24hrs with 458 Spider, disappointed

A V12 and a V8 are totally different.
Besides, I'm always puzzled by all these talks about sound - it's only noise after all, for me it's low in the priority list to assess the qualities of a car.
No wonder I have a 488 and enjoy it

 

my guess is that you didn't drive it hard enough. the gearbox may be "choppy" when it's not under a load or shifted right. you also had a rent a car so it could have been abused. the car sounds great when driven right and is louder than the 911. if you are into sound try the F430. I also found it interesting you had no real thoughts on the way that the car actually drives...

 

hmmm..i am guessing you prefer the flat six sound a bit more, or maybe u are into that exhaust burble thing that PSE gives. I gotta admit the sound from a cab 911 sounds great (turbo excluded), even a stock 981 boxster spyder sounds awesome. But the ferrari has a diff tone, it's smooth with absolutely no PSE or BMW burbles. The f430 has a nicer low end and mid range growl, while the 458 has a better scream up high. I have a 458 and bought a .1 GT3 a few months back unseen, put it up on sale almost immediately because the sound is so lacking (unless u are pushing it really hard). With the 458 the fun is pretty accessible. And yeah v12 is a diff thing altogether, lp640 and 812 sounds wicked

 

This is interesting.

Without making any subjective comments on how the 458 sounds, I'm surprised, however, that one would consider the 458 V8 inferior to the flat-six in the 991.1. I've owned several 991.1s, and to me the biggest weakness of the Porsche was always the sound (even though Porsche fanboys will disagree). For what it's worth, I've always felt that the 458 was one of best sounding NA V8's out there.

But at least you discovered this now, as opposed to post-ownership.

 

I agree with you here. The weakness on the 991.1 I thought was the sound. I enjoy driving my 458 over any car I have owned. The sound is not too loud for my taste and with the new 2019 laws in California, (AB 1824) loud exhaust owners will have problems and fined $1,000.

 

And some thought it was a good idea for the Seahawks not to run the ball...

 

I’m new to the Ferrari world (458 spider), but have owned Carreras and have driven the 991.2 cab. I agree the 458 can be a bit more difficult to drive, it does take some getting used to. I think Ferrari did away with all the burbles you refer to after ‘10 or ‘11. Very different cars - I actually prefer the Ferrari howl as opposed to the Porsche whine, but both sounds are soothing to me.

I prefer the ergonomics and driver position in the 458, and like the hard top as opposed to the rag top Porsche. Like it or not, the 458 draws a lot more attention, and everyone stops and waits for the 458 at four-way stops. Less so, or not at all with the Porsche.

Good you rented one first and saved on what could have been a costly blunder.

 

I recently put a capristo valve switch in my car. With the valves open, my '14 has some crackles and farts on downshift now. Not quite the same as my NA AMG, but sounds pretty awesome.

 

I think it's the Porsche enthusiast syndrome. The 991.1 4S cab was and still is half the price of a 458 Spider. People are attracted to the Porsche Sports/911 brand for engineering/performance/entry exotic price point. It's hard to compare the two experiences without looking at cost of ownership, especially from those coming from Porsche. Personally, my comparison is between the 991.1 GT3 RS to a 2012+ high MSPR 458. Similar raw performance and similar price. A 991.1 CS or 4S is too tame for me, but if it wasn't I would be hard pressed to spend twice the amount on a new car as well.

WHICH is why the 812 seemed so awesome. It's the flagship. Different league. Also a completely different ballpark price wise.

Almost everyone has to start as an aspirational Ferrari buyer right?

 

You might go down in history as the only one not impressed with a 458

I'd suggest giving it another try

 

458’s have a valve that you need to fit with a switch, $700. I used a toggle right underneath the steering column. Remotes are clunky.
Night and day difference.
Owned 3 458’s and wouldn’t say anything but praise for gearbox. Brilliant.
As for sound...none better, esp in spider. Brilliant. Epic. Esp downshifts.

Sorry, not sure what you drove or how you drove it.
The Porsche’s sound pathetic.

 

I have a Speciale with Capristo exhaust and will switch to IPE headers/test pipes/exhaust.
Sound is a supreme emotive experience and achieving the F1 sound of the past (pre turbo) is epic. I believe the 355 and the S line exhaust on the Scud achieve this symphonic sound.
So the 458 needs some fiddling as well.
I’ve never heard a nice Porsche exhaust other than a CGT.


Sent from my 16M

 

I had 991 Turbo S and had 458. Sound is a different story. You can't even compare them cause 458 is on another planet.
Concerning 458's gearbox it is superb, can't understand your comment.
What for sure is better in 991 Turbo S are CC brakes (did not liked 458's ones especially on wet).

 

To open the top in the spider while moving you can install a mods4cars switch and you can even open and close the top with the remote.

Regarding the car itself, I’m sure that the Ferrari having an extra 170 hp makes no difference.

Yes your car is the best engineering achievement in the 21st century and I come from a punny 991 turbo S (pales in comparison with your 4S).