Drove a 488 on track - a bit dissapointed

you are joking right?? I think you are....but....

 

LOL! Of course I am but where was this guy when I posted on my first track events with the 488 and my response was just the opposite. Sure I noted that it was weak out of the curves but mostly because it seems to be a gear up when using auto and this is so even in RACE mode. I also noted that on my second outing when I used the Vbox, my times were 5s faster than my best ever lap in my 991tts. So different people have different opinions. Furthermore, how can anyone decide the car is no good with just a few hundred miles on the odo and then trade it in? Some other explanation obviously exists for the literally hundreds of them sitting in showrooms for sale with only a few hundred miles on them................

 

I dont look at the number of cars for sale as a barometer of whether a car is good or not. There are like 180+ Porsche Gt3s for sale - does that mean that car sucks? Not at all. 120 or so Mclaren 720s for sale. Tons of lambos, astons, yada yada yada. People buy and sell cars its that simple. As far as driving in auto- well, if you read the other thread, you know my opinion on it. I hate using auto mode but thats a story for another day.

The OP is obviously an experienced driver but Im sure the limitations of the situation (had to keep in sport, drive in auto etc) hampered his experience with the car. Probably if he was able to take it out and drive it like its meant to be driven, with no restrictions, the feedback would be different. But either way, if he doesnt like the car, he doesnt like the car. Plenty of other choices out there.

 

I noted the issue with being up a gear coming out of turns and I listened to him in his video saying that he missed a downshift. The instructor then said the torque is so good that even being up a gear isn't that much a penalty. So while the TDF owner thinks this makes the car underwhelming and the non-owner thinks it's disappointing, I am an owner and here was my review . From that I made the same observation:

Here are the strengths:

Car is very stable in the corners, and responds well to power in the turns.

Engine sounds great and power comes on very well in almost any gear over 4500rpm so being up a gear out of a turn isn't a huge penalty.

Visibility of the track is excellent with the top down.

Weaknesses:

Rev limiter is a problem on the back stretch, shifting manually will require more practice. Instrument panel isn't easy to see while driving other than the tach and it's not as helpful as it could be so the LEDs turn out to be the best indication of shifting. When they all are lit, time to hit the paddle.

Roof is too low for me to wear the helmet so it's a good thing I have a Spider but I guessed that would be the case. I have Daytona full electric seats and after this day, even those seats didn't help my back not be sore. Never had that problem in the Porsche.


So while I noticed the car didn't respond strongly out of turns, I didn't bash the car for that. Instead I drove the car in auto mode the next time out and my laps were better again. I haven't had it back out at the track since because I don't feel like buying a new set of tires when these only have 2500 miles on them but probably won't be very good for a third track day. There is just so much hate on this forum for the 488 I am baffled why any owners still bother reading.

 

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Lol so true. I remember people bashing their 488 because of the door handles. I was like wtf?? Nothing wrong with the door handles. Then it’s the sound. Then the vents. The car is clean and classy! I love mine. Drives great, easy to maintain and lots of power. I’m no professional driver but just clicking through the gearbox with ease makes it a joy to drive.

Got stock rims put on and some graphics to liven it up. It’s a blast!

 

488 owners seem to be an ultra sensitive lot. If your car brings you joy, it is irrelevant if others feel differently. All that matters is what you think. Everyone has their own preferences and priorities.

 

Thats pretty much what I posted above. Not sure what all the complaints are about but I do enjoy driving mine.

 

Actually, the real irony is shown in the videos, which is what I based all of my comments from. There was no precision driving going on from what I saw.
The instructions coming from the passengers seat, requesting you to lift off the throttle into the apex (so the weight was able to transfer back down onto the front tires) was confirmation you had him clearly worried. These are all NOT signs of an experienced driver in-fact the exact opposite. Now using the claim of being in an unfamiliar car as an excuse for all the driving errors?? A skilled driver knows NOT to go beyond their skill in un-familar territory yet the exact opposite was shown in all your videos, particularly the 458 one.

Added to all this is then the claim of bad turbo lag when coming out of the corners, confirming a total inability in being able to identify turbo lag from the cars stability control systems. Any good driver I've ever come across have been (easily) able to identify what is really going on with the car without drawing an incorrect conclusion of bad turbo lag.

 

I would n't be overly concerned. Eilig is a notorious serial 488 hater who stalks the forums seeking opportunity to lay the boot into 488 wherever he sees opportunity. His behavior is pretty standard like a few others that do much the same.

Again I can only base my judgement and comments from what I saw (on the vids) and read from OP.

What is really hilarious though is a guy who doesn't own any car and sees cars as a waste of time and money, a guy who hates driving and sees the exercise as a complete bother, incessantly posting on Ferrari chat and every other car forum known to man portending to be a walking talking encyclopedia on anything automotive.

I wouldn't say an oversensitive lot at all - just a group of people fed up with the same old sore toes behaving badly.

 

When in sport or race, just try not to trigger TC and it is only by then you are either drive too slow or drive with just right amount of input.

Skip CT off

ESC off and only then you know how you handle the car not how car handles lol


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

Really?

Sorry you take offense - I WAS simply stated my observations...merely drawing attention to the obvious discrepancies surrounding certain claims.....and the video footage certainly didn't help.....just made matters worse.

Sorry but it is what it is....no need to take it personally and if it all offends I apologize, but all my comments and observations were stated, based purely upon the material which you provided.

 

Moving forward, I would agree the sport mode intervenes excessively on corner exit. I recall the first time I experienced the power cut on corner exit and was quite shocked at the intervention. It basically removed any ability to put any level of power down until the steering angle was dead straight. So yes steering angle is certainly involved along with the yaw etc. The mode is very disappointing during any sporty driving involving curves or tight corners. As previously mentioned I wouldn't waste time with it - switch straight to race as a minimum for track.

 

speedsport, I tried my first experience on track in Sport and things were really shutting down. Went to Race mode and things were happening much quicker but throttle was still restricted post apex until I was in a straight line. I kept it in Auto the whole time and was quite happy with up and down shifts. People listening off track to the shifting and down shifting thought I was in manual. It is an amazing machine. Thanks for your input and hope you had fun!

 

What tires and pressures were they running on the 488? Most of those rental programs at the track put mediocre tires on the cars and then slightly over inflate them. It gives the 'sound' of higher performing tires (the signing during cornering) at lower speeds and also makes drivers a little more hesitant to push the car further.

I instructed for one of these programs a few years back, and that was their standard practice.

 

To me, someone who has never driven on that track and certainly not the world's fastest driver, he looked really good to me and in control--especially considering it was his first laps in the car. His hands were extremely smooth and I heard quite a few comments of "nicely done", "nice", beautiful, some thumbs up and genuine smiles by the instructor.

I have been to a similar vendor in a different location and from my limited experience I could see that no matter who you are they are talking the whole time because they know you are likely to not be familiar with the track. Further if something is to happen--and they are not providing instruction that may even be a liability in the litigious environment that is the USA.

Perhaps it would help if you pointed to precisely where in the video you think he was out of control so we understand what you are seeing?

Or better yet, post a video of you driving so we can get an idea of what your version of good driving looks like?

 

Galt, the Op has indicated he wants to move forward so I'm not going to further perpetuate any situation involving myself which further antagonizes or upsets him.

If you haven't had driver training of any significant level and, applied that with track experience then I would suggest perhaps you start with some extensive driver training courses and continue it for as long as you live - which I would highly recommend anyway for anyone driving these types of high powered cars to skill up, now and into the future.

FWIW I wasn't the only one who made comment on the driving in those vids so perhaps ask them why they felt the same way rather than try and pit me back into any fight.

 

Certainly not trying to drag you into a fight and it is good that you are trying to avoid that. Frankly, the best way to have done that would have been to be a little more moderate in your comments in the first place.

I asked you because you were the most harsh and "certain" in your view

I have had driver training--but not enough to spot the problems on the first few laps in a new car of a multiple time SCCA champion. Apparently the level training you have allows you to--so wanted to get your view.

Curious, what driver training have you had? Maybe I can take the same courses.

 

Fully trained by Porsche and continue to do all their track days and events many which provide continued instruction by individually assigned pro drivers one on one for the entire day. You can never say you know it all - training is a constant work in progress I find. I have a passion in that as part of owning these cars and take my driving seriously along with the safety aspects. The objective is always to have fun but bring yourself and the toys back home in one piece. I can highly recommend the official Porsche driver training schools. Still finding time for the Ferrari training events....a problem when you own both brands and want to attend everything what they have running. Been attending ever since 2000 I think.

 

Have not tried the Porsche driving courses--but would love to. In fact I have never driven a Porsche on track at all so that would be interesting in itself. Have done some open wheel training which was quite visceral compared to the road cars--really enjoyed that. Although I found the instruction a little harder to absorb without the instructor sitting right next to you.

 

They are very good. Very thorough and, they have some amazing events - but all that said it depends on the pupils natural ability to uptake the info and apply it. I find it isn't about being the fastest around the circuit and guys like that often confuse it all for a race and don't walk away with as much as the guys who are more focused on the actual instruction rather than just laying the boot into the throttle at every given opportunity. Also those guys usually wind up in a wall at one point. Ego always needs to be kept in check. Also agree the best instruction is one on one over the course of the day. This is there more so at certain events rather than at some of the courses.

PS. OP sorry for the OT.

 

Probably not the best bang for buck at 50K Euro for 5 days, but I'm sure you'll learn a lot.

https://www.porsche.com/specials/en/international/porsche-racing-experience/upcoming-events/

 

wow, not cheap!