Will SF90 give me the same happiness as 458?

I love my 458 and intend to keep it but thinking of getting another ferrari too. Does SF90 give you the same, but different, great kick and experience?

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I dont own a sf90 but i would imagine it depends on your preference or personality

I personally feel myself that on looks alone i wouldnt have one, its too quick for public roads
The noise is probably a big factor


For me no, but i also dont need latest and greatest or validation from people to feel good

 

I think so.

 

For me I really needed the validation from others. It makes me feel very good and covers up my insecurities quite well. Thank you Ferrari !!

 

The SF90 engine will absolutely knock your socks off. And, though, the engine note is not that of a 458, you will hear and feel the satisfying explosivity of a monster engine as you accelerate at warp speed. Test drive one. The car is impressive.

 

I have an SF90 in my North home and a 458 Spider in the South home - I have a SF90 Spider on order that will replace the 458.. the SF90 is an amazing car to drive - the acceleration and handling are unreal - every time I drive the car I'm smiling...

 

Sounds very promising!! I've put an order on SF90 spider. Will see if someone drops off the list so I can get it

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Utility can’t be measured across various subjects, Econ 101. No one knows.

 

Same here. My self-esteem is based entirely upon the level of approval my car purchases earn from random people on the internet. It's great to know I'm not the only one!

 

Something that makes you kicked and excited does not equal getting the approval from others. But ofc it helps [emoji23]

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Looks like my joke went over your head. It was in response to Rrr1 who was responding to craze. Sarcasm.

I have a SF90 on order. I think it'll be amazing.

 

Of course, the answer is entirely subjective and unique to each of us. I will give you my impression from spending a day driving a non-AF pack SF90 as someone who also loves his 458.

When the 458 arrived on the scene I was lucky to have a friend offer me to drive the car for an afternoon. I was very much in love with my 430 Scuderia. I thought this 458 must be just like the Scud, but MORE. I was very disappointed. It was not at all like that! Why would Ferrari make such a "soft" sports car? What is this strange styling- much more global in its appeal- its lost its "Italian-ness".. (to my eyes- at the time). This interior is too digital. The gearshifts are "Lexus" smooth. The car is overdriving the outside rear tire, and it feels "contrived". The steering doesn't have the same feel. The ride is too soft. They made this car into a GT. This is not the Scud plus I thought I was promised, but rather, it was something else. And because I was very much full of preconceived notions, I missed the entire plot with the 458. I am sure reading my description above, as a 458 lover, you are likely to be shaking your head. You see, the Scud was very rough and tough no matter what you are doing. I always felt that track focused character, even driving slowly. And this 458, brand new, a friends car, well, I drove it carefully, and often slowly.

A year later I drive a different friend's 458. This friend said- drive me like you drove me on the track that day. OK... Well, WOW! My eyes are opened! I realized the brilliance of what Ferrari was doing. They are bringing track feelings and sensations to you in a car that can be enjoyed on the street -- to be sure, it must be the right street. Brilliant. You just have to drive it with a little verve and gusto to experience it, otherwise, yes, it is a little bit more of a rounded sports car. But in the right circumstances, the 458 says it wants to play, and be your friend. And they did move the game on. My order went in the next day. At the time I thought the 430 now feels more like a sports car and the 458 feels like a supercar.

Its only taken my whole adult life to learn a valuable lesson- as enthusiasts, we will always say we want the same thing we love, but more of it. However, sometimes the game changes and if you keep doing the same thing over and over, you get left behind. The car companies, even our beloved Ferrari, have to sell cars, and that is about the future. The competition has only intensified, and the rules of the game getting more demanding.

Ferrari has changed the game many times in the past, in most recent memory, it is the 458 and the F12 (and their special models).

So what of the SF90 Stradale. I think once again they have redefined what it means to have a supercar. They've managed to reach up to another level of performance and bring it into a new category, kind of supercar plus if you will. Yes, it is unbelievably fast, but the thing I find remarkable is the car's personality is one that encourages you to explore its limits. Its very confidence inspiring, and certainly employs a tremendous amount of technology in that mission. Purists probably wouldn't like that, but I say try it, you might be surprised. The throttle response is, well, pardon me, its electric. The experience is still very much centered around the engine. The engine sound in the cabin is better than the Pista. I drove my Pista right after my drive in the SF90 and the throttle feels a bit mushy and vague by comparison and the car felt, well, I can't believe Im saying this, but it felt a little slow- only in comparison, its still absurdly fast. But this is more absurd. The sound is not like the NA engines, but its exciting, encouraging, and you really don't think about any hybrid or electric stuff, you just feel like you have endless power from one of the finest engines around. Because you are driving such a thing. The hybrid stuff works seamlessly, you don't notice. Instead you have a really excellent and engaging supercar. I also think its the kind of car that you can take time to learn its subtleties and its not a one trick pony. I get the feeling the SF90 has tremendous depth- use it gently and its a GT, get on it hard and its a supercar. Yes there are the screens and more digital things, its all there, but when you drive this car, you just see a big tach, the road in front, the engine roaring... that hasn't changed. It is so fast, and its certainly more car than needs to be- but isn't that the definition of any supercar. A 360 is still probably too much for most people.

To come back to your question- I found the SF90 wanting to play in a way that reminds me of the 458, more than any 488 does, and I also found myself wanting to drive it again and again, which is also something I find with the 458. But its not like a super 458 or even super 488, its a whole new world. By no means does it change my love for my 458, but it shows me there is also something else out there- they did it again.

 

I forgot to add my criticisms of the SF90.

1. Storage space. This is obvious. Even if you take out the car cover and charging cable, the front trunk is not more than enough to hold maybe 2.5 briefcases. You could pack for a long weekend with a companion, but, I think you are going to have at least one bag down by your feet- and the entire interior feels a little more cramped than in the 458-F8 generation of cars. Especially passenger footwell space.

2. The engine start button should have remained a separate button and in red. A little bit of Ferrari theater has gone missing.

3. CarPlay should not take over the entire screen. They should make it fit inside one of the side screens- and let it be an option to take over the entire screen. Its a shame this is the only way to access it, and whats more, you can let CarPlay run in the background, with the song name in a side screen, but if a message comes in to your phone, it will briefly throw the CarPlay screen up, which is distracting to have this large display change in such a fundamental way, and then change again.

4. There is a noticable change in resistance with the brake pedal when the system switches over from regen to mechanical braking. I'd say its around 40% brake pedal pressing. In less enthusiastic driving, you won't even notice this. But if you are driving with some passion, and you get on the brakes, you can feel the switchover. All of a sudden the braking intensifies, the brake pedal feels a bit more grabby. Once you know this is coming, you can adjust your pedal application for smooth braking. I am sure this can be adjusted in the future via software.

These are all fairly minor points for me- though I think the storage could be a real issue for some.

 

Really personal. Lots of V8 Ferraris give me more joy than a 458.

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I’m over the 458 narrative. It’s a fine car but aside from sound it does nothing remotely comparable to modern ferraris.

 

I’m with you. The whole “but it’s the last NA” and “oh but the sound is so much better” narrative is like a broken record at this point. Technology gets better, R&D advances, they learn more and more from F1 and previous gen road cars to improve them, not make them worse. I get the whole screaming NA V8 notion, but sound to me is one of many characteristics, not the one and only. Design is subjective, but you cannot honestly say the 458 is the pinnacle of design compared to greats like the TDF, Pista, 812 Competizione, 812 GTS, and F8.

 

Agreed.

 

I’m over it as well. I’ve had 2. I really want a speciale though for my collection long term. Wish I’d have bought one.

 

Agree 100%. I was being cheap and thought I could get the one I want at msrp. That time will come again and this go around I’m jumping on it

 

I kind of disagree. To me it's not about the 'being over with the narrative'. To me there should NOT be a narrative. We can all love the 458 AND the newer models as well. It's not one or the other, there's no need for extremes. I can see myself owning a 458 and a 355 and an F8 or SF90. All amazing and VERY different!

 

Once again reading thoughts as #12 in this thread shows me how much some brilliant minds are here, beyond our only Fcars passion, it's great.
Thanks guys and sorry to hijack the initial thread.

 

My 2 cents worth. I drive an F430 spider with Capristo exhausts (used to drive a 308). It's LOUD, it vibrates, there's road feel. I love it! I drove an SF90 for about 30 minutes at a recent Ferrari Challenge event. (I drove it on the street, not the track). It was uncanny. It doesn't look like a Ferrari to me. It doesn't feel like one either. In fact, there is very little feel at all. It sure doesn't sound like one either. It's soooo quiet (probably because we kept to the speed limits). The car almost drives itself. The dashboard was a complete mystery. Not just to me, but also to the Ferrari rep who was my passenger. He kept playing with it to get it out of "developer mode" whatever that is. I know that the performance is just stellar, but I'm not ready for this kind of car yet. I admit it: I'm a dinosaur. There. I just saved $500K+!

 

Sorry, but this is all too weird for me. There will always be a car on the horizon that has more capability. It's the relentless march of technology. For me, I own a 458 which is the best sports car I've ever owned (many Ferraris, Porsches, Maseratis, Bentleys, BMWs, Mercs, Nissan GTR, Saleen, but no Lambos). It is iconic as it is the last NA in the series car and the last designed by Pininfarina. I'm not going to buy another in that family but wouldn't mind having another V12 in the garage...maybe an F12 Berlinetta, but that is unlikely. I'm sure as hell not going to get a Tesla plaid either. I'm at the point in my life where I'll be conserving my assets and investing them for the next generation and not acquiring more cars, especially depreciating ones. You all have fun and enjoy all the elements of the new fine machinery and, please write about your experiences and post lots of pictures.

 

I’ve been driving across Spain in SF90, it sounds good and drives unbelievably. Last time I came here I was in our Speciale but SF90 is next level (still love the Speciale though). $500k unsaved unfortunately!

 

This is the way. Drive it in good health!!