet.

 

The Wall Street Journal auto correspondent writes that the Spyder looks better than the Berlinetta ... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203699404577042422944306572.html

The Spyder is a very nice styling effort for a mid engine retractable hard top sports car. But it is just not as well integrated as the Berlinetta.

 

I always wanted a new Daytona, i also wanted a new 512 bb, i also wanted a Dino, you know the type of thing that didn’t breakdown or burn all the time! Then there was the Italia 458” with flames but that’s been done!” & there you have it, or do you? You see the answer is for those of us who prefer spider, Spyder, Convertables , Droptops, wind in the hair, see the sky not only on a track, showoff, L.A., cote d’azure , Italian Rivera, not banging your head or just the best available Ferrari on the market WITHOUT the roof! Well as BBR said yesterday & I have tried to say for months …HOLY *** it’s finally here .It just so happens that IMHO the only way to go is … A MODERN DINO… homage to a long ,too long lost son perhaps? Yes yes retro blab la & all but the only way to add to the great Italia people, in those places that nobody knows of it’s called … change… different… don’t be afraid !
The 458 spider is the quintessential DINO. Yes it takes time but even I notice that some of my own detractors are coming to accept it! … & that’s a good sign my friends a good sign indeed for all of us.
& I don’t even want to be mayor again! PS: I still think this type of conversation should be on :subject spider : thread spider. thankyou.