488 GTB - Do these cars get driven much?

It's a great question, Michael. I never really understood that either. You buy the car to enjoy and not to depreciate unused. I am planning the same, to drive it and drive it well. There is a psychological limit though at 10k miles but I don't understand why either, the car certainly is capable of many more before issues would arise


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

14k miles on my 458 and when I get my 488 I will wear that car out mileage wise. I will never understand people keeping miles off common Ferraris. I get it on collectors cars, but a 458 or 488 is not that.

 

Your question is directed at 488 owners yet there aren't really that many - if it helps a friend has just got back from 3000 miles in a month around Europe with his

Lots of folk think that by not driving them they are protecting their 'investment' eg 5000 mile 430 Scud - Marcel Massini recently pointed out that in many territories the number on many 70th anniversary cars is illegal on public road but no doubt most of them will never actually see a road....

 

Its a traditional issue with repeated threads: drive or store

Maybe there is no right answer but no-mileage cars does seem to defeat the purpose particularly when the historic cars whose value one is hoping to emulate have actually been used

 

My 488 arrives soon and even though Autumn and Winter are upon us I plan to drive it as much as possible.

It's not miles I'm racking up, rather than smiles.

Memories are worth any amount of depreciation in my opinion

YOLO

 

Please use it!!!! I've put 45,000 kms on my 430 over 8 years. Just keep it well serviced. It seems that Ferrari drivers put more mileage on their cars in the US. A quick look at second hand 458s in Europe more than half of them have more than 20,000 kms.

 

Mileage on any high end mid-engined cars depends on individual circumstances. By default, mid-engined cars are very impractical to drive on a daily basis - that means in any occasion, rain, shine, funerals, grocery shopping, Home Depot runs, etc... Even if an owner wants to drive it as much as possible, the question of utility inevitably plays a role. That's the reason for the FF, and F12 cars. Since my semi-retirement 5 years ago, I don't have much need for daily commute. Taking my 458 out just for the hell of it seems counter productive. I personally think the likes of 458's are best driven on tracks; that's where the fun is. Those who have to commute in one in heavy city traffic and congested highways...is there any real fun putting your 458 in race mode and not being able to go higher than third gear? I could be in the minority that I refuse to let my Ferrari dictate my life style.

 

Boy you hit the nail on the head. I always say to people that don't drive them that they might as well buy a framed photo of the car so they can stare at it. It would be a lot cheaper. Its laughable really how little many Ferrari owners drive their cars. Cars are much like people. If you don't use them they dry out. You've stated an obvious and unfortunate reality in the exotic car world. Too bad.

 

I've spoken the several dealers about car mileage, they said without a doubt cars that are driven more have less issues.

 

No comprehende......and I don't even speak Spanish. . Just my opinion and I drive it 10,000 city miles a year.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I guess I have a different take on this topic. Like you, I am anticipating having my 488 GTB in 2017 (hopefully in the Spring). Buying a Ferrari for me is a lifestyle choice, and driving it is only part of that scenario. I'm buying the car to drive (of course), but also to participate in concourses and events, to enjoying showing it and enjoy admiring it - essentailly, to celebrate the brand. I am also buying it to be part of the great lineage and legacy of Ferrari. In a sense, feeling a part in the great line of history and being part of the family. I choose to buy a new car because I really love the idea of knowing that Ferrari will make my car, based on my every choice, and my name will always be listed in their archives next to that car. Silly, maybe, but that's why I don't just buy a used car. Finally, I admit, I am a bit OCD, so maintaining it at a high degree will be a major priority for me. Yes, I will drive it, but not every day. I always want to treat it as an occasion. It has nothing to do with resale value.

 

I agree with putting miles on a car but many people don't see the worth of 100 or 150k+ depreciation for the one car. They will keep miles low and switch out to the next one before either depreciation hits or the car is beeing replaced. Here in the US the system is a bit different. High mileage cars are hard to sell. Many are scared of expensive fixes or wear and tear. There is also personal preference. People often don't like the 488/458 as test drives are under 10 miles if at all. They get the car, drive it a little and aren't motivated to keep it for long and want to avoid the US high mileage problems.

 

If you had a really hot girlfriend, would you keep your hands off of her and save her for the next guy?

 

My 458 had about 23K miles (averaging about 1000 miles/month) on it when I traded it on my Speciale (now averaging about 500 miles/month). My F12 has 6000 miles on it (averaging about 500 miles/month).
I drive both my F12 and Speciale every weekend, and some evenings during the week.
I find after a stressful day if the weather is nice going for a drive relaxes me tremendously, and brings some happiness back into the day.
Sure is pricier than drinking alcohol but probably healthier too.

These dream machines are kinetic art...and I intend to kinese with them...(I think I just made that word up...but not sure. LOL)

 

if your Ferrari is your last Ferrari, then I would drive the hell out of it, but like stated earlier too many owners looking for the next best thing, hence conservative usage

 

LOL.

 

I've had my 488 for 5 months. It was at the dealer for 2 of those while I was away and driving other cars. It has about 6000 KM on it in those 3 months where its been in my possession. We had it on the Nordschleife again yesterday where its been probably 10 times now.

So on ours we average 2000 km per month and thats mixing it in the routine with several other cars as well.

These things are very reliable and there is no issue with driving them.

Some want to keep resale up and others either dont care and want to enjoy it for a couple years or dont care as they will hold it for so long that he mileage won't matter much anyhow.

 

My dealer staff says the same, and this is certainly my experience with all cars and motorcycles that I have owned since the 1990's. In addition to the mechanical benefits, ECU's in modern Ferraris also adapt to driving behavior, so spirited driving seems to help bring out the best in the car. My F12 drives even better after stretching its legs at the track and putting 2,800 miles on it over the past few weeks.

I plan to drive the 488 regularly once it arrives next year, and am replacing a Bentley with an FF as my DD.

 

I think it also has to do with how "liberal" the local constabulary is, with regard to observance of speed limits... and the availability of enjoyable local driving routes, venues. IMO, this is more of a problem in NA than in Europe, in general, as many expansive NA cities have planners with grid-pattern mentality. Long straight roads tend to limit drivers to focusing more on the throttle rather than on the steering wheel and paddles/shift knobs.

So if you risk collecting demerit points or just simply losing your license every time you put your Fcar through its paces, over boring tarmac, you may end up further modifying how you enjoy the car. Trips get shorter, focus turn to funky wraps/paint jobs, poser wheels... etc.

It's a bit like someone buying a racing bike (the pedaling kind) and trying to ride it around the city. You can do it but it's tough on the wheels, on your legs (the engine) and you run the risk of looking a bit "posed" if you cannot convincingly wring it out... or damaging the bodywork (or your body).

However city folks will still love their bikes (cars) and will still own them, spending more time admiring them for what they are rather than what they could be.

 

easy
People who buy 488's generally have very high income earning potential. Every hour not work is hundreds of dollars not earned. They tend to put in more hour.
Also, to get this kind of skill requires putting in more hours
They have other equally/more fun things to do in life: boat, planes, jetting off to Paris/Tokyo, etc. Driving a Ferrari, while fun, isn't the sole fun activity they can do.
They have more than 1 exotic. 10,000miles on 5 exotics means 2000 miles each.
Can't take more than 1 person. Wife + kid(s) means no Ferrari time.
Season. Ferrari not really compatible with snow.

 

I had more than 12,600 miles on my 2013 458 Italia when I traded it in for a 488 GTB. The dealer told me that the mileage resulted in about a $15,000 reduction in the trade-in credit compared to a 5,000 mile car. To me, the $15,000 was money very well spent and enjoyed.

 

most ferrari owners, unlike most on this thread, mentally and practically cannot afford owning a ferrari - hence all the inane questions and worries about warranty, price, resale, etc. - and one of the reasons i have stopped closely following ferrarichat....