Yeah this thread went from a mature discussion to just silly comments. Ofc the 170 HP gives a huge diff in power. But we all know HP isn't everything. Going from 0-100 in 3.4s or 3.9s shouldn't be a decision factor when buying a car. My panamera turbo feels faster than my 991 4s, but you enjoy different things for different reasons. Grow up boy
Yes. Basically what he said about the sound comparison between Ferrari v8 and v12 engine noise and porsche engine. I had 991.1 and .2 gt3 and gt4. The sounds are good in its own right, but they are worlds different from the ferrari v8 and v12. The v12 is also way much more "fill in the blank" than the v8. Maybe your 458 spider rental has problems. Go test drive one in recent years in a F dealer and see how it goes.
Will actually do that. To be clear, I didn't say it sounds better than the flat 6 engine. What I did say was that it doesn't use the potential of the sound in different scenarios like when you lift your foot off the gas, or when you shift down, the same way 991 NA or R8 does, and that was a disappointment..
Oh, then maybe a huracan sound profile may be better for you then, if you focus on what happens when you lift off the gas. But be warned, they are artificially designed and predicted in huracan. And when did you shift down? How high did the rpm goes?
Aha, California T with HS package, you should try. The shifting in my experiences is faster than the 458. But be warned, it's a turbo. Or if you really want 4 seats, try FF. You will be surprised when you pass 4k rpm.
I tried my friend's huracane, even on track and it sounds gorgeous but I didn't really feel it had it own character like porsche or Ferrari. Also, the shift gears felt super cheap, plastic? When I shifted down it went up to 4-6k rpm.
A follow up question, what are the critical specs I should look for on the 458 to not miss out the important stuff. For example, I don't care about Navi. But are there certain packs that gives it a better driving experience?
Owned 10 Porsches, all NA 911 models and 2 x R8 V10 and nothing comes close to the sound nor the driving experience of a 458. It really is at least 2 x better (or even more) in those aspects, I am surprised about your impression. This is the only car so far after owning around 30 different sport cars that gives me (pardon my expression) a hard on from time to time I guess the rental you had for 24 hours must have been in limp mode half of the time. As mentioned earlier the only Porsches that is in parity with Ferrari soundtrack is CGT, the other ones, as someone also mentioned earlier, sounds a little bit pathetic honestly (compared to the Ferraris at least), the GT3:s you need to push to 9K for it to sound good whereas the 458 you don't need to push it that hard really, it sounds good all the time and even better if you disconnect the valves. The early models don't have the later engine tune that disables the pops and burbles when lifting of the gas. The transmission is better not driven in auto as it's not a cruiser like the 911:s (GT models excluded) and will be jerky in auto. I always put mine in manual as it does not even downshift properly if you need to overtake on the highway in auto mode (it only goes down one gear when it should go down at least 2 gears, same with both 458:s I've owned)
Thanks for your answer. I think what you describe in auto mode is exactly how I felt. Good to know then. Im not sure which year model it was, but would you suggest buying a 458 pre 2012 given it's not updated?
Whilst i understand your post I am not sure this is the best way to start on this forum: u are after all only 35, calling people boy& you join a ferrai forum to trash a car that is known and revered to be one of the best sounding car there is. I do understand and respect that you like the Porsche but I respectully disagree as I find them too perfect and lacking soul although they are incredible machines one should feel privileged to own. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I assumed you had a recent 991 and they all are turbo. That said the sound of a 458 is one of the best sound ever. It is impossible to compare it to the one of a 991. Two different worlds. 991 is a GREAT car but 458 is another planet. If you drive a car in automatic mode a Ferrari is not your car. However, in town, the auto mode of a Ferrari 458 is perfect. As soon as you are somewhere else it is crazy to use auto mode
I have had a dozen Porsches scanning the complete range. None look as good as the 458 , sound as good or provide the driving feedback and as compelling or thrilling a ride. That is my opinion and obviously for most on this forum. However, the only thing that matters, is the poster's opinion. He will be the one owning and driving the car.
Op is kind of a senseless post. Is he looking for people to convince him hes wrong?! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If after driving the 458 for 24 hours and he needs to be convinced by others, he should definitely stick with what he's got.
To my ear there is no comparison, the 458 has the 911 beat in every respect regarding sound and more so in driving experience.
I've daily driven 911s for decades -- I currently own a normally aspirated 991 cab -- and honestly, compared to the Ferraris I've owned (F430 and California 30) the 991 sounds like a vacuum cleaner. (Albeit a really nice vacuum cleaner.) I previously had a 991 with the Porsche Sports Exhaust on it ... and with it engaged that sounded like vacuum cleaner with Jiffy Pop on the down shifts. Don't get me wrong, I love 911s, and I've owned plenty of aircooled examples (including a Turbo), and the aircooled motor is much more of a distinctive mechanical soundtrack. But the newer 991.2 cars have sort of built in the whole Jiffy-Pop overrun farts and crackles, and that car completely left me flat compared to the normally aspirated car despite it being faster. So it's very surprising to me that anyone would think a modern 911 sounds better than any Ferrari.
Wow. I know everyone has their own opinions but this one is definitely in the minority. Not sure if there was something wrong with the particular car you drove. The 991 and 458 are completely different as far as visceral excitement and experience.
This is funny you said that. I own a 997 and test drove a 991S. I felt that the exhaust note when you left of the gas or down shift was artificially designed. It sounded the same no matter what you did. I ultimately passed on the 991S because it felt detached and more of a GT car.
I've owned several 911s including with sports exhaust and there is no comparison between the sound and experience of my 458 Spider and those cars. The 458 kills them in almost every way. If it didn't, I could've saved a ton of cash. Also, never had anything but crisp shifts from the DCT in the 458.