First time owner

All, just picked up my first Ferrari (2017 488 Spider). I've been a strictly German only buyer for the last 20 years. I am having the car shipped to me (Kentucky) and we do not have a local Ferrari dealer, so looking for some guidance on the Top 5 (or whatever the number is) things to know about owning a Ferrari (or a 488 for that matter) as I begin the transition to the brand.

If there are other references to point me to, would appreciate those as well...thanks in advance!

Scott

 

I dont know about top 5 but top one is Enjoy the Hell out of it! Congrats. Put some miles on it and dont be afraid to drive it.

 

Pictures required.

 

My entry also. Currently own 2 911 turbos and recently bought a 458 6 weeks ago. Something very special about the Ferrari!

 

Congratulations!

If you've got a newer one with maintenance and warranty, then just enjoy and drive the heck out of it. Might need the tender if left for more than 2 weeks without driving.

I also assume I might be the first or only Ferrari owner a person interacts with, so I try my hardest to be a good brand ambassador. Especially to kids and young guys who ask about the car, and often also career advice. I gave 8 people rides on Monday night alone (a friend, their kids and 4 visiting in-laws).

 

Rob, here you go.

Still have a 991.2 Turbo S cab...sold a 991.2 GT3 manual to get into the 488.

Looking forward to the experience!

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You have said picked up. Its a 2017 so you have free service until 2024. 488 only has a 3 year factory warrantee. Did you buy it from a dealer and did they extend the full factory warrantee for you until 2022 ? Or power warrantee ?

Did your car have a new battery ?

Either way keep the car on tender 100% time whilst not driving. Your battery will fail 100%. When it will happen ? But it will.

By a starter and keep it charged and in the car. You can thank me when you need to use it.

 

I was a 911 man as well. My first F-car was a California. I have an F8 now. Still think Porsche is great but after a Ferrari there is no going back. It is an experience every time you turn the key. (Push the button).
I love the color of your 488.
I echo previous points on the battery tender.
If the car hasn’t been ceramic coated or PPF do it.

 

Congratulations! I'm interested to know what you think of the 488 vs. the GT3. I think the 991.2 GT3 manual is the ultimate Porsche and I wish I could afford that AND the 458 I have. I have to make due with an M3 as one of my other fun cars

You don't live in California so you don't have to deal with the fuel up issues we have.

You don't have a 458 so I don't think you need to worry about an aftermarket means for connecting bluetooth.

I drive once per week and my battery is fine, but I can tell if I go for a little more than a week it hesitates on startup just a little bit; so use the tender.

You'll get a lot more attention in a Ferrari than in a 911. Sometimes it's fun sometimes it's a pain in the ass.

The front axle lifter will lower the rear bumper/diffuser. Keep that in mind. If you're really worried get the front wheels over the obstacle and then lower the front before bringing the rest of the car over.

Um... that's all I can really think of. Like any car follow its service schedule, let it warm up before railing on it, keep the tire pressures correct, keep it clean, and it'll reward you. Enjoy!

 

I too went from Porsche to Ferrari. And have never looked back.

 

Hmmm…I was hoping to add a GT3 manual to the eventual F8. Just would love to have a MT. Overrated?


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Congratulations! Am I crazy in trying to get a 992 GT 3 three pedal car? I am on the list for one at least a year out!

 

Unique spec, enjoy!

 

No. Just different. Manual GT3 is awesome.

 

congrats!

 

Congrats! Interestingly, just drove a 2018 manual GT3 yesterday ... fabulous car (longtime 911 guy as well). You may wind up wondering if the Turbo would have been the better trade, the 488 will be comfortable enough to drive where you take the Turbo and that GT3 is a beast. Loved downshifting it in Sport and having it match the revs.

On the 488 it's easy to keep it on the tender (it's magnetic) so just get in the habit of putting it on every time you park the car. And if it's still got the original Ferrari battery, you should probably change it, the OEM is not so great. Hope they gave you the warranty but as long as you drive these cars regularly, it should be fine. The ones that sit tend to have more issues.

 

On the questions re: my 992.1 GT3 manual...not overrated at all, I was just in a very unqiue position. I had an incredibly rare spec (true 1 of 1), most expensive / optioned GT3 ever made. I purchased it 10 months ago (MSRP - 30%), was approached by a VERY motivated buyer that accepted the very aggressive number (way north of MSRP), and I was able to move even money into the 488 (this is a crazy market right now!!!). I'll likely have another GT3 someday, but for now toy time will be split between the 488, Turbo S, i8, and a few other rarely driven toys.

I'm excited to be part of the family!

 

They are pretty solid cars, but a few things are worth being aware of.

1. If the battery is original, get a new one. The Braille B7548 is a straight drop-in AGM which is both affordable and as powerful as a Group 48 battery gets.
2. Get Michelins if it sits on Pirellis.
3. Take it in for an alignment. Don't trust it to be right. Even off the factory floor they are all over the place. Let me know if you need the factory alignment specs.
4. If you loosen the tie-downs that hold the tyre repair kit or tool kit, be careful when you tighten them again. They break easily where they are riveted.
5. Tighten your wheels to 135 nm. The 100 in the owners manual is not enough. The 135 number is one I got from a factory rep dealing with Corse Pilota cars. There's a reason why the new owners manuals say 120 nm or 150 nm depending on the wheel. I've been in a 488 that lost a wheel, and it sucks.
6. When you get a PPI, make sure they check the rubber bushings in the front suspension as well as the brake lines. These deteriorate from the heat generated by the brakes on cars that has been driven hard and seen track use.



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Subscribed, and hoping for additional “first time Ferrari owner” advice.

Anyone care to expand on the California “fuel-up issues” mentioned above?

 

I have a 488. Great car. Overall it's very driveable and solid, so there's no big secret you need to know. But good to know:

1. Get it ppf'd and ceramic coated. I recommend doing the full body. I did. It gives a lot of peace of mind. I've only driven mine a few thousand kms and PPF has already absorbed a couple big hits (one rock tore it open). Full body ppf is good for peace of mind when gunk is dripping on it from the gas station roof, randos are leaning on it, birds are crapping on it, etc.

2. Be ready for attention of many kinds. Most is benign. It someone is testy or demanding, know how to ignore them. You'll need to learn when/how to engage and when not to. Many, many people will demand you rev the car or peel out. Sometimes its groups of kids, sometimes it's tattooed criminal-looking dudes. Know how to handle these demands (ignoring is usually a good choice). But also be kind to people who are kind.

3. Keep it on the battery tender always.

4. When you park, it's good to either choose a spot that is really obvious so nobody thinks they can vandalize the car without being seen, or really hidden so nobody sees the car. The far end of full parking lots is actually quite hidden since the car is so low.

5. Get a radar detector (I like the latest Escort ones) and dashcam. I also have a Blackvue battery to keep the dashcam on in parking mode. Learn to hardwire them into the fuse panel under the left side of the dash. These are good for peace of mind.

6. You'll need to learn to judge road shape and what you can get by without scraping. Angle the car at 45 degrees (or more) just as the nose goes up gutters at ramp bottoms or gas station entrances. I don't have the lifter and I think I've never found a situation I couldn't pass with good angling.

 

Enjoy it! Really nice spec you got.

My 2 cents on the topic of GT3 vs 488, I’d say that they are totally different cars and so I don’t think it’s comparable. 488 being way more of a GT, DD car. GT3 being more track and race focus, so more like the Speciale or Pista. 488 is comparable to Turbo.

I’m the mega lucky owner of both brands (458 spider being my DD and GT3 MT my track car), and it’s simply too hard to compare.
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