Heavier? True because of bigger size and because they are much stiffer and safer nowadays, not to mention the extra equipment they carry. Would you really want 308 levels of structural integrity in 2018? Softer? No, they are actually stiffer with better body control. The less mechanical part doesn't even make sense... A 30 year old Ferrari is just a relic compared to its modern counterpart.
I have an honest question: Can anyone really tell the difference in 0-60 in 3 seconds vs 2.7 seconds? How much faster to you want 0 - 60 times to be on the 488's replacement to make you happy? We have reached the law of diminishing returns. We are spending more money on technology to get us to accelerate faster and then sacrifice everything else to achieve it.
Funny but my Alfa 4c is about the size of a 308, has a tad more power than it had, costs about $65 grand, goes 2 seconds faster 0-60, has actual working AC, and doesn't have any "stiffness" problem thanks to its CF tub. So, what's Ferrari's problem? They aren't as clever?
0-60 is not what I look after in a car; but I can tell you that compared to a 488 GTB a 355 feels painfully slow on a track. It's not about a few tenths in the 0-60 time.
99.9999999% of all miles put on any Ferrari are on city streets where the speed limit is probably 45MPH. Using a 488 to do that is like using a sledgehammer to drive a thumbtack.
Not mine; I would not use a Ferrari as daily driver - for which a very basic car is enough (for me). For 45 mph city driving a Toyota Corolla is already bordering exaggeration, and in the not so distant future we'll get self driving cars for this purpose. A Ferrari should not be measured as a tool, it's something else - then someone will love an old Ferrari with outdated engineering when someone else will prefer the latest achievements, but neither make sense when considered logically.
There are a lot of track "tools" you can use that are 1) faster 2) cheaper 3) more reliable Than a 488
As LPV488 said it's not about 0-60 which is traction limited anyway. It's about the overall performance. Regarding the 4C, that's not Ferrari territory.
Like it or not, 0 - 60 is part of the overall performance. So long as the superior performance doesn't diminish the driving experience is the main thing, and so far Ferrari has this aspect under control.
Bigger and yeah heavier but at 6’2” the first FERRARI I could fit in comfortably was a 430 and they have gotten better from there and last I checked humans have gotten taller (and unfortunately fatter) since the 308. I applaud Alfa as the 4C has more room than the similar size 308 and better performance but most Ferrari buyers don’t want 4C performance at a Ferrari price when Porsche, Lambo and Mclaren have gone nuclear in the power war. Ferrari doesn’t need to beat them but has to be in the vicinity with better overall experience for the driver(that includes but is not limited to ergonomics sound looks fit and finish and what I believe Peter Egan called the “swoosh “ factor “). Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
I think it's quite easy and tempting to fall in love with nostalgia. Truth be told, not everything in the past was quite as good and magical as we now perceive it. My oldest Ferrari is a 1988 Mondial, and my newest is a 2011 458. I drive the Mondial only to stop grass from growing from underneath it. I cherish every second behind the wheel of the 458. The 488 is too fast? Fine. Don't use all of it, all the time. With newer cars, as opposed to older Ferraris, you actually have a choice. Why buy it then, if you're not going to properly enjoy it to the fullest? Easy: older Ferraris had only one side to them: heavy, big, go-fast. Newer Ferraris have several sides to them: put the transmission in auto mode, air con just so, enjoy the feel of leather and carbon fiber, turn on the radio or put the top down at the touch of a button and you're in for a calm, quiet, relaxing drive. The way most people are approaching the problem is as if the 488 has only one side to it and once you can't floor it all the time, then it's a waste of time and money. A nuisance in your life. The car actually allows you to enjoy it, depending on your own personal and exclusive definition of the term. It helps you have fun your way, and is always rewarding depending on what you seek. I know some actually enjoy driving a slow car fast more than they do a fast car slow. But let me tell you: there's nothing fun about a car that doesn't go. I rather have an insanely fast car that I struggle to enjoy to the max in terms of dynamic abilities, safe in the knowledge that it can ALSO be a speed demon if I want it to. In this case, I have a choice. In a slow and heavy car, you don't. It has to be driven a certain way, the way it wants and it needs. Newer, more powerful and modern cars are a puppy in your hands: you're the boss. And in being so, you're losing part of the magic? I should say no. Modern isn't the antagonist of magic. I actually think the magic surrounding older Ferraris has nothing to do with the car itself, but with an era: it was Montezemolo time, gas was cheap, we were younger, etc. In the end, sometimes, it says more about us than the actual car/product. Kind regards, Nuno.
True...picked up a 67 Camaro RS a few years back as I just loved them growing up and always wanted. So poor to drive. Loved looking at the car but not drive! Sold it fast. It was all nostalgia for me and while I still love the looks of the older gen, I realize I don’t want to drive them at all. Sadly. I remember contemplating my first ferrari and being so disappointed when I drove the 360 spider. 458 for me is the sweet spot. But that Pista is calling!
It's super fast, super efficient and......borrrrring! Shamile Freeze...Miami Vice! Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
second gear gets you a few points on your license here in nyc metro area/ not sure where you live but end of 2nd gear MPH is certainly trouble.
My e gear Murcielago Roadster is just as fast as a 458...and just as boring. But, my slow gated v12 Testarossa sure is a lot of fun running to red line in every gear. Shamile Freeze....Miami Vice! Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Haha! ....make that the dark side of the force lol Shamile Freeze...Miami Vice! Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Test drove an Aventador Roadster and found it too soft...Even though it was so fast, it hit red line before I could pull the paddle in corsa mode. So, I'm currently working with Lamborghini Sarasota to do a stick shift conversion on a LP640 Roadster. We're waiting to hear back from Lamborghini's restoration dept in Italy. The range is all over the place from 40k to 100k. So, if you just like a fast car with no driver input, be my guest. Been there...done it, don't like it. Shamile Freeze...Miami Vice! Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Alpha Romeo 4C is a lot of fun. With its carbon fiber monocoque construction there is no twisting in the frame and even though it’s only 240bhp it’s lightness makes up for it. Stock it does 4.2 0-60mph and top speed is like 168. I’ve have the spider variant and it’s a lot of fun. And of course there are several companies that do aftermarket tunes. View attachment 2513756 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro