Ferrari 458 Speciale vs Mclaren 650s review | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Ferrari 458 Speciale vs Mclaren 650s review

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by tekaefixe, May 2, 2014.

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  1. tekaefixe

    tekaefixe Formula 3

    May 10, 2012
    1,201
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    Full Name:
    Paulo
    No news yet?
     
  2. Stefan_009

    Stefan_009 Formula Junior

    Aug 10, 2008
    994
    Boston area, MA
    Full Name:
    Stefan
    Does anyone really have to? Even from outside the car the McLarens sound like they are redlining at 4000rpms. It's a sad noise and the re-design was a slap to P1 owners.
     
  3. kverges

    kverges F1 Rookie

    Nov 18, 2003
    3,179
    Dallas
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    Keith Verges
    Facetiousness is wasted here.
     
  4. Shack

    Shack F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 2, 2005
    2,616
    Earth
    Why not just change your house :)
     
  5. Need4Spd

    Need4Spd F1 Veteran

    Feb 24, 2007
    6,678
    Silicon Valley
    I'm told by my track hound friends the 650s is faster than a 458 Challenge.
     
  6. ar_es

    ar_es Formula 3

    Jun 6, 2013
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    Ares

    Quite +1


    Sent from my F430 using Tapatalk.
     
  7. Entropy

    Entropy Formula 3
    Owner

    Jul 10, 2008
    2,149
    I would find that hard to believe. Ferrari v. McLaren aside, a Challenge car is much lighter, has a higher power-to-weight ratio, race setup, incredible brakes, etc etc.

    A "regular" Italia has a higher top speed than a Challenge car, but that is down to gearing, though the Evo is likely slower now given the wing.

    However, any direct comparison needs to be "same driver, same day, same conditions". No doubt a great driver in a 650 would beat a novice in a 458C - lots of variables make for endless comparison debates on forums.

    Also recalling that post a while back about a Speciale turning faster lap times than a 458C field, remember some race tracks slow down 2-3-4 seconds as track conditions change, etc etc. Sticker tires are worth 1-2 seconds on some tracks, 20 degrees of ambient temp make for different real power available, etc etc

    Haven driven all of these cars now on a track, it's hard to "beat" a "real" race car with similar specs - though I have not tried the McLaren GT3 version. Having said that, I would not want to even try a long grocery run in a 458C Evo car.
     
  8. MisterMaranello

    MisterMaranello F1 Rookie

    Apr 5, 2011
    3,315
    Europe
    BS

    In addition to the points made by Entropy, you have road tires v slicks.

    Remember even the McLaren P1 is not faster than the 12C GT3 around circuits such as Spa! Same goes with 599XX v 458 GT3 etc.
     
  9. treynor

    treynor Formula Junior

    Dec 6, 2003
    425
    Texas
    Full Name:
    Ben
    Lap record at Laguna Seca in a pre-EVO 458 Challenge is 1:28.1 and from what we saw at Sonoma, you could expect 2-2.5 secs/lap improvement from the 458Ch EVO. Laptime record for the (pre-upgrade) 12C is 1:34.5. 6.4 seconds/lap is a chasm.

    I like the 650S as much as anyone - fabulous car, great evolution of the 12C. But same day, same driver, it's not going to hang with a 458 Challenge on any track I'm familiar with.
     
  10. dmundy

    dmundy Formula 3
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    Sep 11, 2010
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    Arthur Dent
    Will be addressed in a moment.

    Wow... Just wow...

    Pretty sure (and by pretty sure I mean I know damn well) Keith can have whatever he wants. Lots of people who can chose either have and will pick McLaren. I haven't touched a 650s but the 12c was utterly brilliant.

    Look at it this way, the wonder of the internet has turned your original simply smartass post into something truly epic! Lol!!!!!
     
  11. Surfah

    Surfah F1 Rookie

    Dec 20, 2011
    3,144

    I need a 3 car garage this is true😉
     
  12. Caribbean458

    Caribbean458 Karting

    Apr 19, 2014
    115
    Trinidad and Tobago
    Having driven the 12c and the 458, I can easily say that the mclaren really does not have the soul that a 458 does. It could be how much faster, it really just didn't make me feel the way I felt in that ferrari. I am pretty positive the 650s would be no different.
     
  13. oedipol

    oedipol Karting

    Apr 7, 2012
    150
    HKG
    I had the chance of driving both the speciale and 650s within a week. Before i drive, I had great expectation for 650s bcos the 12c was so good. However, after driving both, I was not impressed by the 650s. Speciale was wonderfully communicative, very sharp at everything . It just feels like a sharpened and better 458. On the other hand, the 650s is a good car, immerse traction, precise steering, throughly high-tech. However, it lacks the wonderful engine noise of the speciale and all the feelings of a emotional machine. The 650s is good but sterile, it doesn't evoke the same emotions as a Ferrari. The 650s may be faster but I would pick speciale any time, any day.
     
  14. bigblock737

    bigblock737 Formula Junior

    Dec 19, 2013
    711
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    Andy B.
    Had the chance to get a ride on a Challenge yesterday. It's an experience you will never forget. The g-forces in turns are unbelievable. I am sure there is only maybe a handful of street-cars that manage to be faster on track - and they are for sure much more expensive than a Challenge.
    On the track I did 1:43 with my Speciale, a real good driver could maybe go slightly below 1:40. In a 997 GT3 Cup they go below 1:33 and a Challenge is definitely faster than a 997 Cup.
    No way the 650s is 10 sec faster than a Speciale, never ever...
     
  15. treynor

    treynor Formula Junior

    Dec 6, 2003
    425
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    Ben
    Yah, let's be clear. The 650S has a 70HP advantage over the 458 Challenge, but it's not enough to make up the massive traction and aero deficit. The 458 Challenge cars just ran consistent 1:27s at Laguna a few weeks ago - I've never seen a 650S get below 1:30 there (in fact, I believe they'll run 1:33 in a pro's hands). For reference, the McLaren GT Sprint ran 1:27 at Laguna as well with a pro driver - is anyone (credible) claiming the 650S is faster than the GT Sprint at the track?
     
  16. Need4Spd

    Need4Spd F1 Veteran

    Feb 24, 2007
    6,678
    Silicon Valley
    My friends were talking about last year's Challenge cars. The newer cars are faster (more aero and better stick, but slightly slower down the straights). But in terms of feel, Ferrari every time.
     
  17. redcaruser

    redcaruser Formula 3
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    Apr 8, 2012
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    +1

    You know the stories of a friend from a friend who had a friend, and the friend of this friend heard that the 650s with its 35000hp in the rear was able to fly to the moon and back faster than Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins? ;)
     
  18. bigblock737

    bigblock737 Formula Junior

    Dec 19, 2013
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    Andy B.

    Sure you can go faster on the straight than a Challenge... But - at the point where I had to hit brakes with my Speciale the guy in the Challenge was going one gear up ;)
     
  19. treynor

    treynor Formula Junior

    Dec 6, 2003
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    Ben
    The outcome remains the same however? The older challenge cars were still under 1:30 when they ran at Laguna last year...

    I am trying to politely say that your friends are mistaken :)
     
  20. Need4Spd

    Need4Spd F1 Veteran

    Feb 24, 2007
    6,678
    Silicon Valley
    Ok, well, if you insist!
     
  21. noone1

    noone1 F1 Rookie
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    Jan 21, 2008
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    I really doubt a 650S is going to compete with a near race car on slicks. I don't think Challenege cars are quite what GT3 cars are, but they are still a heck of a lot closer to race cars than a 650S.

    I'd be shocked if the 650S was as quick as a Sprint or Challenge on slicks.
     
  22. MisterMaranello

    MisterMaranello F1 Rookie

    Apr 5, 2011
    3,315
    Europe
    Evo as the first UK publication has a supertest (incl. track test at Anglesey) of the Speciale v 650S v 991 GT3. It's on the app now. I'll see if there are some interesting snippets worth sharing.
     
  23. mhh

    mhh F1 Veteran

    Feb 16, 2004
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    Mark
    #48 mhh, Jun 14, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2014
    The Speciale wins the comparison with all cars getting 5 stars.

    Edit: Strictly, they didn't say the comparison had a winner but the reader is left with the impression that the writer preferred the Speciale on this test. The GT3 wins on value and the McLaren is faster accelerating but the immediacy of response in all the controls on the Ferrari is superior.
     
  24. mva

    mva Karting

    Oct 7, 2004
    73
    Any results (acceleration, braking etc.) ?
     
  25. mhh

    mhh F1 Veteran

    Feb 16, 2004
    5,894
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    Mark
    No. Evo didn't use a stopwatch. Just detailed driving impressions.
     

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