HELP - 458 or 488 purchase (with details)

If its your first sports car id suggest the 488
The 458 is more suited for ferrari aficionado”s that live and breath and love na motors
No disrespect intended

 

If you care more about investment value, you should be looking at a Speciale or Pista I think. Personally I only buy cars based on how they drive and look. I would hate to feel like I can’t drive something to preserve its investment value. I have stock for that.

 

Well I’m not too sure about that. Is the 488 faster and better? Yes but the 458 is still plenty and I mean plenty fast ans even guys who have it all still rave about it.


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No one has mentioned possible turbo problems on the 488. That won’t ever be a worry on the 458.
I’ve seen a few posts of 488 owners needing turbo replacements at $30K.


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If this is the goal here, and from all your posts it appears this way.....looking at regular production cars is not the way to go....get into something with true collectible potential, like the special editions or a car old enough to already be a collectible car, like a Challenge Stradale. I recently bought a 2005 Ford GT, a very desirable collector car.

 

I have a 458 and love it. My good friend has a 488 which I've driven 10-15 times. As someone mentioned earlier both are amazing and you can't go wrong. I would chose the 458 based on how it provides a more viseral driving experience to me. In my opinion the sound, handling and over driving experience is more raw and better in the 458. With that said I acknowledge the 488 is faster, has more feature and still has a good sound, just not as good as the 458 NA V8 to me.
I personally would not trade my 458 for a 488 but I won't pass up a chance to drive my buddies car either. You're winning either way you go. Pick one, drive the car and you'll be smiling so much you won't remember there was another option.
Frank

 

No disrespect at all!

But I'd disagree about why you'd want the 488 as your first Ferrari. To me (and this is very personal) the 458 is the better brand 'representative' or 'ambassador' of the two. I grew up with mostly NA Ferraris and their engine note and Pininfarina design. Don't get me wrong, I too love the 488 (and the F8) which are turbos. I also feel like the 488 is the better choice if you plan to track it. But I'd rather have them AFTER I've enjoyed the 'NA experience'. Coupled with the fact that the 458 is also so reliable, and the last NA V8, I think it's the absolute best way to welcome yourself to the Ferrari brand experience.

 

Personnally I would not hesitate (and I did not when I bought my 488).
To me the 458 is all about useless screaming, in a desperate attempt to hide its lack of power (which is a shame, because -like its successors - it has a brilliant chassis).
When I first drove a 458 (I had a 599 at the time, with its magnificent V12 that pulls like a train) I was equally impressed by the sensational dual-clutch gearbox and by the terrible lack of power.
The issue with the 458 engine is its lack of torque, which translates into a higher lack of power when not at high revs - so the power difference with the 488 is in most situations (i.e. when not at the revs corresponding to the max power) far more than the "only" 100 hp of the spec sheets.
On the other hand, the 50hp (which are still very noticeable) between the 488 and Pista or F8 are more constant over the rev range.
To each their own, but for me the reward of the 488 is that on a track it can use its superior power to fight (and sometime beat) the more focussed Porsche GT3s (or even GT3 RS, depending on tracks - and drivers of course), while 458s cannot even see where the GT3s are going...

 

Hagerty’s sure doesn’t think it’s a bubble…

 

How many on here will track it though?


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Wow... that's a first. . Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course, but I'm going to have some fun telling my buddies about this definition of the 458.

Reg track use, I'd agree, but most people don't buy for that reason. Unsure what Buzz0017 intends to do.

Net, net, I personally don't only own a Ferrari because it's more powerful or a better track car than others. It's definitely not all about speed. And as a street car, it's plenty powerful.

 

LOL, nothing like a 458 vs 488 scrap to get everyone triggered.

The puzzling thing is the OP glossed over which one he preferred driving.....that one should be pretty easy, you prefer cars that you wind out to get maximum enjoyment from or you prefer low end torque.

I drive a V-12 and a supercharged V-8 so easy to figure out what I prefer. It is just a better fit for my driving style and where I drive the cars.

 

There is not a right and wrong here, as you can see from all these posts.

My added thoughts:
The 488 will still have two more years inclusive services which will be a bonus now, however in a “normal” market you should expect a slight price reduction when that comes to an end. The 458 already has this element factored into its market value. Also a main dealer will add a 2 year warranty (to either car) so in those terms you have 24 months of worry free motoring.

I’ve had neither specific model, previous was a Speciale and current is F8s. I took values out of the equation and bought on the merits of what I personally wanted from a car. I can appreciate the similarities and differences of each. Both fantastic ownership experience.

In the UK I’d pick the 488 which is a faster more modern Ferrari and great value over here. It doesn’t recreate the scream of the previous generation but then again it’s not designed to. It’s the sound, and performance of it’s era.

The prices seem crazy in the US right now so don’t expect to make $ anytime soon, if at all, but think of it more as an investment in driving pleasure.

Although… you did say you are not a big car guy or driver so maybe you’d also be happy with a lower outlay or safer bet to scratch the itch. A good 993 is a fraction of the price, or 991Touring (similar money to the Ferrari) are a safe bet (in the UK) at different ends of the Porsche $$$ spectrum. Not the same driving experience as a 458 or 488 but that might be less important to you. Good luck, be sure to report back.

 

Neither of the cars have the racing seats. Pass.

 

He’ll be fine. First Ferrari…

 

To buy a F8 100 k over is nuts. Better to buy a low spec PISTA.

458 Looked at it and didnt like it. Embarrassment also when a VW drags a 458 off. Its a small N/A low torque and you have the rev the **** out of it.

Plus they are old, get ready for leather getting lose, chips, sticky dials.

DO YOURSELF a favour LOOK UNDER the car regardless if it has a lift.

IMO and i am biased the 488 GTB but an18 or 19 model. 3 - 4 years free service and most like extended 2 years full factory warrantee.

The 488 GTB has no turbo lag. The 458 is tuned in a way that as soon as you touch the throttle it lets go. Do a launch and watch it bog. Torque is lacking.

From the 308 the rear V8's always had side vents. IMO that is a part of the car and for me the hated part of the 458. The Speciale looks much better than the 458.

What I find comical is the comments that the 488 GTB revs so fast. Really ? Does it or does the 458 rev so slow. I have fun with my 488 GTB because I use the gears. All my trips use half a tank of fuel for only about 70 miles.

Big N/A engines are great F V12 awesome not small ones.

 

You’ll love it. Congrats. Send pix!

 

One gets car insurance for a reason.

There is extended warrantee you know. Right up to 15 years !

Fee posts ? Hum . Right , there were also well publicised many 458 fires.

 

I think you made a great decision.


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I recently went through a similar decision process very recently and landed on a 2016 488 for many of the reasons listed above and I absolutely love it... so much more special than any other cars I've owned in the past. My first reaction was to kick myself for not pulling the trigger sooner. I have to say that it's a somewhat easier decision in the UK as prices of second hand 488s are a bit lower than the US (while 458s are more similarly priced)... you can get a very well spec'd 488 GTB with around 10k miles here for equivalent of less than $220k from a main Ferrari dealer with 2 year warranty.

Just a word of caution, it may be different in the US, but the 2y extended New Power warranty that comes with an Approved car in the UK covers very little other than engine and drivetrain and I was told it excludes things like Turbos so I'm definitely mentally prepared for some potential costs!

 

So did you sign on the 488? Or did you change your mind?

 

Funny, because I wouldn’t buy one with them. I find the Daytona seats much more comfortable.