Test Drove the 488 Today. Cancelled my Order, Sticking to my 458

I said this from the beginning when the 458 was first launched. Ferrari out did themselves. I'm NEVER letting my 458 go!!!!!

 

458 sounds better hands down. 488 faster and looks more modern.
Both great cars. Pick one or both and be happy. When you put both side by side in person it's obvious the 488 is the successor and is easier on the eyes. Ferrari did a very good job.

 

More people want GT3 and even GT4 (much slower) than Turbo in 911.

 

Ferrari just won't stop building turbocharged until the sales is ugly, then they will go back to NA. But currently in Asia, turbocharged has super high demand because the price could be 30% cheaper from the tax. In North America, Cali T is on discount now. Don't know about 488 later.
IMO, Ferrari should build 2 engine options. Just like Porsche, they keep the GTs as NA.

 

I agree. When I was a kid, we all drooled over a Porsche Turbo. It was the be all end all. I felt that same way when I traded in my 2002 911 for a 2012 Turbo with 6 speed manual. That is my DD. When I got my 458, the sound made a tremendous difference. Now the 911 T is good, but seems somewhat flat in comparison. It depends on your perspective.

 

Isn't that what some said about paddles? Well, they're still here so I guess they must be doing O.K.

 

Or an SUV..... *hides*

 

I think the FF shows a Ferrari SUV doesn't make sense.

However, why Maserati hasn't had one for the last 6 years demonstrates pure stupidity. If Porsche can have one (and it's one of their best sellers) than Maserati could as well.

The FF would have been better looking and better selling in Maserati's line (and at a lower cost).

My point is if dealers want more sales, they should have more than one sports car to sell -- like the 308 and Testarossa of the 80s'.

 

I think it would be more likely you could get wives to drive an SUV than the FF. But I do agree a smaller unit would make a lot of sense.

 

They will not offer cars with two engine option because this would reveal how much turbo is unwanted by customer

 

I see her big difference: manual gearbox was not banned by law but turbo engine are forced to use by government who is under pressure of eco terrorist who don't want make exceptions for small manufacturers like Ferrari or Lambo whom have minimal participation in global carbon emission, so please guys stop comparing manual gearbox to naturally aspirated engines

 

They didn't do it for legislation. They did it to keep up with McLaren. But that's the one thing they can never admit.

 

I think you are right and wrong. The Corvette C7 passes the regs in both manual and auto.

But they did it to save money. Its easier to tool and develop one gearbox type and not too. With an estimated 5% of sales being manual, it just wasn't worth the investment and time.

For Chevy they can just switch the two gearbox types out. In a mid engine car it's not so easy.

 

IMO, Ferrari also goes turbo to save money. Now they don't need to invest in engine R&D. The engine block also doesn't need special material for high revving anymore. Just like the VW group, one engine with different boosts for many models and many years. Remember Ferrari said about selling less car but making more profit. This is the way to do it. Even Pininfarina is not designing the car anymore, must be part of serious cost cutting program.

 

When stick was replaced by paddle, the only thing missing was the feet movement (hill and toe).
But when turbo replaced the NA, the sound, the scream, the pedal feel, are gone.

 

The "Dino" engine will arrive next year in the Giulia. Hopefully, Ferrari will take Alfa's lead and offer exclusively with a stick. Turbos, in performance cars like these, are temporary. Hybrid will be next gen ... Paired with a sub-4 liter NA engine.


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That Guilia V6 engine is supposed to be really sweet. Ferrari will add some more ponies of course.

The stick in the Guilia is an option. I worry that most dealers won't order it that way and stick sales will be soft. They are Fiat dealers after all....

 

It really kills me that this continues to be a debate on this board. Please read the Ferrari IPO prospectus. Ferrari will sell 250K + engine blocks to it's partners Maserati and Alfa.. those partners required this platform and Ferrari complied.

As far as the 458 vs. 488. Get what you love and want.. don't like Turbo? Great news for you.. there are tons of fantastic NA 458s on the market.. want a faster car with better performance and better 'everything' good luck getting a 488 allocation.. people hate them so much there is a 48 month+ waiting list..

I always wonder on these long debates how many people actually own Ferraris vs. how many people are just speculating and pontificating.. For those of us that own a 458 (or for me a Speciale and FF) we simply love our cars and don't care much for this silly debate..

Buy the car you want and love.. then love on it.

 

Nuff said.


Cars:

2013 Ferrari 458 Spider (Daily Driver)

Ordered 2016 Lotus Evora 400

 

No, not gearbox, I mean turbo.

 

48 months waiting list is for 488 hardcore version (Speciale or scuderia) if you start to order now.

 

Great post! Totally Agree!

 

Great post.

 

Not true. There's a 2 year wait list for the 488 GTB (at least at my dealer and others based on what I've read).

 

Ah.. that is different.

Then there are two ways to increase performance

1) a more powerful engine or drivetrain

2) a much lighter car

Adding Turbo's is cheaper, faster, and easier to do, particularly on an existing model where they want to squeeze out another 4 years of tooling investment.

There's going to be a natural limit what you can do HP wise with fuel and emission standards vs cost.

So, turbos are the best way to "keep up with the Jones" -- in this case McLaren as you say.

Life is full of compromises. The 488 is one of them.