Lodovico: It's good to know that an 8 year-old car can still inspire such admiration and emotion in other owners. Then again, the 500-year-old Mona Lisa does the same to many admirers too! True beauty (in the case of the 458, both design and mechanical) rarely ages or becomes dated, nor does the criteria upon which beauty is judged and loved.
Michael, I do understand your point, but may I offer another perspective: - We can compare the reaction/reception the motoring industry gave to the 458 upon its launch and the same reaction to the 488. IMHO: the former was "awe", the latter was "great evolution". We can directly compare the popularity of one and the other at the time of their presentation. If you accept that this is at least something to go by, I believe I can rest my case: two Top Gear presenters, one in awe with the 458: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgKjp1pq7iI The other not overwhelmed at all: says it sounds "alright", the engine looks like "a coffee machine" on display and "febil and rubbish compared to the previous model", door handles look "added on". No such words are heard from Clarkson or anyone else regarding the 458. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcWtAa5gGAo - The 458 hasn't changed, so I believe the premisses upon the car's launch and praise remain unaltered. The 458's wonderful features that infatuated Clarkson among many others aren't diminished and/or voided by the passing of time. Quite the opposite really. - Clarkson is not one to always praise something just because it's new. If he likes the 488, great. That doesn't mean the 458 isn't every bit as special as he said it is. I believe we should stop seeing a praise on the 458 as an attack on the 488. The moment we accept the 488 is a faster, better performing, updated and more modern car than the 458, and that the 488 will never have the same allure than a 458 due to the milestones it represents for Ferrari, the faster we'll be enjoying and analysing both cars for what they really are. In any case, this isn't a 458 vs. 488 thread. The comparison between the 458 and the newer car is just another reason imho (one of many) why the 458 is still commanding a steady and strong demand. People got nostalgic when the 488 came along (even more so when Ferraris get hybrid/electric power) and realise the 458 is the end of an era that will never come back. The 488 can't fight that. Great car though. I'd have one any day of the week over any other car, except over my 458. Kind regards, Nuno.
Now by official Dealer advert ,it searches... https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ferrari/458-spider/ferrari-458-spider-wanted/6443559
I think we have to keep the discussion to a higher standard. Saying that the 458's design is plain and outdated compared to newer cars... Thinking that or wanting that doesn't make it true. And it certainly doesn't have an echo in reality nor the market. The article the OP posted is again proof, among many others, that it isn't true. The design principles and trends that were incorporated in the 458 (and many other cars) come mainly from Nature, Fashion or Aviation, for instance. Those patterns don't change in 5, 6 or 8 years to the point that you feel that they're outdated. In fact, the 488 evolves from that design, both prooving that it was a great concept and such is its validity, that Ferrari didn't feel the need to come up with an entirely new design. Don't mix production cicles with design or marketing. Three different areas with three different aims and specific principles over time. Brands launch new products not just because the former product is getting "old". It's much more complicated than that. Plus: if the 488 hadn't came out, the 458 would seem very actual, very "nowadays". I think some McLarens and Lamborghinis have aged quite considerably when compared to the 458. That's why they don't depreciate at the same pace as a 458. Kind regards, Nuno.
I like the way the 488 looks, it looks more modern. However, I think it looks more chopped up. It looks more muscular, and it is.. but the side intakes don't do anything for the design imo, the headlights already look dated to me, same for the tail lights. I love the front facia and the exhaust setup though. To each his own, but I really think down the road the 458 will be more desirable. Mostly because I have a 458 and wouldn't take a straight up trade to the 488 even if it was offered. This is my first Ferrari, is there always this much discussion about incoming vs outgoing models?
Side air vents and turbo charging do not necessarily make a car, any car, more modern (or updated as some argue here for the 488); without them, however, make a car's design timeless (such as the 458). For example, the 458 remains as the only rare-mid engined car that does not have a body side vent and therefore preserves the aesthetic integrity of the body design. If da Vinci thought that Lisa Gherardini, the model in the "Mona Lisa", would be more aesthetically presented, he would have painted her yawning - also an indication that more oxygen is needed!!!
Hilarious! I think time will prove the 458 is a superior design to the 488. Feminine curves > angry aggressive angles and bulges. But hey...if some guy is turned on by muscular men rather than Victoria Secret models...all the power to 'em..not that there is anything wrong with that.
To the same effect...has anyone seen a male model, muscular or otherwise, standing next to a presented car at any major car shows around the world?
Perhaps, time will tell. 458 is not THAT old. And BTW thats what they said about the 348, 355, 360... all very good looking cars but still very dated. 458 came out before the 1st gen iPad for Christ's sake its not new either.
This is an irrelevant comparison. How can you legitimately reference the dating of a technology device to the aesthetic dating of a car? Every piece of technology is dated the moment the next version comes out. When does art become dated? I'm biased because I have a 458 but the idea of it being dated is ridiculous, especially when comparing to the 488 as the reference point. Your casual non-Ferrari owner would struggle to tell you which one was the new model if they were side by side. I can honestly go as far back as the 360 and it doesn't look dated externally. It's only when you get inside that it looks dated, since that's where technology has changed most obviously/significantly. Anyway, it's all subjective. The design of most Ferraris are works of art. They don't get "dated" just because of calendar increments.
It gives perspective; its helpful to make a reference. Some of you 458 people are overly jumpy. Whatever, I get it. I had 2 458's myself.
458 = Ferrari + Reliability I think it is the first model to add up those two words and therefore...it is doing quite well in the used market. A lot of people waiting for the price drop (self included). The 360s are currently taking a beating....so should shift all the v8 models lower in my opinion.
http://www.blackartgraphics.com/products/2013-2015-458-spider Any 458 spider lovers take look at this. I put myself on the list. We need 3 more to get this project on the road. The artist states he can make it unique for the owners Ferrari with custom fields such as vin,date of purchase, right or left handed, etc.
