Another sound discussion blah, blah, blah, - it's all white noise now. Which is the better car, depends on your view point and what's important to you. Me - I prefer the 458 to the 488 and the F8 and I've driven both extensively, both are subjectively better cars - fact - but don't push my buttons in quite the same way as my 458. Interestingly now here in the not so United Kingdom the preowned values are starting to almost cross 2014/15 458s to 2016/17 even 18 488s - eventually the market will decide which it feels is the "better" car.
As a proud owner of my very first Ferrari (as of August 31, 2020) please allow me to help settle the dispute for you fellas. The 488 IS the BEST sounding car on the road. That should settle any arguments. Glad I could help, I will be here for a while.
I just got it back yesterday from having it ceramic coated. Only pics are from delivery date. I may try to get her out tomorrow, otherwise it will be next weekend.
I just modded my 488 exhaust. 200 cell sport cats + Avior xpipe. Now she sounds like a proper Ferrari. I’ll upload some sound clips later
The 488 always sounded fine to me. I had no desire to own a 458 "just for the sound". I now have the 812 and while it's a better sound, it doesn't diminish any of my enjoyment of the 488 sound. What I do like better is that you get more good sound for longer with the higher revving engine. The best sound on the 488 was from around 4krpm to 7krpm but the car gets through that range too quickly. With the 812 there is great sound from 4k to 8700 when you are forced to shift and I like that better but to me, the 488 sound is still great.
I switched a 458 for a 488 a couple of months ago and to be perfectly honest i prefer the 488's sound..Switch the Manettino to Race to open the exhaust flaps sooner and i think it sounds great..Drove the F8 recently and loved it except the sound as its virtually silent when compared to my 488.